COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX vs. SHRI SUNIL CHOPRA
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court noted that the assessee had filed a declaration under the Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme, 2020, and was awaiting orders. In light of this subsequent event, the Court directed the Competent Authority to process the application under the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Act, 2020, and pass appropriate orders expeditiously. The assessee was granted liberty to restore the appeal if the decision on their declaration was not in their favour. If such a prayer was made, the Registry was directed to entertain it without insisting on a condonation of delay application. Consequently, the substantial questions of law framed were left open, and the tax case appeal was disposed of. No costs were awarded. The judgment does not provide findings on the merits of the substantial questions of law.
What were the facts?
The Revenue, represented by the Commissioner of Income Tax, Non Corporate Circle 14(4), Chennai, has filed an appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, against an order dated March 4, 2020, passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Chennai. The ITAT's order was in relation to ITA No. 2923/Chny/2018 for the assessment year 2015-16. The appeal challenges the ITAT's decision to set aside the Assessing Officer's order and remit the issue back to the Assessing Officer for further examination. The assessee is Shri Sunil Chopra. The appeal was listed for hearing before the High Court of Judicature at Madras.
What were the issues?
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 and fact, concerning the powers of the ITAT to remand). 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 law and fact, concerning the directions given by the ITAT for re-examination and burden of proof). 3. Whether the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal was right in not adjudicating the several grounds raised by the appellant and thereby not giving an opportunity of being heard? (Question of law, concerning procedural fairness and right to be heard). Assessee's Contention: The assessee's counsel submitted that the assessee had filed a declaration under the Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme on March 22, 2020, and was awaiting orders. Revenue's Contention: The judgment does not record any specific contentions from the Revenue regarding the substantial questions of law. However, the appeal itself is filed by the Revenue challenging the ITAT's order.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
TCA.No.426 of 2020 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 18.01.2021 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE T.S.SIVAGNANAM and THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE R.N.MANJULA Tax Case Appeal No.426 of 2020 Commissioner of Income Tax, Non Corporate Circle 14(4), Chennai. ...Appellant Vs Shri Sunil Chopra ...Respondent APPEAL under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order dated 04.03.2020 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras 'A' Bench, Chennai made in I.T.A.No.2923/Chny/2018 for the assessment year 2015-16. For Appellant : Mr.M.Swaminathan Standing Counsel For Respondent : Mr.P.Prithivi Chopda 1/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ TCA.No.426 of 2020 Judgment was delivered by
T.S.SIVAGNANAM
,J This appeal has been filed by the assessee under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 ('the Act' for brevity) challenging the order dated 04.03.2020 made in I.T.A.No.2923/Chny/2018 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai, 'A' Bench ('the Tribunal' for brevity) for the assessment year 2015-16. 2.The appeal has been filed by raising the following substantial questions of law: “1.Whether 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 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.Whether the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal was 2/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ TCA.No.426 of 2020 right in not adjudicating the several grounds raised by the appellant and thereby not giving an opportunity of being heard?” 3.We have heard Mr.M.Swaminthan, learned counsel appearing for the appellant/revenue and Mr.P.Prithivi Chopda, learned counsel appearing for the respondent/assessee. 4.The learned counsel on behalf of the appellant/assessee submits that the respondent/assessee already filed the declaration/ undertaking under the Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme on 22.03.2020 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 filed by the assessee under Section 4 of the said Act is not in favour of the assessee. If 3/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ TCA.No.426 of 2020 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 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 framed are left open. No costs. (T.S.S.,J.) (R.N.M.,J.) 08.01.2021 cse To The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, 'A' Bench, Chennai. 4/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ TCA.No.426 of 2020 T.S.SIVAGNANAM,J AND R.N.MANJULA
,J cse TCA.No.426 of 2020 18.01.2021 5/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/
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