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Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, DELHI BENCH: ‘A’: NEW DELHI
Before: SHRI H.S. SIDHU & SHRI ANADEE NATH MISSHRA
(A) The aforementioned appeals by Revenue and Cross Objections by Sahara India Limited are taken up together for the sake of convenience and brevity and these appeals are hereby disposed off through this Consolidated Order; as in all these appeals the tax effect is less than the monetary limit fixed by the CBDT in its Circular No. 17/2019 dated 08.08.2019.
(B) At the outset, at the time of hearing before us, we referred to the recent Central Board of Direct Taxes (“CBDT” for short) Circular No. 17/2019 dated 08.08.2019 in F.No. 279/Misc. 142/2007-ITJ (Pt.) wherein minimum threshold limit of tax effect for ITA No.- 5432/Del/2015 and other appeals. Shri Harish Bhasin and others. filing of appeals by Revenue in Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (“ITAT”, for short) has been enhanced to Rs. 50,00,000/- by revising the earlier CBDT Circular No. 3 of 2018, dated 11.07.2018. In view of the aforesaid CBDT Circular No. 17/2019 dated 08.08.2019; these appeals filed by Revenue are not maintainable and Revenue is required to withdraw / not press those appeals filed by Revenue in which tax effect is below Rs. 50,00,000. The learned Authorized Representatives (Chartered Accountants / Advocates) of the respective assessees in these appeals on the respective dates contended that respective appeals filed by Revenue should be dismissed having regard to aforesaid CBDT Circular dated 08.08.2019. Mr. Anil Kumar Sharma, the learned Senior Departmental Representative (“Ld. Sr. DR”, for short) representing Revenue in these appeals on the respective dates of hearing, accepted, at the time of hearing of these appeals on the respective dates, that the tax effect in the aforementioned appeals filed by Revenue is below Rs. 50,00,000/- in each of these appeals. He did not oppose the contention of the learned Authorized Representatives of the respective assessees that all these appeals filed by Revenue should be dismissed.
(B.1) The aforesaid CBDT circular No. 17/2019 dated 08/08/2017 reads as under: “Circular No. 17/2019 New Delhi. 8th August 2019
Subject: - Further Enhancement of Monetary limits for filing of appeals by the Department before Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, High Courts and SLPs/appeals before Supreme Court - Amendment to Circular 3 of 2018 - Measures for reducing litigation.-
Reference is invited to the Circular No.3 of2018 dated 11.07.2018 (the Circular) of Central Board of Direct Taxes (the Board) and its ITA No.- 5432/Del/2015 and other appeals. Shri Harish Bhasin and others. amendment dated 20th August. 2018 vide which monetary limits for filing of income tax appeals by the Department before Income Tax Appellate Tribunal. High Courts and SLPs/appeals before Supreme Court have been specified. Representation has also been received that an anomaly in the said circular at para 5 may be removed.
2. As a step towards further management of litigation. it has been decided by the Board that monetary limits for filing of appeals in income-tax cases be enhanced further through amendment in Para 3 of the Circular mentioned above and accordingly, the table for monetary limits specified in Para 3 of the Circular shall read as follows:
S.No. Appeals/SLPs in IT matters Monetary Limit (Rs.)
Before Appellate Tribunal 50,00,000/- 2. Before High Court 1,00.00.000/- 3. Before Supreme Court 2.00.00,000/-
3. Further, with a view to provide parity in filing of appeals in scenarios where separate order is passed by higher appellate authorities for each assessment year vis-a-vis where composite order for more than one assessment years is passed. para 5 of the circular is substituted by the following para:
"5. The Assessing Officer shall calculate the tax effect separately for every assessment year in respect of the disputed issues in the case of every assessee. If, in the case of an assessee, the disputed issues arise in more than one assessment year, appeal can be filed in respect of such assessment year or years in which the tax effect in respect of the disputed issues exceeds the monetary limit specified in para 3. No appeal shall be filed in respect of an assessment year or years in which the tax effect is less than the monetary limit specified in para 3. Further, even in the case of composite order of any High Court or appellate authority which involves more than one assessment year and common issues in more than one assessment year, no appeal shall be filed in respect of an assessment year or years in which the tax effect is less than the monetary limit specified in para 3. In case where a composite order/ judgement involves more than one assessee. each assessee shall be dealt with separately."
4. The said modifications shall come into effect from the date of issue of this Circular.
5. The same may be brought to the notice of all concerned. 6. This issues under section 268A of the Income-tax Act, 1961. 7. Hindi version will follow. “
ITA No.- 5432/Del/2015 and other appeals. Shri Harish Bhasin and others.
(B.1.1) We have noted that vide Circular No. 3/2018 dated 11th July, 2018 issued by CBDT it was not only directed that the Department shall not file appeal before the Tribunal in cases where the tax effect does not exceed the monetary limit of Rs.20 lakh; but it was also directed that this instruction will apply retrospectively to pending appeals. It was further directed in aforesaid CBDT Circular No. 3/2018 dated 11.07.2018, that the pending appeals below the specified tax limit may be withdrawn/not pressed by the Department. Relevant Portion of the aforesaid Circular No. 3/2018 dated 11.07.2018 is as under:
“The Circular will apply to SLPs/appeals/cross objections /references to be filed henceforth in Hon'ble Supreme Court/Tribunal and it shall also apply retrospectively to pending SLPs/appeals/cross objections/references. Pending appeals below the specified tax limits in para 3 above may be withdrawn/not pressed.”
(B.1.2) Now, vide its aforesaid recent Circular No. 17/2019 Dated 08.08.2019, CBDT has amended its aforesaid earlier Circular No.3/2018 dated 11.7.2018; and it has been directed that monetary limit for filing the Departmental appeal in Income Tax Cases be enhanced further and accordingly, the monetary limit for filing the appeal before the Appellate Tribunal have been enhanced to Rs.50 lakhs through amendment of paragraph 3 of aforesaid Circular No. 3/2018 dated 11.07.2018. Aforesaid Circular No.17/2019 Dated 08.08.2019 has been issued to revise / enhance the monetary limit of tax effect to Rs. 50,00,000/- as compared to the monetary limit of Rs. 20,00,000/-
ITA No.- 5432/Del/2015 and other appeals. Shri Harish Bhasin and others. vide CBDT’s earlier Circular No. 3/2018 dated 11.7.2018; without, however, in any way amending any other material part of the aforesaid CBDT Circular dated 11.07.2018.
More particularly, there is nothing in the aforesaid recent CBDT Circular No. 17/2019 dated 08.08.2019 to infer that direction contained in aforesaid earlier CBDT Circular No. 3 of 2018 dated 11.07.2018 to withdrawn / not press existing appeals (below specified monetary limit of tax effect) already filed by Revenue in ITAT; does not continue to be applicable. Therefore, all the provisions of aforesaid earlier Circular No. 3/2018 dated 11.7.2018 shall apply mutatis mutandis to recent aforesaid CBDT Circular No. 17/2019 dated 08.08.2019 also. Accordingly, the direction in aforesaid earlier Circular dated 11.07.2018 to withdraw / not press Revenue’s appeal with tax effect below Rs. 20,00,000/-; in view of recent aforesaid Circular dated 08.08.2019; is now to be read as direction to withdraw /not press Revenue’s appeal with tax effect below revised / enhanced limit of Rs. 50,00,000/-.
(B.2) For our aforesaid view expressed in the foregoing paragraph (B.1.2) of this order; we take strength from a recent precedent in the case of Income Tax Officer, Ward 3(2), Ahmadabad vs. Dinesh Madhavlal Patelin (ITA No.- 1398/Ahd/2004 for Assessment Year 1998-99), and 627 others; in which, vide order dated 14.08.2019, of ‘A’ Bench of Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Ahmadabad [ Coram: Justice P P Bhatt, President, and Sri Pramod Kumar, Vice President] it was held, at paragraph 7 of the aforesaid order dated 14/08/2019, that relaxation in monetary limits for departmental appeals, vide CBDT circular dated 8th August 2019 (supra) shall be applicable to the ITA No.- 5432/Del/2015 and other appeals. Shri Harish Bhasin and others. pending appeals in addition to the appeals to be filed henceforth. This decision has already been reported in 2019-TIOL-1556-ITAT-AHM, and the relevant portion of the aforesaid order dated 14.08.2019 of ‘A’ Bench, ITAT, Ahmadabad: containing detailed discussion of the issue, is reproduced as under:
“1. These 628 appeals and Cos pertain to the appeals are filed by various Assessing Officer, all these appeals call into question correctness of the relief granted to the taxpayers by the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) and, most importantly, the tax effect involved in all these appeals does not exceed Rs. 50,00,000 in each of these appeals. The cross objections taken up for hearing are only such cross objections as emanate from these appeals and are broadly in support of the orders passed by the Commissioner (Appeals). In these cases, in the light of the discussions with the Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax (Gujarat) and representatives of the Ahmedabad ITAT Bar Association, individual notices are dispensed with; notices of hearing are given only through the notice board.
It is in this backdrop that we are pleased to take note of a very pragmatic and taxpayer friendly policy decision by the Government of India for reducing the income tax litigation. Vide CBDT circular dated 8th August, 2019, the income tax department has further liberalized its policy for not filing appeals against the decisions of the appellate authorities in favour of the taxpayers, wherein tax involved is below certain threshold limits, and announced its policy decision not to file, or press, the appeals, before this Tribunal, against the appellate orders favourable to the assessee in the cases in which overall tax effect, excluding interest- except when interest itself is in dispute, is Rs 50,00,000 or less. What it means, in plain words, is that when a Commissioner (Appeals) gives the taxpayer tax relief of upto Rs 50 lakhs in an appeal in an assessment year, the matter ends there and the relief so granted by the Commissioner (Appeals) cannot be challenged before this Tribunal, that when this Tribunal gives the taxpayer relief of upto Rs 1 crore in an appeal in an assessment year, the matter ends there and the relief so granted by the Tribunal cannot be challenged before the Hon’ble High Court, and that when Hon'ble High Court gives relief of upto Rs 2 crore to the taxpayer in an appeal in an assessment year, that relief cannot be challenged before Hon’ble Supreme Court. These monetary threshold limits for filing of appeals by the income tax authorities do not take into account interest and other corollaries of the tax demands being confirmed such as penalties, except when a penalty itself is subject matter of litigation, and prosecutions. The enhancement of these monetary limits is at an unprecedented scale. The monetary limit for appeals before this Tribunal, which was Rs 3,00,000 till 10th July 2014, has been in effect enhanced to almost 1,700% in the last five years. This substantial relaxation is certainly a huge step which signifies trust reposed by the Government of India in the decisions of the appellate forums, and substantially cuts down time taken in the finality of the appellate process. It is indeed heartening to note that in one stroke, the Government has not only prevented, but has. in effect, set the stage for withdrawal of thousands of appeals before this Tribunal and before Hon’ble Courts above. In an environment in which retrospectivity was attached only to the taxation and not to tax reliefs or concessions, such an approach is a pleasant departure from legacy practices.
3. In view of the above factual background and the generous concession by this benevolent CBDT circular, all these appeals must be dismissed as withdrawn and the related cross objections must be dismissed as infructuous. There is. however, a small issue that we must deal with.
Smt Aparna Agarwal, learned Departmental Representative, however, has a point to make. She points out that the circular dated 8th August 2019 is not clearly retrospective inasmuch as it specifically states in para 4 that “(t)he said modifications shall ITA No.- 5432/Del/2015 and other appeals. Shri Harish Bhasin and others. come into effect from the date of issue of this Circular". It is thus pointed out that this sentence gives an impression that is only after the date of the said circular that the departmental appeals will not be filed in the cases within the specified tax effect limits. We are urged to bear in mind the impact of this observation while giving effect to the circular dated 8th August, 2019. She. however, hastens to add that she is yet to have any specific instructions on the issue and she leaves it for the bench to take the appropriate call. Learned representatives appearing for the taxpayers vehemently oppose the suggestion implicit in her submissions. All of them are unanimous in their argument that the circular must be held to have retrospective application and must equally apply to the pending appeals as well Shri J P Shah. Senior Advocate, points out that the circular dated 8'h August 2019 i^ not a standalone circular and it is required to be read with the old circular no. 3 ot 2018 which is what it seeks to modify. This circular, according to the learned counsel, only enhances the monetary limits and gives further relaxation. He urges us not to read the circular in a manner so as to nullify the underlying approach and object of reducing litigation. Shri Soparkar, learned Senior Advocate, submits that all that the present circular does is to modify the monetary limits and nothing more, and, therefore, it cannot be treated to follow any other approach other than the approach followed in the old circular. The old circular, beyond any dispute or controversy, categorically applied to the pending appeals as on the date of issuance of circular. Shri Tushar Hemani, learned Senior Advocate, points out that the circular dated 8th August 2019 only gives further relief not only in terms of the monetary limits but also in terms of the manner in which the application of circular to orders dealing with more than one year is to made. Shri S N Divetia, learned counsel for the assessee, submits that unlike in the cases of earlier CBDT circulars, which used to be in supersession of earlier circulars on the issues, the circular dated 8th August 2019 only modifies the earlier circular which, inter alia, provided for its retrospective application. Our attention is invited to some judicial precedents in support of the contention that the benevolent circular, such as the one in question, is to be given effect in respect of the pending appeals as well. Ms Urvashi Shodhan. learned counsel for the assessee, points outs that its plainly contrary to the scheme of the litigation policy of the Government of India to give this circular only prospective effect. Shri S K Sadhwani, learned counsel for the assessee, invites our attention to the letter dated 16th July 2018 issued by Member CBDT to the all the Principal Chief Commissioners of Income Tax, in the context of circular dated 11th July 2018 that the present circular seeks to modify, seeking report on withdrawal of the appeals covered by the circular. He then points out tMt it is the old circular is still alive today and the only change is with respect to the monetary limits. In all fairness, therefore, the same approach regarding withdrawal of pending appeals must be followed for this circular as well. On the same lines, arguments are advanced by the learned representatives which, for the sake of brevity and to avoid repetition, we are not referring to in more specific details. In brief rejoinder, learned Departmental Representative graciously leaves the matter to us.
Having considered the rival submissions and having perused the material on record, we do not have slightest of hesitation in holding that the concession extended by the CBDT not only applies to the appeals to be filed in future but it is also equally applicable to the appeals pending for disposal as on now. Our line of reasoning is this. The circular dated 8,h August 2019 is not a standalone circular. It is to be read in conjunction with the CBDT circular no 3 of 2018 (and subsequent amendment thereto), and all it does is to replace paragraph nos. 3 and 5 of the said circular. This is evident from the following extracts from the circular dated 8th August 2019: 2. As a step towards further management of litigation, it has been decided by the Board that monetary limits for filing of appeals in income-tax cases be enhanced further through amendment in Para 3 of the Circular mentioned above and accordingly, the table for monetary limits specified in Para 3 of the Circular shall read as follows:
ITA No.- 5432/Del/2015 and other appeals. Shri Harish Bhasin and others. S.No. Appeals/SLPs in Income-tax matters Monetary Limit (Rs.) / Before Appellate Tribunal 50,00,000 2 Before High Court 1,00,00,000 2,00,00,000 3 Before Supreme Court
3. Further, with a view to provide parity in filing of appeals in scenarios where separate order is passed by higher appellate authorities for each assessment year vis-a-vis where composite order for more than one assessment years is passed, para 5 of the circular is substituted by the following para: “5. The Assessing Officer shall calculate the tax effect separately for every assessment year in respect of the disputed issues in the case of every assessee. If in the case of an assessee, the disputed issues arise in more than one assessment year, appeal can be filed in respect of such assessment year or years in which the tax effect in respect of the disputed issues exceeds the monetary limit specified in para 3. No appeal shall he filed in respect of an assessment year or years in which the tax effect is less than the monetary limit specified in para 3 Further, even in the case of composite order of any High Court or appellate authority which involves more than one assessment year and common issues in more than one assessment year no appeal shall be filed in respect of an assessment year or years in which the tax effect is less than the monetary limit specified in para 3. In case where a composite order/judgement involves more than one assessee, each assessee shall be dealt with separately"
4. The said modifications shall come into effect from the date of issue of this Circular.
Clearly, all other portions of the circular no. 3 of 2018 (supra) have remained intact. The portion which has remained intact includes paragraph 13 of the aforesaid circular which is as follows: 13. This Circular will apply to SLPs/ appeals/ cross objections/ references to be filed henceforth in ITA No.- 5432/Del/2015 and other appeals. Shri Harish Bhasin and others. SC/HCs/Tribunal and it shall also apply retrospectively to pending SLPs/ appeals/ cross objections/references. Pending appeals below the specified tax limits in pare 3 above may be withdrawn/ not pressed.
In view of the above discussions, we hereby hold that the relaxation in monetary limits for departmental appeals, vide CBDT circular dated 8th August 2019 (supra) shall be applicable to the pending appeals in addition to the appeals to be filed henceforth.”
(B.2.1) Moreover, in the following precedents, Co-ordinate Benches of Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Delhi; have already taken the view that the aforesaid CBDT Circular no. 17/2019 dated 08.08.2019 shall also apply retrospectively to pending appeals:
(i) Order dated 21.08.2019 of “A” Bench of ITAT, Delhi in ITA No. – 5416/Del/2015 and 6 others for A.Y. 2011-12, in the case of ITO vs. M/s P.L. & Sons Infrastructure (P) Ltd. and 6 other appeals (ii) Order dtd. 19/08/2019 of “B” Bench of ITAT, Delhi, in ITA No. 4497/Del/2016 for A.Y. 2011-12 in the case of ITO vs. M/s BSA Homes Pvt. Ltd. (iii) Order dtd 19/08/2019 of “C” Bench of ITAT, Delhi, in ITA No.– 4276/Del/2016, for A.Y. 2012-13 in the case of ACIT vs. Isham System (P) Ltd. (iv) Order dtd 19.08.2019 of “E” Bench of ITAT, Delhi in ITA No.- 5230/Del/2011 for A.Y. 2004-05 Delhi in the case of ACIT vs. M/s Majestic Properties.
ITA No.- 5432/Del/2015 and other appeals. Shri Harish Bhasin and others. (v) Order dtd. 19/08/2019 of “F” Bench of ITAT, Delhi in ITA Nos.–
5136 & 5137/Del/2016 for A.Y. 2009-10 & 2010-11 in the case of ACIT vs. (vi) Order dtd 21/08/2019 of “D” Bench, of ITAT, Delhi in ITA Nos.- 5628/Del/2016 and 1481 & 5961/Del/2016 for A.Y. 2007-08 and 2006-07
& 2013-14 in the case of ITO vs. Jain Steel Corporation and ACIT vs. Jindal (B.2.2) A perusal of the aforesaid recent CBDT Circular dated 08.08.2019 shows that minimum threshold limit of tax effect for filing of Special Leave Petition (‘SLP’ for short) in Hon’ble Supreme Court has also been enhanced to Rs. 2,00,000/-. Vide separate orders, each dated 16.08.2019, Hon’ble Supreme Court has already dismissed the following SLPs filed by Revenue earlier; since the tax effect involved in each of these cases was less than Rs. 2,00,000/-:
(i) Special Leave Petition (Civil) Diary 25086/2019 in the case of CIT v/s M/s Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd. (Arising out of impugned final judgment and order dated 06-02-2019 in passed by the High Court of Judicature at Bombay)
(ii) Special Leave Petition (Civil) Dairy No. 26373/2019 in the case of DCIT vs. EB Holding Company Ltd. (Arising out of impugned final judgment and order dated 25-01-2019 in WP No. 3642/2018 passed by the High Court of Judicature at Bombay)
ITA No.- 5432/Del/2015 and other appeals. Shri Harish Bhasin and others. (iii) Special Leave Petition (Civil) Diary No. 21497/2019 in the case of Pr. CIT vs. Keshav Power Ltd. (Arising out of impugned final judgment and order dated 07-09-2018 in passed by the High Court of Delhi at New Delhi)
(iv) Special Leave Petition (Civil) Diary No. 25076/2019 in the case of Pr. CIT vs. Meenakshi Modi. (Arising out of impugned final judgment and order dated 24-01-2019 in DBITA No. 156/2018 passed by the High Court of Judicature for Rajasthan at Jodhpur)
Moreover, vide F. No. 279/Misc/M-93/2018-ITJ, dated 20th August, 2019; (B.2.3) clarification has been issued by CBDT that revised monetary Limits mentioned in Circular No. 17/2019 is applicable to all pending SLPs / appeals / cross objections / references. It reads as under:
“F. No. 279/Misc/M-93/2018-ITJ Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Revenue Central Board of Direct Taxes ********** Room No. 12, 5th Floor, Jeevanvihar Building, Parliament Street, New Delhi. Dated the 20th August, 2019. To, All Pr. Chief Commissioners of Income Tax
Sub: Withdrawal of Pending cases after Enhancement of Monetary Limits matter reg; Ref. Circular No. 17/2019 dated 8th August, 2019 (F.No. 279/Misc. 142/2007- ITJ(Pt) and Circular No. 3 of 2018.
Sir, Kindly refer to the aforesaid subject. Representations have been received from the field, seeking clarifications on applicability of Circular 17 of 2019 on pending appeals.
ITA No.- 5432/Del/2015 and other appeals. Shri Harish Bhasin and others. 2. In this regard, it is stated that Circular 17 of 2019 relaxes the monetary limits as mentioned in the table there in and all other paras, except para 5 of Circular 3, relating to composite orders shall be applicable in toto.
Therefore, it is clear that the revised monetary limits so mentioned in circular 17/2019 is applicable, to all pending SLPs/appeals/cross objections/references. All such pending appeals within the revised limits shall be withdrawn on or before 31.10.2019 and a fortnightly report as to progress on withdrawals should be submitted to Board, by 15th & 31st of every month.
4. This issues with the approval of the Chairman, CBDT.
Encl. as above Yours faithfully,