PRICE WATER HOUSE & CO. vs. PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF

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TCA/511/2018HC Madras17 December 2020Bench: Hon`ble Mr Justice T. S. SIVAGNANAM4 pages
AI SummaryWithdrawn

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court noted that the assessee had filed a declaration under the Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme, and orders were passed thereon. Consequently, the appeal was disposed of with liberty granted to the assessee to restore the appeal if the ultimate decision under the Scheme 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. The substantial questions of law framed were left open. No costs were awarded. The specific findings of the ITAT on the reopening of assessment and change of opinion were not adjudicated by the High Court.

What were the facts?

The assessee, Price Waterhouse & Co., Chennai, filed an appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, against an order dated 21.9.2017 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Chennai 'C' Bench. The appeal pertains to the assessment year 2010-11. The High Court admitted the appeal on substantial questions of law concerning the validity of reopening the assessment and whether the ITAT's finding of no change of opinion was perverse. During the pendency of the appeal, the assessee filed a declaration under the Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme on 04.12.2020, and orders were passed on 15.12.2020.

What were the issues?

The High Court was to decide the following substantial questions of law: 1. Whether, under the facts and circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in holding that the reopening of the assessment is valid? 2. Is the finding of the Tribunal that there was no change of opinion not perverse, particularly when the reopening was made based on the material available before the Assessing Officer, which were examined in the course of the original assessment? The Assessee's contentions were not recorded as the matter was disposed of due to subsequent events. The Revenue's contentions were also not recorded.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 260A

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

TCA.No.511 of 2018 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 17.12.2020 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE T.S.SIVAGNANAM and THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN Tax Case Appeal No.511 of 2018

Price Waterhouse & Co., Chennai-6 ...Appellant Vs The Principal Commissioner of Income Tax-5, Chennai ...Respondent APPEAL under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order dated 21.9.2017 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras 'C' Bench, Chennai made in I.T.A.No.229/Mds/2017 for the assessment year 2010-11. For Appellant: Mr.N.V.Balaji For Respondent: Mr.T.Ravikumar, SSC Judgment was delivered by

T.S.SIVAGNANAM

This appeal has been filed by the assessee under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 ('the Act' for brevity) challenging the order 1/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ TCA.No.511 of 2018 dated 21.9.2017 made in I.T.A.No.229/Mds/2017 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai, 'C' Bench ('the Tribunal' for brevity) for the assessment year 2010-11. 2. The appeal was admitted on 16.8.2018 on the following substantial questions of law : “1. Whether, under facts and circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in holding that the reopening of the assessment is valid? 2. Is the finding of the Tribunal that there was no change of opinion not perverse particularly when the reopening was made based on the material available before the Assessing Officer, which were examined in the course of original assessment?” 3. We have heard Mr.N.V.Balaji, learned counsel for the appellant/assessee and Mr.T.Ravikumar, learned Senior Standing Counsel appearing for the respondent/Revenue. 4. The learned counsel on behalf of the assessee submits that the assessee already filed the declaration/undertaking under the Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme on 04.12.2020 and orders were passed on 15.12.2020 in Form No.3. 2/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ TCA.No.511 of 2018 5. In the light of the subsequent event, the assessee is given liberty to restore this appeal in the event the ultimate decision taken on the declaration 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 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. Consequently, the substantial questions of law framed are left open. No costs. 17.12.2020 To 1.The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, 'C' Bench, Chennai. 2.The Principal Commissioner of Income Tax-5, Chennai RS 3/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ TCA.No.511 of 2018 T.S.SIVAGNANAM,J AND V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN,J RS TCA.No.511 of 2018 17.12.2020 4/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/

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