FREQUENT STOCK AND SHARES PRIVATE LIMITED,INDORE vs. INCOME TAX OFFICER 1(1), INDORE, INDORE

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ITA 80/IND/2025Status: DisposedITAT Indore30 June 2025AY 2012-20136 pages
AI SummaryRemanded

What did the Tribunal hold?

The ITAT condoned the delays, finding 'sufficient cause' due to the assessees being non-operational and not receiving notices. It remanded all appeals to the Assessing Officer for fresh adjudication on merits, ensuring a fair opportunity for the assessees.

What were the facts?

Two assessees filed multiple appeals with significant delays (up to 506 days) for various assessment years. They contended that their companies were non-operational, leading to non-receipt of notices and ex-parte assessments or orders passed by CIT(A) without proper representation.

What were the issues?

The key legal issues were the condonation of significant delays in filing appeals and the necessity of a fresh adjudication on merits due to ex-parte assessments and lack of proper representation before lower authorities.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 148,Section 143(3),Section 147,Section 144,Section 250(6),Section 253(5)

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, INDORE BENCH, INDORE

Before: SHRI B.M. BIYANI & SHRI PARESH M. JOSHI

आदेश/ O R D E R

Per Bench:

The captioned appeals are filed by two different assessees, the details are as under:

1.

Motika Finance Ltd. & Frequent Stock and shares Private Limited 77 & 76/Ind/2025 & 79 & 80/Ind/2025 - AYs: 2011-12, 2012-13 & 2013-14 .Y. Impugned order Original proceedings

Motika Finance Limited

1 75/Ind/2025 2011-12 Order of first-appeal Assessment-order dated dated 20.06.2023 passed 30.12.2018 passed by by CIT(A), NFAC, Delhi ACIT-3(1), Indore u/s 148 r.w.s. 143(3) 2 77/Ind/2025 2012-13 Order of first-appeal Assessment-order dated dated 20.06.2023 passed 31.12.2018 passed by by CIT(A), NFAC, Delhi ACIT-3(1), Indore u/s 148 r.w.s. 143(3) 3 76/Ind/2025 2013-14 Order of first-appeal Assessment-order dated dated 20.06.2023 passed 31.12.2018 passed by by CIT(A), NFAC, Delhi ACIT-3(1), Indore u/s 148 r.w.s. 143(3) Frequent Stock and Shares Private Limited

4 79/Ind/2025 2011-12 Order of first-appeal Assessment-order dated dated 28.12.2023 passed 29.12.2018 passed by by CIT(A), NFAC, Delhi ITO-1(3), Indore u/s 147 r.w.s. 143(3) 5 80/Ind/2025 2012-13 Order of first-appeal Assessment-order dated dated 06.06.2024 passed 26.12.2019 passed by by CIT(A), NFAC, Delhi ITO-1(1), Indore u/s 144 r.w.s.147 6 78/Ind/2025 2013-14 Order of first-appeal Assessment-order dated dated 06.06.2024 passed 11.12.2019 passed by by CIT(A), NFAC, Delhi ITO-1(1), Indore u/s 144 r.w.s.147

2.

Since these appeals involve identical/similar issues for adjudication, they were heard together at the request of parties and are being disposed of by this single order for the sake of convenience, brevity and clarity.

3.

The registry has informed that there is a delay of 506 days in all three appeals filed by assessee “Motika Finance Limited” and delay of 324 / 140 days in the appeals filed by assessee “Frequent Stock and Shares Private Limited”. Ld. AR for assessees submitted that the assessees have filed respective applications for condonation of delays supported by affidavits on stamp. Referring to contents of same, Ld. AR submitted that both of the Page 2 of 6

Motika Finance Ltd. & Frequent Stock and shares Private Limited 77 & 76/Ind/2025 & 79 & 80/Ind/2025 - AYs: 2011-12, 2012-13 & 2013-14 assessee-companies were non-operational and neither the notices of hearings nor the impugned orders were physically served upon their registered addresses. Referring to Para 4 of the impugned order passed in Ld. AR showed that the CIT(A) has issued notices of hearing by way of uploading on ITBA portal. Ld. AR submitted that since the notices of hearings and the impugned orders did not reach to assessee-companies which were non-operational, neither the first-appeals could be prosecuted before CIT(A) nor the present appeals before ITAT could be filed in time. Ld. AR prayed that having regard to the fact that the assessee-companies have become non-operational and in the interest of justice, a judicious view may be taken and the delays in filing these appeals may be condoned.

4.

Ld. AR next submitted that the CIT(A) has merely upheld AO’s orders but the appeals of assessee require an apt adjudication in terms of section 250(6). Ld. AR went ahead to submit that the Assessing Officers have made high pitched additions on account of unexplained investments in shares, disallowance of losses, etc. whereas the relevant transactions were already recorded in the books of assessee-companies and no additions were warranted. Ld. AR submitted that these cases are quite meritorious and require a fair adjudication for proper taxation in terms of provisions of Income-tax Act, 1961. Therefore, a prayer is made to remand these matters to lower authorities. Ld. AR proposed that the cases where the AO has Page 3 of 6

Motika Finance Ltd. & Frequent Stock and shares Private Limited 77 & 76/Ind/2025 & 79 & 80/Ind/2025 - AYs: 2011-12, 2012-13 & 2013-14 passed assessment-orders u/s 143(3) may be remanded to CIT(A) and the cases where the AO has passed ex-parte assessment orders u/s 144 may be remanded to AO.

5.

Ld. DR for revenue realising the fact that the assessee-companies are non-operational, did not object to condonation of delays in these appeals. He, however, requested that a suitable cost must be imposed upon assessee- companies. Ld. AR further proposed that since the issues are more or less identical in all appeals, it would be better to restore all these cases at the level of AO.

6.

We have considered the explanation advanced by assessees in the solemnized affidavits and in absence of any contrary fact or material on record, the assessee is found to have a “sufficient cause” for delay in filing present appeals as narrated above. We find that section 253(5) of the Act empowers the ITAT to admit an appeal after expiry of prescribed time, if there is a “sufficient cause” for not presenting appeal within prescribed time.

It is also a settled position by Hon’ble Supreme Court in Collector, Land Acquisition Vs Mst. Katiji and others 1987 AIR 1353, 1987 2 SCC 387 that whenever substantial justice and technical considerations are opposed to each other, the cause of substantial justice must be preferred by adopting a justice-oriented approach.

Motika Finance Ltd. & Frequent Stock and shares Private Limited 77 & 76/Ind/2025 & 79 & 80/Ind/2025 - AYs: 2011-12, 2012-13 & 2013-14

7.

We, however, find merit in the proposal/submission made by Ld. DR for revenue for imposition of cost upon assessees and also to remand all these matters to the file of AO. Accordingly, we condone the delays and remand these matters to the file of AO subject to a cost of Rs. 5,000/- in each case to be paid by assessee to “Prime Minister National Relief Fund” and submission of proof by assessee to AO. Needless to mention that the AO shall give necessary opportunity of hearing to assessee and pass appropriate orders. The assessee is also directed to ensure participation in the hearings as may be fixed by AO and do not seek unnecessary adjournments failing which the AO shall be at liberty to pass appropriate orders in accordance with law. Ordered accordingly.

8.

Resultantly, all these appeals are allowed for statistical purposes.

Order pronounced in open court on 30/06/2025 immediately after conclusion of hearing and subsequently reduced in writing.

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