THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME T vs. VILINA SURESH JAIN
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court allowed the appeal filed by the Revenue. The Court noted that there was no quarrel with the proposition put forth by the Revenue's counsel. In light of the decision in CIT Vs. Manish D.Jain [HUF], the High Court set aside the impugned order passed by the ITAT and answered the substantial questions of law in favour of the Revenue. The reasoning was based on a previous High Court judgment that dealt with an identical issue and ruled in favour of the Revenue. The specific findings of the ITAT regarding the shifting of onus to the Revenue and the alleged perversity of its finding were effectively overturned by this High Court ruling. The operative direction was to set aside the ITAT's order.
What were the facts?
The Revenue, Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai, filed an appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, against an order dated 20.11.2019 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Chennai. The ITAT's order was in relation to ITA No. 2570/Chny/2018 for the assessment year 2013-14. The appeal was admitted by the High Court on 24.07.2020, based on substantial questions of law. The respondent, Ms. Vilina Suresh Jain, was served but did not appear before the High Court.
What were the issues?
1. 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 Kanhaiyal and Sons (HUF) in ITA.No.1849/Chny/2014, Sunil Kumar Lalwani and Aashesh Kumar Lalwani, 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 Assessing Officer and the SEBI? (Question of law and fact, concerning the burden of proof and reassessment proceedings). 2. 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? (Question of law, concerning the principle of burden of proof). Assessee's arguments: Not recorded. Revenue's arguments: The Revenue contended that an identical issue was considered by a Division Bench of the High Court in CIT Vs. Manish D.Jain [HUF] [(2020) 122 Taxmann.com 180] and was answered in favour of the Revenue.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Heard together (2 matters)
Read from the judgment's own cause title. This page is filed under one of them.
TCA.No.189 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.189 of 2020
The Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai ...Appellant Vs Ms.Vilina Suresh Jain ...Respondent APPEAL under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order dated 20.11.2019 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras 'A' Bench, Chennai made in I.T.A.No.2570/Chny/ 2018 for the assessment year 2013-14. For Appellant: Mrs.R.Hemalatha, SSC
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 dated 20.11.2019 made in I.T.A.No.2570/Chny/2018 on the file of the 1/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ TCA.No.189 of 2020 Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai, 'A' Bench ('the Tribunal' for brevity) for the assessment year 2013-14. 2. The appeal was admitted on 24.7.2020 on the following substantial questions of law : “i. Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in remitting the issue back to the file of the Assessing Officer by quoting the decision in the case of Kanhaiyal and Sons (HUF) in ITA.No.1849/Chny/2014, Sunil Kumar Lalwani and Aashesh Kumar Lalwani 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 Assessing Officer and the SEBI? And ii. 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 2/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ TCA.No.189 of 2020 Department ?” 3. We have heard Mrs.R.Hemalatha, learned Senior Standing Counsel appearing for the appellant/Revenue. Though the respondent was served and her name printed in the cause list, none appears for her. 4. The learned Senior Standing Counsel appearing for the appellant/Revenue submits 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. 5. There is no quarrel over such proposition. 6. In the light of the said decision, the above tax case appeal is allowed, the impugned order passed by the Tribunal is set aside and the substantial questions of law framed are answered in favour of the Revenue. 01.4.2021 RS 3/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ TCA.No.189 of 2020 T.S.SIVAGNANAM,J AND R.N.MANJULA,J RS To The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, 'A Bench, Chennai.
TCA.No.189 of 2020 01.4.2021 4/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/
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