THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME T vs. LATE SHRI SANJAY AGARWAL
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court disposed of the appeal with liberty granted to the assessee to restore the appeal if the ultimate decision under the Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme is not in their favour. The Court noted that an identical issue had been decided in favour of the Revenue in CIT Vs. Manish D.Jain [HUF]. However, due to the assessee availing the Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme, the appeal was not decided on merits. The Court directed that if the assessee files a miscellaneous petition for restoration, the Registry shall entertain it without insisting on a delay condonation application and place it before the appropriate Division Bench. No costs were imposed. The specific findings on the three substantial questions of law were not elaborated upon due to the disposal of the appeal.
What were the facts?
The Revenue, represented by the Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai, filed an appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, against an order dated November 18, 2019, passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Chennai 'B' Bench. The appeal pertains to the assessment year 2013-14. The ITAT had set aside the Assessing Officer's (AO) order and remitted the issue back to the AO for re-examination. The assessee, represented by the legal heir of the deceased assessee, Late Shri Sanjay Agarwal, had filed a declaration under the Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme, and orders were passed on March 24, 2021. The High Court noted that an identical issue was decided in favour of the Revenue in the case of CIT Vs. Manish D.Jain [HUF].
What were the issues?
The Tribunal had to decide three substantial questions of law: 1. Whether the Tribunal was right in setting aside the AO's order for re-examination, given that the AO had already examined the matter extensively. 2. Whether the Tribunal was correct in remitting the issue back to the AO, citing cases like Sunil Kumar Lalwani and Heerachand Kanunga, and directing the AO to investigate the assessee's role in promoting the company, their relation with promoters, and price inflation, which the AO had already done. 3. Whether the Tribunal's finding was perverse, contradicting the principle that the burden of proof lies with the party asserting a fact. The Revenue argued that the AO had already conducted a thorough examination and that the Tribunal's decision shifted the burden of proof unfairly. The assessee's counsel stated that the assessee had opted for the Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
TCA.No.183 of 2020 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 01.4.2021 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE T.S.SIVAGNANAM and THE HONOURABLE MS.JUSTICE R.N.MANJULA Tax Case Appeal No.183 of 2020
The Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai. ...Appellant Vs Late Shri Sanjay Agarwal rep.by Bapita Agarwal ...Respondent APPEAL under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order dated 18.11.2019 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, 'B' Bench, Chennai made in I.T.A.No.1322/Chny/2019 for the assessment year 2013-14. For Appellant: Mrs.R.Hemalatha, SSC For Respondent : Mr.A.S.Sriraman 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.183 of 2020 dated 18.11.2019 made in I.T.A.No.1322/Chny/2019 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai 'B' Bench ('the Tribunal' for brevity) for the assessment year 2013-14. 2. The appeal was admitted on 23.7.2020 on the following substantial questions of law : ““i. Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in setting aside the order passed by the Assessing Officer for re-examination, especially when the Assessing Officer had duly examined the matter in extenso while passing the assessment order ? ii. Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in remitting the issue back to the file of the Assessing Officer by quoting the decision in the case of Sunil Kumar Lalwani and that Heerachand Kanunga wherein the onus has been shifted to the revenue with a direction that the Assessing Officer is to bring on record the role of the assessee in promoting the company and the relation of the assessee if any with that of the promoters and role of inflating of prices etc which exercise had already been done by the AO? and 2/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ TCA.No.183 of 2020 iii. Is not the finding of the Tribunal perverse especially when the decision of the Tribunal is contrary to the time tested principle that the person who asserts a fact has to discharge the initial burden cast upon him to show that the said facts are true and only thereafter the burden would shift to the department?” 3. We have heard Mrs.R.Hemalatha, learned Senior Standing Counsel appearing for the appellant/Revenue and Mr.A.S.Sriraman, learned counsel appearing for the respondent/assessee. 4. The learned counsel for the assessee submits that the assessee already filed the declaration/undertaking under the Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme and orders were passed on 24.3.2021 in Form No.3. 5. It is not out of place to make a mention that an identical issue has been considered by a Division Bench of this Court, to which, one of us (TSSJ) was a party, in the decision in the case of CIT Vs. Manish D.Jain [HUF] [reported in (2020) 122 Taxmann.com 180] and the issue has been answered in favour of the Revenue. 6. However, in the light of the subsequent development that the respondent/assessee opted to avail the benefit of the said scheme, the assessee is given liberty to restore this appeal in the event the 3/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ TCA.No.183 of 2020 T.S.SIVAGNANAM,J AND R.N.MANJULA,J RS ultimate decision 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. 7. The tax case appeal stands disposed of with the aforementioned liberty. No costs. 01.4.2021 To The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, 'B' Bench, Chennai. TCA.No.183 of 2020 4/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/
Recent GST High Court judgments
Search GST case law →- M/S N D Waddar And Co vs. Sri Gaurav GuptaKarnataka · 30 Oct 2026
- Kanwar Enterprises Private Limited vs. The Joint Commissioner - State TaxTelangana · 30 Oct 2026
- M/S. Bangi Mines And Minerals vs. The State Of TelanganaTelangana · 30 Oct 2026
- M/S. Arka Business Solutions vs. Principal Commissioner Of CustomsTelangana · 30 Oct 2026
- M/S. Mehra Mac Industries Private Limited vs. The Deputy State Tax OfficerTelangana · 30 Oct 2026