M/S. KRISHNA JEWELLERS,NEW DELHI vs. ACIT, NEW DELHI

Following grounds have been raised in this appeal: “1. That on the facts and circumstances of the case and in law, the order passed by CIT(A), New Delhi (hereinafter referred to as CIT(A)), is bad in law.

2. That on the facts and circumstances of the case and in law, the CIT(A) was not justified in passing an ex- parte order.

The facts related to this issue in brief are that the assessee filed the return of income on 29.09.2012 declaring an income of Rs.26,84,192/-. Later on, the case was selected for scrutiny. The AO framed the assessment at an income of Rs.34,93,930/- by making the addition of Rs.8,00,000/- u/s 68 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 by observing that the assessee did not prove the identity and capacity of the creditors and genuineness of the transaction. Another addition of Rs.9,741/- was made being 1/6th of the conveyance and telephone expenses.

Being aggrieved the assessee carried the matter to the ld. CIT(A) who dismissed the appeal ex-parte by stating that the various notices were issued but nobody attended nor any written reply was filed.

Now the assessee is in appeal. The ld. Counsel for the assessee submitted that no notice of hearing was received and the ld. CIT(A) was not justified in confirming the additions by passing the ex-parte order without providing due and reasonable opportunity of being heard to the assessee.

In his rival submissions the ld. DR supported the impugned order and stated that the assessee was non-cooperative, as such there was no alternative except to decide the appeal ex-parte.

I have considered the submissions of both the parties and perused the material available on the record. In the present case, it is an admitted fact that the ld. CIT(A) passed the impugned order ex-parte. He simply stated that the notices of hearing were issued on different dates and there was no compliance, however, nothing is brought on record that notice for hearing was served upon the assessee. It is well settled that nobody should be condemned unheard as per the maxim “audi alteram partem. I, therefore, keeping in view the principles of natural justice, deem it appropriate to set aside this issue back to the file of the ld. CIT (A) to be adjudicated afresh in accordance with law after providing a due and reasonable opportunity of being heard to the assessee.