Facts
Appeals and cross-objections were filed by the Revenue and assessee, respectively, against orders passed by the CIT(Appeals)-30, New Delhi, under Section 153A r.w.s. 143 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The facts in all cases were identical. The assessee did not appear at the hearing, and their request for adjournment was rejected. The primary issue was whether the CIT(Appeals) order was sustainable in quashing the assessment order due to a lack of valid prior approval under Section 153D of the Act.
Held
The Tribunal held that the assessment order was passed without prior approval as envisaged under Section 153D of the Act, making it bad in law. Consequently, the CIT(A) was justified in quashing the assessment proceedings. The Tribunal found the CIT(A)'s order to be just and proper.
Key Issues
Whether the assessment order, passed without prior approval under Section 153D of the Income Tax Act, 1961, is sustainable in law.
Sections Cited
153A, 143, 153D
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, DELHI BENCH “G”: NEW DELHI
Before: Ms. MADHUMITA ROY & SHRI NAVEEN CHANDRA
O R D E R PER BENCH:
The captioned appeals preferred by the Revenue and the respective cross- objections preferred by the assessee are directed against separate orders passed by the Ld. CIT(Appeals)-30, New Delhi under Section 153A r.w.s. 143 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (herein after referred to as the “Act”). Relevant details are tabulated as under:
Sl. No./ITA/CO Order appealed against AO’s order(s) no./assessment year 1.
CIT(A)-30, New Delhi - order dt. 15.05.2025 DCIT, CC-30, N. Delhi- & CO 239/Del/2025 (A.Y. [DIN: ITBA/APL/ M/250/2025-26/ Order dt. 21.03.2022 u/s 2018-19) 1076211485(1) 153A r.w.s. 143 of the Act. order dt. 13.05.2025 DCIT, CC-30, N. Delhi- & CO 240/Del/2025 (A.Y. [DIN: ITBA/APL/ M/250/2025-26/ Order dt. 21.03.2022 u/s 2019-20) 1076211664(1) 153A r.w.s. 143 of the Act. order dt. 05.05.2025 DCIT, CC-30, N. Delhi- & CO 241/Del/2025 (A.Y. [DIN: ITBA/APL/ M/250/2025-26/ Order dt. 21.03.2022 u/s 2020-21) 1076029016(1) 153A r.w.s. 143 of the Act. order dt. 13.05.2025 DCIT, CC-30, N. Delhi- & CO 242/Del/2025 (A.Y. [DIN: ITBA/APL/ M/250/2025-26/ Order dt. 21.03.2022 u/s 2021-22) 1076211769(1) 153A r.w.s. 143 of the Act.
Facts of the case involved in all these matters are identical and therefore, these were taken up for hearing analogously and are being disposed of by a single composite order for the sake of convenience.
None appeared on behalf of the assessee at the time of hearing. Application for adjournment of hearing moved on behalf of the assessee has been rejected by the Bench for want of insufficient reasons. all the cases being identical our order therein shall follow mutatis mutandis in other appeals. The moot question before us is as to whether the order passed by the Learned CIT(Appeals) is sustainable in the eyes of law in quashing the assessment order due to lack of valid prior approval under Section 153D of the Act. In this particular case the order was passed by the Learned Assessing Officer under Section 143(3) r.w.s. 153A of the Act on 21.03.2022 whereas the approval under Section 153D of the Act was granted on 23.03.2022 which is evident from the intimation sent to the Ld. DR which has been placed on record before us. Thus, as the assessment order admittedly was passed without prior approval as envisaged under the provisions of law is found to be bad in law and in that view of the matter the Learned CIT(A) quashed the entire assessment proceeding which is appearing at pages 18-19 of the same. The detailed discussion is further evident from page 339 of the order impugned dated 13.05.2025 passed by the Ld. CIT(A) for A.Y. 2021-22. Having regard to the provisions of law as found to have been applied by the Ld. CIT(A), in our considered opinion is just and proper, warranting no interference. The order of Ld. CIT(A) is thus, upheld. The appeal preferred by the Revenue is devoid of any force and is dismissed accordingly. The same reasoning shall follow mutatis mutandis in appeals for A.Y. 2018-19, 2019-20 & 2020-21.
Consequently, all the appeals preferred by the Revenue are dismissed. the cross-objections moved by the assessee have become infructuous and are dismissed accordingly.
In the result, Revenue’s appeals as well as assessee’s cross objections are dismissed.
Order pronounced in open court on 13.01.2026.