COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX vs. B.S.VENKATESAN

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TCA/363/2019HC Madras23 September 2020Bench: Hon`ble Mr Justice T. S. SIVAGNANAM4 pages
AI SummaryDismissed

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court dismissed the appeal filed by the Revenue. The dismissal was based on the Revenue's submission that the appeal was not being pursued due to a low tax effect, in accordance with CBDT Circular No. 17/2019, which increased the monetary limit for pursuing appeals before the High Court to Rs. 1 Crore. The Court noted that the tax effect in this case was below the threshold. Consequently, the substantial questions of law raised by the Revenue were left open. The Revenue was granted liberty to seek restoration of the appeal if the tax effect was found to be above the threshold limit, for a decision on merits. No costs were awarded.

What were the facts?

The Revenue, Commissioner of Income Tax, Ward 2, Vellore, filed an appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, against an order dated January 22, 2019, passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai 'A' Bench. The appeal pertains to assessment year 2010-11 and concerns a property whose ownership was disputed between the individual assessee, Shri B.S. Venkatesan, and a Hindu Undivided Family (HUF). The Revenue challenged the Tribunal's finding that the property belonged to the HUF. The appeal was listed before the High Court of Judicature at Madras.

What were the issues?

The High Court was to decide the following substantial questions of law: 1. Whether the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal was correct in holding that the property belongs to the HUF and not to the individual assessee? 2. Whether the Tribunal was correct in holding that the property belongs to the HUF when this plea was not raised before lower authorities, who thus had no opportunity to adjudicate it? 3. Whether the Tribunal erred in holding that the property belongs to the HUF when there was no material on record to support the assessee's claim, and whether the alleged HUF had a PAN or disclosed the property in its accounts? The Revenue argued that the Tribunal erred in its findings on these points. The judgment does not record specific arguments from the assessee's side regarding these issues, nor does it mention any specific authorities, circulars, or precedents relied upon by either party.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 260A

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

TCA.No.363 of 2019 In the High Court of Judicature at Madras Dated : 23.9.2020 Coram : The Honourable Mr.Justice T.S.SIVAGNANAM and The Honourable Mrs.Justice V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN Tax Case Appeal No.363 of 2019 The Commissioner of Income Tax, Ward 2, Vellore-1. ...Appellant Vs Shri B.S.Venkatesan ...Respondent APPEAL under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order dated 22.1.2019 made in ITA.No.736/Chny/2018 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai 'A' Bench for the assessment year 2010-11. For Appellant: Mrs.V.Pushpa, SC For Respondent: Mr.B.Christ Das Judgment was delivered by

T.S.Sivagnanam,J

We have heard Mrs.V.Pushpa, learned Standing Counsel appearing for the appellant – Revenue and Mr.B.Christ Das learned counsel appearing for the respondent – assessee. 1/4 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.363 of 2019 2. This appeal, filed by the Revenue under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (for short, the Act) is directed against the order dated 22.1.2019 made in ITA.No.736/Chny/2018 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai 'A' Bench (for brevity, the Tribunal) for the assessment year 2010-11. 3. The Revenue has filed this appeal by raising the following substantial questions of law : “i. Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal was right in holding that the property belongs to HUF and not to be assessable in the hands of the individual assessee ? ii. Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal was right in holding that the property belongs to HUF when such plea was not raised by the assessee before any of the Lower Authorities and they did not have any opportunity to adjudicate the same ? and iii. Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal erred in holding that the property belongs to HUF when there is no material on record to support the claim of the assessee and whether the alleged HUF has any PAN or the property has been disclosed it is accounts ? ” 2/4 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.363 of 2019 4. The learned Senior Standing Counsel for the appellant submits that the above appeal is not pursued by the Revenue on account of the low tax effect in terms of Circular No.17/2019 dated 08.8.2019 issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes. By the said Circular, the monetary limit for filing or pursuing an appeal before the High Court has been increased to Rs.1 Crore. It is further submitted that the tax effect in this case is less than the threshold limit. 5. In the light of the said submissions, the above tax case appeal is dismissed on account of the low tax effect. The substantial questions of law raised are left open. In the event the tax effect is above the threshold limit fixed in the said circular, liberty is granted to the Revenue to make a mention to this Court to restore the appeal to be heard and decided on merits. No costs. 23.9.2020 To The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai 'A' Bench. RS 3/4 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.363 of 2019 T.S.SIVAGNANAM,J AND V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN,J RS TCA.No.363 of 2019 23.9.2020 4/4 http://www.judis.nic.in

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