Facts
The assessee's income was assessed under Section 143(3) with an addition under Section 68 for AY 2017-18. The assessee appealed to the CIT(A), who dismissed the appeal ex-parte on 27/03/2024. Aggrieved by this, the assessee filed the present appeal before the ITAT, arguing that the CIT(A) violated natural justice by dismissing the appeal ex-parte despite an adjournment request.
Held
The ITAT noted that the CIT(A) dismissed the appeal ex-parte as the assessee failed to furnish submissions or arguments. Considering the ex-parte nature of the decision and to uphold principles of natural justice, the tribunal decided to restore the matter to the file of the CIT(A) for fresh consideration after hearing the assessee.
Key Issues
Whether the CIT(A) erred in dismissing the appeal ex-parte without granting an adjournment, thereby violating principles of natural justice.
Sections Cited
143(3), 68
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, DELHI BENCH ‘C’: NEW DELHI
Before: SHRI S. RIFAUR RAHMAN & SHRI YOGESH KUMAR U.S.
This appeal is filed by the Assessee against the order of Ld.CIT(A)/National Faceless Appeal Centre [“NFAC” for short], dated 27/03/2024 for the Assessment Year 2017-18.
Brief facts of the case are that, an assessment order came to be passed on 23/12/2019 u/s 143(3) of the Income Tax Act (‘Act’ for short) by computing the income of the Assessee at Rs. 84,96,373/- by making addition u/s 68 of the Act of Rs. 81,56,143/-. The Assessee preferred an Appeal before the CIT(A) and the Ld. CIT(A) vide order dated 27/03/2024, passed an ex-parte order dismissing the Appeal filed by the Assessee.
Aggrieved by the order of the CIT(A) dated 27/03/2024, the Assessee preferred the present Appeal.
The Ld. Counsel for the Assessee submitted that the Assessee filed an application for adjournment before the CIT(A), but instead of granting the adjournment, the CIT(A) has decided the appeal against the Assessee by dismissing the Appeal filed by the Assessee. Thus, the Ld. CIT(A) violated the principles of natural justice, therefore, sought for allowing the Appeal.
Per contra, the Ld. Departmental Representative submitted that sufficient opportunity has been given to the Assessee and the Assessee has not argued the Appeal before the CIT(A), therefore, submitted that the Appeal of the Assessee is devoid of merit, thus, sought for dismissal of the Appeal.
We have heard both the parties and perused the material available on record. It is found from the record while dismissing the Appeal filed by the Assessee, the CIT(A) observed that the Assessee has not furnished any written submission and no argument has been advanced, accordingly, decided the issue against the Assessee.
Considering the fact that the Appeal has been decided ex-parte by the assessee we deem it fit to restore the matter to the file of CIT(A) for fresh consideration in accordance with law after hearing the Assessee. Ordered accordingly.
In the result, the appeal of the Assessee is partly allowed for statistical purpose.