SYNDICATE BUILDCON PRIVATE LIMITED vs. PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX 7 & ORS.

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W.P.(C)/5738/2023HC DelhiDLHC01016480202331 May 2023Bench: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJIV SHAKDHER,HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE GIRISH KATHPALIA3 pages
AI SummaryRemanded

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court of Delhi, in its writ jurisdiction, held that the assessment order passed by the Assessing Officer (AO) was liable to be set aside. This decision was based on the confirmation from the revenue that a personal hearing was not granted to the petitioner. The Court found this procedural lapse sufficient to quash the assessment order. The AO was granted liberty to take further steps in the matter as per law. The principle established is that a failure to grant a personal hearing, when sought or required, can lead to the setting aside of an assessment order, particularly in reassessment proceedings. The writ petition was disposed of in these terms, and pending applications were closed.

What were the facts?

The petitioner, Syndicate Buildcon Private Limited, is challenging an assessment order dated 17.03.2023 passed under Section 147 read with Section 144B of the Income Tax Act, 1961, for Assessment Year 2018-19. The revenue alleged that the petitioner was a beneficiary of an accommodation entry in the form of an unsecured loan from Odisha Finlease Private Limited (OFPL), facilitated by Mr. Aditya Jain through dummy entities. The petitioner admitted receiving a loan of Rs. 65 lakhs in FY 2015-16 and paying interest of Rs. 1,69,509/- in FY 2017-18 (AY 2018-19), which was repaid via banking channels. The petitioner contended that the Assessing Officer (AO) triggered reassessment proceedings by multiplying the interest amount by a factor of ten based on Form 16A and that a personal hearing was not granted.

What were the issues?

1. Whether the assessment order passed under Section 147 read with Section 144B of the Income Tax Act, 1961, is liable to be set aside on the ground that a personal hearing was not granted to the petitioner-assessee. Assessee's Contention: The petitioner argued that a personal hearing was sought but not granted by the AO, which vitiated the assessment proceedings. They relied on the fact that the AO used information from Form 16A to trigger reassessment by multiplying the interest amount by a factor of ten. Revenue's Contention: The revenue, through its counsel, confirmed that a personal hearing was not granted to the petitioner by the AO.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 147,Section 144B

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

W.P.(C) 5738/2023 Page 1 of 3

$~17 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI %

Date of Decision: 31.05.2023

+ W.P.(C) 5738/2023 & CM Appl.22474/2023

SYNDICATE BUILDCON PRIVATE LIMITED ..... Petitioner

Through: Mr Akhilesh Kumar, Adv.

versus

PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX 7 & ORS.

..... Respondents Through: Mr Puneet Rai, Sr Standing Counsel with Mr Ashvini Kumar and Ms Madhavi Shukla, Advs.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJIV SHAKDHER

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE GIRISH KATHPALIA

[Physical Hearing/Hybrid Hearing (as per request)]

RAJIV SHAKDHER, J. (ORAL): 1. On the previous date, we had heard the counsel for the parties and captured the broad contours of the case. For the sake of convenience, the relevant parts of the previous order dated 03.05.2023, are extract hereafter: “1. This writ petition concerns Assessment Year (AY) 2018-19 2. The record shows, that the reassessment proceedings have progressed to the stage of the assessment order. The assessment order passed in the petitioner’s case is dated 17.03.2023. 2.1 The assessment order was passed under Section 147 read with Section 144B of the Act. 3. The principal allegation against the petitioner is, that it is a beneficiary of accommodation entry in the form of an unsecured loan. 3.1 It is the respondents/revenue’s case, that one Mr Aditya Jain has provided the accommodation entry through various dummy entities Digitally Signed By:TARUN RANA Signing Date:23.06.2023 15:11:33 Signature Not Verified

W.P.(C) 5738/2023 Page 2 of 3

against the receipt of commission(s), which includes Odisha Finlease Private Limited [in short, “OFPL”]. 3.2 OFPL is, according to the petitioner, a non-banking financial company. 4. The petitioner does not dispute the fact, that it received a loan from OFPL. 5. Mr Akhilesh Kumar, who appears on behalf of the petitioner, says that loan amounting to Rs.65 lakhs was received, albeit, in Financial Year (FY) 2015-16. Insofar as FY 2017-18 (AY 2018-19) is concerned, the petitioner only paid interest amounting to Rs.1,69,509/-. 5.1 It is also the petitioner’s case, that the assessee has repaid the loan to OFPL via proper banking channel. 5.2 Mr Kumar says, that the Assessing Officer (AO) has taken the information available in Form 16A concerning payment of tax at source, and used the said information to trigger reassessment proceedings, by multiplying the interest amount with a factor of ten. 5.3 In this context, our attention has been drawn to page 107 of the case file, which alludes to Form 16A. 5.4 Inter alia, Mr Kumar says, that although a personal hearing was sought by the petitioner, the same was not granted by the AO. 5.5 In this context, our attention is further drawn to the document appended on pages 182-183 of the case file. 6. Accordingly, issue notice. 7. Mr Puneet Rai, learned senior standing counsel, accepts notice on behalf of the respondents/revenue. 7.1 Mr Rai says, that he will return with instructions, as to whether personal hearing was sought and granted in the matter. 8. At request, list the matter on 31.05.2023. 9. In the meanwhile, no precipitate action will be taken against the petitioner.”

2.

Mr Puneet Rai, learned senior standing counsel, who appears on behalf of the respondents/revenue, has returned with instructions. Mr Rai says that a personal hearing was not granted to the petitioner by the Assessing Officer (AO). 3. In these circumstances, as indicated in the previous order, we are inclined to set aside the assessment order. 3.1 It is ordered accordingly. Digitally Signed By:TARUN RANA Signing Date:23.06.2023 15:11:33 Signature Not Verified

W.P.(C) 5738/2023 Page 3 of 3

4.

Liberty is, however, given to the AO to take next steps in the matter, albeit, as per law. 5. The writ petition is disposed of, in the aforesaid terms. 6. Pending application shall stand closed. 7. Consequently, interim order dated 03.05.2023 shall stand vacated.

RAJIV SHAKDHER, J

GIRISH KATHPALIA, J

MAY 31, 2023/pmc Digitally Signed By:TARUN RANA Signing Date:23.06.2023 15:11:33 Signature Not Verified

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