Loading judgment…
Facts
The assessee company filed appeals for assessment years 2008-09 to 2014-15 with a delay of 210 days, claiming it had been defunct since 2015. The appeals stemmed from ex parte orders passed by the AO and CIT(A) after a search action initiated in 2014, where the assessee failed to provide necessary documentation.
Held
The Tribunal condoned the delay of 210 days, finding sufficient cause due to the company being defunct with no functioning directors and authorized signatories. Although the assessee failed to substantiate its claims before the lower authorities, the matter was deemed to require fresh adjudication.
Key Issues
Whether the delay in filing appeals should be condoned and if the ex parte orders passed by the lower authorities warrant fresh adjudication.
Sections Cited
250 of the Income Tax Act 1961, 153A r.w.s. 143(3) of the Act
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, MUMBAI BENCH “B”, MUMBAI
Before: SHRI ANIKESH BANERJEE & SHRI MAKARAND VASANT MAHADEOKAR
Birla Shloka Edutech Ltd. vs The Deputy Commissioner of Industry House, 5th Floor, Income Tax, Central Circle 4(1), Nariman Point, Mumbai- Mumbai 400021 Kautilya Bhawan, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai 400051 PAN:AAACR1837P APPELLANT RESPONDENT Assessee by : Shri Ashish Mishra, Respondent by : Ms. Rajni Rani Roy (CIT DR) Date of hearing : 28/01/2026 Date of pronouncement : 30/01/2026 O R D E R Per Bench: A bunch of appeal of the assessee filed against the order of the Ld. Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeal)-52, Mumbai [for brevity ‘the ld. CIT(A)], to 5366/Mum/2025 Birla SholkaEductech Ltd. order passed under section 250 of the Income Tax Act 1961 (for brevity ‘the Act’) for assessment years 2008-09 to 2014-15, date of all the orders 28.11.2024. The impugned orders emanated from the order of the Ld. Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax C.C.-4(1) Mumbai (for brevity the ld. Ld. AO) order passed under section 153A r.w.s. 143(3) of the Act date of all the orders 29.03.2016.
The registry informed that all the appeals are filed by the assessee with a delay for 210 days. The assessee filed the application for condonation of delay for 210 days and explained that the assessee company has remained defunct since 2015. The last Balance sheet was filed for A.Y. 2014-15 and the final AGM was held on 29.09.2015. So there is a complete cessation of business activity with no functioning directors and authorized signatories. Accordingly, the said delay is occurred. The assessee prayed for condoning the delay. The Ld. DR had not made any strong objection against the submission of the assessee related to condoning the delay. Accordingly, we find that there is sufficient cause for filing the appeals in delay before ITAT for 210 days. So the delay for 210 days is duly condoned and the appeals are taken for adjudication.
Since all the appeals pertain to the same assessee, involving similar issues arising out of a similar factual matrix, these appeals were heard together as a matter of convenience and are being decided by way of this consolidated order. With the consent of the parties, the appeal for the A.Y. 2008-09, is treated as a lead case, and the decision rendered therein shall apply mutatis mutandis to all other appeals before us.
to 5366/Mum/2025 Birla SholkaEductech Ltd.
We heard the rival submission and considered the document available in the record. A search action was initiated u/sec. 132 in the “Yashovardhan Birla Group” on 07.01.2014 the notice u/sec. 153A was duly issued. But the assessment was completed ex parte and the assessee was unable to comply the documents properly before the Ld. AO. Accordingly, the addition was confirmed amount of Rs.6,07,09,120/-. The aggrieved assessee filed an appeal before Ld. CIT(A). The Ld. CIT(A) passed an order ex parte and upholding the impugned assessment order. Being aggrieved the assessee filed an appeal before us.
We find that during both the assessment as well as the appellate proceedings, the assessee was unable to submit the requisite evidence in support of its claim. Although the Ld. CIT(A) issued several notices of hearing, none of the same were complied with by the assessee. The Ld. AR contended that the assessee-company has remained defunct since 2015; the last balance sheet was filed for A.Y. 2014-15 and the final AGM was held on 29.09.2015. Consequently, there has been a complete cessation of business activities, with no functioning directors or authorised signatories. We observe that the assessee failed to adequately explain or substantiate the impugned addition before both the Ld. AO and the Ld. CIT(A). In the interest of justice, we are of the considered view that the matter deserves to be restored to the file of the Ld. AO for fresh adjudication, after affording the assessee a reasonable opportunity of being heard. At the same time, the assessee is directed to extend full cooperation and to remain diligent so as to facilitate the expeditious disposal of the assessment proceedings.