M/S. BUNS HOSPITALITY PVT. LTD,BANGALORE vs. ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF INCOME- TAX, CIRCLE- 1(1)(2), BENGALORE

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ITA 574/BANG/2019Status: DisposedITAT Bangalore28 August 2019AY 2015-163 pages
AI SummaryRemanded

What did the Tribunal hold?

The Tribunal set aside the CIT(A)'s order and restored the matter back for a fresh decision on merit. The CIT(A) was directed to provide a reasonable opportunity of being heard to both parties.

What were the facts?

The assessee's appeal before the CIT(A) was dismissed ex-parte due to insufficient notice, without a decision on merits. The assessee argued that even ex-parte orders should be decided on merit.

What were the issues?

Whether the CIT(A) was justified in dismissing the appeal ex-parte without deciding the grounds on merit, and whether a reasonable opportunity of hearing was provided.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 68

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Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, “A” BENCH : BANGALORE

Before: SHRI ARUN KUMAR GARODIA & SHRI PAVAN KUMAR GADALE

For Appellant: Shri V. Srinivasan, Advocate
For Respondent: Shri Ujjwal Kumar, JCIT (DR)
Hearing: 14.08.2019Pronounced: 28.08.2019

O R D E R

Per Shri A.K. Garodia, Accountant Member

1.

This appeal is filed by the assessee and the same is directed against the order of ld. CIT(A)-1, Bangalore dated 05.12.2018 for Assessment Year 2015-16.

2.

The grounds raised

by the assessee are as under. “1. The orders of the authorities below in so far as they are against the appellant, are opposed to law, equity, weight of evidence, probabilities, facts and circumstances of the case.

2. The learned CIT[A] is not justified in disposing off the appeal ex- parte without allowing sufficient, real, effective and meaningful opportunity to the appellant in as much as the appellant had received only one notice dated 30/11/2018 fixing the case for hearing on 05/12/2018 and owing to the extremely short time allowed, the appellant could not place the same in the hands of its AR to represent the case before the learned CIT[A] under the facts and in the circumstances of the appellant's case.

3. Without prejudice to the above, the learned CIT[A] ought to have decided the grounds raised by the appellant with regard to the addition

Page 2 of 3 of Rs.2,59,39,293/- made on the ground that the same was un-explained Cash credits u/s.68 of the Act under the facts and in the circumstances of the appellant's case. 4. Without prejudice to the above, the learned CIT[A] ought to have decided the grounds raised by the appellant with regard to the addition made as alleged bogus expenditure of Rs.1,83,00,040/- under the facts and in the circumstances of the appellant's case.

5. The learned CIT[A] ought to have appreciated that the dismissal of the appeal for non-prosecution was impermissible and contrary to the provisions of the Act as the appeal filed ought to have been decided on merits and consequently, the impugned order passed by the learned CIT[A] requires to be vacated.

6. Without prejudice to the above and without prejudice to the right of the appellant to seek for waiver of the interest levied, the appellant denies itself liable to be charged to interest under Section 234-B and 234-D of the Income Tax Act, which :may, under the facts and in the circumstances of the appellant's case, deserves to be cancelled.

7. For the above and other grounds that may be urged at the time of hearing of the appeal, your appellant humbly prays that the appeal may be allowed and Justice rendered and the appellant may be awarded costs in prosecuting the appeal and also order for the refund of the institution fees as part of the costs.”

3.

It was submitted by ld. AR of assessee that the order of ld. CIT(A) is ex-parte qua the assessee and in this ex-parte order also, the issue was not decided on merit and the appeal of the assessee was dismissed in limine by following the Tribunal order rendered in the case of CIT Vs. Multiplan India Ltd. as reported in 38 ITD 320. He submitted that this is by now a settled position of law that even if an order is passed by any quasi judicial authority ex-parte, then also, the issue should be decided on merit. He submitted that since this was not done, the order of CIT (A) should be set aside and the matter should be restored back to the file of ld. CIT(A) for decision on merit. He submitted that if the matter is restored back to the file of ld. CIT(A), then the assessee will co-operate and appear before ld. CIT(A). The ld. DR of revenue supported the order of ld. CIT(A).

4.

We have considered the rival submissions and in view of the facts discussed above, we set aside the order of ld. CIT(A) and restore the matter back to the Page 3 of 3 file of ld. CIT(A) for fresh decision on merit after providing reasonable opportunity of being heard to both sides. In view of this decision, no adjudication on merit is called for at the present stage.

5.

In the result, the appeal filed by the assessee is allowed for statistical purposes. Order pronounced in the open court on the date mentioned on the caption page.

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