M/S.OTTAPPALAM SERVICE CO OPERATIVE BANK LTD. vs. THE INCOME TAX OFFICER
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court of Kerala, while acknowledging the petitioner's grievance regarding the delay in the disposal of stay applications by the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), directed the second respondent (CIT(A)) to decide on the stay applications (Exts.P3(a), P6(a), and P7(a)) within two months from the date of receipt of a copy of the judgment. The Court further ordered that further proceedings for the realization of amounts covered by the assessment orders (Exts.P2, P4, and P5) shall be deferred until orders are passed on these stay applications. No specific issue was left undecided, as the court granted a procedural direction.
What were the facts?
The petitioner, M/s. Ottappalam Service Co Operative Bank Ltd., is an assessee under the Income Tax Act. The petitioner is aggrieved by assessment orders for Assessment Years (AY) 2013-14, 2014-15, and 2015-16, issued by the Income Tax Officer (ITO), Ward-3, Palakkad. The petitioner filed appeals before the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) (CIT(A)) and also filed applications for stay of demand. The grievance in this writ petition is the delay by the CIT(A) in passing orders on these stay applications. The petitioner states that recovery proceedings have already 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 in its writ jurisdiction? (Question of law and fact) The petitioner's contention is that the delay in deciding the stay applications (Exts.P3(a), P6(a), and P7(a)) is causing prejudice, especially since recovery proceedings have been initiated. The petitioner seeks directions for expeditious disposal of these applications. The revenue, represented by the Standing Counsel, did not record any specific arguments against the petitioner's plea for expeditious disposal of stay applications.
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 TUESDAY, THE 13TH DAY OF MARCH 2018 / 22ND PHALGUNA, 1939 WP(C).No. 8512 of 2018 PETITIONER : M/S.OTTAPPALAM SERVICE CO OPERATIVE BANK LTD. CHERPALCHERY P.O, PALAKKAD 679 503. REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY SHRI RAMESH KUMAR P. BY ADVS.SRI.T.M.SREEDHARAN (SR.) SRI.V.P.NARAYANAN RESPONDENTS : 1. THE INCOME TAX OFFICER, WARD-3,PALAKKAD 678 001 2. THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX(APPEALS), AAYAKAR BHAWAN, SAKTHAN THAMPURAN NAGAR, THRISSUR 680 001. BY SRI.JOSE JOSEPH, SC, FOR INCOME TAX THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 13-03-2018, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: DSV/-
WP(C).No. 8512 of 2018 (L) APPENDIX PETITIONER'S EXHIBITS : EXHIBIT P1 TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATION OF REGISTRATION DATED 31-03-2017 ISSUED BY THE JOINT REGISTRAR OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES(GENERAL),PALAKKAD. EXHIBIT P2 TRUE COPY OF ASSESSMENT ORDER DATED 21-03-2016 FOR AY-2013-14 ISSUED BY THE 1ST RESPONDENT. EXHIBIT P3 TRUE COPY OF THE MEMORANDUM OF APPEAL DATED 23-04-2016 FILED BY THE PETITIONER BEFORE THE 2ND RESPONDENT FOR AY-2013-14. EXHIBIT P3(A) TRUE COPY OF THE STAY PETITION DATED 23-04-2016 FILED BY THE PETITIONER FOR AY-2013-14 BEFORE THE 2ND RESPONDENT. EXHIBIT P4 TRUE COPY OF ASSESSMENT ORDER DATED 21-12-2016 ISSUED BY THE 1ST RESPONDENT FOR AY-2014-15. EXHIBIT P5 TRUE COPY OF ASSESSMENT ORDER DATED 14-08-2017 ISSUED BY THE 1ST RESPONDENT FOR AY-2015-16. EXHIBIT P6 TRUE COPY OF THE MEMORANDUM OF APPEAL DATED 23-01-2017 FILED BY THE PETITIONER BEFORE THE 2ND EXHIBIT P6(A) TRUE COPY OF THE STAY PETITION DATED 23-01-2017 FILED BY THE PETITIONER BEFORE THE 2ND EXHIBIT P7 TRUE COPY OF THE MEMORANDUM OF APPEAL DATED 4-01-2018 FILED BY THE PETITIONER BEFORE THE 2ND EXHIBIT P7(A) TRUE COPY OF THE STAY PETITION DATED 4-01-2018 FILED BY THE PETITIONER BEFORE THE 2ND EXHIBIT P8 TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION DATED 25-04-2016 RESPONDENT FOR AY-2013-14. EXHIBIT P8(A) TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION DATED 23-01-2017 EXHIBIT P8(B) TRUE COPY OF THE APPLICATION DATED 04-01-2018 RESPONDENTS' EXHIBITS: NIL // TRUE COPY // DSV/- P.A.TO JUDGE
P.B.SURESH KUMAR, J. ================== W.P.(C.) No.8512 of 2018 ---------------------------------------------- Dated this the 13th 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.P2, P4 and P5 assessment orders, the petitioner preferred Exts.P3, P6 and P7 appeals before the second respondent. Exts.P3(a), P6(a) and P7(a) are the applications for stay preferred by the petitioner in the appeals. The grievance of the petitioner in the writ petition concerns the delay on the part of the second respondent in passing orders on the 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.P2, P4 and P5 assessment orders. The petitioner, therefore, seeks appropriate directions in this regard, in this writ
W.P.(C.) No. 8512/2018
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.P3(a), P6(a) and P7(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.P3(a), P6(a) and P7(a) applications for stay, further proceedings for realisation of the amounts covered by Exts.P2, P4 and P5 assessment orders shall be deferred.
Sd/- P.B. SURESH KUMAR, JUDGE sd
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