Facts
The assessee's appeal was filed against the order of the Dispute Resolution Panel (DRP) which treated the assessee's objections to the draft assessment order as 'non-est' because they were not filed within the stipulated time. The DRP found that the AO had acted in accordance with the law and did not issue any directions.
Held
The Tribunal held that an appeal against an order passed by the Dispute Resolution Panel under Section 144C(5) of the Income Tax Act is not maintainable as per Section 253 of the Act. Therefore, the appeal is liable to be dismissed.
Key Issues
Whether an appeal filed against an order of the Dispute Resolution Panel under Section 144C(5) is maintainable before the Tribunal.
Sections Cited
144C(5), 144C(2)(b)(ii), 144C(3)(b), 144C(4), 253
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, ‘I’ BENCH
Before: SHRI PRASHANT MAHARISHI, ACCOUNTANT & SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH
आदेश / O R D E R PER SUNIL KUMAR SINGH (J.M): 1. This appeal has been preferred against the order dated 26.12.2023 passed by the Dispute Resolution Panel (DRP) passed u/s. 144C(5) of the Income tax Act, 1961 [hereinafter referred to as "Act"] for the Assessment year [A.Y.] 2018-19, wherein learned panel has treated the assessee's objections Shahnaz Khan against the draft assessment order dated 30.03.2023 as 'non- est'.
Appellant assessee has filed this appeal on the ground that the Dispute Resolution Panel (DRP) has erred in passing the impugned order resulting into the confirmation of final assessment order dated 11.05.2023.
In response to the notice issued by the Tribunal, learned representative for the department appeared and participated in the hearing.
Purused the records and heard learned representatives on behalf of the parties.
At the very outset, it is noticed that the present appeal has been preferred against the order passed by Dispute Resolution Panel u/s. 144C(5) of the Act, wherein learned panel found that the assessee did not file objections before the AO within 30 days of the receipt by hearing of the draft order in view of section 144C(2)(b)(ii) of the Act and the AO acted in accordance with section 144C(3)(b) r/w section 144C(4) of the Act. It was further noticed by the learned panel that the assessment was already completed by the AO within statutory limits u/s. 144 C(4)(b) of the Act and Ld. Panel did not find it a fit case to issue any direction for the guidance of the AO for completing the assessment. Learned panel accordingly treated the objections as 'non-est' and issued no directions to the assessing officer.
We notice that an appeal is the statutory right. However, this right cannot be exercised if the statute does not provide as Shahnaz Khan such, Section 253 of the Act does not provide for the appeal against the order passed u/s.144C(5) of the Act passed by the Dispute Resolution Panel. This appeal, thus not being maintainable is liable to be dismissed.
In the result, the appeal is dismissed as not maintainable. Order pronounced on 27.08.2024.