PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF IN vs. M/S. AALAYA JEWEL INDUSTRY P

PDF · subscribers
TCA/756/2018HC Madras28 August 2019Bench: Hon`ble Mr Justice T. S. SIVAGNANAM4 pages
AI SummaryDismissed

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court dismissed the appeal filed by the Revenue on account of low tax effect, citing Circular No. 17/2019 of the Central Board of Direct Taxes, which increased the monetary limit for pursuing appeals before the High Court to Rs. 1 Crore. The Court noted that the tax effect in this case was below this threshold. Consequently, the substantial questions of law were left open. The Revenue was granted liberty to mention the case for restoration if the tax effect was found to be above the circular's limit. No costs were awarded. The ITAT's order was not decided on its merits.

What were the facts?

The Revenue, Principal Commissioner of Income Tax I, filed an appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, against an order dated 05.04.2018 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Chennai 'D' Bench. The appeal pertained to assessment year 2013-14 and challenged the ITAT's decision to set aside the final assessment order passed by the Assessing Officer. The assessee is M/s. Aalaya Jewel Industry Private Limited. The core of the dispute revolved around the procedural correctness of the assessment order while objections were pending before the Dispute Resolution Panel (DRP). The High Court heard arguments from both the Revenue and the assessee.

What were the issues?

The High Court was asked to decide two substantial questions of law: 1. Whether the ITAT was correct in setting aside the final assessment order dated 22.03.2017 as barred by limitation under Section 144C(4) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, when the assessee's objections were pending before the DRP, and the DRP had fixed a hearing date with notice to the Assessing Officer. 2. Whether the ITAT was correct in holding that the Assessing Officer should not pass an assessment order without waiting for the DRP's directions under Section 144C(5) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, while the assessee's application was pending before the DRP. The Revenue argued that the ITAT erred in its findings on these points. The judgment does not record specific arguments from the assessee regarding these issues, but their counsel appeared before the court.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 260A,Section 144C

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

TCA.No.756 of 2018 In the High Court of Judicature at Madras Dated : 28.08.2019 Coram : The Honourable Mr.Justice T.S.SIVAGNANAM and The Honourable Mrs.Justice V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN Tax Case Appeal No.756 of 2018 Principal Commissioner of Income Tax I, 63, Race Course Road, Coimbatore - 641 018. ...Appellant Vs M/s.Aalaya Jewel Industry Private Limted, 80/1, 1st Floor, Govindasamy Layout, Balaji Avenue, Coimbatore - 641 001. PAN: AABCC2461K ...Respondent APPEAL under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order dated 05.04.2018 made in ITA.No.971/MDS/2017 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai 'D' Bench for the assessment year 2013-14. For Appellant : Mr.T.R.Senthilkumar, SSC assisted by Ms.K.G.Usharani For Respondent : Mr.Joseph Prabakar JUDGMENT (Judgment was delivered by T.S.Sivagnanam,J.) We have heard Mr.T.R.Senthilkumar, learned Senior Standing Counsel, assisted by Ms.K.G.Usharani, learned counsel appearing for the 1/4 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.756 of 2018 appellant/revenue and Mr.Joseph Prabakar, learned counsel appearing for the respondent/assessee. 2.This appeal, filed by the Revenue under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 is directed against the order dated 05.04.2018 made in ITA.No.971/MDS/2017 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai 'D' Bench for the assessment year 2013-14. 3.The appeal has been filed by raising the following substantial questions of law : “1.Whether the Appellate Tribunal is right in setting aside the Final Assessment Order passed on 22.03.2017 as barred limitation under sub-section 4 of section 144C of the Income Tax Act, when the assessee's objection was pending before the Dispute Resolution Panel and the DRP fixed the case for hearing on 16.03.2017 with a copy of the hearing notice marked to the Assessing Officer? 2.Whether the Appellate Tribunal is right in holding that while application filed by the assessee is pending before the Dispute Resolution Panel, the Assessing Officer should pass the Assessment Order without waiting for the directions of the Dispute Resolution Panel u/s.144(C)(5) of Income Tax Act?" 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 2/4 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.756 of 2018 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. No costs. (T.S.S.J.) (V.B.S.J.) 28.08.2019 cse Speaking (or) Non Speaking Order Index : Yes (or) No To 1.M/s.Aalaya Jewel Industry Private Limted, 80/1, 1st Floor, Govindasamy Layout, Balaji Avenue, Coimbatore - 641 001. 2.The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai 'D' Bench. 3/4 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.756 of 2018 T.S.SIVAGNANAM,J. AND V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN,J. cse TCA.No.756 of 2018 28.08.2019 4/4 http://www.judis.nic.in

More judgments on Section 144C

All 3,699 judgments and leading authorities on Section 144C →

Recent GST High Court judgments

Search GST case law →