M/S.KEC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED vs. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court noted that the ITAT, by its order dated December 29, 2016, had set aside the CIT(A)'s order and remitted the entire issue back to the CIT(A) for a fresh decision on merits, stating that reassessment proceedings were valid but that the CIT(A) had not made proper findings. Crucially, subsequent to this remand, the CIT(A) passed an order on March 27, 2019, for the same Assessment Year 2008-2009, which was in favor of the assessee. In light of this subsequent development and the fresh order by the CIT(A), the High Court considered the present appeal filed by the Revenue to have become infructuous. Therefore, the Court disposed of the appeal, leaving all questions open. No operative directions were issued regarding the merits of the original issues.
What were the facts?
The Revenue, Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax (ACIT), filed a Tax Case Appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, challenging an order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Chennai, dated December 29, 2016. The ITAT's order pertained to Assessment Year 2008-2009 and had set aside the order of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) (CIT(A)), remitting the entire issue back to the CIT(A) for a fresh decision on merits. Subsequently, the CIT(A) passed an order on March 27, 2019, in favor of the assessee, M/s. KEC International Limited. The assessee's counsel submitted that the issue of the validity of reassessment proceedings, as held by the Tribunal, should be kept open if the Revenue appeals the CIT(A)'s subsequent order.
What were the issues?
The High Court was to decide the following substantial questions of law: 1. Whether the Tribunal was legally correct in holding that the reopening of assessment under Section 147 was valid without considering the assessee's submissions? 2. Whether the Tribunal was legally correct in holding that the Assessing Officer could make a disallowance on an issue not raised in the reasons for reopening under Section 147? 3. Whether the Tribunal was legally correct in not following the decisions of the Bombay High Court in CIT Vs. Jet Airways(I) Ltd. and the Delhi High Court in Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited Vs. CIT, which favored the assessee on the same issue? The Revenue contended that the reopening of assessment was valid and that the Assessing Officer could make disallowances on issues not initially specified in the reopening notice. The Assessee argued that the reopening was invalid and that the disallowance was beyond the scope of the reasons provided for reopening. The Assessee also relied on the Bombay and Delhi High Court judgments.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Judgt. dt. 10.9.2020 in T.C.(A)629/2017 KEC International Ltd. v. ACIT 1/5 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 10.9.2020 CORAM THE HON'BLE DR.JUSTICE VINEET KOTHARI AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE KRISHNAN RAMASAMY Tax Case (Appeal) No.629 of 2017 M/s.KEC International Limited, (Formerly known as RPG Transmission Ltd.,) DLF City, Phase-II, Gurgaon, Haryana 122 002. Appellant Vs. The Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax, Corporate Circle 4(2), Chennai 600 034. Respondent Tax Case (Appeal) filed under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, 'A' Bench, Chennai, dated 29.12.2016 made in ITA No.431/Mds/2016. For Appellant : Mr.R.Vijayaraghavan for M/s.Subbaraya Aiyar Padmanabhan For Respondent : Mr.Karthik Ranganathan Senior Standing Counsel JUDGMENT (Delivered by DR.VINEET KOTHARI,J) The Revenue has filed this Tax Case under Section 260-A of the Income Tax Act by raising the following purported substantial http://www.judis.nic.in Judgt. dt. 10.9.2020 in T.C.(A)629/2017 KEC International Ltd. v. ACIT 2/5 questions of law arising from the order passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal on 29.12.2016 for the Assessment Year 2008- 2009:- "(i) Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in law in holding that reopening of assessment under Section 147 is valid without considering the submissions of the appellant ? (ii) Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in law in holding that the Assessing Officer can make a disallowance on an issue, which was not raised in the reasons for reopening the assessment under Section 147? And (iii) Whether on the facts and the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in law in not following the decisions of the Bombay High Court in CIT Vs. Jet Airways(I) Ltd. [331 ITR 236] and the Delhi High Court in Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited Vs. CIT [336 ITR 136], which have held in favour of the assessee on the very same issue?" 2. Heard Mr.R.Vijayaraghavan, learned counsel appearing for the Appellant/Assessee and Mr.Karthik Ranganathan, learned Senior http://www.judis.nic.in Judgt. dt. 10.9.2020 in T.C.(A)629/2017 KEC International Ltd. v. ACIT 3/5 Standing Counsel appearing for the Respondent/Revenue. 3. The learned counsels at Bar submitted that by the impugned order dated 29.12.2016, the Tribunal had set aside the order of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeal) and restored the entire issue to the file of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeal). 4. Para 9 of the order dated 29.12.2016 is quoted below for ready reference:- "9. We considering the Apparent facts, material on record and judicial decisions are of the opinion that the re-assessment proceedings are valid and order of CIT(A) is set aside as there is no proper findings on the disputed issue and accordingly, we remit the entire issue to the file of the CIT(A) and to pass the order on merits with speaking order and assessee shall be provided an adequate opportunity of hearing before the disposal of the appeal." 5. The learned counsels further submitted that subsequent to the order of remand, the learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeal) has passed an order for the same Assessment Year 2008- 2009 on 27th March 2019 in favour of the Assessee. http://www.judis.nic.in Judgt. dt. 10.9.2020 in T.C.(A)629/2017 KEC International Ltd. v. ACIT 4/5 6. However, the learned counsel for the Assessee, Mr.R.Vijayaraghavan submits that as far as the finding of the learned Tribunal that the re-assessment proceedings is valid as observed in its order dated 29.12.2016, that issue deserves to be kept open if the Revenue files any Appeal as against the order of the learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeal) dated 27.3.2019 before the learned Tribunal. 7. In view of the subsequent development in the matter and fresh order having been passed by the learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeal) on 27.3.2019 for the same Assessment Year 2008-2009, we are of the opinion that the present Appeal filed by the Assessee has become infructuous. Therefore, leaving all the questions open, we dispose of the present Appeal as infructuous. No order as to costs. (V.K.,J.) (K.R.,J.) 10.9.2020 Index : Yes/No Internet : Yes/No ssk. http://www.judis.nic.in Judgt. dt. 10.9.2020 in T.C.(A)629/2017 KEC International Ltd. v. ACIT 5/5 DR.VINEET KOTHARI, J. and KRISHNAN RAMASAMY, J. ssk. T.C.(A) No.629 of 2017 10.9.2020 http://www.judis.nic.in
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