What did the High Court hold?

The High Court found that the appeal did not fall under the exception for constitutional validity challenges. The court dismissed the appeal on the ground of low tax effect, as the tax involved did not exceed the prescribed monetary limit.

The Revenue filed an appeal against the assessee, but the assessee raised a preliminary objection regarding the maintainability of the appeal due to low tax effect. The Revenue attempted to bring the appeal under an exception for constitutional validity challenges.

What were the issues?

The primary issue was whether the appeal was maintainable despite a low tax effect, and if the Revenue's argument for an exception based on constitutional validity was valid.

PCIT vs M/S. Chopra Properties | Delhi High Court 2024

$~14 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + ITA 547/2019

PR. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX - 20 ..... Appellant Through: Mr. Sanjeev Menon, Adv. for Mr. Zoheb Hossain, SSC.

versus

M/S. CHOPRA PROPERTIES, ..... Respondent Through: Dr. Rakesh Gupta, Mr. Somil Aggarwal, Mr. Dushyant Aggarwal, Advs.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE YASHWANT VARMA HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PURUSHAINDRA KUMAR KAURAV

28.03.2024 O R D E R 1. Our order of 13 December 2022 would indicate that the respondent assessee had taken a preliminary objection to the maintainability of the appeal by contending that the tax effect in this case would not exceed INR 35,18,713/-. The aforesaid position in defining the question of quantification was also conceded to by learned counsel appearing for the appellant on that date. 2. However, and as would be evident from a reading of that order, the appellants have sought to place their case in clause (a) of paragraph 10 of the Circular No.3/2018 dated 11 July 2018 which reads as follows: “10. Adverse judgments relating to the following issues should be contested on merits notwithstanding that the tax effect entailed is less than the monetary limits specified in para 3 above or there is no tax effect : This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 06/04/2024 at 12:01:02

(a) Where the Constitutional validity of the provisions of an Act or Rule is under challenge, or…”

We find ourselves unable to sustain that submission bearing in mind the evident fact that clause (a) pertains to circumstances and contingencies where the constitutional validity of the provision of an Act or a Rule may have been questioned. That is clearly not the position which prevails here. 4. While the appellant may be correct in their contention that the principal issue stands conclusively answered in their favor by the judgment of the Supreme Court in Shree Choudhary Transport Company vs. Income Tax Officer [2020 SCC OnLine SC 610], that in itself would not place the instant appeal in the category of exceptions which are spoken of in paragraph 10. 5. In fact, the decision in Shree Choudhary would also take care of the apprehension of a cascading effect since it would be the law declared by the Supreme Court which would prevail. 6. In view of the above, we find no justification to entertain the instant appeal. We consequently dismiss this appeal on ground of low tax effect.

YASHWANT VARMA, J.

PURUSHAINDRA KUMAR KAURAV, J. MARCH 28, 2024/neha

This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 06/04/2024 at 12:01:02

PR. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX - 20 vs. M/S. CHOPRA PROPERTIES,

What did the High Court hold?

What were the facts?

What were the issues?

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