THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME T vs. M/S. ROYAL SPLENDOURS

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TCA/850/2017HC Madras16 June 2020Bench: Hon`ble Mr Justice T. S. SIVAGNANAM5 pages
AI SummaryDismissed

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court dismissed the appeal filed by the Revenue. The dismissal was based on the Revenue's submission that it was not pursuing the appeal due to low tax effect, as per CBDT Circular No. 17/2019. The Court noted that the monetary limit for filing or pursuing appeals before the High Court had been increased to Rs. 1 Crore by this circular, and the tax effect in the present case was below this threshold. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed on this ground. The substantial questions of law framed were left open. The Revenue was granted liberty to mention the case for restoration if the tax effect was found to be above the threshold limit, allowing the appeal to be heard and decided on merits.

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 of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (Tribunal), Chennai 'C' Bench, dated February 16, 2017. The appeal pertained to the assessment year 2009-10 and challenged the Tribunal's decision to quash reassessment proceedings. The assessee is M/s. Royal Splendours Developers Pvt. Ltd. The High Court admitted the appeal on substantial questions of law. However, the Revenue later submitted that it was not pursuing the appeal due to low tax effect, citing CBDT Circular No. 17/2019, which increased the monetary limit for High Court appeals to Rs. 1 Crore. The tax effect in this case was below this threshold.

What were the issues?

The Tribunal had to decide the following substantial questions of law: 1. Whether the reassessment proceeding was bad in law because the reasons recorded for reopening the assessment were not furnished to the assessee before its completion. 2. Whether the Tribunal's finding quashing the reassessment was proper, especially when the assessee did not object to the non-furnishing of reasons during the reassessment proceedings and participated in them. 3. Whether the Tribunal's reasoning was proper, considering the Madras High Court's decision in Areava T & D Ltd. (294 ITR 233), which held that procedural lapses like non-disposal of objections to a Section 148 notice and non-issuance of a Section 143(2) notice would not nullify the reassessment and warranted remand. 4. Whether the Tribunal was right in quashing the reassessment order when the defect was a breach of the principle of natural justice, and the decision-making process should have been placed at the stage where the defect was detected rather than annulling the action. The Revenue argued that the Tribunal's decision was improper, citing the precedent in Areava T & D Ltd. The Revenue also contended that the assessee's participation in the proceedings without objecting to the non-furnishing of reasons should be considered. The judgment does not record specific arguments from the assessee.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 260A,Section 148,Section 143(2)

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

TCA.No.850 of 2017 In the High Court of Judicature at Madras Dated : 16.6.2020 Coram : The Honourable Mr.Justice T.S.SIVAGNANAM and The Honourable Mrs.Justice PUSHPA SATHYANARAYANA Tax Case Appeal No.850 of 2017 The Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai ...Appellant Vs M/s.Royal Splendours Developers Pvt. Ltd., Chennai-32. ...Respondent APPEAL under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order dated 16.2.2017 made in ITA.No.768/Mds/2016 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai 'C' Bench for the assessment year 2009-10. For Appellant: Mr.T.Ravikumar, SSC & Mrs.R.Hemalatha, SSC For 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. 1/5 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.850 of 2017 2. This appeal, filed by the Revenue under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (for short, the Act) is directed against the order dated 16.2.2017 made in ITA.No.768/Mds/2016 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai 'C' Bench (for brevity, the Tribunal) for the assessment year 2009-10. 3. The appeal has been admitted on 20.2.2018 on the following substantial questions of law : “1. Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in law in holding that the reassessment proceeding is bad in law since the reason recorded for reopening of the assessment was not furnished to the Assessee before completion of the reassessment? 2. Is not the finding of the Tribunal bad by quashing the reassessment made by the AO especially when the facts remains that the assessee did not object to the non furnishing of the reasons during reassessment proceedings and had also participated in it? 3. Whether the reasoning and finding of the Tribunal is proper especially when the Hon'ble High Court of Madras in the case of Areava T & D Ltd - 294 ITR 233 has held that in a similar case that the action of the AO in completing the reassessment without disposing off the objections 2/5 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.850 of 2017 filed by the Assessee to the notice issued u/s.148 and non issuance of statutory notice u/s.143(2) was only a procedural lapse / irregularity which would not make the reassessment as nullity and the matter was to be remanded back to the AO for disposal afresh in accordance with law? and 4. Whether the Tribunal was right in quashing the reassessment order especially when the Administrative action is found to be suffering only from breach of principle of natural justice then the decision making process should be placed at a stage where the defect is detected rather than to permanently annul the action of the authority?" 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 3/5 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.850 of 2017 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.

16.6.2020 To The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai 'C' Bench. RS 4/5 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.850 of 2017 T.S.SIVAGNANAM,J AND PUSHPA SATHYANARAYANA,J RS TCA.No.850 of 2017 16.6.2020 5/5 http://www.judis.nic.in

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