What did the Tribunal hold?

The Tribunal held that the CIT(A)'s ex-parte order violated the principle of natural justice. Therefore, the matter was restored to the CIT(A) for a fresh adjudication after providing the assessee with an opportunity to be heard.

The assessee's appeal was filed against an order of the CIT(A) which arose from an assessment order. The assessee did not appear before the CIT(A), leading to an ex-parte order. The ITAT noted that the CIT(A) did not consider assessment records or discuss the assessee's case on merits.

What were the issues?

Whether the CIT(A) order was vitiated due to violation of the principle of natural justice by not affording the assessee an opportunity to be heard and not considering the assessment records.

Concord Trexim Pvt. Ltd., Howrah vs DCIT | ITAT Kolkata 2019

Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, “B”, BENCH KOLKATA

Before: SHRI S.S.GODARA, JM &DR. A.L.SAINI, AM

Hearing: 31/10/2019Pronounced: 13/11/2019

आदेश / O R D E R Per Bench: The captioned appeal filed by the assessee , pertaining to assessment year 2012-13, is directed against the order passed by the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeal)-5, Kolkata, which in turn arises out of an assessment order passed by the Assessing Officer u/s 143(3) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (in short the “Act”) dated 26.03.2015.

At the time of hearing none appeared on behalf of assessee in spite of issuance of notice for hearing more than one occasion and Ld. Departmental Representative(DR), was present for the appellant Revenue. In the absence of any appearance by the assessee, the appeal is being disposed of ex parte qua the assessee, after hearing Ld. DR for the Revenue on merits in terms of Rule 24 of the Income Tax Appellate, Tribunal, Rules, 1963.

Concord Trexim Pvt. Ltd. Assessment Year:2012-13 3. At the outset itself, we note that the assessee could not represent his case before Ld. CIT(A) and the order being an ex-parte order, stood vitiated on account of violation of principle of natural justice. We are of the view that in the interest of justice, another opportunity to contest the appeal before the Ld. first appellate authority may be granted to the assessee.

We note that the ld. CIT(A) did not consider the assessment records while adjudicating the issue. We note that the ld. CIT(A) did not discuss the assessee’s case on merits based on the material available before him hence it is a violation of principle of natural justice. We are of the view that one more opportunity should be given to the assessee to plead his case before ld. CIT(A). Therefore, without delving much deeper into the merits of the case, in the interest of justice, we restore the matter back to the file of Ld. CIT(A) for de novo adjudication and pass a speaking order after affording sufficient opportunity of being heard to the assessee, who in turn, is also directed to contest his stand forthwith. Therefore, we deem it fit and proper to set aside the order of the ld. CIT(A) and remit the matter back to the file of the ld. CIT(A) to adjudicate the issue afresh on merits. For statistical purposes, the appeal of the assessee is allowed.

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

Order pronounced in the Court on 13.11.2019

CONCORD TREXIM PVT. LTD.,HOWRAH vs. D.C.I.T.,CCIRCLE-13(1), KOLKATA

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