PRIME CO OPERATIVE BANK LTD,SURAT vs. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX, CIRCLE-1(1)(1), SURAT

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3. The facts of the case in brief are that the assessee is a non-filer and did not file any return of income for AY 2013-14. After recording the reasons, notice u/s 148 of the Act was issued on 19.04.2021 after obtaining necessary sanction as per provisions of section 151 of the Act. The Assessing Officer (in short, ‘AO’) observed that as per NMS data, the assessee had entered into the following bank transactions: (i) cash transactions of Rs.6,00,000/-, (ii) cash deposits of Rs.62,92,50,000/- in savings bank account and (iii) cash deposits of Rs.61,01,50,000/- with banking companies. Though there was a total cash deposits of Rs.129,94,00,000/-, the assessee did not file any return of income for the subject assessment year. Subsequently, the AO passed order u/s 148A(d) and issued notice u/s 148 of the Act. Again, the assessee failed to file 2013-14 Prime Co-op. Bank Ltd. its return of income. Various statutory and show cause notices were subsequently issued to the assessee; but, the assessee has failed to explain the source of cash transaction with supporting documentary evidence. Again, a show cause notice was issued to the assessee on 22.05.2023, which is at para 9 of the assessee order. After considering the reply of the assessee, the AO added the entire cash deposit of Rs.129,94,00,000/- as unexplained cash. Penalty proceedings u/s 271(1)(c) of the Act was also separately initiated for concealment of income.

4. Aggrieved by the order of AO, the assessee filed appeal before the CIT(A). The CIT(A) observed that during the assessment proceedings, the assessee participated and submitted only part details. During the appellate proceedings, the assessee submitted complete details. However, no request was made for admission of the additional evidence under Rule 46A of the Income-tax Rules. He exercised his power vested to him u/s 251(1)(a) of the Act and set aside the order of AO passed u/s 144 of the Act to the file of AO for fresh assessment after hearing the assessee. Hence, the appeal was allowed for statistical purposes.

5. Aggrieved by the order of the CIT(A), the assessee filed appeal before the Tribunal. The learned Authorized Representative (ld. AR) of the assessee submitted two paper books and argued that the re-opening is required to be quashed because it was done on the incorrect and surrendered PAN. However, the CIT(A) simply set aside the order of AO and remanded the matter back to 2013-14 Prime Co-op. Bank Ltd. the file of AO without deciding the jurisdictional and legal grounds raised by the appellant. The Ld. AR relied on the decision in case of Tours5 Com vs. ITO, 176 taxmann.com 496 (Hyd – Trib.) wherein it was held that though the CIT(A) is empowered to set aside order passed u/s 144 of the Act and refer for fresh assessment, however, this power does not absolve him from adjudicating legal issues, particularly those challenging validity of jurisdiction assumed by AO for making assessment or re-assessment.

6. On the other hand, learned Senior Departmental Representative (ld. Sr. DR) for the revenue supported the order of lower authorities.

7. We have heard both the parties and perused the materials available on record. We have also deliberated on the decision relied upon by ld. AR of the appellant. It is an undisputed fact that the appellant had raised four grounds of appeal

(13 sub-grounds) before the CIT(A), which include jurisdictional and legal issues on validity of reopening and issue of notice u/s 148 of the Act. Such grounds are at serial Nos.1 and 2 of the grounds of appeal (8 sub-grounds) before CIT(A). The CIT(A) has not decided the jurisdictional and legal grounds and has simply set aside the order of AO and referred the case back to AO for making a fresh assessment. The Co-ordinate Benches of Hyderabad in case of Eyegear Optics India Pvt. Ltd. vs. DCIT, in & 1291/Hyd/2024, dated 14.05.2025, held that where assessment was reopened in case of assessee u/s 147 of the Act and was completed u/s 144 of the Act disallowing some expenditures, the CIT(A) instead of summarily setting aside matter to the file 2013

14. Prime Co-op. Bank Ltd. of AO for making fresh assessment, ought to have taken a call as regards specific ground based on which validity of jurisdiction that was assumed by AO or framing re-assessment was assailed by assessee before him. The Tribunal set aside the order of CIT(A) and restored the matter to his file with a direction to adjudicate the specific jurisdictional ground. Further, under similar facts and circumstances, the Pune Tribunal in the case of Shamrao Gopal Benake vs. ITO, in dated 12.08.2025 has also set aside the order of CIT(A) and remanded the matter back to his file with a direction to decide the appeal afresh adjudicating all the grounds including legal grounds raised by the assessee. In case of Tours5 Com (supra), the ITAT, Hyderabad has also held that the power to set aside order u/s 144 of the Act does not absolve the CIT(A) from adjudicating legal issues, particularly validity of jurisdiction assumed by AO for making assessment or reassessment. The facts of the instant appeal are similar to the facts of the cases cited supra. We do not find any reason to deviate from the findings of the co-ordinate Benches (supra). Therefore, we set aside the order of CIT(A) and remand the matter back to his file with a direction to decide the appeal afresh by adjudicating of the grounds including the jurisdictional and legal grounds raised by the appellant after providing reasonable opportunity of being heard to assessee. Accordingly, appeal of assessee is allowed for statistical purposes.

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