UP EDUCATION SERVICE SELECTION COMMISION (PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS UP SECONDARY EDUCATION SERVIC SELECTION BOARD,ALLAHABAD vs. INCOME TAX OFFICER,CIRCLE ALLAHABD, ALLAHABAD

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ITA 186/ALLD/2024Status: DisposedITAT Allahabad22 May 2025AY 2014-15Bench: SHRI ANADEE NATH MISSHRA (Accountant Member), SHRI SUBHASH MALGURIA (Judicial Member)3 pages

AI SummaryPartly Allowed

Facts

The assessee, a Board constituted for selection of education personnel, failed to deduct TDS on certain payments. The AO-TDS raised a demand of Rs. 41,48,511/- under sections 201(1)/201(1A) of the IT Act. The CIT(A) dismissed the assessee's appeal ex-parte without adjudicating on merits, leading to the current appeal before the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal.

Held

The Tribunal found that the CIT(A)'s ex-parte order was cryptic and non-speaking, failing to decide the appeal on merits. With the concurrence of both parties, the Tribunal set aside the impugned order of the CIT(A). The case is restored to the CIT(A) for a de novo adjudication on merits, after providing a reasonable opportunity to the assessee and ensuring compliance with Section 250(6) of the IT Act.

Key Issues

Whether the CIT(A) was justified in dismissing the appeal ex-parte without deciding on merits; and whether the case should be restored to the CIT(A) for a fresh adjudication on merits.

Sections Cited

201(1), 201(1A), 250(6)

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, ALLAHABAD BENCH, ALLAHABAD

Before: SHRI ANADEE NATH MISSHRA & SHRI SUBHASH MALGURIA

2014-15 against impugned appellate order dated 21/10/2024 (DIN & Order No.ITBA/APL/S/250/2024- 25/1069827115(1) of Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) [“CIT(A)” for short].

(A.1) The facts of the case, in brief, are that the assessee is a Board constituted under specific act passed by the assembly of U.P for the purpose of selection of Principals, Lecturers & LT Grade Teachers in Government aided schools. During the course of verification carried out by the AO-TDS, it was noticed that the assessee had made certain payments to various parties which attracts the provisions of TDS but the assessee did not deduct Tax at Source against such payments. Accordingly, show-cause notice was issued by the AO-TDS to the assessee for failure of making TDS compliance in respect of payment made to various parties during financial year 2013-14 relevant to assessment year 2014-15. After taking into consideration, the response of the assessee; the AO-TDS had passed order u/s 201(1)/201(1A) of the Act, raising a demand of Rs.41,48,511/-. Being aggrieved with the order passed by the Assessing Officer, the assessee preferred appeal before the learned CIT(A), who passed ex-parte order and dismissed the appeal filed by the assessee. Now the assessee is in appeal before the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal.

(B) At the time of hearing before us, the learned Counsel for the assessee submitted that learned CIT(A) has not decided the appeal on merits and instead the appeal of the assessee was dismissed taking adverse view of non compliance of notice of hearing issued by him. She further submitted that the issue regarding merits should be restored back to the file of the learned CIT(A) because the learned CIT(A) is duty bound to pass speaking order on merits. The learned Sr. Departmental Representative for Revenue expressed no objection to this.

(C) We have heard both sides. We have perused materials on record. We noted that learned CIT(A) has passed ex-parte order as according to him, nobody has appeared when the appeal was fixed for hearing before him. From the order of CIT(A), it is apparent that the CIT(A) had issued various notices to the assessee however, neither anybody appeared nor filed written submissions and ultimately the CIT(A) passed the ex-parte order. However, looking into the overall facts and circumstances of the case and in the interest of substantial justice, since the order of the learned CIT(A) is cryptic and non-speaking, we deem it appropriate to restore appeal to the file of the learned First Appellate Authority with a direction to adjudicate the issues raised by the assessee before him, on merits in accordance with law after giving proper opportunity of being heard to the assessee.