TORM SHIPPING INDIA P.LTD ( FORMERLY KNOWN AS ORINOCO MARINE CONSULTANCY INDIA P.LTD),MUMBAI vs. DCIT RG 3(3), MUMBAI

This appeal has been filed by the assessee against the order of Commissioner of Income-tax (Appeals)-7, Mumbai [hereinafter called CIT(A)] dated 26-09-2012 passed against the assessment order u/s 143(3) r.w.s. 147 dated 30-12-2009 on the following grounds:

During the course of hearing, it was stated at the very outset by the Ld. Counsel appearing on behalf of the assessee that in this case, the impugned order passed u/s 147 of the Act is illegal in the eyes of law. Our attention was drawn to the additional grounds filed by the assessee vide its petition dated 21-06-2016, which are as under: “1. On the facts and circumstances of the case, the learned Assessing Officer erred in not following the procedure for reassessment as laid down by the Supreme Court in its decision in GKN Driveshafts (India) Pvt Ltd vs. ITO (259 ITR 19). 2. On the facts and circumstances of the case, the learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) erred in affirming the reassessment proceedings when no addition is made by the Assessing Officer for the issue on which reassessment proceedings were initiated. The reassessment order dated 30 .12.2009 is contrary to Jurisdictional Bombay High Court decision in the case of CIT vs. Jet Airways (331 ITR 236). Therefore, the reassessment proceeding on other income deserves to be quashed as bad in law. 3. On the facts and circumstances of the case, the assessment proceedings were initiated with the issue of notice under Section 143(2) and 142(1) of the Act on 24.07.2008 without disposing the Assessee for reopening of assessment. Therefore, the reassessment order dated 30.12.2009 passed deserves to be set aside.”

During the course of hearing it was argued that additional grounds are purely legal grounds and go to the root of the matter and do not require any investigation of fresh facts and, therefore, they should be admitted in the interest of justice and fairness.

Per contra, the Ld. DR did not raise any objection with regard to the additional grounds raised

Per contra, the Ld. DR submitted that on perusal of the assessment order, admittedly, in this case the objections were not disposed of by the Assessing Officer and admittedly no addition has been made in the reassessment order framed by the Assessing Officer with regard to the income which was alleged to have been escaped in the Reasons recorded by the Assessing Officer. But in view of judgment of Hon’ble Karnataka High Court in the case of N Govindraju vs ITO the assessment order passed by the Assessing Officer was not bad in law.

We have gone through the submissions made by both the sides, details and evidences brought before us as well as judgments placed before us by both sides. The brief background and facts of the case as noted from the orders of lower authorities are that earlier a survey action u/s 133A was carried out by the department on the premises of the assessee company on 23-08-2005. In the said survey proceedings, the survey officers noticed that the company had rendered certain services M/s. Belmont Ship Management B.V. during the F.Y.2005-06 which was not recorded in the books of accounts till the date of survey. Consequent to that, the Managing director of the company offered the aforesaid sum as income to be taxed in the survey proceedings. Subsequent to that, when the assessee's returned income was filed on 18/11/2006 declaring total income of Rs.1,57,70,538/- , but from the perusal of the computation of income of the assessee, the AO could not find mention of the disclosure which was made by the Managing Director of the assessee company during the survey proceedings conducted in office premises of the assessee company on 23/08/2005. Therefore taking note of the aforesaid non-disclosure of additional income which was offered to tax by the assessee company during the survey proceedings, the AO issued notice dated 2/6/2008 u/s 148 of the Act asking the assessee to file the return of income for reassessment for the escapement of income which was not disclosed.

In response, the assessee filed its return of income and requested for supplying copy of reasons. Accordingly, the Assessing Officer supplied copy of reasons recorded to the assessee which reads as under: “A survey under section 133A of the Act was carried out on 23.08.2005 at the office premises of the assessee at Leela Business Park, Andheri (E), Mumbai 400059. During the course of survey a statement of Capt. Shridhar Bharalhan, Managing Director was recorded. In answer to question no.25 of his statement, the MD has admitted undisclosed income at Rs.50,00,000/-. The assessee has filed return of income on 18.11.2006, a paper copy of which was furnished on 21.11.2006. In the return of income the assessee has not shown any income from other sources. The additional income disclosed during survey should have been disclosed in the return as income from other sources. The return fled does not indicate that the additional income of Rs.

In response, the assessee filed detailed reply clarifying that the income alleged to have been escaped in the Reasons has already been included by the assessee while filing its original return and, therefore, there was no escapement of income, therefore, the proceedings should be dropped. Relevant part of assessee’s reply dated 23-08-2008 reads as follows: “The income referred to during the survey u/s 133A is contained in the head Management Fees' and the amount of USD 100.0001- due from M/s Belmont Ship Management B V. has been included in the income of the company and contained in the profit of the company. The same has been considered for computation of the total income in the return of income filed with the department.”

Again, vide letter dated 09-10-2009 it was submitted by the assessee that the amount of so called Rs.50 lacs was in fact an amount of USD 1,00,000 which has already been included in the income of the impugned assessment order and offered to tax by the assessee and, therefore, the same cannot be added again. It was requested by the assessee to drop the re-assessment proceedings. But the Assessing Officer went on with the reassessment proceedings and completed the same and framed impugned reassessment order. It is noted that the income alleged to have been escaped in the Reasons recorded by the Assessing Officer was not added by the Assessing Officer in the reassessment order. Subsequently, during the course of appellate proceedings before the Ld. CIT(A), a remand report was called for. In the remand report, it was admitted by the Assessing Officer that the impugned income has been included by the assessee in the return of income filed on 21-11-2006 for Assessing Officer was not able to make out from the perusal of return filed by the assessee whether impugned income has been included in the return or not.

We have gone through the assessment order, remand report of the Assessing Officer and the order of Ld. CIT(A). It is an admitted fact that the impugned income has already been included by the assessee in the return filed originally. The only difficulty with the Assessing Officer was that from perusal of the return he was not able to make out whether the impugned income has been included in the return or not. Even if we appreciate the difficulty faced by the Assessing Officer, then also, the same was clarified by the assessee by way of his reply submitted during the course of re-assessment proceedings. The facts and evidences were brought on record showing that the impugned income has been included in the return filed by the assessee. Thereafter, no doubt was left and, therefore, no further query was asked by the Assessing Officer in this regard. It was so confirmed by the AO when he made no addition in this regard in the assessment order. This factual situation has been accepted by the Assessing Officer in his remand report also. Under these circumstances, the Assessing Officer was obliged under the law to drop the re-assessment proceedings as per the mandate given under the law as also explained by the jurisdictional High Court in the case of CIT vs Jet Airways Ltd (supra) observing as under:- “14. The second line of precedent is reflected in a judgment of the Rajasthan High Court in (CIT v. Shri Ram Singh 306 ITR 343. The Rajasthan High Court construed the words used by Parliament in section 147 particularly the words that the Assessing Officer 'may assess or reassess such income and also any other income chargeable to tax which has escaped assessment and which comes to his notice subsequently in the course of the proceedings' under section 147. The Rajasthan High Court held as follows: ". . . if is only when, in proceedings under section 147 the Assessing Officer, assesses or reassesses any income chargeable to tax, which has escaped assessment for any assessment year, with respect to which he had "reason to believe" to be so, then, only in addition, he can also put to tax, the other income, chargeable to tax, which has escaped assessment, and which has come to his notice subsequently, in the course of proceedings under section 147. To clarify it further, or to put it in other words, in our opinion, if in the course of proceedings under section 147, the Assessing Officer were to come to the conclusion, that any income chargeable to tax, which, according to his "reason to believe", had escaped assessment for any assessment year, did not escape assessment, then, the mere fact that the Assessing Officer entertained a reason to believe, albeit even a genuine reason to believe, would not continue to vest him with the jurisdiction, to subject to tax, any other income, chargeable to tax, which the Assessing Officer may find to have escaped assessment, and which may come to his notice subsequently, in the course of proceedings under section 147."

Parliament, when it enacted the Explanation (3) to section 147 by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2009 clearly had before it both the lines of precedent on the subject. The precedent dealt with two separate questions. When it effected the amendment by bringing in Explanation 3 to section 147, Parliament stepped in to correct what it regarded as an interpretational error in the view which was taken by certain courts that the Assessing Officer has to restrict the assessment or reassessment proceedings only to the issues in respect of which reasons were recorded for reopening the assessment. The corrective exercise embarked upon by "Parliament in the form of Explanation 3 consequently provides that the Assessing Officer may assess or reassess the income in respect of any issue which comes to his notice subsequently in the course of the proceedings though the reasons for such issue were not included in the notice under 148 (2). The decisions of the Kerala High Court in Travancore Cements Lid. 's case (supra) and of the Punjab & Haryana High Court in Vipan Khanna’s case (supra) would, therefore, no longer hold the field. However, insofar as the second line of authority is concerned, which is reflected in the judgment of the Rajasthan High Court in Shri Ram Singh's case (supra), Explanation 3 as inserted by Parliament would not take away the basis of that decision. The view which was taken by the Rajasthan High Court was also taken in another judgment of the Punjab & Haryana High Court in CIT v. Atlas Cycle Industries [19891 180 IJR 3191. The decision in Atlas Cycle Industries' case (supra) held that the Assessing Officer did not have jurisdiction to proceed with the reassessment, once he found that the two grounds mentioned in the notice under section 148 were incorrect or non-existent. The decisions of the Punjab & Haryana High Court in Atlas Cycle Industries' case (supra) and of the Rajasthan High Court in Shri Ram Singh's case (supra) would not be affected by the amendment brought in by the insertion of Explanation 3 to section 147. Explanation 3 lifts the embargo, which was inserted by judicial interpretation, on the making of an assessment or reassessment on grounds other than those on the basis of which a notice was issued under section 148 setting out the reasons for the belief that income had escaped assessment. Those judicial decisions had held that when the assessment was sought to be reopened on the ground that income had escaped assessment on a certain issue, the Assessing Officer could not make an assessment or reassessment on another issue which came to his notice during the proceedings. This interpretation will no longer hold the field after the insertion of Explanation 3 by the Finance Act (No. 2) of 2009. However, Explanation 3 does not and cannot override the necessity of fulfilling the conditions set out in the substantive part of section 147. An Explanation to a statutory provision is intended to explain its contents and cannot be construed to override it or render the substance and core nugatory. Section 147 has this effect that the Assessing Officer has to assess or reassess the income ("such income") which escaped assessment and which was the basis of the formation of belief and if he does so, he can also assess or reassess any other income which has escaped assessment and which, comes to his notice during the course of the proceedings. However, if after issuing a notice under section 148, he accepted the contention of the assessee and holds that the income which he has initially formed a reason to believe had escaped assessment, has as a matter of fact not escaped assessment, it is not open to him independently to assess some other income. If he intends to do so, a fresh notice under section 148 would be necessary, the legality of which would be tested in the event of a challenge by the assessee.

We have approached the issue of interpretation that has arisen for decision in these appeals, both as a matter of first principle, based on the language used in section 147(1) and on the basis of the precedent on the subject. We agree with the submission which has been urged on behalf of the assessee that section 147(1) as it stands postulates that upon the formation of a reason to believe that income chargeable to tax has escaped assessment for any assessment year, the Assessing Officer may assess or reassess such income "and also" any other income chargeable to tax which comes to his notice subsequently during the proceedings as having escaped assessment. The words "and also" are used in a cumulative and conjunctive sense. To read these words as being in the alternative would be to rewrite the language used by Parliament. Our view has been supported by the background which led to the insertion of Explanation 3 to section 147. Parliament must be regarded as being aware of the interpretation that was placed on the words "and also" by the Rajasthan High Court in Shri Ram Singh case (supra). Parliament has not taken away the basis of that decision. While it is open to Parliament, having regard to the plenitude of its legislative powers to do so, the provisions of section 147(1) as they stood after the amendment of 1-4-1989 continue to hold the field. In that view of the matter and for the reasons that we have indicated, we do not regard the decision of the Tribunal in the present case as being in error. The question of law shall, accordingly, stand answered against the revenue and in favour of the assessee. The appeal is, accordingly, dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs.”

It is well accepted legal position that the judgment of jurisdictional High Court is binding upon all the authorities working under the jurisdiction of the High Court. It is further noted by us that identical view Hon’ble Delhi Court in the case of Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd vs CIT 12 taxmann.com 74 (Delhi), wherein it was held that where reasons for initiation of reassessment proceedings ceased to survive then the AO had no jurisdiction to reassess issues other than the issues in respect of which proceedings were initiated. This judgment was followed by Hon’ble Delhi High Court in its recent judgment in the case of Oriental Bank of Commerce vs Addnl. CIT 49 taxmann.com 485 (Delhi). 13.1. Hon’ble Gujrat High Court in the case of CIT vs Mohmed Juned Dadani 30 taxmann.com 1(Gujarat) held that when on ground on which reopening of assessment was based, no addition was made by the AO in the order of reassessment, then he could not have made additions on some other grounds which did not form part of reasons recorded by him. 13.2. In the case of DCIT v. Takshila Education Society 378 ITR 520 (Pat), it was observed by the Hon’ble Patna High Court that if in the course of proceedings under section 147 of the Income tax Act, 1961, the Assessing Officer comes to the conclusion that any income chargeable to tax which, according to his “reason to believe” had escaped assessment for any assessment year, did not escape assessment, then the mere fact that the Assessing Officer entertained a reason to believe, albeit even a genuine reason to believe, would not continue to vest him with the jurisdiction to subject to tax any other income chargeable to tax which the Assessing Officer may find to have escaped assessment and which may come to his notice subsequently in the course of proceedings under section 147. Hon’ble Patna High Court discussed in detail and followed the ratio laid down by the Hon’ble Rajasthan High Court in the case of CIT v. Shri Ram Singh 306 ITR 340 wherein it was held by the Hon’ble Rajasthan High Court that once Assessing officer comes to conclusion that income with respect to which he had entertained “reason to believe” to have escaped assessment, was found to have been explained, his jurisdiction come to a stop at that, and he does not continue to possess jurisdiction to put to tax any other income which subsequently comes to his notice in course of proceedings, which was found by him to have escaped assessment. 13.3. Hon’ble Chattisgarh High Court in the case of ACIT v. Major Deepak Mehta 344 ITR 641 held that if AO finally found that there was no escapement of income in respect of the head which form “reason to believe” in notice issued u/s 148, then impugned reassessment order was to be set aside. 13.4. Under these circumstances, we find that the re-assessment order passed by the Assessing Officer is not valid in the eyes of law. The Assessing Officer was bound to drop the re-assessment proceedings. The Assessing Officer was of course at liberty to record fresh reasons and initiate re-assessment proceedings in case any another escaped income was found by him, as permitted under the law. But once the Assessing Officer was of the view that the escaped income as alleged in the reasons recorded by him was not the income actually escaped, but already included in its taxable income and offered to tax by the assessee, it was not legally permissible for him to continue with the reassessment proceedings.

It is further noted by us from the perusal of the Reasons recorded that Reasons have been recorded on the basis of mere doubts. There were no bases with the AO to allege that too with the support of any cogent material that impugned income was not included by the assessee in its income offered to tax. Reopening of an assessment is not permitted merely on the basis of some notions or presumptions. Nor it is allowed merely for making verification of some basic facts. There must be existence of some tangible material indicating escapement of income. Then only, an AO is permitted to resort to provisions of reopening contained in sections 147 to 151 of the Act. Because, once an assessment is reopened on valid basis, entire pandara’s box is open before the AO. Therefore the AO may then bring to tax not only income escaped from tax which was mentioned in the Reasons recorded, but also any other escaped income that may come to his notice during the course of reassessment proceedings. Reopening of an assessment attacks and pierces the concept of finality of litigation. Therefore, an invalid reopening done in the casual manner and without following parameters of law may cause undue hardship to the taxpayers. Thus, in view of the aforesaid legal discussion and facts of the case before us, we find that AO’s action of continuing with the reassessment proceedings and framing of the impugned reassessment order is contrary to law and facts and, therefore, the same is hereby quashed.

During the course of assessment proceedings, the Assessing Officer 115JB on the ground that the provision represents unascertained liabilities. Being aggrieved, the assessee filed appeal before the Ld. CIT(A) and submitted that the provision of leave encashment has been made on the basis of actuarial valuation report and keeping in views the requirements of Accounting Standard-15. The assessee filed detailed submission before the Ld. CIT(A) attacking the addition made by the Assessing Officer. Relevant part of the same is reproduced hereunder for the sake of ready reference:- “5.1 The relevant portion of section 115JB of the Act is reproduced herewith for your good self’s ready reference:

Per contra, the Ld. DR relied upon the orders of the lower authorities. It is noted that it is an admitted fact that provision for leave encashment has been made on the basis of actuarial valuation report.

In the result, appeal for A.Y. 2006-07 is allowed and appeal for A.Y. 2007-08 is partly allowed.