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Facts
The assessee did not file an income tax return for A.Y. 2018-19. Based on information regarding property sales, time deposits, and cash deposits, the AO initiated reassessment and completed a best judgment assessment, making significant additions. The CIT(A) dismissed the assessee's subsequent appeal in limine due to non-compliance by the assessee.
Held
The ITAT found that despite the assessee's non-compliance, specific legal issues regarding the quantum of additions and eligibility for deductions (Section 54F) were raised in the grounds of appeal but not considered by the CIT(A). Therefore, the ITAT restored the matter to the AO for a fresh decision, directing the assessee to furnish necessary materials for examination.
Key Issues
Whether the CIT(A) erred in dismissing the appeal in limine for non-compliance without addressing the legal issues raised regarding additions to income and deduction claims, thus violating principles of natural justice.
Sections Cited
Section 148, Section 144, Section 69, Section 69A, Section 54F
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Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, LUCKNOW ‘B’ BENCH, LUCKNOW
O R D E R PER NIKHIL CHOUDHARY, A.M.: This is an appeal filed by the assessee against the order of the ld. CIT(A), NFAC on 28.07.2025 wherein the ld. CIT(A) has dismissed the appeal of the assessee in limine for want of prosecution. The grounds of appeal
are as under:- “1. Because on the facts and in the circumstance of the case, the order of Ld. CIT(Appeals) has been passed in absolute violation of the principles of Natural Justice, without providing adequate opportunity of being heard and therefore deserves to be declared a nullity.
2. Because without considering the facts and in the circumstances of the case Ld. CIT(A) has erred in law and in facts in in adding an amount of Rs. 6,77,00,000/-as undisclosed Capital Gain under the head Short Term Capital gain when from the deeds it is clear that the share of sale consideration assessable in the hands of the assessee is Rs. 3,38,50,000/- (Total of Rs. 2,41,00,000.00 and Rs. 97,50,000.00).
3. Because without considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the Ld. CIT(A) has erred in law and in facts in adding an amount of Rs. 85,00,000/- as unexplained investment u/s 69 of The Income Tax Act, 1961.
4. Because without considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the CIT(A) has erred in law and in facts in adding an amount of Rs. 29,91,000/- as unexplained cash u/s 69A of The Income Tax Act, 1961 when the same relates to sales and realization from debtors and already offered for taxation. Karunesh Kumar Shukla A.Y. 2018-19 5. The appellant craves for leave to add, modify, amend or delete any other and further grounds of appeal with permission.”
2. The facts of the case are that the assessee did not file a return of income for the A.Y. 2018-19. Upon receipt of information that the assessee had received an amount of Rs. 4,36,00,000/- on sale of immovable property, made time deposits of Rs. 85 Lacs, made cash deposits of Rs. 29,91,000/- and earned interest of Rs. 4,17,667/-, the ld. AO initiated proceedings for reassessment by issue of notice under section 148 after following the prescribed procedure. The ld. AO records that several opportunities were given to the assessee to make compliance before the ld. AO but even though the notices were also sent by speed post and email, no compliance was made by the assessee. Thereafter, the ld. AO proceeded to complete the assessment on a best judgment basis according to the provisions of section 144 and after considering the return filed by the assessee under section 148 on 23.04.2022. The ld. AO thereafter, made an addition of Rs. 6,77,00,000/- on account of sale of investment in immovable properties, an addition of Rs. 85,00,000/- on account of unexplained investment in time deposits and Rs. 29,91,000/- as unexplained money under section 69A.
3. Aggrieved by the said assessment order, the assessee filed an appeal before the NFAC. However, the ld. CIT(A) records that he issued four notices to the assessee but the assessee did not respond to any of them. In view of the same, the ld. CIT(A) held that the assessee was not interested in pursuing the appeal and thereafter citing the judgment of Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case CIT vs. B.N. Bhattacharjee and Ors (1979) 10 CTR 354 (SC), the Hon’ble Madhya Pradesh High Court in the case of Estate Of Late Tukojirao Holkar vs Commissioner Of Wealth- Tax (1979) 223 ITR 450 (MP) and the ITAT Delhi Bench in the case of CIT vs. Multiplan India Pvt. Ltd., (1991) 38 ITD 320 (Del), the ld. CIT(A) dismissed the appeal of the assessee in limine.
4. The assessee is aggrieved against these orders and has accordingly come in appeal before us. Sh. Samrat Chandra, C.A. (hereinafter referred to as the ld. AR) submitted that the order of the ld. CIT(A) had been passed in violation of the Karunesh Kumar Shukla A.Y. 2018-19 principles of natural justice without providing adequate opportunity of being heard. It was submitted that it was clear from the sale deeds that the share of sale consideration assessable in the hands of the assessee was only Rs. 3,38,50,000/- and not Rs. 6,77,00,000/-. It was submitted that this information was before the lower authorities and therefore, they had erred in law in making this addition. Furthermore, it was submitted that the ld. CIT(A) had erred in treating a sum of Rs.29,91,000/- as unexplained cash under section 69A because the same related to transactions and realization from debtors and had already been offered by the assessee for taxation. Further, it was submitted that there was an error in holding that sum of Rs. 85,00,000/- was unexplained investment, when he had himself recorded the fact that the assessee had received money for the sale of immovable property. The ld. AR further submitted that the assessee had made a fresh claim before the ld. CIT(A) pointing out that the assessee had not claimed deduction in respect of his share of construction in the new house property under section 54F of the Income Tax Act and the same was liable to be allowed. However, the ld. CIT(A) had not considered any of these issues and had dismissed the case of the assessee without assigning any reasons thereof. Accordingly, it was prayed that the matter should be restored back to the file of the lower authorities so that the assessee may present the facts before them and thereafter a decision may be taken in accordance with law.
5. On the other hand, Sh. Koushlendra Tiwari, CIT DR (hereinafter referred to as to the ld. DR) argued that the story of the assessee’s case was that there was no compliance either at the level of the ld. AO or at the level of the ld. CIT(A). Therefore, there was no mistake in the best judgment assessment conducted by the ld. AO and in the dismissal of the appeal by the ld. CIT(A). He, therefore, prayed that the orders may be confirmed.
We have duly considered the facts and circumstances of the case. While it is undeniable that the assessee has not made compliance before the ld. AO and the ld. CIT(A), we observe that the assessee had raised certain legal issues in his appeal that had been filed before the ld. CIT(A). In the grounds of appeal, it had clearly 3