AMIT DHIRAJLAL DOSHI,AHMEDABAD vs. THE ACIT, CIRCLE-1(1)(2), AHMEDABAD

This appeal filed by the assessee is directed against the order of the Commissioner of Income-tax (Appeals), National Faceless Appeal Centre (NFAC), Delhi [hereinafter referred to as "CIT(A)" for short] dated 29.02.2024 passed under Section 250 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 [hereinafter referred to as "the Act" for short] for the Assessment Year (AY) 2017-18

The assessee has raised the following grounds of appeal :-

The assessee filed return of income on 31.03.2018 declaring total income at Rs.8,18,470/-. The case was selected for compulsory scrutiny and notice u/s 143(2) of the Act was issued on 19.09.2018. Notice-cum-questionnaire u/s 142(1) of the Act was issued and served upon the assessee, against which the assessee filed submissions. The Assessing Officer observed that the assessee has claimed deduction u/s 10 of the Act related to the telephone reimbursement amounting to Rs.35,000/- and Uniform Allowance amounting to Rs.76,250/-, totalling to Rs.1,11,250/-.

The Assessing Officer further observed that the assessee received salary from his employer Doshion Water Solution Pvt Ltd of Rs.12,21,665/-, but the assessee offered the salary income to the extent of Rs.8,20,000/- only. Thus, the Assessing Officer made addition of Rs.4,01,665/-. The Assessing Officer further observed that the assessee earned income under the head “other sources” amounting to Rs.12,79,840/- being interest income and claimed deduction u/s 57 of the Act. After verifying the same, the Assessing Officer disallowed Rs.12,79,840/- u/s 57 of the Act.

Being aggrieved by the Assessment Order, the assessee filed appeal before the CIT(A). The CIT(A) dismissed the appeal of the assessee.

The Ld. AR submitted that the assessee has not received any notices issued for the hearing before the Ld. CIT(A), as mentioned by the Ld. CIT(A) in his order vide paragraph No. 3. The Ld. AR submitted that the Ld. CIT(A) passed ex-parte order and, therefore, the matter may be remanded back to the file of the Ld. CIT(A) for proper adjudication of the issues on verification.

The Ld. DR relied upon the assessment order and the order of the CIT(A).

Heard both the parties and perused all the relevant material available on record. It is pertinent to note that the CIT(A) passed an ex-parte order without discussing the merit of the case, and the service of the notice was also not properly done by the Ld. CIT(A). Thus, the representation of the assessee was not there with the Ld. CIT(A). Therefore, in the interest of justice, the matter is remanded back to the file of the Ld. CIT(A) for proper adjudication of the issues contested therein on merit as per Income-tax Statute. Needless to say, the assessee be given opportunity of hearing by following the principles of natural justice.

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