M/S NAMDHARI FOOD INTERNATIONAL (P) LTD.,NEW DELHI vs. PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX,, ROHTAK
1
IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL
“B” BENCH, CHANDIGARH
BEFORE HON’BLE SHRI RAJPAL YADAV, VICE PRESIDENT
AND HON’BLE SHRI MANOJ KUMAR AGGARWAL, AM
आयकरअपील सं. / ITA No.374/CHANDI/2022
(िनधाŊरणवषŊ / Assessment Year: 2014-15)
M/s Namdhari Food International (P) Ltd.
701, Vikrant Tower, Rajendra Place
New Delhi-110008. बनाम/
Vs.
Pr. CIT
Rohtak-124001. ̾थायीलेखासं./जीआइआरसं./PAN/GIR No. AACCN-1772-F
(अपीलाथŎ/Appellant)
:
(ŮȑथŎ / Respondent)
अपीलाथŎकीओरसे/ Appellant by : Sh. Tejmohan Singh (Adv.) – Ld. AR
ŮȑथŎकीओरसे/Respondent by :
Smt. Kusum Bansal (CIT) – Ld. DR
सुनवाईकीतारीख/Date of Hearing
:
08-04-2025
घोषणाकीतारीख /Date of Pronouncement
:
22-04-2025
आदेश / O R D E R
Manoj Kumar Aggarwal (Accountant Member)
By way of this appeal, the assessee assails invocation of revisionary juri iction u/s 263 by Ld. Pr. Commissioner of Income Tax, Rohtak (Pr.CIT) for Assessment Year (AY) 2014-15 vide impugned order dated 12-03-2021 in the matter of an assessment framed by Ld. AO u/s.143(3) r.w.s. 147 of the Act on 29-12-2018. The assessee is undergoing insolvency proceedings and it is represented by Insolvency resolution professional (IRP) Shri Rakesh Kumar Gupta.
The registry has noted delay of 91 days in the appeal, the condonation of which has been sought by IRP vide application dated 25-02-2025
which is accompanied by an affidavit. Considering the period of delay, we condone the delay and proceed with adjudication of the appeal.
2. The Ld. AR, at the outset, raised a plea of violation of principles of natural justice and sought another opportunity of hearing before revisionary authority. The Ld. AR stated that the assessee remained unrepresented during revisionary proceedings and given a chance, the assessee would be in a position to substantiate its stand. The Ld.
CIT-DR, on the other hand, sought dismissal of the appeal and cited the decision of Hon’ble Juri ictional High Court in the case of Veena
3. The assessee was initially assessed u/s 143(3) on 14-12-2016
wherein Ld. AO made certain additions. However, the case was reopened and another assessment was framed u/s 143(3) r.w.s. 147
on 29-12-2018. The case was reopened on the ground that the assessee failed to deliver the commodities and also failed to pay the outstanding amount of Rs.53.07 Crores. To examine the same, the case was reopened as per due process of law. However, Ld. AO, after considering assessee’s submissions, accepted the assessed income of the assessee.
4. Subsequently, Ld. Pr. CIT, upon perusal of case records, alleged that the Ld. AO failed to verify out of books sales for Rs.53.07 Crores.
The main information leading to scrutiny was not properly verified by Ld. AO. Accordingly, Ld. AO was directed to redo the assessment in accordance with the law. The assessee failed to make any representation during revisionary proceedings. Pursuant to the said directions, another assessment has been framed on the assessee u/s 143(3) r.w.s. 263 on 18-03-2022 wherein Ld. AO added aforesaid amount to the income of the assessee. Aggrieved, the assessee has challenged the validity of revisionary order passed u/s 263. The Ld.
AR has assailed the revisionary juri iction on the ground that there was no error in the assessment as originally framed by Ld. AO.
5. The revenue has referred to the case law of Hon’ble
Taxmann.com 166; TA No.153 of 2024) to oppose any interference in the revisionary order wherein Hon’ble Court dismissed the appeal of the assessee on following observation: -
4. We have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the whole record of the present case.
5. A perusal of the record shows that vide order dated 27.03.2023, the Principal
Commissioner of Income Tax, PCIT, Rohtak remanded the case back to the Assessing Officer.
The relevant portion of the order dated 27.03.2023 is reproduced as under:
"7. Keeping in view of the facts and circumstances of the case as discussed above, I am of the considered opinion that the AO had passed the order dated 11.02.2021 in a very casual manner without due diligence and without conducting proper enquiries & verification which should have been made with respect to amended provisions of the Finance Act, 2015 & binding decision of Juri ictional Hon'ble Punjab & Haryana High Court & Hon'ble Apex Court on the taxability of interest on enhanced compensation. Therefore, the assessment completed u/s 143(3) r.w.s
143(3A) & 143(3B) of the Act is erroneous so far as it is prejudicial to the interest of the revenue in terms of Explanation 2 of section 263 of the Act. Accordingly, the assessment order passed by the AO on 11.02.2021 u/s 143(3) r.w.s 143(3A) & 143(3B) of the Act for the A.Y. 2018-19 is set aside with the direction to pass an order afresh, after due consideration of the facts and in accordance with law after making requisite enquiries & proper verification with regard to issues mentioned above. The assessee is at liberty to adduce the facts as relevant before the AO at the time of assessment proceedings in consequence to this order. The AO shall allow the assessee, adequate & reasonable opportunity of being heard & make relevant submissions. It 4
may be ensured that assessment order u/s 153(3) is passed within the prescribed time limit as per Income Tax Act. "
6. The appellant challenged the above referred to order dated 27.03.2023 before the Income
Tax Appellate Tribunal, Delhi Bench 'G', New Delhi. Learned Appellate Tribunal vide order dated 28.06.2024 dismissed the appeal filed by the appellant herein and did not interfere with the order dated 27.03.2023 passed under Section 263 of the Act by the PCIT.
7. Vide order dated 27.03.2023 passed under Section 263 of the Act by the PCIT, the matter was remanded back to the Assessing Officer to pass a fresh order. During the pendency of the appeal before the Tribunal, itself, the Assessing Officer passed a fresh order on 18.02.2024 in compliance of order dated 27.03.2023. Undisputedly the appellant has preferred appeal against order dated 18.02.2024 as well, which is pending consideration. Simultaneously, the present appeal is preferred against order dated 28.06.2024 passed by the learned Income Tax
Appellate Tribunal, Delhi Bench 'G', New Delhi.
8. Since the very order of remand dated 27.03.2023, which was challenged before the learned
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Delhi Bench 'G', New Delhi, was implemented and a fresh order dated 18.02.2024 was passed by the Assessing Officer, further the learned Tribunal vide order dated 28.06.2024 did not interfere with the order dated 27.03.2023 passed under Section 263 of the Act by PCIT (remanding the case back to the Assessing Officer) and the appellant has preferred an appeal against order dated 18.02.2024, which is pending consideration, therefore, the present appeal is liable to be dismissed.
9. In view of the above, the present appeal is dismissed.
The Ld. AR sought distinction in the facts of that case on the ground that in the present case, the order of Ld. Pr. CIT is an ex-parte order and the principles of natural justice were not adhered to by Ld. Pr.
CIT. Secondly, in the present case, the assessee has not preferred further appeal against consequential order (as intimated by IRP Shri
Rakesh Kumar Gupta). These facts have not been controverted before us.
6. We find that indeed the first and foremost argument of Ld. AR before us is the violation of principles of natural justice. It is the prayer of Ld. AR that another opportunity of hearing may be granted to the assessee to defend its stand. The Ld. AR is not seeking indulgence on merits. Secondly, the assessee is not in further appeal against consequential order and not providing this opportunity of hearing would essentially forfeit the assessee’s right to appeal. Accordingly, we set aside the impugned order and restore the appeal back to the file of Ld. Pr. CIT for fresh consideration with a direction to the assessee to plead and prove its case. The Ld. Pr. CIT would pass a fresh order u/s 263 of the Act after providing opportunity of hearing to the assessee.
7. The appeal stand allowed for statistical purposes.
Order pronounced on 22-04-2025. (RAJPAL YADAV) (MANOJ KUMAR AGGARWAL)
VICE PRESIDENT लेखा सद˟ /ACCOUNTANT MEMBER
Dated: 22-04-2025. आदेश की Ůितिलिप अŤेिषत / Copy of the Order forwarded to :
1. अपीलाथŎ/Appellant
2. ŮȑथŎ/Respondent
3. आयकरआयुƅ/CIT
4. िवभागीयŮितिनिध/DR
5. गाडŊफाईल/GF