STRIDES PHARMA SCIENCE LTD.,MUMBAI vs. DCIT - 15 (3)(2), MUMBAI

This appeal by the assessee is directed against the order of Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)-24, Mumbai [in short ‘the CIT(A)’] dated 24/01/2019, for the Assessment Year 2012-13. This appeal emanates from the proceedings u/s. 154 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 [in short ‘the Act’].

Shri Nitesh Joshi appearing on behalf of the assessee submitted that the assessee had claimed set off of brought forward business losses fromAssessment Year 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11. The same was allowed, thus, the income of the assessee was assessed as ‘Nil’ under normal provisions vide assessment order dated 23/01/2017. Thereafter, the assessee filed petition u/s. 154 seeking rectification on the ground that the assessee had filed appeal before the Tribunal against the final assessment orders for Assessment Year 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11, respectively. In the said application the assessee had pointed that if, the appeals of the assessee are allowed by the Tribunal the adjustments/additions made in the respective Assessment Years would be deleted and it would result in increase in losses. In such circumstances, the assessee would be entitled to claim set off of higher losses of Assessment Years 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 against income assessed during Assessment Year 2012-13. The said prayer of the assessee was rejected by the Assessing Officer vide order dated 24/10/2018. The assessee carried the issue in appeal before the CIT(A). The CIT(A) upheld the order of Assessing Officer passed u/s. 154 of the Act.

Per contra, Shri Anoop Hiwase representing the Department vehemently defended the impugned order. The ld. Departmental Representative submitted that the assessee u/s. 154 of the Act is seeking relief which was uncertain and had not crystallized as the appeals of the assessee for Assessment Years 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 were still pending before the Tribunal. The sequence of events furnished by the assessee before the Bench would show that the appeals of the assessee for Assessment Years 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 were decided by the Tribunal much after the passing of the impugned order hence, the relief claimed in petition u/s. 154 before the Assessing Officer was premature and does not fall within the meaning of rectification of the mistake apparent on record.

We have heard the submissions made by rival sides and have examined orders of authorities below. The short issue before us is allowability of set off of assesse’s claim of enhanced brought forward business losses of Assessment Years 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 consequent to the order of Tribunal in the respective Assessment Years. It is an undisputed fact that the Assessing Officer while passing the final assessment order has accepted assessee’s claim of set off of brought forward business losses of Assessment Years 2008-09, 2009- 10 and 2010-11 in the impugned assessment year. The assessee had filed appeal assailing the additions/adjustments before the Tribunal for Assessment Years 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11, respectively The assessee filed an application under section 154 of the Act in anticipation that the appeals of the assessee for Assessment Years 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 would be allowed and in such circumstances the loss of preceding Assessment Year would increase and hence, the assessee would be eligible for set off of higher losses for Assessment Years 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 in the impugned assessment year. For the sake of completeness the relevant extract of the submissions of the assessee filed before the Assessing Officer in proceedings u/s. 154 of the Act are reproduced herein below:

The ld.Counsel for the assessee has filed before us sequence of events that show that the appeals of the assessee for Assessment Years 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 filed before the Tribunal were decided on 02/09/2022, 28/02/2023 and 23/05/2023, respectively. Consequent to the Tribunal order the Assessing Officer passed order giving effect for Assessment Year 2008-09 on 15/09/2022 and for Assessment Year 2009-10 on 26/04/2023 and the order giving effect for Assessment Year 2010-11 is yet to be passed. Thus, the orders of the Tribunal deciding appeal of the assessee for Assessment Years 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 were passed much after the impugned order. Hence, there was no occasion for the Assessing Officer to rectify the mistake u/s. 154 of the Act.

Now that the appeals of the assessee for Assessment Years 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 have been decided by the Tribunal and order giving effect thereto have been passed by the Assessing Officer at least in Assessment Year 2008-09 and 2009-10, which has resulted in increase in losses in the respective Assessment Years. The assessee is eligible for set off of brought forward losses of the said Assessment Years. To avoid multiplicity of litigation further, we deem it appropriate to restore the issue to the file of Assessing Officer to allow set off of brought forward business losses for Assessment Year 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 consequent to the Tribunal orders for the respective Assessment Years. The Assessing Officer shall allow assessee’s claim, in accordance with law.

In the result, appeal of assessee is allowed for statistical purpose.