MR. KIMIYOSHI MUTO,NEW DELHI vs. DCIT, NEW DELHI

O R D E R PER PRASHANT MAHARISHI, A.M. : (Del) of 2017 : 1. This appeal is filed by assessee through his representative against the order of Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)–21, New Delhi, for assessment year 2008-09 wherein appeal of the assessee filed against the order of the Dy. Commissioner of Income Tax, Circle 70 (1), New Delhi, passed under Page | 1 Section 148 read with Section 144 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (the Act) dated 11th March, 2015 was dismissed. 2. The grounds of appeal of the assessee shows that the assessment has been made without proper service of the notice as well as the impugned addition made is not sustainable.

3. Briefly stated the facts of the case are that assessee is an expatriate employee in India working as Managing Director in an Indian company Hakuhodo Percept Pvt. Ltd. The assessee filed his return of income on 29.07.2008 at Rs.1,04,65,703/-. The case of the assessee was re-opened under Section 147 of the Act on the ground that the assessee has shown perquisite under rent-free accommodation by considering only the Indian salary whereas, according to the Assessing Officer, he was required to compute perquisite value of rent-free accommodation by including foreign salary also.

4. Notice was issued on 19th March, 2014. In view of non-appearance by the assessee, Assessing Officer issued a show cause notice, but no response was received and, therefore, the Assessing Officer computed the value of rent-free accommodation at Rs.11,16,246/- and passed the assessment order on 11th March, 2015 assessing income of the assessee at Rs.1,15,81,949/- against returned income of Rs.1,04,65,703/-.

5. Assessee filed appeal before the ld. CIT (Appeals). The ld. CIT (Appeals) noted that he has issued three notices for hearing. However, all of them received back un-delivered with Postal remark “Left”. Therefore, in the light of repeated non co-operation of the appellant he held that assessee is a habitual defaulter, which is not acceptable. He further held that appellant is not serious about pursuing this appeal. He further held that even on the merit as no new facts were pointed out, he upheld the order of the Assessing Officer.

6. We have heard the rival contentions on this issue. Clearly, facts that emerge are that assessee is an individual, resident at that particular time,employed by an Indian company. After those years when the ld. CIT (Appeals) issued the notices, it was apparent that the assessee has already left the premises. This is also evident from the postal remark. The ld. CIT (Appeals) also dismissed the appeal of the assessee more on the aspect of non-prosecution.

He did not adjudicate that whether for computing the perquisite of rent- free accommodation, only Salary paid by Indian employer is to be considered or the salary paid by foreign employer is also to be added thereto. Thus, he dismissed appeal of assesse only for non-prosecution in substance, which is not permitted.Therefore, there has to be the decision on merits by the ld CIT (A). Naturally, assesse did not have any notice of hearing as the assesse has left the premises. No doubt, it is the duty of the assesse to intimate a change in address, but that does not give power to appellate authority to dismiss appeal of assesse for non-prosecution. Therefore, apparently now assesse needs to be heard. The ld. AR now has categorically stated that the legal representative of the assessee, mentioned in column No. 10 of Form No. 36, would appear on the appointed time to represent the case of the assesse. Even otherwise the ld. CIT (Appeals) should have decided the issue on the merits whether the Indian salary and foreign salary both are required to be considered for computing the perquisite of rent-free accommodation provided to the assessee. Therefore, in the interest of justice, we set aside this appeal back to the file of the ld. CIT (Appeals) with a direction to the assessee through his legal representative appearing before us to appear before the ld. CIT (Appeals) and submit all the relevant contentions before him in the manner provided under the Act within 60 days from the date of this order. The ld CIT (A) then issue notice of hearing to assesse in accordance with law and then decide the issue on merits. In view of this, we set aside this appeal back to the file of the ld. CIT (Appeals)for deciding the issue on the merits of the case.

ITA. No. 1010 (Del) of 2017 :

Order pronounced in the open court on 09/06/2021.