DASNA STEELS PVT LTD,NEW DELHI vs. ITO WARD 7(2), NEW DELHI

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ITA 2609/DEL/2019Status: DisposedITAT Delhi25 November 2020AY 2009-104 pages
AI SummaryRemanded

What did the Tribunal hold?

The Tribunal held that the CIT(A) erred in dismissing the appeal without providing a proper opportunity of hearing and without deciding the case on merit. The matter was therefore remanded back to the CIT(A) for a decision on merits after affording the assessee an opportunity of hearing.

What were the facts?

The assessee, Dasna Steels Pvt. Ltd., filed an appeal against a penalty order under Section 271B. The Assessing Officer had assessed the income at a significantly higher amount than declared, and subsequently imposed a penalty. The CIT(A) dismissed the assessee's appeal.

What were the issues?

Whether the CIT(A) properly followed the principles of natural justice by providing an adequate opportunity of hearing to the assessee before dismissing the appeal. Whether the penalty under Section 271B was leviable in the given facts and circumstances.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 271B,Section 44AA,Section 44AB,Section 115JB

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, DELHI BENCH: ‘G’ NEW DELHI

Before: SHRI R. K. PANDA & MS SUCHITRA KAMBLE

Hearing: 17.11.2020Pronounced: 25.11.2020

ORDER PER SUCHITRA KAMBLE, JM

This appeal is filed by the assessee against the order dated 04/09/2018 passed by CIT(A)-3, New Delhi for Assessment Year 2009-10.

2.

The grounds of appeal are as under:-

“1. That the notice issued U/s 27IB and order imposing penalty of Rs.91,257.00 under said section are illegal, bad in law, and without jurisdiction. 2. That, the CIT (A) has erred in not considering the written submission filed through email, “delhi.cit.apl3@incometax.gov.in” and passed the order in ex-party manner, which is highly arbitrary, unjustified and against the principle of natural justice.

3. That, the CIT (A) has failed to appreciate, the provision of section 27IB are not applicable on the assessee appellant, because assessee has maintained proper books of account and accounts are also Audited by Chartered Accountant.

4.

That, the CIT (A) has erred in not appreciating the facts and circumstances, that, the assessee company has maintained books of account U/s 44AA and Balance Sheet and Profit & Loss Account are audited U/s 44AB on dated 20.08.2009 through Chartered Accountant Shri Lalit Kumar, F.C.A. through its Partnership firm M/s Sanjay Lalit & Co., Photo copies of same have been filed before the assessing officer on 02.05.2017.

5. That in view of the facts and circumstance of the case the assessing officer has erred in law and on facts in not providing the proper opportunity of hearing, which is bad in law and against the principle of natural justice.

6.

That in any case the penalty imposed is unjust, arbitrary and highly excessive.”

3.

The assessee is engaged in manufacturing of steel. The return of income was e-filed on 03.10.2009 declaring an income of Rs. 3,62,051 u/s 115JB. The Assessing Officer passed assessment order dated 16.12.2016 thereby assessing the income of the assessee at 14,41,64,257/-. Thereafter, the Assessing Officer passed the penalty order dated 12.05.2017 under Section 271B of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

4. Being aggrieved by the penalty order, the assessee filed appeal before the CIT(A). The CIT(A) dismissed the appeal of the assessee.

5.

None appeared at the time of hearing hence we are proceedings on the basis of the records available before us.

6. The Ld. DR relied upon the assessment order and the order of the CIT(A).

7.

We have heard Ld. DR and perused the material available on record. It is pertinent to note that the CIT(A) has not given any categorical finding on merit of the case and dismissed the appeal on the ground of non-prosecution of appeal. It is also observed that the CIT(A) did not give sufficient opportunity of hearing to the assessee. Therefore, the CIT(A) was not right in dismissing the appeal of the assessee without giving proper opportunity of hearing. Hence, we are remanding back the entire issue to the file of the CIT(A) to be decided on merit. Needless to say, the assessee be given opportunity of hearing by following principles of natural justice. The appeal of the assessee is partly allowed for statistical purpose.

8.

In result, the appeal filed by the assessee is partly allowed for statistical purpose.

Order pronounced in the Open Court on this 25th Day of November, 2020.

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