Facts
The assessee filed a return of income declaring Rs.4,28,750/-. The Assessing Officer determined the income at Rs.18,23,050/- by making an addition of Rs.13,94,300/- under section 69A. The CIT(A) dismissed the assessee's appeal for non-prosecution.
Held
The Tribunal held that both the assessment order and the CIT(A)'s order were passed ex-parte without providing a reasonable opportunity to the assessee. Therefore, the CIT(A)'s order was set aside.
Key Issues
Whether the appellate order and assessment order were passed without affording a reasonable opportunity of being heard to the assessee.
Sections Cited
147, 144, 144B, 69A
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, LUCKNOW BENCH ‘SMC’, LUCKNOW
Before: SHRI ANADEE NATH MISSHRA
2017-18 against impugned appellate order dated 17/07/2025 (DIN & Order No.ITBA/NFAC/S/250/2025- 26/1078610775(1) of Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) [“CIT(A)” for short].
(B) The facts of the case, in brief, are that the assessee is an individual, filed his return of income declaring total income of Rs.4,28,750/-. The Assessing Officer completed the assessment and passed assessment order on 25/05/2023 u/s 147 read with section 144/144B of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (“the Act” for short) determining the total income of the assessee at Rs.18,23,050/- by making addition of Rs.13,94,300/- under section 69A of the Act. Being aggrieved, the assessee filed appeal against the assessment order in the office of learned CIT(A). Vide impugned appellate order dated 17/07/2025, the assessee’s appeal was dismissed by the learned CIT(A) for non prosecution.
(C) Being aggrieved, the assessee has filed the present appeal in Income Tax Appellate Tribunal against the aforesaid impugned appellate order of learned CIT(A). In the course of appellate proceedings in ITAT learned Counsel for the assessee submitted that the learned CIT(A) and assessment order have passed orders without providing reasonable opportunity to the assessee. In view of the foregoing, learned Counsel for the assessee submitted, the impugned order of learned CIT(A) should be set aside and the issue in dispute should be restored to the file of Assessing Officer with the direction to pass fresh order in accordance with law after providing reasonable opportunity to the assessee. The learned Sr. D.R. for the Revenue left the matter to the discretion of the Bench.
(D) Both sides have been heard. Materials on record have been perused. On perusal of records, it is seen that the assessment order as well as the impugned appellate order of the learned CIT(A), both were passed ex-parte qua the appellant assessee. Further, the assessee was not given reasonable opportunity. In view of the foregoing, the order of learned CIT(A) is set aside and the issue in dispute regarding the aforesaid addition of Rs.13,94,300/- is and restored back to the file of the Assessing Officer with the direction to pass de novo order on this specific issue in accordance with law after providing reasonable opportunity of being heard to the assessee.
(E) In the result, the appeal of the assessee is partly allowed for statistical purposes.
(Order pronounced in the open court on 31/10/2025)