Facts
The assessee, a primary agricultural co-operative society, filed its return of income admitting Nil income. The AO passed an ex-parte order assessing total income at Rs.11,98,192/-. The CIT(A) also dismissed the assessee's appeal ex-parte due to lack of supporting evidence.
Held
The Tribunal found that the orders of both the AO and CIT(A) were passed ex-parte without affording the assessee a proper opportunity to be heard. Therefore, the Tribunal set aside the orders and remitted the matter back to the CIT(A) for adjudication.
Key Issues
Whether the lower authorities erred by passing ex-parte orders without providing adequate opportunity to the assessee to present its case.
Sections Cited
80P, 147
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, ‘D’ BENCH: CHENNAI
Before: SHRI SS VISWANETHRA RAVI & SHRI JAGADISH
आदेश / O R D E R
PER JAGADISH, A.M : Aforesaid appeal filed by the assessee for Assessment Year (AY) 2018-19arises out of the order of Learned Commissioner of Income Tax, National Faceless Appeal Centre (NFAC), Delhi [hereinafter “CIT(A)”] dated 10.10.2024.
When the appeal was taken up for hearing, none appeared on behalf of the assessee. Accordingly, the hearing was proceeded with the able assistance of Ld. D.R, Shri A. Sasikumar, CIT.
The assessee is the primary agricultural co-operative society registered under Tamil Nadu Co-operative Societies Act. The assessee has filed its return of income on 25.04.2022 admitting Nil income after claiming deduction u/s. 80P of the Act. During the course of assessment proceedings, the A.O has passed order u/s. 147 r.w.s 147 of the Act by assessing total income of Rs.11,98,192/-. Aggrieved, the assessee filed an appeal before the Ld. CIT(A). The Ld CIT(A) dismissed the appeal ex-parte due to the absence of supporting evidence in support of its claim.
The Ld. Departmental Representative (DR), on the other hand, has relied on the orders of lower authorities.
We have heard the rival submissions, and perused the materials available on record. On perusal of the orders of A.O as well as Ld.
CIT(A), we find that the orders have been passed ex-parte without giving proper opportunity to the assessee. We are of the opinion that keeping in view the principles of natural justice, the assessee be provided with another opportunity of hearing to substantiate its case before the Ld. CIT(A). Accordingly, we set aside the orders passed by the A.O and the Ld. CIT(A) and remit the matter back to the file of the Ld. CIT(A) to adjudicate this appeal afresh in accordance with law. We also direct the assessee to appear before the Ld. CIT(A) on the date of hearing without fail and furnish complete details for fresh consideration. In view of the above, the appeal filed by the assessee is allowed for statistical purposes.
In the result, the appeal filed by the assessee is allowed for statistical purposes.
Order pronounced on 28th February, 2025.