ENAYATHULLAH,CHENNAI vs. ITO NON CORPORATE WARD-11(4), CHENNAI

None represented on behalf of the assessee and Smt. R.Anitha, JCIT represented on behalf of the Revenue.

It was submitted by the Ld.DR that the assessee has not produced any evidence to substantiate his arguments that the cash deposited in the HDFC bank account of the assessee was from explained sources. In reply to a specific query put to her, as to whether the assessee can be granted another opportunity before the Assessing Officer, it was responded that she had no objection but it was the duty of the assessee to substantiate the cash deposits in his bank account.

I have considered the submissions of the Ld.DR through video conferencing. It is noticed that the assessee has been non-cooperative in the assessment proceedings and the appellate proceedings. Even before the Tribunal, the assessee remains absent. However, considering the interest of natural justice, I’m of the view that the issues in this appeal must be restored to the file of the Assessing Officer for re-adjudication after granting the assessee adequate opportunity to substantiate his claim. In these circumstances, the issues in this appeal are restored to the file of the Ld.AO for re-adjudication after granting the assessee adequate opportunity of being heard. In the event that the assessee remains non-cooperative and fails to produce adequate evidence before the Assessing Officer, the Assessing Officer shall be at liberty to draw inference.

In the result, the appeal of the assessee is partly-allowed for statistical purposes.