ACIT, CHENNAI vs. VIVEK LTD., CHENNAI

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ITA 926/CHNY/2014Status: DisposedITAT Chennai01 May 2015AY 2005-064 pages
AI SummaryRemanded

What did the Tribunal hold?

The Tribunal held that while the CIT(Appeals) can rely on previous Tribunal orders, they must still discuss the facts of the case and provide reasons for applying the law. Simply referring to prior orders without independent application of mind is not justified.

What were the facts?

The Revenue appealed the CIT(Appeals) order which deleted additions made by the Assessing Officer regarding depreciation on temporary structures, bad debt, Pooja expenses, vehicle maintenance, and goodwill. The CIT(Appeals) had deleted these additions by merely referring to previous Tribunal orders without discussing the facts.

What were the issues?

Whether the CIT(Appeals) was justified in deleting additions by merely referencing previous Tribunal orders without discussing the specific facts and providing reasoning.

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, “D” BENCH, CHENNAI

Before: SHRI N.R.S. GANESAN & SHRI A. MOHAN ALANKAMONY

For Respondent: Shri M.C. Srikanth, CA
Hearing: 21.04.2015Pronounced: 01.05.2015

आदेश /O R D E R

PER N.R.S. GANESAN, JUDICIAL MEMBER:

1.

This appeal of the Revenue is directed against the order of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)-III, Chennai, dated 17.12.2013 and pertains to assessment year 2005-06.

2.

Shri N. Madhavan, the Ld. Departmental Representative, submitted that the first issue arises for consideration is with regard to depreciation on temporary structures. The assessee claimed at 100% depreciation, however, the Assessing Officer allowed only 10%. According to the Ld. D.R., in fact, in the earlier assessment year, this Tribunal remitted back the matter to the file of the Assessing Officer. Now coming to the claim of bad debt, the Ld. D.R. submitted that the CIT(Appeals) deleted the addition by following the order of this Tribunal in to 1754/Mds/2005. The CIT(Appeals) has not discussed the facts. He simply deleted by referring to the order of this Tribunal. According to the Ld. D.R., the CIT(Appeals) has to apply his mind to the facts, which arise for consideration, has to be referred in the order and has to be made clear how the Tribunal order is applicable. Without doing so, merely referring to the order of the Tribunal and deleting the addition cannot be justified. Similarly, in respect of other additions with regard to Pooja expenses, vehicle maintenance expenses, depreciation, goodwill have also been deleted by the CIT(Appeals) by making a reference to the order of this Tribunal without any discussion. Therefore, according to the Ld. D.R., the CIT(Appeals) is not justified in deleting the additions.

3.

On the contrary, Shri M.C. Srikanth, the Ld. representative for the assessee, submitted that the CIT(Appeals) has relied on the order of this Tribunal. Of course, there is no much of discussion.

However, it is apparent from the order of the CIT(Appeals) that he has followed the order of this Tribunal for deleting the additions.

Therefore, there is no error in the order of the CIT(Appeals).

4.

We have considered the rival submissions on either side and perused the relevant material on record. The CIT(Appeals) has followed the order of this Tribunal since this Tribunal is above the CIT(Appeals) in hierarchy. However, the facts, the issues arise for consideration and how the order of this Tribunal is applicable to such facts have to be discussed in appellate order. The application of mind by the CIT(Appeals) has to be reflected in the order itself.

Making a reference to the order of this Tribunal and simply deleting the additions without any discussion is not justified. This Tribunal is of the considered opinion that the CIT(Appeals) is bound to discuss the facts and record reason for the conclusion reached therein. Of course, the CIT(Appeals) may take a decision by relying on the order of this Tribunal, however, there should be discussion. Since there is no such discussion as pointed out by the Ld. D.R., this Tribunal is of the considered opinion that the CIT(Appeals) has to 4 reconsider the appeal. Therefore, we set aside the order of the CIT(Appeals) and entire issues remitted back to his file. The CIT(Appeals) shall consider the same afresh in the light of the material available on record and thereafter, pass a speaking order referring to the facts and discussing the reason for applying the present law in the subject including the order of this Tribunal.

5.

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

Order pronounced on 1st of May, 2015 at Chennai.

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