M/S VANIAMKULAM SERVICE CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD vs. THE INCOME TAX OFFICER

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WP(C)/9650/2018HC KeralaKLHC01041240201821 March 2018Author: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.B.SURESH KUMAR5 pages
AI SummaryPartly Allowed

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court acknowledged the petitioner's grievance regarding the delay in the disposal of stay applications by the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals). The Court directed the second respondent (CIT(A)) to decide on the stay applications (Exts.P2(a), P6(a), P7(a) & P8(a)) within two months from the date of receipt of a copy of the judgment. Furthermore, the Court ordered that further proceedings for the realization of amounts covered by the assessment orders (Exts.P1, P3, P4 & P5) shall be deferred until orders are passed on these stay applications. No specific issue regarding the merits of the assessment or the stay applications themselves was decided.

What were the facts?

The petitioner, M/s Vaniamkulam Service Co-operative Bank Ltd, is an assessee under the Income Tax Act. The petitioner is aggrieved by assessment orders for Assessment Years (AY) 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, and 2015-16, passed by the Income Tax Officer (ITO), the first respondent. In response to these orders, the petitioner filed appeals before the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) (CIT(A)), the second respondent, along with stay petitions. The petitioner's grievance in this writ petition is the delay by the CIT(A) in passing orders on these stay applications. The petitioner also states that recovery proceedings have commenced for the amounts demanded in the assessment orders.

What were the issues?

1. Whether the delay in passing orders on stay applications by the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) warrants intervention by the High Court through a writ petition? (Question of procedure and administrative delay) Assessee's Contention: The petitioner argued that the delay in the disposal of stay petitions by the second respondent (CIT(A)) is causing prejudice, especially since recovery proceedings have already been initiated for the amounts demanded in the assessment orders. The petitioner sought directions for the expeditious disposal of these stay applications. Revenue's Contention: The judgment records that the learned Standing Counsel for the respondents was heard, but their specific contentions are not detailed in the judgment.

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT: THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.B.SURESH KUMAR WEDNESDAY, THE 21ST DAY OF MARCH 2018 / 30TH PHALGUNA, 1939 WP(C).No. 9650 of 2018 ---------------------- PETITIONER : ---------- M/S VANIAMKULAM SERVICE CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD NO.P-577, P.O.VANIAMKULAM, PALAKKAD 679 518, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, SHRI.VIJAYAKUMAR V.K BY ADV.SRI.V.P.NARAYANAN RESPONDENTS : ----------- 1. THE INCOME TAX OFFICER WARD - 3, RALAKKAD 678 001. 2. THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (APPEALS) AAYAKAR BHAWAN, SAKTHAN THAMPURAN NAGAR, THRISSUR - 680 001. BY SRI.JOSE JOSEPH, SC,

THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 21-03-2018, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: bp 24/3/2018

WP(C).No. 9650 of 2018 (E) -------------------------- APPENDIX PETITIONER(S)' EXHIBITS ------------------------ EXHIBIT P1 TRUE COPY OF ASSESSMENT ORDER DATED 26/06/2015 FOR AY-2012-13 ALONG WITH DEMAND NOTICE PASSED BY THE 1ST RESPONDENT EXHIBIT P2 TRUE COPY OF THE MEMORANDUM OF APPEAL DATED 25/4/2015 FILED BY THE PETITIONER BEFORE THE 2ND RESPONDENT FOR AY- 2012-13 EXHIBIT P2 A TRUE COPY OF THE STAY PETITION DATED 25/4/2015 FILED BY THE PETITIONER FOR AY-2012-13 BEFORE THE 2ND RESPONDENT EXHIBIT P3 TRUE COPY OF ASSESSMENT ORDER DATED 28/3/2016 RESPONDENT FOR AY-2013-14 EXHIBIT P4 TRUE COPY OF ASSESSMENT ORDER DATED 22/12/2016 RESPONDENT FOR AY-2014-15 EXHIBIT P5 TRUE COPY OF ASSESSMENT ORDER DATED 27/11/2017 RESPONDENT FOR AY-2015-16 EXHIBIT P6 TRUE COPY OF THE MEMORANDUM OF APPEAL DATED 5/4/2016 FILED BY THE PETITIONER BEFORE THE 2ND RESPONDENT FOR AY- 2013-14 EXHIBIT P6(A) TRUE COPY OF THE STAY PETITION DATED 5/4/2016 RESPONDENT FOR THE AY-2013-14 EXHIBIT P7 TRUE COPY OF THE MEMORANDUM OF APPEAL DATED 12/1/2017 FILED BY THE PETITIONER BEFORE THE 2ND RESPONDENT FOR AY- 2014-15 EXHIBIT P7(A) TRUE COPY OF THE STAY PETITION DATED 12/1/2017 RESPONDENT FOR THE AY-2014-15 EXHIBIT P8 TRUE COPY OF THE MEMORANDUM OF APPEAL DATED 2/1/2018 FILED BY THE PETITIONER BEFORE THE 2ND RESPONDENT FOR AY-2015-16

WP(C).No. 9650 of 2018 (E) -------------------------- EXHIBIT P8(A) TRUE COPY OF THE STAY PETITION DATED 2/1/2018 RESPONDENT FOR THE AY-2015-16 RESPONDENT'S EXHIBITS : NIL. //TRUE COPY// P.A. TO JUDGE bp 24.3.2018

P.B.SURESH KUMAR, J. --------------------------------------------- W.P.(C) No. 9650 of 2018 --------------------------------------------- Dated this the 21st day of March, 2018

JUDGMENT Petitioner is an assessee under the Income Tax Act (the Act) on the rolls of the first respondent. Aggrieved by Exts.P1, P3, P4 & P5 assessment orders, the petitioner preferred Exts.P2, P6, P7, P8 appeals before the second respondent. Exts.P2(a), P6(a), P7(a) & P8(a) are the applications for stay preferred by the petitioner in Exts.P2, P6, P7, P8 appeals. The grievance of the petitioner in the writ petition concerns the delay on the part of the second respondent in passing orders on Exts.P2(a), P6(a), P7(a) & P8(a) applications for stay. It is alleged by the petitioner in the writ petition that proceedings have already been initiated for realisation of the amounts covered by Exts.P1, P3, P4 & P5 assessment orders. The petitioner,

WPC 9650/18 -:2:- therefore, seeks appropriate directions in this regard, in this writ petition. 2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner as also the learned Standing Counsel for the respondents. Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, I deem it appropriate to dispose of the writ petition directing the second respondent to take a decision on Exts.P2(a), P6(a), P7(a) & P8(a) applications for stay, within two months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. Ordered accordingly. Needless to say that until orders are passed on Exts.P2(a), P6(a), P7(a) & P8(a) applications for stay, further proceedings for realisation of the amounts covered by Exts.P1, P3, P4 & P5 assessment orders shall be deferred. Sd/- P.B.SURESH KUMAR, JUDGE vps 23/3 /True Copy/ PS to Judge

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