LEELA RAM CHOUDHARY,HYDERABAD vs. ACIT, CENTRAL CIRCLE-2(1), HYDERABAD

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ITA 103/HYD/2025Status: DisposedITAT Hyderabad02 May 2025AY 2017-186 pages
AI SummaryPartly Allowed

What did the Tribunal hold?

The Tribunal held that the Ld.CIT(A) had dismissed the assessee's appeals for non-prosecution and non-compliance, without deciding them on merits. The Tribunal accepted the assessee's submission that the non-prosecution was not deliberate but due to a conflict with the counsel. In the interest of natural justice, the Tribunal set aside the order of the Ld.CIT(A) and remanded the matters back to the Ld.CIT(A) for fresh adjudication on merits, after providing appropriate opportunities of hearing to the assessees. The appeals were allowed for statistical purposes. The specific grounds regarding section 153C, section 69, evidentiary value of documents, and cross-examination were not adjudicated on merits by the CIT(A) and therefore, were not decided by the Tribunal in this order.

What were the facts?

The appeals were filed by the assessees, Leela Ram Choudhary, Mahadev Choudhary, and Ashok Kumar, against the orders of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)-12, Hyderabad, for assessment years 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, and 2020-21. The assessees contended that the CIT(A) passed ex-parte orders due to non-compliance with notices and non-prosecution of appeals, which they attributed to a conflict with their counsel, not wilful intent. The Revenue argued that sufficient opportunities were provided. The Tribunal noted a delay in filing one appeal, which was condoned.

What were the issues?

1. Whether the order of the Ld.CIT(A) is erroneous and unsustainable in law, particularly in violation of principles of natural justice, due to non-service of proper notices under section 282 of the Act read with rule 127 of the Rules, preventing the appellant from presenting their case? 2. Whether the Ld.CIT(A) erred in upholding the action of the AO, who allegedly did not record proper satisfaction before initiating proceedings under section 153C of the Act? 3. Whether the Ld.CIT(A) erred in sustaining the addition of Rs.1,00,000 as unexplained investment under section 69 of the Act, considering the pen drive was seized from a third party's premises and not the assessee's, thus lacking evidentiary value? 4. Whether the AO failed to bring any other document proving cash payment besides an excel sheet and an oath statement, which the assessee deemed to have no evidentiary value? 5. Whether the Ld.CIT(A) erred by not providing an opportunity for cross-examination regarding the statement of M/s Rubberwala Housing and Infrastructure Limited accepting cash payment? Assessee's Contention: The Ld.AR argued that the CIT(A) dismissed the appeals for non-prosecution without adjudicating on merits, due to a conflict with the counsel. They sought remand for fresh adjudication. The assessee also argued against the validity of evidence used for additions. Revenue's Contention: The Ld.DR argued that the assessee was given sufficient opportunities and pleaded to uphold the CIT(A)'s order.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 282,Section 153C,Section 69

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Hyderabad ‘A’ Bench, Hyderabad

Before: Shri Vijay Pal Rao

For Appellant: Shri A.V.Raghuram
Hearing: 01/05/2025

आदेश / ORDER PER BENCH : These appeals filed by the assessees are directed against the separate orders dated 11.10.2024, 23.12.2024 and 24.12.2024 of Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)-12, Hyderabad [“Ld.CIT(A)”] for the assessment year 2017-18, 2018- 19, 2019-20 and 2020-21. Since the grounds raised in all these appeals are identical in nature, these appeals are clubbed, heard together and a consolidated order is being passed as under, taking facts from as lead appeal.

2.

The assessee has raised the following grounds of appeal : 1) On the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the order of the Ld.CIT(A) is erroneous and unsustainable in law apart from being passed in violation of principles of natural justice. The Ld.CIT(A) failed to appreciate that proper notices were not served on the appellant as required under section 282 of the Act r.w.rule 127 of the Rules, and therefore Appellant could not put forth his case. 2) Without prejudice to the above, the Ld.CIT(A) erred in upholding the action of the AO, wherein the AO ha snot recorded proper satisfaction before initiating proceedings u/s 153C of the Act. 3) Without prejudice to the above, the Ld.CIT(A) erred in sustaining the addition made by the AO of Rs.1,00,000 as unexplained investment u/s 69 of the Act. The Ld.CIT(A) failed to appreciate that the pen drive was seized from third person premises -105/Hyd/2025, 99&100/Hyd/2025 Leela Ram Choudhary and Others i.e.employee of Rubberwala group and not from the premise of Rubberwala and hence such pen drive does not have any evidentiary value.

4.

The Ld.CIT(A) failed to appreciate that the AO has not brought any other document which prove that the Appellant paid cash towards purchase, apart from excel sheet and oath statement of Mr.Ansari which does not have any evidentiary value and is a dumb document.

1.

5. The Ld.CIT(A) failed to appreciate that the AO has not provided any opportunity of cross examination in respect of the statement made by M/s Rubberwala housing and infrastructure limited accepting the payment of cash.

3.

At the outset, it is seen that there is a delay of 25 days in filing the appeal before the Tribunal in – 105/Hyd/2025. The assessee has filed condonation petition in all these cases with an affidavit, explaining the reasons for such delay. After going though the reasoning stated in the affidavit and after hearing the Ld.DR, the delay in filing the appeals is condoned.

4. The Ld.AR submitted that, the assessee had filed appeal before the Ld.CIT(A) against the order of the learned Assessing Officer (“Ld.AO”) passed u/s 153C of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (“the Act”). However, the Ld.CIT(A) has dismissed the appeal of the assessee, while passing the ex-parte order on the ground -105/Hyd/2025, 99&100/Hyd/2025 Leela Ram Choudhary and Others that the assessee has not complied with the notices issued by the Ld.CIT(A). He has also submitted that, the Ld.CIT(A) has not adjudicated the appeal of the assessee on merits, but the same was dismissed for non-prosecution. He has further submitted that the reason for non-prosecution of the appeal was not deliberate, but, due to conflict of the assessee with the counsel. Hence, he has pleaded that the impugned order of the Ld.CIT(A) may be set aside and the matter may be remanded to the record of the Ld.CIT(A) for fresh adjudication on merits after giving appropriate opportunity of hearing to the assessee.

5.

On the other hand, the Ld.DR has raised objection, submitting that the assessee was given sufficient opportunities but the assessee could not avail the same. He, therefore, pleaded to uphold the order passed by the Ld.CIT(A) and dismiss the appeals filed by the assessee.

6.

We have considered the rival submissions and carefully perused the impugned order of the Ld.CIT(A). The Ld.CIT(A) has dismissed the appeal of the assessee for non-prosecution /non- compliance on the part of the assessee and therefore, the appeal of the assessee was not decided on merits. The Ld.AR has submitted that the reason for non-prosecution of the appeal was not deliberate, but, due to conflict of the assessee with the counsel. Accordingly, in the facts and circumstances of the case and keeping in view the principles of natural justice, we set aside the order of the Ld.CIT(A) and the matter is remanded to -105/Hyd/2025, 99&100/Hyd/2025 Leela Ram Choudhary and Others the record of the Ld.CIT(A) for fresh adjudication on merits after giving appropriate opportunity of hearing to the assessee.

,100,104 & 105/Hyd/2025 :

8.

Since the issues involved in the all these appeals are identical with the issue involved in shall mutatis mutandis apply to these appeals as well. Accordingly, these appeals are allowed for statistical purpose.

9.

To sum up, all the appeals filed by the assessees are allowed for statistical purpose.

Order pronounced in the Open Court on conclusion of hearing on 2nd May, 2025.

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