THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME T vs. SMT.REKHA S JAIN

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TCA/238/2020HC Madras22 August 2022Bench: Hon`ble Mr Justice R. MAHADEVAN5 pages
AI SummaryWithdrawn

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court noted that the Revenue's counsel submitted that the assessee had availed the benefit of the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Act, 2020, and filed declarations, which were accepted, leading to a full and final settlement of tax arrears. Consequently, the Revenue argued that nothing remained for adjudication in the appeal. In light of this submission, the High Court found that the appeal had become infructuous. The Court did not delve into the merits of the substantial questions of law framed at the time of admission. The operative direction was to dismiss the appeal as withdrawn.

What were the facts?

The Revenue, Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai, filed a Tax Case Appeal before the High Court of Judicature at Madras, challenging an order dated 29.05.2019 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Madras “D” Bench. The appeal pertains to assessment year 2010-11 and concerns the ITAT's decision in ITA.No.1732/Chny/2018. The High Court admitted the appeal on substantial questions of law on 01.09.2020. During the pendency of this appeal, the assessee, Smt. Rekha S. Jain, availed the benefit of the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Act, 2020, by filing necessary declarations and obtaining a final settlement order.

What were the issues?

The High Court had to decide the following substantial questions of law: 1. Whether the Tribunal was justified in setting aside the Assessing Officer's order for re-examination, despite the Assessing Officer having considered all material evidence. 2. Whether the Tribunal erred in remitting the issue back to the Assessing Officer, shifting the onus to the Revenue to prove the assessee's role in promoting the company, their relation to promoters, and price inflation, especially after such exercises were already conducted by the Assessing Officer and SEBI, citing decisions in Kanhaiyal & Sons (HUF) and Sunil Kumar Lalwani. 3. Whether the Tribunal's finding was perverse, contradicting the principle that the burden of proof lies with the party asserting a fact, which must be discharged before shifting to the Department. The Revenue argued that the assessee had settled the dispute under the Vivad Se Vishwas Act, rendering the appeal infructuous. The judgment does not record specific arguments from the assessee on these issues.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 260A

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

Tax Case Appeal No.238 of 2020 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 22.08.2022 CORAM : THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R. MAHADEVAN AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MOHAMMED SHAFFIQ Tax Case Appeal No.238 of 2020 The Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai ... Appellant Vs. Smt.Rekha S.Jain 39, Kalathi Pillai Street, Mishri, Krupa, Sowcarpet, Chennai 600 079 PAN:AACPC5119L

... Respondent Tax Case Appeal filed under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras “D” Bench, Chennai, passed in I.T.A.No.1732/Chny/2018, dated 29.05.2019 for the assessment year 2010-11. For Appellant : Mr.T.Ravikumar Standing Counsel Page 1/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Tax Case Appeal No.238 of 2020 J U D G M E N T (Judgment was delivered by R. MAHADEVAN,J.) This Tax Case Appeal has been filed by the appellant / Revenue challenging the order dated 29.05.2019 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras “D” Bench, Chennai, ('the Tribunal', for brevity) in I.T.A.No.1732/Chny/2018 for the assessment year 2010-11. 2. On 01.09.2020, this Tax Case Appeal was admitted by this Court on the following substantial questions of law : "1. Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in setting aside the well reasoned order passed by the Assessing Officer for re-examination, especially when all the material placed were duly considered by the assessing officer while passing the assessment order? 2. 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 & Sons (HUF) in ITA.No.1849/Chny/2014 Sunil Kumar Lalwani and that 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 Page 2/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Tax Case Appeal No.238 of 2020 in promoting the company and the relation of the assessee if any with that of the promotors and role of inflating of prices, etc., which exercise had already been done by the Assessing Officer and the SEBI? And 3. 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. When the matter was taken up for consideration, the learned Standing counsel appearing for the appellant / Revenue submitted that during the pendency of this tax case appeal, the assessee has availed the benefit conferred under the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Act, 2020 and filed necessary declarations, which were accepted and Form 5 / order for full and final settlement of tax arrears and hence, nothing survives for adjudication herein. Stating so, the learned counsel sought permission of this court to withdraw this appeal. Page 3/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Tax Case Appeal No.238 of 2020 4. In view of the above submissions made by the learned counsel for the appellant / Revenue, this tax appeal case is dismissed as withdrawn. No costs.

[R.M.D.,J.] [M.S.Q.,J.] 22.08.2022

msr

Internet : Yes

Index : Yes / No To 1.The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras “D” Bench, Chennai. 2.The Income Tax Officer, Non Corporate Ward -6(1), Chennai.

3.

The Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)-5 Chennai-34. Page 4/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Tax Case Appeal No.238 of 2020 R. MAHADEVAN, J and MOHAMMED SHAFFIQ, J. msr Tax Case Appeal No.238 of 2020

22.08.2022 Page 5/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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