Facts
The appeals were filed by the assessee against an order passed by the Ld PCIT. The appeals were filed with a delay of 3789 days. The assessee cited lack of incriminating material in an unabated/completed assessment as the reason for raising jurisdictional issues late.
Held
The tribunal considered the rival submissions and the reasons provided for condoning the delay. It was found that the delay was inordinate and the reasons provided were not plausible. Condoning such a significant delay would undermine the purpose of the law of limitation.
Key Issues
Whether the appeals filed by the assessee, with an inordinate delay of 3789 days, should be admitted despite the reasons provided not being plausible and the delay undermining the law of limitation.
Sections Cited
263
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, CUTTACK BENCH CUTTACK
Before: SHRI GEORGE MATHAN & SHRI RAJESH KUMAR
O R D E R Per Bench : These are appeals filed by the assessee against the order dated 25.2.2025 passed by Ld PCIT, Sambalpur u/s.263 of the Act for the assessment year 2007-08 to 2009-2010.
Shri M.R.Sahu, ld AR ld AR appeared for the assessee and Shri Asim Kumar Chakraborty, ld CIT DR appeared for the revenue.
At the outset, it is found that the appeals of the assessee is barred by 3789 days stating the reason that the assessee was under the belief that as there was no incriminating material in the case of an unabated/completed assessment, the jurisdictional issues relating to section 263 order can be raised 2 आयकर अपील सं/ITA Nos.551 to 553/CTK/2025 ("नधा"रण वष" / Assessment Years : 2007-08, 2008-09 & 2009-10) in the collateral proceedings while filing the appeal before the ld CIT(A) and to support this, has filed condonation petition. At the time of hearing also, ld AR reiterated the submissions made in the condonation petition.
In reply, ld CIT DR objected to the condonation petition and submitted that the reasons given in the petition is not plausible as well as inordinate delay has been occurred in filing the appeals.
We have considered the rival submissions as well as reasons stated in the condonation petition. We find that there is inordinate delay of 3789 days in filing the appeals. Even the reasons given by the assessee for condoning the delay in filing of appeals are not plausible one. We are of the view that the Courts will not typically excuse an excessively long delay, especially when it results from negligence, inaction, or a failure to provide a "sufficient cause". Condoning such delays would undermine the purpose of the law of limitation, which is to bring finality to legal matters. Therefore, we dismiss the appeals of the assessee being delay of more than 10 years in filing the appeal without giving sufficient cause.
In the result, appeals of the assessee stand dismissed.