LALITH KUMAR,,CHENNAI vs. ITO, CORPORATE WARD - 9 (1),, CHENNAI

This appeal of the assessee is directed against the order passed by the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)–10, Chennai dated 10.10.2019 and pertains to the assessment year 2014-15.

Shri Pawan Chakrapani, the Ld. Representative for the assessee submitted that he could not appear before the CIT(A) due to his illness. Even though the CIT(A) called for certain details including the books of account, the same could not be filed before the CIT(A) only because of his illness. Therefore, the Ld.representative for the assessee submitted that the issue may be remitted back to the file of the Assessing Officer. The Ld.representative for the assessee further submitted that the assessee is maintaining the books of account and the books of account were audited. Therefore, there is no reason for rejecting the books of account and estimating the income. According to the Ld.representative, the Assessing Officer without any reason rejected the books of account and estimated the net profit at 5% of the turn-over. When the assessee maintained the books of account, there is no reason to estimate the profit. The Ld.representative further submitted that the assessee is ready and willing to produce the necessary material including the books of account, audited statement before the Assessing Officer. Therefore, the matter may be remitted back to the file of the Assessing Officer for reconsideration.

On the contrary, Shri AR.V. Sreenivasan, the Ld. Departmental Representative submitted that the CIT(A) called for the details of cash available with the assessee, bank accounts and the list of products purchased, sold by the assessee. Since the chartered accountant was said to be not well, the CIT(A) specifically asked the assessee to produce the details and it may not be necessary to appear in person. In respect of this instruction of the CIT(A), no details were filed. Therefore, the CIT(A) has rightly confirmed the order of the Assessing Officer. On a query from the Bench, when the assessee is now willing and ready to produce the necessary material, what is the difficulty for the Department to re-examine the same. The Ld.DR submitted that when the assessee is ready to produce the material, the Department is willing to re-examine the same on the basis of the material that may be produced by the assessee.

Having heard the Ld.representative for the assessee and the Ld.DR, this Tribunal is of the considered opinion that the details called for by the CIT(A) by a notice dated 05.09.2019, was not complied with by the assessee. According to the assessee, the assessee’s representative was not well, therefore, he could not produce the details. The illness of the representative of the assessee is not in dispute. When the assessee engaged a chartered accountant to represent the case before the CIT(A) and he could not appear before the CIT(A) because of his illness, this Tribunal is of the considered opinion that the matter needs to be re-examined by the authorities

In the result, the appeal filed by the assessee stands allowed for statistical purpose.