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Facts
The assessee filed four appeals concerning assessment years 2010-11 and 2011-12, challenging orders related to reassessment proceedings under section 147 and penalty proceedings under section 271(1)(c). The assessee's appeals were filed with a significant delay, which was condoned. The Revenue stated that the appeals involved identical sets of facts.
Held
The tribunal held that the reasons recorded by the Assessing Officer for reopening the assessment were casual and not sustainable in law as they lacked tangible material. The court cited CIT vs. Kelvinator of India and Hindustan Lever Limited vs. R.B. Wadkar to support the view that reopening reasons must be based on concrete evidence. Consequently, the quantum assessments and the consequential penalty appeals were quashed.
Key Issues
Whether the reopening of assessment under Section 147 was based on valid reasons and tangible material. Whether the penalty levied under Section 271(1)(c) was justified.
Sections Cited
147, 143(3), 271(1)(c), 148
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, AGRA BENCH, “SMC” AGRA
Before: SHRI SATBEER SINGH GODARA & SHRI M. BALAGANESH
PER SATBEER SINGH GODARA, JM The assessee has filed four appeals 3, 4 & 5/Agr/2024 pertaining to assessment years 2010-11 and 2011-12. ITA Nos. 2 & 3/Agr/2024 for AY 2010-11 and ITA Nos. 4 & 5/Agr/2024 for AY 2011-12 are directed against the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)/National Faceless Appeal Centre [in short, the “CIT(A)/NFAC”], Delhi’s orders, each dated 29.12.2022 passed in DIN and order nos. ITBA/NFAC/S/250/2022- 23/1048319523(1); ITBA/NFAC/S/250/2022-23/1048321433(1); ITBA/NFAC/S/250/2022-23/1048320025(1) and ITBA/NFAC/S /250/2022-23/1048321571(1), involving proceedings under section 147 r.w.s. 143(3) and 271(1)(c) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Act’), respectively.
Cases called twice. None appears at the assessee’s behest. She is accordingly proceeded ex-parte.
The delay of 311 days in filing all the assessee’s instant appeals is condoned in light of larger interest of justice as well as in light of Collector, Land & Acquisition vs. Mst. Katiji & Others (1987) 167 ITR 471 (SC).
It emerges during the course of hearing with the able assistance coming from Revenue side that the assessee has filed her instant twin quantum and penalty appeals each i.e.
& 3/Agr/2024 for AY 2010-11 and ITA Nos. 4 & 5/Agr/2024 for AY 2011-12, respectively against the learned lower authorities’ respective findings firstly section 148/147 proceedings claiming unexplained investments addition etc. and levied section 271(1)(c) with corresponding penalties; respectively.
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The Revenue side is indeed very fair at the outset in making it clear that the assessee’s instant four appeals involve identical set of facts. That being the case, we notice from a perusal of the assessee “lead” appeal Assessing Officers had recorded his reopening reasons that the assessee’s taxable income (on proximation basis) had escaped assessment. We are of the considered view in this factual backdrop that such a casual reopening reasons by the learned Assessing Officer are hardly sustainable in law as the same have to be recorded based on tangible material pinpointing escapement of all specific taxable income from being assessed as held in CIT Vs. Kelvinator of India, 2010 (2) SCC 723.
We further quote Hindustan Lever Limited Vs. R.B. Wadkar (2004) 268 ITR 332 (Bom) that the reopening reason in such an instance have to be read on standalone basis without any scope of addition, deletion or substitution or improvement therein; as the case may be. This indeed coupled with the fact that learned lower authorities appear to have got assessee’s alleged investment estimated for the purpose of making corresponding quantum addition, and therefore, we are of the considered view that such a 3 | P a g e course of action is not sustainable in law in the foregoing terms. The impugned twin quantum assessments before us in both these assessment years framed in assessee’s cases are quashed therefore. The assessee’s section 271(1)(c) consequential penalty appeals & 5/Agr/2024 also succeeds in very terms. 6. To sum up, these assessee’s four appeals ITA Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 5/Agr/2024 are allowed in above terms. A copy of this common order be placed in the respective case files. Order pronounced in the open court on 5th February, 2025 Sd/- Sd/- (M. BALAGANESH) (SATBEER SINGH GODARA) ACCOUNTANT MEMBER JUDICIAL MEMBER Dated: 5th February, 2025. RK/- Copy forwarded to: 1. Appellant 2. Respondent 3. CIT 4. CIT(A) 5. DR Asst. Registrar, ITAT, Agra
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