SUBRATO BHATTACHARJEE,KOLKATA vs. C.I.T (A) - XIV,KOLKATA, KOLKATA
What did the Tribunal hold?
The Tribunal held that the assessee is not interested in prosecuting the matter due to repeated non-appearance. Following established legal principles, the appeal was treated as unadmitted and dismissed for non-prosecution.
What were the facts?
The assessee filed an appeal before the ITAT against an order of the CIT(Appeals). The assessee failed to appear for the hearing on multiple occasions, including the current date, despite proper notice. The assessee also did not seek any adjournment.
What were the issues?
Whether an appeal can be dismissed for non-prosecution when the assessee fails to appear for hearings despite proper notice.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Cases cited in this judgment(4)Show listHide list
Detected automatically from the text. Citations are also linked where they appear in the judgment. The count shows how many other judgments on BharatTax rely on the same authority.
- CIT v. Multiplan India Ltd.2,267 citing38 ITD 320 · 1991 · ITAT
- Estate of Late Tukojirao Holkar v. CWT2,040 citing223 ITR 480 · 1997 · HC
- CIT v. B.N. Bhattacharya & Another1,656 citing118 ITR 461 · 1997 · SC
- New Diwan Oil Mills v. CIT351 citing296 ITR 495 · 2008 · HC
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, KOLKATA BENCH ‘B’, KOLKATA
Before: Shri P. M. Jagtap, A.M. & Shri S.S.Viswanethra Ravi, J.M.)
Shri Subrato Bhattacharjee Vs I.T.O., Ward-28(3) PAN: ADRPB 4965D Kolkata (APPELLANT) (RESPONDENT) Appellant by : None Respondent by : Shri S.M.S. Tauheed, JCIT, Sr.DR Date of Hearing : 23.02.2016 Date of Pronouncement :23.02.2016 ORDER Shri S.S.Viswanethra Ravi, J.M. This appeal is preferred by the assessee against the order dated 28.02.2013 passed by the CIT(Appeals)-XIV, Kolkata in Appeal No. 367/CIT(A)-XIV/Kol./08-09 for the assessment year 2006-07 passed under section 143(3) of the I.T.Act.
At the time of hearing, nobody appeared on behalf of the assessee today i.e., on 23.02.2016, despite the fact that the notice for the hearing on 23.02.2016 was informed through Notice Board. It is, therefore, presumed that in spite of notice of hearing being informed, the assessee did not appear before the Bench on the date of hearing. On earlier occasions also, the appeal was fixed for hearing but the assessee either sought for adjournment or did not turn up at the time of hearing. This time also, the assessee did not appear at the time of hearing nor even he sought for adjournment. It, Subrato Bhattacharjee Assessment Year: 2006-07 therefore, appears that the assessee is not interested to prosecute the matter.
The law aids those who are vigilant, not those who sleep upon their rights. This principle is embodied in well known dictum, “VIGILANTIBUS ET NON DORMIENTIBUS JURA SUB VENIUNT’. Considering the facts and keeping in view the provisions of rule 19(2) of the Income-tax Appellate Tribunal Rules as were considered in the case of CIT vs. Multiplan India Ltd., (38 ITD 320)(Del), we treat this appeal as unadmitted.
Similar view has been taken by the Hon’ble Madhya Pradesh High Court in the case of Estate of Late Tukojirao Holkar vs. CWT (223 ITR 480) wherein it has been held as under:
“if the party, at whose instance the reference is made, fails to appear at the hearing, or fails in taking steps for preparation of the paper books so as to enable hearing of the reference, the court is not bound to answer the reference.” 5. Similarly, Hon’ble Punjab & Haryana High Court in the case of New Diwan Oil Mills vs. CIT (2008) 296 ITR 495) returned the reference unanswered since the assessee remained absent and there was not any assistance from the assessee.
Their Lordships of Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of CIT vs. B. Bhattachargee & Another (118 ITR 461 at page 477-478) held that the appeal does not mean, mere filing of the memo of appeal but effectively pursuing the same.
Subrato Bhattacharjee Assessment Year: 2006-07 7. So by respectfully following the view taken in the cases cited supra, we dismiss the appeal of the assessee for non-prosecution.
In the result, the appeal filed by the assessee is dismissed. Order Pronounced in the Open Court on 23rd February, 2016.
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