PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER vs. N. MUTHUSAMY
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court dismissed the appeals filed by the Revenue. The dismissal was based on the submission by the Revenue that the appeals were not being pursued due to low tax effect, as per a CBDT circular. Consequently, the substantial questions of law framed at the time of admission were left open and not decided on merits. The Court granted liberty to the Revenue to seek restoration of the appeals if the tax effect was found to be above the threshold limit fixed in the circular, in which case they would be heard and decided on merits. No finding was given on any of the substantial questions of law.
What were the facts?
The Revenue, represented by the Principal Commissioner of Income Tax, filed five appeals (T.C.A.Nos.641 to 645 of 2018) before the High Court of Judicature at Madras. These appeals challenged an order dated 19.10.2017 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Madras "A" Bench, concerning assessment years 2007-12. The ITAT's order was in relation to Income Tax Appeal Nos.1030 to 1033 and 1036/Mds/2017. The appeals were admitted by the High Court on 19.11.2018, based on substantial questions of law framed for determination. However, during the proceedings, the Revenue submitted that the appeals were not being pursued due to low tax effect, citing a circular issued by the CBDT.
What were the issues?
The High Court was required to decide four substantial questions of law. 1. Whether the ITAT erred in holding that assessment under Section 153A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, can only be based on incriminating material, disregarding the principle that under the new search assessment procedure, the 'total income' is to be determined, not just income related to the search? This question turns on Section 153A. 2. Whether the ITAT correctly interpreted the wording of Section 153A, noting its difference from Section 158BC of the Income Tax Act? This question also concerns Section 153A. 3. Whether, under Section 153A, the Assessing Officer is eligible to tax all hitherto untaxed income, in addition to income detected from a search under Section 132? This question relates to Section 153A and Section 132. 4. Whether the ITAT was correct in not following the judgment of the Kerala High Court in K.N. Gopakumar Vs. CIT (Central)? This question concerns precedent. The Revenue argued that the ITAT's interpretation of Section 153A was incorrect, and that the Assessing Officer should be able to bring to tax all untaxed income. The Revenue also contended that the ITAT failed to follow a relevant High Court judgment. The judgment records no specific arguments from the respondent assessee, Shri N. Muthusamy, on these questions.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
T.C.A.Nos.641 to 645 of 2018 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 07.07.2020 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE T.S.SIVAGNANAM & THE HON'BLE MRS.JUSTICE V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN Tax Case Appeal Nos.641 to 645 of 2018 Principal Commissioner of Income Tax Central 2 No.108, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Chennai. ... Appellant in all the appeals. Vs. Shri.N.Muthusamy ... Respondent in all the appeals Tax Case Appeals are filed under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act 1961 against the order dated 19.10.2017 made in I.T.A.Nos.1030 to 1033 and 1036/Mds/2017 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras “A” Bench, for the assessment years 2007 - 12.
For Appellant : Mr.T.R.Senthil Kumar in all the appeals
For Respondent : Mr.A.S.Sriraman in all the appeals Common Judgment
(Judgment was delivered by T.S.SIVAGNANAM.J) We have heard Mr.T.R.Senthil Kumar, learned counsel for the 1/4 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.Nos.641 to 645 of 2018 appellant and Mr.A.S.Sriraman, accepting notice for the respondent. 2. These appeals, filed by the Revenue under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 are directed against the order dated 19.10.2017 made in I.T.A.Nos.1030 to 1033 and 1036/Mds/2017 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras “A” Bench, for the assessment years 2007 - 12. 3. The Tax case appeals were admitted on 19.11.2018 on the following substantial questions of law : “i. Whether the Appellate Tribunal is correct in holding that the assessment can be done under Section 153A of the Income Tax Act only based on incriminating material ignoring the fact that under the new procedure of search assessment, it is the 'total income' that is to be determined and not merely the income relating to search? ii. Whether the Appellate Tribunal has correctly interpreted the wording of Section 153A, which are different from that of Section 158BC of the Income Tax Act? iii. Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, under Section 153A of the Income Tax Act, the Assessing Officer is not eligible to bring to tax all the income, which was hitherto untaxed besides the income detected on account of search conducted under Section 132 of the Income Tax Act? And 2/4 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.Nos.641 to 645 of 2018 iv. Whether the Appellate Tribunal is correct in not following the recent judgment of the Kerala High Court in the case of K.N.Gopakumar Vs. CIT (Central) [reported in 75 Taxmann.com 250]?” 4. It is submitted that the circular issued by the CBDT would apply and these appeals are not pursued by the revenue on account of low tax effect. 5. Accordingly, the tax case appeals are 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 appeals to be heard and decided on merits.
(T.S.S.J.,) (V.B.S.J.,)
07.07.2020 raja Index : yes/no Internet : yes/no Speaking Order/Non-Speaking Order To The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, “A” Bench, Chennai. 3/4 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.Nos.641 to 645 of 2018 T.S.SIVAGNANAM.J., and V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN.J., raja Tax Case Appeal Nos.641 to 645 of 2018 07.07.2020 4/4 http://www.judis.nic.in
More judgments on Section 153A
- ACIT Central Bilaspur, Bilaspur vs Arun Kumar Agrawal, SaktiITSSA 26/RPR/2025[2018-19]Status: Disposed21 Oct 2026AY 2018-19
- Ashok Singh, Jaipur vs ACIT, Circle-2 Jaipur, JaipurITA 1540/JPR/2025[2015-16]Status: Disposed21 Oct 2026AY 2015-16
- Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax, Central… vs Ig3 Infra Limited, KanchipuramITA 2578/CHNY/2026[2020-21]Status: Disposed16 Oct 2026AY 2020-21
- Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax, Central… vs Ig3 Infra Limited, OggiamthoraipakkaITA 2577/CHNY/2026[2019-20]Status: Disposed16 Oct 2026AY 2019-20
- Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax, Central… vs Shanmugham Thiagarajan, ChennaiITA 2576/CHNY/2026[2020-21]Status: Disposed16 Oct 2026AY 2020-21
Recent GST High Court judgments
Search GST case law →- Capri Global Capital LTD Through Represented By Its Law Officer Mr. Varun Kaljoria vs. The State Of Madhya Pradesh Through Principal SecretaryMadhya Pradesh · 26 Oct 2026
- Sri Tatiparthy Venkata Swamy vs. The State Of Andhra PradeshAndhra Pradesh · 25 Oct 2026
- Piyush Shantilal Veera vs. State Of U.P.Allahabad · 23 Oct 2026
- Tvl. Pooja Shri Traders vs. The Deputy State Tax Officer - 1Madras · 23 Oct 2026
- Aashutosh vs. The State Of Madhy PradeshMadhya Pradesh · 23 Oct 2026