COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX vs. SHRI RAMAUTAR AGARWAL
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court noted that the assessee had filed a declaration under the Vivad Se Vishwas Act, 2020. In light of this subsequent event, the Court directed the Competent Authority to process the declaration and pass appropriate orders expeditiously. The appeal was disposed of with liberty granted to the assessee to restore the appeal if the ultimate decision on their Vivad Se Vishwas declaration was not in their favour. Upon such a request, the Registry was directed to entertain the petition for restoration without insisting on a condonation of delay application. Consequently, the substantial questions of law framed were left open and not decided on merits. No costs were awarded.
What were the facts?
The Commissioner of Income Tax, Non Corporate Circle 10(1), Chennai (Revenue) filed an appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, against an order dated 16.9.2019 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, 'B' Bench, Chennai. The appeal pertains to assessment year 2014-15. The High Court admitted the appeal on two substantial questions of law. During the pendency of the appeal, the respondent/assessee, Shri Ramautar Agarwal, filed a declaration/undertaking under the Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme on 29.12.2020 and was awaiting orders. The High Court noted this subsequent development.
What were the issues?
1. Whether the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal was right and justified in setting aside the order passed by the Assessing Officer to re-examine the matter when the Assessing Officer had already duly examined it before passing the assessment order? (Question of law and fact, concerning the Tribunal's power to remand). 2. Whether the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal was right and justified in remitting the issue back to the file of the Assessing Officer and shifting the onus to the Revenue with a direction that the Assessing Officer shall bring on record the role of the assessee in promoting the company, the relationship of the assessee with the promoters, and the role of the assessee in inflating the price of shares, etc.? (Question of law and fact, concerning the Tribunal's power to remand and burden of proof). Assessee's Contention: The assessee submitted that they had filed a declaration under the Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme and were awaiting orders. Revenue's Contention: No specific contention was recorded for the Revenue regarding the substantial questions of law, other than their filing of the appeal.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
TCA.No.99 of 2020 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 19.1.2021 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE T.S.SIVAGNANAM and THE HONOURABLE MS.JUSTICE R.N.MANJULA Tax Case Appeal No.99 of 2020
The Commissioner of Income Tax, Non Corporate Circle 10(1), Chennai ...Appellant Vs Shri Ramautar Agarwal ...Respondent APPEAL under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order dated 16.9.2019 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, 'B' Bench, Chennai made in I.T.A.No.211/Chny/2019 for the assessment year 2014-15. For Appellant: Mr.M.Swaminathan, SSC assisted by Ms.V.Pushpa, JSC For Respondent: Mr.A.S.Sriraman Judgment was delivered by
T.S.SIVAGNANAM
This appeal has been filed by the Revenue 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.99 of 2020 dated 16.9.2019 made in I.T.A.No.211/Chny/2019 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai, 'B' Bench ('the Tribunal' for brevity) for the assessment year 2014-15. 2. The appeal was admitted on 19.2.2020 on the following substantial questions of law: “1. Whether the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal was right and justified in setting aside the order passed by the Assessing Officer to re-examine the matter when the Assessing Officer has already duly examined the matter before passing the assessment order? And 2. Whether the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal was right in justified in remitting the issue back to the file of the Assessing Officer and shifting the onus to the Revenue with a direction that the Assessing Officer shall bring on record the role of the assessee in promoting the company and the relationship of the assessee, if any with the promoters, role of the assessee in inflating the price of shares etc. ?” 3. We have heard Mr.M.Swaminathan, learned Senior Standing Counsel assisted by Ms.V.Pushpa, learned Junior Standing Counsel appearing for the appellant/Revenue and Mr.A.S.Sriraman, learned counsel appearing for the respondent/assessee. 2/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ TCA.No.99 of 2020 4. The learned counsel on behalf of the respondent/assessee submits that the respondent/assessee already filed the declaration/ undertaking under the Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme on 29.12.2020 and is awaiting orders to be passed in Form No.3. 5. In the light of the subsequent event, the Competent Authority shall process the application/declaration in accordance with the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Act, 2020 (Act 3 of 2020) and pass appropriate orders as expeditiously as possible. The assessee is given liberty to restore this appeal in the event the ultimate decision to be 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. RS 19.1.2021 3/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ TCA.No.99 of 2020 T.S.SIVAGNANAM,J AND R.N.MANJULA,J RS To The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, 'B' Bench, Chennai. TCA.No.99 of 2020 19.1.2021 4/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/
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