COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX vs. SHRI GANPATRAJ SURANA

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TCA/228/2020HC Madras27 November 2020Bench: Hon`ble Mr Justice T. S. SIVAGNANAM8 pages
AI SummaryWithdrawn

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court did not decide the substantial questions of law framed for consideration. This was due to a subsequent development: the enactment of the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Act, 2020. The Court was informed that the assessee had filed a declaration under Section 4 of this Act on 03.11.2020. In light of the assessee availing the benefit under the Vivad Se Vishwas Act, the Court found no useful purpose in keeping the appeals pending. Consequently, the Tax Case Appeals were disposed of on the ground that the assessee had filed a declaration. The Department was directed to process the application at the earliest. The assessee was granted liberty to restore these appeals in the event the ultimate decision on the declaration was not in their favour. The substantial questions of law were left open.

What were the facts?

The Revenue, Commissioner of Income Tax, Non Corporate Ward 10(2), Chennai, filed two Tax Case Appeals (T.C.A.Nos.228 & 229 of 2020) against the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Madras 'C' Bench. These appeals pertained to Assessment Years 2010-11 and 2011-12. The ITAT had passed an order on 04.09.2019 in I.T.A.No.599/Chny/2019 and I.T.A.No.600/Chny/2019, which was under challenge. The appeals were admitted by the High Court on 26.08.2020. The core of the dispute involved the ITAT's decision to set aside the Assessing Officer's order and remit the issue back to the Assessing Officer, shifting the onus to the Revenue.

What were the issues?

The High Court was called upon to decide two 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? (Question of law) 2. Whether the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal was right in 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 mixed law and fact) The Revenue argued that the Assessing Officer had already duly examined the matter and therefore, the ITAT was not justified in setting aside the order for re-examination. The Revenue also contended that the ITAT was wrong in remitting the issue back to the Assessing Officer and shifting the onus to the Revenue. The Assessee's specific arguments are not recorded in the judgment.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 260-A,Section 4

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

T.C.A.Nos.228 & 229 of 2020 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 27.11.2020 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE T.S.SIVAGNANAM and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R.PONGIAPPAN T.C.A.Nos.228 & 229 of 2020 and C.M.P.No.8842 of 2020 Commissioner of Income Tax Non Corporate Ward 10(2) Chennai .. Appellant in both T.C.As Versus Shri Ganpatraj Surana No.16, Trust Square Street, Ramalingapuram, Chennai 600 012 PAN:AAVPS 8410 M .. Respondent in both T.C.As Common Prayer:- Tax Case Appeals filed under Section 260-A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, against the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras 'C' Bench, Chennai made in I.T.A.No.599/Chny/2019 and I.T.A.No.600/Chny/2019 dated 04.09.2019 relating to the Assessment Years 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 respectively. 1/8 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.Nos.228 & 229 of 2020 For Appellant : Mr.M.Swaminathan Senior Standing counsel [in both T.C.As]

For Respondent : Mr.P.Hari [in both T.C.As] COMMON JUDGMENT [Order of the Court was made by

T.S.SIVAGNANAM

, J.]

These appeals have been filed by the Revenue under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 ('the Act' for brevity), is directed against the order dated 04.09.2019 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras 'C' Bench, Chennai ('the Tribunal' for brevity) in I.T.A.No.599/Chny/2019 and I.T.A.No.600/Chny/2019 for the Assessment Years 2010-11 and 2011-12 respectively. These appeals were admitted on 26.08.2020 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? 2. Whether the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal was right in 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 2/8 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.Nos.228 & 229 of 2020 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.,?” 2. We have heard Mr.M.Swaminathan, learned Senior Standing counsel for the appellant/Revenue and Mr.P.Hari, learned counsel for the respondent/assessee. 3. It may not be necessary for this Court to decide the Substantial Questions of Law framed for consideration on account of certain subsequent developments. The Government of India enacted the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Act, 2020 (Act 3 of 2020) to provide for resolution of disputed tax and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. The Act of the Parliament received the assent of the President on 17th March 2020 and published in the Gazette of India on 17th March 2020.

4.

In terms of the said Act, the assessee has been given an option to put an end to the tax disputes, which may be pending at different levels either before the First Appellate Authority or before the Tribunal or before 3/8 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.Nos.228 & 229 of 2020 the High Court or before the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India. Under Section 2(j) “disputed tax” has been defined. In terms of Section 3, where a declarant means a person, who files a declaration under Section 4 on or before the last date files a declaration to the designated authority in accordance with the provisions of Section 4 in respect of tax arrears, then, notwithstanding anything contained in the Income Tax Act or any other law for the time being in force, the amount payable by the declarant shall be determined in terms of Section 3(a-c) thereunder. 5. The First Proviso to Section 3 states that in case, where an Appeal or Writ Petition or Special Leave Petition is filed by the Income Tax authority on any issue before the Appellate Forum, the amount payable shall be one-half of the amount in the table stipulated in Section 3 calculated on such issue, in such a manner as may be prescribed. The second proviso deals with the cases, where the matter is before the Commissioner (Appeals) or before the Dispute Resolution Panel. The third proviso deals with cases, where the issue is pending before the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal. The filing of the declaration is as per Section 4 of the Act and the particulars to 4/8 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.Nos.228 & 229 of 2020 be furnished are also mentioned in the Sub Sections of Section 4. Section 5 of the Act deals with the time and manner of the payment and Section 6 deals with Immunity from initiation of proceedings in respect of offence and imposition of penalty in certain cases. Section 9 of the Act deals with cases, where the Act 3 of 2020 will not be applicable. 6. We are informed by the learned counsel for the respondent/assessee that the assessee has already filed the declaration under Section 4 of the Act on 03.11.2020. 7. In the light of the fact that the assessee has already availed the benefit under the Act, no useful purpose would be served in keeping these appeals pending. At the same time, safeguarding the interest of the assessee in the event the order to be passed by the Department under the Act is not in favour of the assessee. Accordingly, the Tax Case Appeals stand disposed of on the ground that the assessee has already filed a declaration and the Department shall process the application at the earliest in accordance with the said Act and communicate the decision to the assessee at the earliest. As 5/8 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.Nos.228 & 229 of 2020 observed, the assessee is given liberty to restore these appeals 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 appeals and on such request made by the assessee by filing a Miscellaneous Petition for Restoration, the Registry shall place such petition before the Division Bench for orders. 8. With this observation, the Tax Case Appeals stand disposed of with the aforementioned liberty and Consequently, the Substantial Questions of Law are left open. No costs. Connected miscellaneous petition is closed. (T.S.S.,J) (R.P.A.,J) 27.11.2020 Kak Index: Yes / No Internet: Yes / No Speaking Order/Non-Speaking Order To The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, 6/8 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.Nos.228 & 229 of 2020 'C' Bench, Chennai. T.S.SIVAGNANAM, J. AND 7/8 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.Nos.228 & 229 of 2020 R.PONGIAPPAN, J. Kak T.C.A.Nos.228 & 229 of 2020 27.11.2020 8/8 http://www.judis.nic.in

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