ITO, WARD-5, PATIALA vs. SH. KAWALJEET SINGH, PATIALA

During the course of hearing, the Ld. DR submitted that the return of income declaring income of Rs. 22,37,300/- was e-filed by the assessee on 25/10/2018. The CPC processed the return u/s 143 (1) of the Act vide order dated 21/05/2019 by making an addition of Rs. 2,78,600/- on account of disallowance of ESI/PF which was deposited late i.e., after the due date and added it to the income of the assessee, thus, raising a demand of Rs.1,04,140/- (including interest). Aggrieved with order of the CPC, the assessee filed an appeal before the Id. CIT(A).

We have heard the Ld. DR and perused the material available on the record. The Hon'ble Calcutta High Court in PCIT Vs. M/s. Organon India Pvt. Ltd. (supra) while condoning the delay of 314 days in filing the appeal by the Revenue has held that where the Court is required to examine as to whether any substantial question of law would arise for consideration, the appeal should not be dismissed on technical ground and the relevant findings read as under: “This application has been filed by the revenue to condone the delay of 314 days in filing the appeal. The respondent/assessee has filed affidavit- in-opposition to which an affidavit-in-reply has been filed by the appellant. Mr. Paras 2 Salva, learned Advocate assisted by Mr. A. K. Dey, learned Advocate would vehemently contend that the affidavit filed in support of the condone delay petition, does not give any reason for the inordinate delay of 314 days in filing the appeal and the respondent has clearly mentioned about the various period during which there has been no explanation for the delay. In support of his contention, the learned Advocate has referred to the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Union of India vs. Central Tibetian School Administration & Ors. reported in 2020 (21) SCC Online SC 119 as also the celebrated decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Post Master General vs. Living Media India Ltd. reported in 2012 (3) SCC 563. These decisions have been pressed into service to support the contention that when no explanation is offered, the Courts should not condone the delay and a separate law of limitation is not available for the Government and Governmental authorities and they are also to be treated in the same yardstick. In Living Media India Limited the Hon’ble Supreme Court took note of the decision in the case of Collector (LA) Vs. Katiji [1987] 2 SCC 107 where the Hon’ble Supreme Court pointed out various principles while considering the expression “Sufficient Cause”. Some of the relevant principles would be that ordinarily a litigant does not stand to benefit by lodging an appeal laid; refusing to condone delay can result in a meritorious matter being thrown out at the very threshold and 3 cause of justice would be defeated; when substantial justice and technical consideration are pitted against each other because of substantial justice reserve to be deferred for the other side cannot claim to have vested right if injustice being done because of non deliberate delay. As pointed out earlier, there is a delay of 314 days in filing the appeal. The learned Advocate appearing for the respondent/assessee is right in submission of certain period of the delay remains unexplained. However, bearing in mind the legal principles which has been laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court if we examine the matter, we are of the view that since the present appeal has been filed under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 and the Court is required to examine as to whether any substantial question of law would arise for consideration we are of the view that the appeal should not be thrown out on technical ground. That apart we find that Tribunal had referred to a decision of the Co-ordinate Bench in the case of Philips India Ltd. Vs. ACIT in ITA/2489/Kol/2017 dated 4.4.2018. We are informed that as against the said order appeal has been preferred before this Court at the instance of the department and the same is pending. If such is the case, we are of the view that ends of justice would be met if we exercise discretion and condone the delay in filing the appeal. For such reason, the application is allowed and the delay in filing the appeal is condoned.”

In the instant case, we find that the matter is on a different footing. The matter is not about examining any question of law and rather, the matter is where a substantial question of law has subsequently been decided by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Checkmate Services (supra) after passing of the order of the ld CIT(A) and the Revenue has initially decided not to file appeal before this Tribunal due to low tax effect following the mandate of the CBDT Instructions/Circulars and which subsist as on date, whether the subsequent decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court forms the reasonable basis for condonation of delay in filing the present appeal and seeking hearing on merits of the case as the same is the only reason which has been canvassed by the ld DR before us in terms of explaining the delay in filing the present appeal.

In this regard, we refer to CBDT Circular no. 3/2018 dated 11/07/2018 and subsequent amendment to the said Circular vide F. No. 279/Misc. 142/2007- ITJ(Pt) dated 20/08/2018 brought to our notice by the ld DR during the course of hearing. In paragraph 2, it has been stated that the Board has decided that the departmental appeals may be filed on merits before the ITAT and other higher forums keeping in view the monetary limits and conditions specified in subsequent paragraph. In paragraph 3, monetary limits have been specified and it has been provided that the appeals shall not be filed in cases where the tax effect doesn’t exceed the monetary limits. It has been clarified that an appeal should not be filed merely because the tax effect in a case exceeds the monetary limits prescribed and the filing of the appeal is to be decided on merits of the case. Similarly, in paragraph 5, it has been provided that no appeal shall be filed in respect of an assessment year or years in which the tax effect is less than the prescribed threshold and appeals can be filed only with reference to the tax effect in the relevant assessment year. We therefore find that the CBDT instructions are clear and unambiguous that the tax effect is critical in the sense that no appeal shall be filed where the tax effect is below the prescribed threshold and even in cases where the tax effect exceeds the prescribed threshold, the appeal has to be filed basis the merits of the case and not necessarily in all cases.

In paragraph 10, certain specific exceptions have been carved out by the CBDT and it has been provided that notwithstanding the fact that the tax effect is less than the monetary limits or involves no tax effect, the matter need to be contested on merits and such issues are as follows: “10. Adverse judgments relating to the following issues should be contested on merits notwithstanding that the tax effect entailed is less than the monetary limits specified in para 3 above or there is no tax effect: [a] Where the Constitutional validity of the provisions of an Act or Rule is under challenge, or (b) Where Board's order, Notification, Instruction or Circular has been, held to be illegal or ultra vires, or (c) Where Revenue Audit objection in the case has been accepted by the Department, or (d) Where the addition relates lo undisclosed foreign assets/ bank accounts.”

The aforesaid exceptions have been expanded subsequently vide amendment dated 20/08/2018 and the contents thereof read as under: “3. Para 10 of the said Circular provides that adverse judgments relating to the issues enumerated in the said para should be contested on merits notwithstanding that the tax effect entailed is less than the monetary limits specified in para 3 thereof or there is no tax effect Para 10 of the Circular No. 3 of 2018 dated 11.07.2018 is hereby amended as under: "10, Adverse judgments relating to the following issues should be contested on merits notwithstanding that the tax effect entailed is less than the monetary limits specified in para 3 above or there is no tax effect- (a) Where the Constitutional validity of the provisions of an Act or Rule is under challenge, or (b) Where Board's order, Notification, Instruction or Circular has been held to be illegal or ultra vires. or (c) Where Revenue Audit objection in the case has been accepted by the Department, or (d) Where addition relates to undisclosed foreign income/undisclosed foreign assets (including financial assets)/ undisclosed foreign bank account. (e) Where addition is based on information received from external sources in the nature of law enforcement agencies such as CBI/ ED/ DRl/ SFIO/ Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGG1). (f) Cases where prosecution has been filed by the Department and is pending in the Court.”

In paragraph 13, it has been provided that this circular will apply to SLPs/appeals/cross objections/references to be filed henceforth in SC/HC/Tribunal and it shall apply retrospectively to pending SLPs/appeals/Cross objections/references and the pending appeals below the specified tax limits may be withdrawn/not pressed. We therefore find that even where the appeals have been filed before the Hon’ble High Courts and Hon’ble Supreme Court and which have been admitted as involving substantial question of law, the CBDT instructions provides that such matters should be withdrawn/not pressed and only criteria for such a decision is that such matters should be involving tax effect below the prescribed limits. 12. In the instant case, it is an admitted and undisputed position that the tax effect involved in the present appeal is Rs. 1,04,140/- well below the prescribed threshold. Further, the matter doesn’t fall under any of the exceptions so carved out in terms of the aforesaid CBDT Circular as amended.