THE DCIT, CIRCLE 1, JUNAGADH vs. M/S ASHUTOSH DEVELOPERS PVT LTD, JUNAGADH

Any other ground that the revenue may raise before or during hearing proceedings before the Hon’ble ITAT.

It is therefore, prayed that the order of the CIT-IV, Rajkot may kindly be set-aside and that of Assessing Officer be restored.

At the outset, the ld. Counsel for the assessee submitted that the present appeal of the Revenue needs to be dismissed on account of low tax effect in view of the recent CBDT Circular No. 3 of 2018 dated 11.07.2018. Ld. Departmental Representative fairly admitted that the tax effect involved in this appeal is less than the limit prescribed by the aforesaid CBDT Circular.

We have heard both the parties and perused the material available on record. We find that prima-facie this appeal of the Revenue is not maintainable in view of the recent CBDT Circular No. 03/2015 in F.No.279/Misc. 142/2007-ITJ (Pt) dated 11th July 2018, vide which it has been decided by the Board that no departmental appeals should be filed before the Tribunal if the tax effect by virtue of the Commissioner of Income-tax (Appeals)’s order is below Rs. 20 lacs. The Board has provided exceptions at clause (10) of the Instructions wherein it has been provided that these instructions will not be applicable, where the Constitutional validity of the provisions of an Act/Rule is under challenge or where Board’s order, notification, instruction or circular has been held to be illegal or where Revenue Audit objection in the case has been accepted by the Department or where the addition relates to undisclosed foreign assets/bank accounts, etc. We find that the present case does not fall within the exception clause and the tax is less than Rs.20 lacs. Therefore, the present appeal is not maintainable and hence dismissed.

In the result, the appeal filed by the Revenue is dismissed.