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Facts
The assessee challenged an order by the Addl./Joint CIT(A) for AY 2013-14, where the CIT(A) had confirmed various additions made by the Assessing Officer under Sections 69C and 56 and subsequently dismissed the appeal ex-parte for non-compliance. The assessee contended that the notice under Section 148 was improperly issued as the information originated from a search under Section 132, potentially warranting proceedings under Section 153C.
Held
The ITAT noted that the Addl./Joint CIT(A) dismissed the appeal ex-parte without adjudicating on merits, which is contrary to Section 250(6) of the Act. Citing a Bombay High Court precedent, the ITAT held that an appeal cannot be dismissed for non-prosecution. The ITAT set aside the impugned order and remanded the matter to the Addl./Joint CIT(A) for de novo adjudication on merits, ensuring a reasonable opportunity of hearing to the assessee.
Key Issues
Whether the Addl./Joint CIT(A) was justified in dismissing the assessee's appeal ex-parte without adjudicating on merits, and whether reassessment proceedings under Section 148 were valid given that the information originated from a search and seizure action, potentially requiring Section 153C.
Sections Cited
250, 250(6), 69C, 56, 148, 132, 153C
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Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, “K(SMC
Before: SHRI SANDEEP SINGH KARHAILSHRI GIRISH AGRAWAL
Date of Hearing – 13/02/2025 Date of Order – 14/02/2025
O R D E R PER SANDEEP SINGH KARHAIL, J.M. The present appeal has been filed by the assessee challenging the impugned order dated 05/03/2024, passed under section 250 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (“the Act”) by the learned Additional/Joint Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)-1, Gurugram [“learned Addl./Joint CIT(A)”], for the Assessment Year 2013-14.
In this appeal, the assessee has raised the following grounds: - “1. The learned CIT(A) has erred in law and on facts in upholding the assessment order passed by the Assessing Officer.
-Mum-2024 (A.Y. 2013-14) 2
2. The learned CIT(A) has erred in confirming the addition of Rs. 64,550/- made by the Assessing Officer u/s 69C of the Act on account of alleged unexplained expenditure of the appellant towards i) Rs. 23,550/- as estimated annual household expenses and ii) Rs. 41,000/- as alleged cash payment made to the builder over the agreement value.
The learned CIT(A) has erred in confirming the addition of Rs. 1,03,500/- made by the Assessing Officer u/s 69C of the Act on account of alleged unexplained money deposited in the bank account.
4. The learned CIT(A) has erred in confirming the addition of Rs. 732/- made by the Assessing Officer u/s 56 of the Act on account of bank interest. 5. The learned CIT(A) has erred in confirming the addition of Rs. 20,000/- made by the Assessing Officer on account of alleged difference noticed by him in salary income. 6. The CIT(A) has failed to appreciate that the appellant had sufficient sources to augment his expenses and deposits made in the bank. 7. The learned CIT(A) ought to have appreciated that the notice u/s 148 of the Act was issued pursuant to the information received from DDIT(Inv) Pune that during the search and seizure action u/s 132 of the Act in case of Ameya Builders and Property Developers at Virar on 31.07.2014 certain papers were seized and it was found that the appellant had paid Rs. 41,000/- in cash during the previous year under consideration which had escaped assessment. As such, the Assessing Officer ought to have issued notice u/s 153C of the Act as per the provisions of the Act and the Assessing Officer had no authority to issue notice u/s 148 of the Act. 8. The learned CIT(A) has failed to appreciate that the various additions made to the income of the appellant are based on presumption, suspicion, surmises and without any evidence. 9. The order passed by the CIT(A) is bad in law, without jurisdiction and in violation of principles of natural justice. 10. The appellant carves leave to add to, amend, alter or delete all or any of the foregoing grounds of appeal.”
3. We have considered the submissions of both sides and perused the material available on record. In the present case, at the outset, it is evident that the learned Addl./Joint CIT(A) has passed the order ex-parte due to the non-appearance of/on behalf of the assessee. We further find that the learned Addl./Joint CIT(A) merely on the basis of non-compliance with notices, dismissed the appeal filed by the assessee without adjudicating the grounds -Mum-2024 (A.Y. 2013-14) 3 raised by the assessee on merits, as required under section 250(6) of the Act. We find that in CIT v/s Premkumar Arjundas Luthra (HUF), reported in [2016] 69 taxmann.com 407 (Bombay), the Hon’ble Jurisdictional High Court held that Commissioner (Appeals) cannot dismiss the appeal on account of non- prosecution of appeal by the assessee. Consequently, we deem it fit and proper to set aside the impugned order and restore the matter to the file of the learned Addl./Joint CIT(A) for de novo adjudication of the appeal on merits. We further direct that no order shall be passed without affording reasonable opportunity of hearing to the parties. The assessee is directed to appear before the learned Addl./Joint CIT(A) on all the hearing dates as may be fixed without any default. As the matter is being restored to the file of the learned Addl./Joint CIT(A) for adjudication on merits, the other grievances raised by the assessee in the present appeal do not call for adjudication at this stage. Accordingly, grounds raised by the assessee are allowed for statistical purposes.
In the result, the appeal by the assessee is allowed for statistical purposes. Order pronounced in the open Court on 14/02/2025