BHARAT HIRACHAND JAIN,THANE vs. ITO WARD 1(1), THANE

and 3872/Mum/2024 are three separate appeals by the assessee preferred against three separate orders of NFAC, Delhi relating to levy of penalty in respect of the quantum addition pertaining to Assessment Years 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12.

The captioned appeals were heard together and are disposed of by this common order for the sake of convenience and brevity.

The underline facts in the issues are identical where all the appeals were dismissed by the NFAC in limine without going into the merits of the case for non-appearance.

We have carefully perused the impugned orders of NFAC. We are of the considered view that even if the assessee chose not to appear and Others Bharat Hirachand Jain 3 before the appellate authority, the appellate authority ought to have decided the appeal on merits of the case.

In the interest of justice and fair play we deem it fit to restore the captioned appeals to the files of the CIT(A) with a direction to decide the appeal afresh after affording a reasonable and adequate opportunity of being heard to the assessee and the assessee is directed to attend the appellate proceedings and present his case.