THE PAZHAMBALACODE SERVICE CO-OPERATIVE BANK LIMITED NO P 492,PALAKKAD vs. ITO, WARD 5, PALAKKAD, PALAKKAD
What did the Tribunal hold?
The ITAT ruled that the CIT(A) was duty-bound to dispose of the appeal on merits, even when proceeding ex-parte, rather than dismissing it for non-prosecution. Citing precedent, the Tribunal remanded the matter back to the CIT(A) for a de novo hearing on merits after providing a reasonable opportunity to the assessee.
What were the facts?
The assessee, a co-operative bank, failed to file its return for AY 2011-12. The AO issued a Section 148 notice, and upon non-compliance, completed an ex-parte assessment under Section 144 read with Section 147, disallowing deduction under Section 80P. The CIT(A) subsequently dismissed the assessee's appeal ex-parte for non-prosecution.
What were the issues?
Whether the CIT(A) can dismiss an appeal for non-prosecution without deciding it on merits.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
Section 139(1),Section 148,Section 142(1),Section 144,Section 147,Section 80P
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Cases cited in this judgment(2)Show listHide list
Detected automatically from the text. Citations are also linked where they appear in the judgment. The count shows how many other judgments on BharatTax rely on the same authority.
- CIT v. B.N. Bhattacharya & Another1,656 citing118 ITR 461 · 1997 · SC
- PCIT v. Premkumar Arjundas Luthra132 citing279 CTR 614 · HC
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, COCHIN BENCH
Before: SHRI INTURI RAMA RAO, AM & SHRI PRAKASH CHAND YADAV, JM
Appellant by: Shri Amaljith, CA Respondent by: Smt. Leena Lal, Sr. D.R. Date of Hearing: 19.12.2024 Date of Pronouncement: 29.01.2025 O R D E R Per: Inturi Rama Rao, AM This appeal filed by the assessee is directed against the order of the National Faceless Appeal Centre, Delhi [CIT(A)] dated 26.02.2024 for Assessment Year (AY) 2011-12.
Brief facts of the case are that the assessee, the assessee is a co-operative bank registered under the Kerala Co-Operative The Pazhambalacode Service Co-op. Bank Ltd. Societies Act, 1969. The assessee has not filed the return of income u/s. 139(1) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (the Act) for AY 2011-12. Therefore the Income Tax Officer, Ward 5, Palakkad (hereafter “the AO”) issued a notice u/s. 148 of the Act on 11.11.2014. The assessee neither complied with the notice u/s. 148 of the Act nor produced any details called for vide the notices u/s. 142(1) of the Act dated 16.08.2016. Therefore, the AO completed the assessment vide order dated 19.12.2016 passed u/s. 144 r.w.s 147 of the act at a total income of Rs. 63,24,230/- by disallowing the claim for deduction u/s. 80P of the Act by holding that the appellant society is a co-operative bank.
Being aggrieved, an appeal was filed before the CIT(A), who vide the impugned order dismissed the appeal exparte for non prosecution placing on the judgement of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of B.N. Bhattacharji and Anr 118 ITR 461 (SC) and few other judgements.
Being aggrieved, the assessee is in appeal before the Tribunal in the present appeal.
We have heard the rival contentions of both the parties and perused the material available on record. We find that the learned CIT(A) dismissed the appeal in limine for non prosecution. It is the settled position of law that the CIT(A), even while disposing of the appeal exparte, is duty bound to dispose of the appeal on merits.
More judgments on Section 139(1)
- Ashok Singh, Jaipur vs ACIT, Circle-2 Jaipur, JaipurITA 1540/JPR/2025[2015-16]Status: Disposed21 Oct 2026AY 2015-16
- Haresh Sharma, Ahmedabad vs ITO, Ward 5(3)(1), AhmedabadITA 2125/AHD/2026[2019-2020]Status: Disposed21 Oct 2026AY 2019-2020
- Nitinbhai Nanalal Badani, Rajkot vs CIT (Appeals), National Faceless Appeal…ITA 658/RJT/2025[2020-21]Status: Disposed19 Oct 2026AY 2020-21
- Nitinbhai Nanalal Badani, Rajkot vs CIT(Appeals), National Faceless Appeal…ITA 485/RJT/2025[2022-23]Status: Disposed19 Oct 2026AY 2022-23
- Mata Lachmi Rotary Charitable Society… vs Income Tax Officer, Exemption Ward - 1…ITA 310/RJT/2025[2022-23]Status: Disposed16 Oct 2026AY 2022-23
Recent GST High Court judgments
Search GST case law →- M/S Shreekanth Enterprises vs. Joint Commissioner AppealsUttarakhand · 14 Oct 2026
- Sharad Ashok Agarwal vs. State Of Maharashtra Through G.P. And OrsBombay · 14 Oct 2026
- Md. Akhtar Ansari, Proprietor Of M/S Indian Associates vs. State Of Jharkhand, Through Commissioner Of State Tax, Commercial Tax Dept.Jharkhand · 14 Oct 2026
- M/S. Amarjothi Granites (INDIA) PVT. LTD., Berhampur, Ganjam vs. The Commissioner, Commercial Tax And GST, Odisha, CuttackOrissa · 14 Oct 2026
- M/S. Mishka Steels LLP And Anr. vs. The Superintendent Of Central Goods And Service Tax, Cx, Range-Ii, Behala Div. And Ors.Calcutta · 14 Oct 2026