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Facts
The assessee filed its return, and the assessment was completed with additions. Subsequently, the PCIT sought to revise the assessment order under Section 263 due to issues with construction expenses. The PCIT passed an order without issuing a show cause notice or providing an opportunity to be heard to the assessee.
Held
The Tribunal held that the PCIT's order passed under Section 263 was bad in law as it was made without issuing a show cause notice and without providing an opportunity of hearing to the assessee. Therefore, the order was quashed.
Key Issues
Whether the PCIT's order passed under Section 263 was valid without providing the assessee with a show cause notice and an opportunity of hearing.
Sections Cited
263, 143(3)
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Before: SMT. BEENA PILLAI & SMT. RENU JAUHRI
& 3262/Mum/2025 A.Y. 2020-21 & 2021-22 The Indian Hume Pipe Co. Ltd. आदेश / O R D E R PER BENCH: - These appeals are filed by the assessee against the orders of the Learned Principal Commissioner of Income-tax (Appeals), Mumbai-1 [hereinafter referred to as “PCIT”] dated 31.03.2025 passed u/s. 263 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 [hereinafter referred to as “Act”] for Assessment Year [A.Y.] 2020-21 & 2021-22.
The assessee has raised the following grounds of appeal: AY 2020-21
1. That the impugned order is void-ab-initio as having been made without granting the mandatory opportunity of being heard to the appellant.
2. That on the facts and in the circumstances of the Appellant's case and in law learned Principal Commissioner of Income Tax has erred in holding that the assessment order made by the Assessing Officer for Assessment Year 2020-21 is to be revised on the limited issue of authenticity of construction expenses and in directing the Assessing Officer to complete the assessment as directed on this issue.
3. That without prejudice to the generality of the ground of appeal no. 2 above, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law learned Principal Commissioner of Income Tax has erred in: - a) Holding that the assessment has been completed without a word on genuineness of construction expenses. b) Holding that the assessment order made under section 143(3) is erroneous as no inquiry or details were called for. c) In not appreciating that huge disallowances cannot be made on adhoc basis unless some discrepancy or deficiency is pointed out. The appellant company is an old and established company and is operating for about 90 years and in past no disallowances have been made though similar expenses were made in similar manner. There have not been any audit observations on the method of accounting or correctness of the construction expenses booked.
& 3262/Mum/2025 A.Y. 2020-21 & 2021-22 The Indian Hume Pipe Co. Ltd. d) In not appreciating that for assessment years 2022-23 & 2023-24 the Assessing Officer has made huge addition without reference to any document, without any evidence and merely stating that there was absence of details an argument not backed by any material or grossly inadequate material 4. That on the facts and in the circumstances of the appellant's case the order u/s. 263 passed by the Principal Commissioner of Income Tax is bad in law for having been made to protect the interest of revenue.
5. The learned Commissioner's order being contrary to law, evidence and facts of the case should be set aside, amended or modified in the light of the grounds deduced above.
6. The grounds of appeal
above are independent of and without prejudice to each other.
7. The appellant craves leave to reserve to himself, the right to add to, alter or amend any of the aforesaid grounds of appeal at or before the time of hearing and to produce such further evidence, documents and papers as may be considered necessary.” AY 2021-22
1. That the impugned order is void-ab-initio as having been made without granting the mandatory opportunity of being heard to the appellant.
2. That on the facts and in the circumstances of the Appellant's case and in law learned Principal Commissioner of Income Tax has erred in holding that the assessment order made by the Assessing Officer for Assessment Year 2021-22 is to be revised on the limited issue of authenticity of construction expenses and in directing the Assessing Officer to complete the assessment as directed on this issue.
3. That without prejudice to the generality of the ground of appeal no. 2 above, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law learned Principal Commissioner of Income Tax has erred in: - a) Holding that the assessment has been completed without a word on genuineness of construction expenses. b) Holding that the assessment order made under section 143(3) is erroneous as no inquiry or details were called for. c) In not appreciating that huge disallowances cannot be made on adhoc basis unless some discrepancy or deficiency is pointed out. The appellant company is an old and established company and is operating for about 90 years ears and in past no disallowances have been made though similar expenses were & 3262/Mum/2025 A.Y. 2020-21 & 2021-22 The Indian Hume Pipe Co. Ltd. made in similar manner. There have not been any audit observations on the method of accounting or correctness of the construction expenses booked. d) In not appreciating that for assessment years 2022-23 & 2023-24 the Assessing Officer has made huge addition without reference to any document, without any evidence and merely stating that there was absence of details an argument not backed by any material or grossly inadequate material
4. That on the facts and in the circumstances of the appellant's case the order u/s. 263 passed by the Principal Commissioner of Income Tax is bad in law for having been made to protect the interest of revenue.
The learned Commissioner's order being contrary to law, evidence and facts of the case should be set aside, amended or modified in the light of the grounds deduced above.
The grounds of appeal
above are independent of and without prejudice to each other.
7. The appellant craves leave to reserve to himself, the right to add to, alter or amend any of the aforesaid grounds of appeal at or before the time of hearing and to produce such further evidence, documents and papers as may be considered necessary.”
3. Since common issues are involved in both these appeals, these are being disposed of by a common order.
AY 2021-22 is being taken up as the lead case. for AY 2021-22 4. Brief facts of the case are that the assessee filed its return declaring income Rs. 103,59,94,210/- for AY 2020-21 on 20.03.2021. The case was selected for scrutiny and assessment was completed at an income of Rs. 106,12,93,884/- after making various additions/disallowances. Subsequently, during the assessment proceedings of AY 2023-24, Ld. AO disallowed 25% of the construction expenses as the assessee was unable to furnish complete details & 3262/Mum/2025 A.Y. 2020-21 & 2021-22 The Indian Hume Pipe Co. Ltd. and supporting evidences with regard to these expenses. Accordingly, Ld. PCIT sought to revise the assessment order u/s 263 for verification of the genuineness of construction expenses claimed by the assessee. Accordingly, the order u/s 263 was passed on 31.03.2025 holding the assessment order to be erroneous and prejudicial to the revenue as the same had been completed without undertaking verification of genuineness of the construction expenses. Vide this order, Ld. PCIT directed the Ld. AO to examine the issue of authenticity of construction expenses and complete the assessment afresh after providing due opportunity to the assessee.
5. Aggrieved with the order of Ld. PCIT, the assessee has preferred an appeal before the Tribunal and has raised as many as seven grounds of appeal
6. In the first ground, the assessee has stated that the impugned addition is void ab initio as the same was made without granting the mandatory opportunity of being heard to the assessee.
7. Before us, Ld. AR argued that no mandatory notice u/s 263 was issued and the assessee was not allowed any opportunity to present his case before the Ld. PCIT and accordingly the order u/s 263 was bad in law. In view of the above, Ld. DR was directed to ascertain and apprise the bench about the issue of notice, if any, by the PCIT u/s 263 of the Act.
& 3262/Mum/2025 A.Y. 2020-21 & 2021-22 The Indian Hume Pipe Co. Ltd.
In response, the Ld. DR has filed a reply submitted by the office of the PCIT, wherein it has been informed that show cause notice was not issued to the assessee, and the order was passed on the basis of facts and material available on record. Further, reliance has been placed on the decision of the Hon’ble Apex Court in the case of PCIT v/s Amitabh Bachchan 384 ITR 200 (SC), wherein it was held that Section 263 does not require any specific show cause notice and the Ld. CIT(E) is free to exercise his jurisdiction on consideration of the relevant facts.
We have heard the rival submissions and perused the material placed before us. Admittedly, Ld. PCIT proceeded to issue the order u/s 263 of the Act on the basis of disallowance out of construction expenses made in the assessment of subsequent assessment year 2023-24. However, no notice was issued to the assessee before passing the order u/s 263 of the Act dated 31.03.2025. The reliance placed on the decision of Hon’ble Apex Court in the case of Amitabh Bachchan (supra) is misplaced since the Hon’ble Apex Court in that case has held that while a show cause notice is not a prerequisite for invoking Section 263 of the Act, but an opportunity of hearing must be provided to the assessee before the final decision. However, in the present case, no opportunity whatsoever has been provided to the assessee, and as such, the case law cited by the Ld. DR is not applicable to the facts of the present case. We, & 3262/Mum/2025 A.Y. 2020-21 & 2021-22 The Indian Hume Pipe Co. Ltd. therefore, hold that the order issued by the PCIT u/s 263 without issuing a show cause notice and without giving an opportunity to the assessee is bad in law and hereby is quashed.
Since the order has been held to be void ab initio, rest of the grounds are rendered academic in nature and hence are not being adjudicated upon. for AY 2021-22 11. As the issue involved and facts and circumstances are identical to the AY 2020-21, the above decision will apply mutatis mutandis to AY 2021-22 also.
In the result, both the appeals of the assessee are allowed. Order pronounced in the open court on 30.06.2025.