SREE NIVAS BUILD TECH (INDIA) PVT LTD.,CHENNAI vs. ACIT, PONDICHERRY

This appeal of the assessee is directed against the order of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) – VI, Chennai, dated 30.07.2014 and pertains to assessment year 2007-08.

Shri V. Jagadisan, the Ld. representative for the assessee, submitted that the assessee has raised an additional ground before the CIT(Appeals) with regard to disallowance made under Section 40(a)(ia) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (in short 'the Act'). However, the CIT(Appeals) has not disposed of the same. Therefore, the Ld. representative submitted that the matter may be remitted back to the CIT(Appeals) to consider the additional ground raised by the assessee.

On the contrary, Dr. Milind Madhukar Bhusari, the Ld. Departmental Representative, submitted that it is not the case of non-consideration of grounds of appeal raised by the assessee.

We have considered the rival submissions on either side and perused the relevant material available on record. The assessee deducted tax of `5100/- on the payment said to be made to Shri Alphonse Ligouri during the year under consideration. In fact, the payment was made to Shri Alphonse Ligouri during the assessment years 2005-06 and 2006-07 and no payment was made during the year under consideration. The Assessing Officer, while considering the claim of payment of `5 lakhs during the assessment years 2005- 06 and 2006-07, doubted the genuineness of payment and disallowed the claim of the assessee. As rightly submitted by the Ld. D.R., it is not the case of disallowance under Section 40(a)(ia) of the Act for failure of the assessee to deduct tax. The disallowance was made because the assessee could not substantiate the claim of payment. When the genuineness of the payment itself is doubted, this Tribunal is of the considered opinion that the CIT(Appeals) has rightly rejected the claim of the assessee. Therefore, it may not be correct to say that the CIT(Appeals) has not disposed of the additional ground raised by the assessee with regard to addition of `5 lakhs. This Tribunal is of the considered opinion that the CIT(Appeals) disposed the ground of appeal with regard to deduction of `5 lakhs. Therefore, this Tribunal do not find any reason to interfere with the order of the lower authority. Accordingly, the order of the CIT(Appeals) is confirmed.

In the result, the appeal of the assessee is dismissed.