THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME T vs. VINOD KUMAR

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TCA/249/2020HC Madras22 August 2022Bench: Hon`ble Mr Justice R. MAHADEVAN5 pages
AI SummaryWithdrawn

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court noted that during the pendency of the appeal, the assessee had availed the benefit of the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Act, 2020. The assessee filed necessary declarations, which were accepted, and a Form 5 order for full and final settlement of tax arrears was issued by the Income Tax Department on 19.04.2021. In view of this subsequent development, the High Court was of the opinion that nothing further survived for adjudication in the appeal. Consequently, the Tax Case Appeal was disposed of. The court did not decide on the merits of the substantial questions of law raised.

What were the facts?

The Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai (Revenue) filed a Tax Case Appeal before the High Court of Judicature at Madras challenging an order dated 03.09.2019 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) in ITA No.206/Chny/2019 for the assessment year 2015-16. The ITAT's order had set aside the Assessing Officer's (AO) order for re-examination and remitted the issue back to the AO. The appeal was admitted on substantial questions of law. During the pendency of the appeal, the assessee, Shri Vinond Kumar, availed the benefit of the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Act, 2020, filed declarations, and received a Form 5 order for full and final settlement of tax arrears on 19.04.2021.

What were the issues?

The High Court had to decide the following substantial questions of law: 1. Whether the Tribunal was right in setting aside the AO's order for re-examination, considering the AO had already considered all material. 2. Whether the Tribunal was right in remitting the issue back to the AO, shifting the onus to the Revenue to prove the assessee's role in promoting the company, their relation to promoters, and price inflation, when the AO and SEBI had already conducted such an exercise. 3. Whether the Tribunal's finding was perverse, as it was contrary to the principle that the party asserting a fact bears the initial burden of proof. Assessee's arguments: No appearance was recorded for the assessee. Revenue's arguments: The Revenue contended that the Tribunal erred in setting aside the AO's order, remitting the issue back to the AO, and shifting the burden of proof, especially when the AO and SEBI had already conducted extensive inquiries. The Revenue argued that the Tribunal's decision was perverse and contrary to established legal principles regarding the burden of proof.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 260A

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

Tax Case Appeal No.249 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.249 of 2020 The Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai ... Appellant Vs. Shri Vinond Kumar, Old No.24, New No.2, Veeraswamy Street, Royapuram, Chennai 600 013 PAN: ABYPV1876E

... Respondent Tax Case Appeal filed under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras “A- SMC” Bench, Chennai, passed in I.T.A.No.206/Chny/2019, dated 03.09.2019 for the assessment year 2015-16. For Appellant : Mr.T.Ravikumar Standing Counsel For Respondent : No appearance Page 1/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Tax Case Appeal No.249 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 03.09.2019 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras “A-SMC” Bench, Chennai ('the Tribunal', for brevity) in I.T.A.No.206/Chny/2019 for the assessment year 2015-16. 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 and 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.249 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 AO and the SEBI? 3. Is not the finding of the Tribunal perverse especially when the decision of the Tribunal is contrary to the time tested principal 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 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, was also issued by the Income tax department, on 19.04.2021. 4.In view of the subsequent development, this court is of the opinion that nothing survives for adjudication in this appeal. Recording the submission so made by the learned counsel for the appellant/Revenue, the Page 3/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Tax Case Appeal No.249 of 2020 Tax Case Appeal stands disposed of. 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 “A-SMC” Bench, Chennai, 2.The Income Tax Officer, Non Corporate Ward -6(4), 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.249 of 2020 R. MAHADEVAN, J and MOHAMMED SHAFFIQ, J. msr Tax Case Appeal No.249 of 2020

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

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