Facts
The assessee's appeals for AYs 2016-17 and 2017-18 were decided ex-parte by the Ld.CIT(A) after granting multiple hearing opportunities. The assessee argued that the non-prosecution was unintentional and due to the need to collect essential documents for proper adjudication.
Held
The Tribunal restored both appeals to the file of the Ld.CIT(A) for a fresh decision, providing the assessee another opportunity to present their case. This restoration is conditional upon the assessee depositing a cost of Rs.5,000/- for each appeal to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund.
Key Issues
Whether the Ld.CIT(A) was justified in passing ex-parte orders and if the assessee should be granted further opportunity to present their case.
Sections Cited
250
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, “B” BENCH, AHMEDABAD
Before: Shri Sanjay Garg & Shri Makarand V. Mahadeokar
"ी संजय गग", "ाियक सद" एवं "ी मकरंद वसंत महादेवकर, लेखा सद" के सम!। ] ] Before Shri Sanjay Garg, Judicial Member And Shri Makarand V. Mahadeokar, Accountant Member आयकर अपील सं / 447/Ahd/2025 िनधा"रण वष" /Assessment Years : 2016-17 & 2017-18 respectively Sanjaykumar Dalpatbhai Shah Assessment unit, NFAC, बनाम/ Omkar Finance Present Juris. The ITO v/s. Paras Machinary Stores Ward-4 At Shihori, Tal-Kankrej Palanpur-385 001 Shihori Banaskantha – 385 550 "थायी लेखा सं./PAN: AKUPS 3748 P (अपीलाथ$/ Appellant) (%& यथ$/ Respondent) Assessee by : Shri Aseem Thakkar, AR Revenue by : Shri R.P. Rastogi, CIT-DR सुनवाई की तारीख/Date of Hearing : 20/08/2025 घोषणा की तारीख /Date of Pronouncement: 28/08/2025 आदेश/O R D E R
Per Sanjay Garg, Judicial Member:
The captioned appeals have been preferred by the assessee against the separate orders of the Learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), National Faceless Appeal Centre (NFAC), Delhi [hereinafter referred to as ‘CIT(A)’] of even date 02/01/2025 passed u/s.250 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Act’) for the Assessment Years (AYs) 2016-17 and 2017-2018.
At the outset, the Ld.Counsel for the assessee has invited our attention to the impugned orders of the ld.CIT(A) to submit that the same are ex-parte & 447/Ahd/2025 Sanjaykumar Dalpatbhai Shah vs.Assessment Unit, NFAC, Present Juris. The ITO, Ward-4 Asst.Years : 2016-17 & 2017-18 orders of the Ld.CIT(A). The Ld.Counsel inviting our attention to paragraph No.3 of the impugned order of the Ld.CIT(A) for AY 2016-17, has demonstrated that the assessee had prayed for an adjudication of the case as the assessee had to collect certain documents. In the impugned order, the Ld.CIT(A) observing that the assessee had already been granted four opportunities of hearing, thereafter proceeded to decide the appeal of the assessee ex-parte of the assessee. The Ld.Counsel for the assessee submitted that the non-prosecution of the appeal before the ld.CIT(A) was not intentional, rather, the assessee had to collect certain documents which was very necessary for proper adjudication of the case of the assessee. That the assessee had duly filed the application which was rejected. The Ld.Counsel has, therefore, submitted that the assessee has a fair case on merits and that, he may be granted one more opportunity to present his case before the Ld.CIT(A). We find that similar observations have been made by the Ld.CIT(A) for AY 2017-18 in paragraph No.3 of the impugned order.
The Ld.Departmental Representative for the revenue (DR) however, has relied upon the findings of the Ld.CIT(A).
Considering the rival submissions, in our view, the interests of justice will be well served, if the assessee is given an opportunity to present his case(s) before the Ld.CIT(A), however, subject to deposit of cost of Rs.5,000/-, in relation to each of the assessee’s appeal, to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. Both the appeals are restored to the file of ld.CIT(A) for decision afresh, however, subject to furnishing of evidence before the CIT(A) by the assessee of deposit of Rs.5,000/- in each case, to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. & 447/Ahd/2025 Sanjaykumar Dalpatbhai Shah vs.Assessment Unit, NFAC, Present Juris. The ITO, Ward-4 Asst.Years : 2016-17 & 2017-18