M/S.SUNDARAM FASTENERS vs. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIIONER
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court disposed of the appeal based on a subsequent event: the assessee's filing of a declaration under the Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme. The Court directed the Competent Authority to process the application under the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Act, 2020, and pass appropriate orders. The assessee was granted liberty to restore the appeal if the decision on their declaration was not in their favour. In such an event, the Registry was instructed to entertain the restoration petition without requiring a condonation of delay application. Consequently, the substantial questions of law were left undecided. No costs were awarded, and the connected civil miscellaneous petition was closed.
What were the facts?
The assessee, M/s. Sundaram Fasteners Ltd., filed an appeal before the High Court of Judicature at Madras against an order dated 26.4.2017 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Chennai. The appeal pertains to the assessment year 2004-05. The core of the dispute revolves around the levy of penalty under Section 271(1)(c) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, in relation to a claim for depreciation on a hardening and tempering furnace. The assessee had filed a declaration under the Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme on 03.09.2020, and was awaiting orders. The High Court noted this subsequent development in its proceedings.
What were the issues?
The Tribunal had to decide the following substantial questions of law: 1. Whether the Tribunal was correct in holding that penalty under Section 271(1)(c) of the Act is leviable on the entire claim of depreciation on the hardening and tempering furnace which was kept ready for use in the relevant assessment year? 2. Whether the Tribunal was correct in not appreciating that the appellant's claim of depreciation was not on a fictitious asset and not on expenditure found to be bogus or not genuine? 3. Whether, if the claim of depreciation made in the return of income and all material facts were furnished, the disallowance of such claim automatically leads to a conclusion of concealment of particulars or furnishing inaccurate particulars? 4. Whether the Tribunal was correct in sustaining the levy of penalty under Section 271(1)(c) without appreciating that the appellant had produced all material facts relating to the claim of depreciation (cost, date of addition, supplier's name, invoice copy, bill of entry, etc.) during assessment, and these facts were not in dispute? Assessee's Contentions: The assessee argued that the depreciation claim was not on a fictitious asset and that all material facts were furnished during the assessment. They contended that disallowance should not automatically lead to a penalty for concealment. Revenue's Contentions: The judgment does not record specific contentions made by the Revenue.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
TCA.No.345 of 2018 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 04.11.2020 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE T.S.SIVAGNANAM and THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN Tax Case Appeal No.345 of 2018 & CMP.No.6564 of 2018
M/s.Sundaram Fasteners Ltd., Chennai-4 ...Appellant Vs The Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax, Company Circle VI(4), now Corporate Circle 6(2), Chennai–34. ...Respondent APPEAL under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order dated 26.4.2017 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras 'D' Bench, Chennai made in I.T.A.No.590/Mds/2012 for the assessment year 2004-05. For Appellant: Mr.R.Vijayaraghavan for M/s.Subbaraya Aiyer Padmanabhan For Respondent: Mr.J.Narayanasamy, SSC Judgment was delivered by
T.S.SIVAGNANAM
This appeal has been filed by the assessee under Section 260A of 1/4 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.345 of 2018 the Income Tax Act, 1961 ('the Act' for brevity) challenging the order dated 26.4.2017 made in I.T.A.No.590/Mds/2012 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai, 'D' Bench ('the Tribunal' for brevity) for the assessment year 2004-05. 2. The assessee preferred this appeal by raising the following substantial questions of law: “i. Whether the Tribunal was right in law in holding that the penalty under Section 271(1)(c) of the Act is leviable on the entire claim of depreciation on the hardening and tempering furnace which was kept ready for use in the relevant assessment year ? ii. Whether the Tribunal was right in law in not appreciating that the appellant's claim of depreciation was not made on a fictitious asset and further, it is not the case where a claim of depreciation was made on expenditure which was found to be bogus or not genuine ? iii. Whether the claim of depreciation made in the return of income and all the material facts relevant thereto has been furnished, the disallowance of such claim of depreciation will automatically lead to the conclusion that there was concealment of particulars of income or furnishing inaccurate particulars thereof ? And 2/4 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.345 of 2018 iv. Whether the Tribunal was right in law in sustaining the levy of penalty under Section 271(1)(c) of the Act without appreciating that the appellant has produced all material facts relating to the claim of depreciation viz cost, date of addition, supplier's name, invoice copy, bill of entry, etc., during the course of assessment and the same is not in dispute?” 3. We have heard Mr.R.Vijayaraghavan,, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant/assessee and Mr.J.Narayanasamy, learned Senior Standing Counsel appearing for the respondent/ Revenue. 4. The learned counsel on behalf of the appellant/assessee submits that the appellant/assessee already filed the declaration/ undertaking under the Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme on 03.9.2020 and is awaiting orders to be passed in Form No.3. 5. In the light of the subsequent event, the Competent Authority shall process the application/declaration in accordance with the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Act, 2020 (Act 3 of 2020) and pass appropriate orders as expeditiously as possible. The assessee is given liberty to restore this appeal in the event the ultimate decision to be taken on the declaration to be 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 3/4 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.345 of 2018 T.S.SIVAGNANAM,J AND V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN,J RS 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. 6. The tax case appeal stands disposed of with the aforementioned liberty and Consequently, the substantial questions of law are left open. No costs. Consequently, the connected CMP is closed. 04.11.2020 To 1.The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, 'D' Bench, Chennai. 2.The Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax, Company Circle VI(4), now Corporate Circle 6(2), Chennai–34. TCA.No.345 of 2018& CMP.No.6564 of 2018 4/4 http://www.judis.nic.in
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