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Facts
The appeals were preferred by the Assessee against the orders of the Ld. Commissioner of Income-tax (Appeals) passed in appeals before him against the orders of the Ld. Assessing Officer. The Assessing Officer had passed orders under section 143(3)/153C of the Income-tax Act, 1961. The Department sought adjournment on the basis that substantive additions were made in the hands of Robert Wadhera, and the appeals related to protective additions. The Assessee's counsel argued that the years involved were unabated and there was no reference to incriminating material.
Held
The Tribunal noted that the First Appellate Authority had not yet made a final conclusion regarding substantive additions, and sustaining protective additions without legal substratum was prejudicial. The Tribunal also considered the absence of incriminating material and the assessment for AY 2020-21 potentially requiring proceedings under Section 153C. The appeals were allowed for statistical purposes.
Key Issues
Whether the protective additions sustained by the lower authorities are legally valid in the absence of substantive additions and incriminating material, and whether the assessment for AY 2020-21 should have been under Section 153C.
Sections Cited
143(3), 153C
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, “B” BENCH, DELHI
Before: SHRI ANUBHAV SHARMA & SHRI MANISH AGARWAL
ITA No. & Ld. FAA who Appeal No. & Date of order AO who passed the AY passed the appellate of the Ld. FAA assessment order
P a g e | 3 16 Appeals JoginderPayla order &Date of order 2741/D/25 CIT(A)-31, Delhi DIN & Order No : DCIT, CC-27, New 2013-14 ITBA/APL/S/250/2024- Delhi, dated 25/1073208869(1) Dated 30.03.2023 12.02.2025 2742/Del/25 CIT(A)-31, Delhi DIN & Order No : DCIT, CC-27, New 2014-15 ITBA/APL/S/250/2024- Delhi, dated 25/1073209135(1) 30.03.2023 12.02.2025 2743/Del/25 CIT(A)-31, Delhi DIN & Order No : DCIT, CC-27, New 2015-16 ITBA/APL/S/250/2024- Delhi, dated 25/1073209552(1) 30.03.2023 12.02.2025 2744/Del/25 CIT(A)-31, Delhi DIN & Order No : DCIT, CC-27, New 2016-17 ITBA/APL/S/250/2024- Delhi, dated 25/1073209869(1) 30.03.2023 12.02.2025 2745/Del/25 CIT(A)-31, Delhi DIN & Order No : DCIT, CC-27, New 2017-18 ITBA/APL/S/250/2024- Delhi, dated 25/1073210072(1) 30.03.2023 12.02.2025 2746/Del/25 CIT(A)-31, Delhi DIN & Order No : DCIT, CC-27, New 2018-19 ITBA/APL/S/250/2024- Delhi, dated 30.03.2023 25/1073210367(1) 12.02.2025 2819/Del/25 CIT(A)-31, Delhi DIN & Order No : DCIT, CC-27, New 2019-20 ITBA/APL/S/250/2024- Delhi, dated 25/1073210585(1) 30.03.2023 12.02.2025 2820/Del/25 CIT(A)-31, Delhi DIN & Order No : DCIT, CC-27, New 2020-21 ITBA/APL/S/250/2024- Delhi, dated 25/1073210750(1) 30.03.2023 12.02.2025 3157/Del/25 CIT(A)-31, Delhi DIN & Order No : ACIT, CC-27, New 2014-15 ITBA/APL/S/250/2024- Delhi, dated 25/1074711052(1) 30.03.2023 19.03.2025 3158/Del/25 CIT(A)-31, Delhi DIN & Order No : ACIT, CC-27, New 2015-16 ITBA/APL/S/250/2024- Delhi, dated 25/1074712378(1) 30.03.2023 19.03.2025 3159/Del/25 CIT(A)-31, Delhi DIN & Order No : ACIT, CC-27, New 2016-17 ITBA/APL/S/250/2024- Delhi, dated 25/1074711875(1) 30.03.2023 19.03.2025
P a g e | 4 16 Appeals JoginderPayla 3160/Del/25 CIT(A)-31, Delhi DIN & Order No : ACIT, CC-27, New 2017-18 ITBA/APL/S/250/2024- Delhi, dated 25/1074713073(1) 30.03.2023 19.03.2025 3161/Del/25 CIT(A)-31, Delhi DIN & Order No : ACIT, CC-27, New 2018-19 ITBA/APL/S/250/2024- Delhi, dated 25/1074714873(1) 30.03.2023 19.03.2025 3162/Del/25 CIT(A)-31, Delhi DIN & Order No : ACIT, CC-27, New 2020-21 ITBA/APL/S/250/2024- Delhi, dated 25/1074713963(1) 30.03.2023 19.03.2025 4685/Del/25 CIT(A)-31, Delhi DIN & Order No : DCIT, CC-27, New 2012-13 ITBA/APL/S/250/2025- Delhi, dated 26/1076592531(1) 30.03.2023 30.05.2025 4686/Del/25 CIT(A)-31, Delhi DIN & Order No : DCIT, CC-27, New 2013-14 ITBA/APL/S/250/2025- Delhi, dated 26/1076592156(1) 30.03.2023 30.05.2025 4687/Del/25 CIT(A)-31, Delhi DIN & Order No : ACIT, CC-27, New 2014-15 ITBA/APL/S/250/2025- Delhi, dated 26/1076592215(1) 30.03.2023 30.05.2025 4688/Del/25 CIT(A)-31, Delhi DIN & Order No : ACIT, CC-27, New 2015-16 ITBA/APL/S/250/2025- Delhi, dated 26/1076592299(1) 30.03.2023 30.05.2025 4689/Del/25 CIT(A)-31, Delhi DIN & Order No : ACIT, CC-27, New 2016-17 ITBA/APL/S/250/2025- Delhi, dated 26/1076592396(1) 30.03.2023 30.05.2025
At the time of hearing ld. DR has sought adjournment on the basis that additions in the hands of these assessees have been made on protective basis while additions on substantive basis have been made in the hands of Robert Wadhera and in fact, the appeals of the Robert Wadhera are still pending
P a g e | 5 16 Appeals JoginderPayla before the Ld. First Appellate Authority, therefore, till the disposal of that appeal the present appeals be kept pending.
Ld. Counsels appearing for the assessee, however, submitted that in any case the years involved are unabated years and neither in the satisfaction note recorded to take cognizance u/s 153C of the Act or in the impugned orders there is any reference of any incriminating material found and relied. Reliance was heavily placed on the decision of Hon’ble Delhi High Court in the case of Saksham Commodities Ltd. Vs. ITO (2024) 464 ITR 1 (Delhi). It was also pointed out that in regard to AY: 2020-21 in fact the assessment should have been u/s 153C as a search year has to be determined on the basis of date of recording of satisfaction note. Therefore, assessment concluded u/s 143(3) for AY: 2020-21 are not sustainable in the light of decision of Hon’ble Delhi High Court in CIT Vs. RRJ Securities Ltd. (2016) 380 ITR 612 (Delhi).
We are of the considered view that where ld. First Appellate Authority was yet to make final conclusion with regard to substantive additions sustaining protective additions lacks legal sanctity as protective additions
P a g e | 6 16 Appeals JoginderPayla independently have no legal substratum to sustain and same has caused prejudice to the cause of justice for both the assessee and Revenue.
Therefore, the factual legal aspect as raised before us with regard to absence of incriminating materials being referred in the satisfaction note or the assessment orders and that in regard to AY: 2020-21 assessment should have been u/s 153C of the Act require indulgence of the Ld. First Appellate Authority independently too.
Thus, we allow the appeals for statistical purposes and restore the issues involved in appeals to ld. CIT(A) to give assessee fresh opportunity of hearing on aforesaid question of facts and law and to give conclusive findings on the same, only consequent to determination of issues in hand of assesse, where substantive additions have been made.
The appeals are allowed for statistical purposes.
Order pronounced in the open court on 23.01.2026