COMMISISONER OF INCOME TAX vs. SHRI SURESH KUMAR (HUF)
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court noted that the assessee had filed a declaration under the Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme, 2020. In light of this subsequent event, the Court directed the Competent Authority to process the assessee's application under the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Act, 2020, and pass appropriate orders expeditiously. The assessee was granted liberty to restore the appeal if the decision on their declaration was not in their favour. If such a prayer was made, the Registry was instructed to entertain it without requiring a delay condonation application. Consequently, the Tax Case Appeal was disposed of with the aforementioned liberty, and the substantial questions of law were left open.
What were the facts?
The Revenue, Commissioner of Income Tax, Non Corporate Circle 10(4), Chennai, filed an appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, against an order dated 11.10.2019 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Chennai 'B' Bench. The ITAT's order pertained to the assessment year 2014-15 and had set aside the Assessing Officer's order to re-examine the matter. The respondent assessee, Mr. Suresh Kumar (HUF), was served but did not appear before the High Court. The Revenue's counsel informed the Court that the assessee had filed a declaration under the Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme on 09.06.2020.
What were the issues?
1. Whether the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal was right and justified in setting aside the order passed by the Assessing Officer to re-examine the matter when the Assessing Officer had already duly examined the matter before passing the assessment order? (Question of law and fact, concerning the powers of the ITAT to remand). 2. Whether the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal was right and justified in remitting the issue back to the file of the Assessing Officer and shifting the onus to the Revenue with a direction that the Assessing Officer shall bring on record the role of the assessee in promoting the company and the relationship of the assessee, if any with the promoters, role of the assessee in inflating the price of shares etc.? (Question of law and fact, concerning the burden of proof and the scope of remand directions). Contentions: Assessee: No appearance recorded. Revenue: The Revenue argued that the ITAT was not justified in setting aside the Assessing Officer's order and remitting the matter back, especially when the Assessing Officer had already conducted a due examination. The Revenue also contended that the ITAT wrongly shifted the onus onto the Revenue to bring on record specific details regarding the assessee's role in company promotion and share price inflation.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
TCA.No.153 of 2020 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 17.12.2020 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE T.S.SIVAGNANAM and THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN Tax Case Appeal No.153 of 2020 The Commissioner of Income Tax, Non Corporate Circle 10(4), Chennai ...Appellant Vs Mr.Suresh Kumar (HUF) ...Respondent APPEAL under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order dated 11.10.2019 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras 'B' Bench, Chennai made in I.T.A.No.134/Chny/2019 for the assessment year 2014-15. For Appellant: Mr.M.Swaminathan, SSC assisted by Ms.V.Pushpa, JSC For Respondent: served and no appearance Judgment was delivered by
T.S.SIVAGNANAM
This appeal has been filed by the Revenue under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 ('the Act' for brevity) challenging the order 1/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ TCA.No.153 of 2020 dated 11.10.2019 made in I.T.A.No.134/Chny/2019 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai, 'B' Bench ('the Tribunal' for brevity) for the assessment year 2014-15. 2. The appeal was admitted on 09.3.2020 on the following substantial questions of law : “1. Whether the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal was right and justified in setting aside the order passed by the Assessing Officer to re-examine the matter when the Assessing Officer has already duly examined the matter before passing the assessment order? And 2. Whether the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal was right and justified in remitting the issue back to the file of the Assessing Officer and shifting the onus to the Revenue with a direction that the Assessing Officer shall bring on record the role of the assessee in promoting the company and the relationship of the assessee, if any with the promoters, role of the assessee in inflating the price of shares etc?” 3. We have heard Mr.M.Swaminathan, learned Senior Standing Counsel assisted by Ms.V.Pushpa, learned Junior Standing Counsel appearing for the appellant/Revenue. Though the respondent is served 2/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ TCA.No.153 of 2020 and his name printed in the cause list, non appears for him. 4. The learned Senior Standing Counsel appearing on behalf of the Revenue has been instructed by the Department to submit that the assessee already filed the declaration/undertaking under the Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme on 09.6.2020 seeking to avail the benefit of the scheme and is awaiting orders to be passed in Form No.3. 5. In the light of the subsequent event, the Competent Authority shall process the application/declaration in accordance with the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Act, 2020 (Act 3 of 2020) and pass appropriate orders as expeditiously as possible. The assessee is given liberty to restore this appeal in the event the ultimate decision to be taken on the declaration filed by the assessee under Section 4 of the said Act is not in favour of the assessee. If such a prayer is made, the Registry shall entertain the prayer without insisting upon any application to be filed for condonation of delay in restoration of the appeal and on such request made by the assessee by filing a miscellaneous petition for restoration, the Registry shall place such petition before the appropriate Division Bench for orders. 3/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ TCA.No.153 of 2020 T.S.SIVAGNANAM,J AND V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN,J RS 6. The tax case appeal stands disposed of with the aforementioned liberty. Consequently, the substantial questions of law framed are left open. 17.12.2020 To The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, 'B' Bench, Chennai. TCA.No.153 of 2020 4/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/
More judgments on Section 4
- Prakash Dayaram Chandnani, Rajkot vs ITO Ward 2(1)(1), RajkotITA 927/RJT/2026[2019-20]Status: Disposed29 Sept 2026AY 2019-20
- Hiteshkumar Mohanlal Desai, Daman vs The Assessment Unit, ITO, Daman Ward, DamanITA 962/SRT/2025[2018-19]Status: Disposed29 Sept 2026AY 2018-19
- Hiteshkumar Mohanlal Desai, Daman vs The Assessment Unit, ITO, Daman Ward, DamanITA 962/SRT/2025[2018-19]Status: Disposed29 Sept 2026AY 2018-19
- Ratilal Manubhai Dhanani, Amreli vs ITO WD 3(1)(4), AmreliITA 697/RJT/2026[2015-16]Status: Disposed28 Sept 2026AY 2015-16
- Ratilal Manubhai Dhanani, Amreli vs ITO WD 3(1)(4), AmreliITA 697/RJT/2026[2015-16]Status: Disposed28 Sept 2026AY 2015-16
Recent GST High Court judgments
Search GST case law →- Imtiyaz Shaikh Z Chorlekar vs. Salman ShaikhBombay · 21 Oct 2026
- Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University Thr Its Registrar Prashant S Amrutkar vs. Union Of INDIA Thr The Secretary And OthersBombay · 19 Oct 2026
- Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University Thr Registrar Prashant S Amrutkar vs. Union Of INDIA Thr Secretary And OthersBombay · 19 Oct 2026
- Vinishma Technologies Private Limited vs. State Of KarnatakaKarnataka · 17 Oct 2026
- Vinishma Technologies Private Limited vs. State Of KarnatakaKarnataka · 17 Oct 2026