RAMASAMY HUF, CHENNAI,CHENNAI vs. DCIT,NON CORP WARD 10(1),CHENNAI, CHENNAI

Brief facts of the case are that assessee Dr. V Ramasamy (HUF) is carrying on the business of selling pharmaceutical products especially Diagnostics kits in whole sale in the name and style of Fort Pharma. The assessee is also running an exclusive showroom for Levis and Titan Brands in Coimbatore. The assessee filed his Return of Income electronically on 30/11/2014 for the A.Y.2014-15 declaring a total income of Rs. Nil. The Return of Income was processed u/s 143(1) of the Act. The case was selected for scrutiny under Computer Assisted Scrutiny Selection (CASS) for the reason that "Large Increase of unsecured loans during the year and Depreciation claimed at higher rates/Higher additional depreciation claimed." A notice u/s 143(2) of the I.T. Act, 1961 dated 31.08.2015 was issued to the assessee. The same was duly served on the assessee. Later, this case was notified by Pr.CIT--6, Chennai to this charge vide Notification No. 4/2016-17 in C No. 6121/PCIT-6/2016-17 dated 20/06/2016. Subsequently, a letter dated 18/07/2016 was issued to the assessee calling for details in connection with the scrutiny proceedings. The ld. Authorized Representative during the course of Scrutiny proceedings submitted Copies of Balance Sheet, P & L account and Return of Income, Statement of Total Income for the last five years. The assessee had also filed, copy of ledger extracts in respect of the maintenance voucher with statement, Stock statement with closing quantity wise Rate, salary statement with list of employees, Financial Expenses statement and Bank statement along with audit report. Further, the ld. Assessing Officer vide office letter dated 13/10/2016 directed the assessee to explain the reason for large increase of unsecured loans during the year and Depreciation claimed at higher rates/Higher additional depreciation claimed and produce relevant documentary evidences. On 24/10/2016, the assessee submitted the reason for claiming depreciation and confirmation letter for unsecured loans. On examination of the submission and on verification of details, the ld. Assessing Officer noticed that the assessee had received a sum of Rs. 1,54,64,117/- as compensation from M/s Reebok for termination of Distributorship. The assessee failed to offer the same as income of the business in the year under consideration. The assessee filed a return of loss of Rs. 93,77,841/- due to termination of Distributorship of M/s Reebok India Limited. As per the statement of the assessee it is noticed that the assessee had made book adjustments for the franchises claim to the extent of Rs. 1,41,31,084/- after adjusting the compensation received from M/s Reebok India. There is only a book entry to show the transactions. For the transactions the franchises has raised debit note and from the debit note the assessee had written off the franchisees loss of Rs. 39,18,724/. The assessee has written off franchisees loss of Rs. 39,18,724/- in his books of accounts. It was not very clear whether the assessee has actually paid the compensation to its franchisees. The Ld. Assessing Officer formed an opinion that asssessee made only a book entry for the above loss claimed by the franchisees on account of loss due to M/s Reebok. Further, there was no written agreement between the assessee and the franchises for the distribution of Reebok Products, the ld. Assessing Officer has not accepted the book entry and hence, the compensation received from M/s Reebok India Ltd of Rs. 1,54,64,117/-, is added as assessee's business income and brought to tax. Aggrieved, assessee preferred an appeal before the ld. Ld.CIT(A).

The ld. CIT(A) issued a notice u/s.250 of the Act on 08.01.2022. In response to hearing notice, the assessee vide letter dated 25.11.2022 submitted that assessee settled the case under VIVAD SE VISWAS-2020 and hence, requested to withdraw the appeal. Accordingly, ld. CIT(A) dismissed the appeal of the assessee as infructuous. Aggrieved, assessee preferred an appeal before us.

The ld. Authorized Representative submitted before us that the assessee could not comply with the requirement of the DTVSV 2020, hence, the ld. CIT(A) ought have restored the appeal and adjudicated on merits. Further, ld. Authorized Representative argued that the ld. CIT(A) without verifying if all the requirement of DTVSV 2020 was complied with or not dismissed the appeal of the assessee. The Ld. Counsel for the appellant further prayed that if an opportunity of hearing is given before ld.CIT(A), assessee will prosecute the case in appellate proceedings.

On the other hand, the ld. Addl. CIT-Departmental Representative relied upon the order of ld.CIT(A) and prayed for dismissal of appeal.

We have gone through the orders of lower authorities and submissions addressed by the parties before us. We are of the considered view that assessee intended to settle the case under VIVAD SE VISWAS -2020 and hence, requested to withdraw the appeal bonafidely. However, assessee could not comply with the requirement of the DTVSV 2020. So, he has prayed to restore the appeal before the ld. CIT(A). To meet the ends of justice, we are inclined to grant assessee one more opportunity of hearing before ld.CIT(A) to prosecute his case. Therefore, in the light of aforesaid factual position we deem it fit to set aside this appeal to the file of ld.CIT(A) for denovo adjudication of appeal. The Ld.CIT(A) who shall proceed for denovo adjudication of appeal after providing proper opportunity of hearing to the assessee. The assessee is directed to substantiate its case forthwith without any fail, failing which Ld.CIT(A) shall be at liberty to proceed with the appellate proceedings as per law.

Now, we take up back to the file of the ld. CIT(A) for fresh adjudication, the appeal filed by the assessee in becomes infructuous.

In the result, the appeal filed by the assessee in for assessment year 2014-2015 is allowed for statistical purpose whereas the appeal of the assessee in 2014-2015 is dismissed as infructuous. Order pronounced in the open court on 25th day of November,2024 at Chennai.