TEH COMMISSIONER OF INCOME T vs. M/S DHARANI SUGARS & CHAMICAL
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court dismissed the appeal filed by the Revenue. The dismissal was based on the submission made by the learned Senior Standing Counsel for the appellant (Revenue) that the appeal was not being pursued due to low tax effect, in terms of CBDT Circular No. 17/2019. This circular increased the monetary limit for filing or pursuing appeals before the High Court to Rs. 1 Crore, and the tax effect in this case was stated to be below this threshold. Consequently, the substantial questions of law framed were left open. The Revenue was granted liberty to mention the case to the Court to restore the appeal for hearing and decision on merits if the tax effect was found to be above the threshold limit fixed in the circular. No decision was made on the merits of the substantial questions of law.
What were the facts?
The Revenue, Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai, filed an appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, against an order dated 14.8.2015 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Chennai 'A' Bench. The appeal pertains to assessment year 2004-05 and challenges the ITAT's decision to set aside an order passed under Section 263. The assessee is M/s. Dharani Sugars & Chemicals Ltd., Chennai. The respondent (assessee) was not ready in notice. The appeal was admitted on substantial questions of law.
What were the issues?
The Tribunal had to decide the following substantial questions of law: 1. Whether the Tribunal was right in setting aside the order passed under Section 263 on the ground that there was no finding recorded that the assessment order was erroneous and prejudicial to the interest of revenue? 2. Whether the finding of the Tribunal is bad, especially when the Commissioner of Income Tax, while passing the order under Section 263, had given a categorical finding that the order passed by the Assessing Officer (AO) was erroneous and had also found that an amount of Rs. 2.04 crores, being cessation of liability, was claimed as a deduction under Section 43B by the assessee without it being written back to the profit and loss account in the computation statement? 3. Whether the finding of the Tribunal is proper, especially when the notice issued under Section 263 dated 20.2.2009 clearly stated the reasons that the assessment made was erroneous and prejudicial to the interest of the revenue? The Revenue contended that the ITAT's finding was bad, as the Commissioner had indeed recorded categorical findings of the assessment order being erroneous and prejudicial to the revenue, citing the issue of cessation of liability claimed as deduction. The Revenue relied on the notice issued under Section 263 which purportedly stated these reasons. The judgment does not record any specific arguments from the assessee.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
TCA.No.440 of 2016 In the High Court of Judicature at Madras Dated : 30.8.2019 Coram : The Honourable Mr.Justice T.S.SIVAGNANAM and The Honourable Mrs.Justice V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN Tax Case Appeal No.440 of 2016 The Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai ...Appellant Vs M/s.Dharani Sugars & Chemicals Ltd., Chennai-34. ...Respondent APPEAL under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order dated 14.8.2015 made in ITA.No.217/Mds/2010 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai 'A' Bench for the assessment year 2004-05. For Appellant: Mr.T.Ravikumar, SSC and Mrs.R.Hemalatha, SSC Respondent: Not ready in notice Judgment was delivered by
T.S.Sivagnanam,J
We have heard Mr.T.Ravikumar and Mrs.R.Hemalatha, learned Senior Standing Counsel appearing for the appellant – Revenue.
1/4 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.440 of 2016 2. This appeal, filed by the Revenue under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 is directed against the order dated 14.8.2015 made in ITA.No. 217/Mds/2010 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai 'A' Bench for the assessment year 2004-05. 3. The appeal was admitted on 13.7.2016 on the following substantial questions of law : “i. Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in setting aside the order passed under Section 263 on the ground that there was no finding recorded that the assessment order was erroneous and prejudicial to the interest of revenue? ii. It is not the finding of the Tribunal bad especially when the Commissioner of Income tax while passing order under Section 263 had given categorical finding that the order passed by the AO is erroneous and had also given clear finding that an amount of Rs.2.04 crores being cessation of liability and that the assessee has not actually incurred the said expenditure but had claimed it as a deduction under Section 43B without the same written back to the profit and loss account in the computation statement? and iii. Whether the finding of the Tribunal is proper especially when the notice issued under Section 263 dated 20.2.2009 clearly states the 2/4 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.440 of 2016 reasons that the assessment made was erroneous and prejudicial to the interest of the revenue?" 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 framed 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.
(T.S.S.J.) (V.B.S.J.) 30.8.2019 Speaking (or) Non Speaking Order Index : Yes (or) No Internet: Yes (or) No To The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai 'A' Bench. RS 3/4 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.440 of 2016 T.S.SIVAGNANAM,J AND V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN,J RS TCA.No.440 of 2016 30.8.2019 4/4 http://www.judis.nic.in
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