RUTH MAMIDI,WEST GODAVARI vs. INCOME TAX OFFICER, WARD-1, TADEPALLIGUDEM

PER DUVVURU RL REDDY, Judicial Member :

This appeal filed by the assessee is directed against the order of the Ld. Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)-National Faceless Appeal Centre, Delhi [Ld. CIT(A)-NFAC] in DIN & Order No. ITBA/NFAC/S/250/2022-23/1043242493(1), dated 30/05/2022 arising out of the order passed U/s. 144 of the

2 Income Tax Act, 1961 [the Act], dated 19/12/2019 for the AY

2017-18.

delay of 159 days in filing the appeal before the Tribunal. In this

regard, the Ld. AR drawn the attention of the Bench to the

affidavit filed by the assessee wherein the explained the reasons

and sought for condonation of delay and the relevant portions

from the affidavit are extracted herein below:

“1. …… 2. However, on 22/07/2022, assessee slipped while climbing the steps and injured herself. Immediately thereon went for medical treatment upon which it was diagnosed that the assessee fractured her left leg for which she was treated and the Doctor advised the assessee to take complete bed rest for 6 weeks. 3. In the meanwhile filing of appeal slipped out of assessee’s mind. Whereas, during the third week of December, 2022, assessee received a phone call from the Income Tax Officer to pay the tax demand outstanding for the subject AY. Immediately, thereafter assessee realized that an appeal against the impugned order passed U/s. 271(1)(c) of the Act which she was contemplating to file could not be filed. Thereupon, assessee approached the Counsel on 27/12/2022 who said he shall do the needful within a week’s time accordingly, the appeal was filed on 4/01/2023 as against the due date i.e., 289/07/2022 causing a delay of 206 days. 5. But for the reasons stated herein above, assessee has no malafide intentions in filing the appeal within the due date as provided in the statute. 6 …….”

3 3. From the above contents of the affidavit filed by the

assessee, I am of the considered view that there is a reasonable

and sufficient cause that prevented the assessee in filing the

appeal before the Tribunal within the prescribed time limit.

Therefore, in my view, it is a fit case to condone the delay and

hence I hereby condone the delay of 159 days in filing the appeal

before the Tribunal and proceed to adjudicate the appeal on

merits.

and information gathered during the phase of online verification

under ‘Operation Clear Money’, the Income Tax Department

gathered a list of assessees who had deposited substantial cash

in bank account(s) but not filed their return of income for the AY

2017-18. In such assessee’s list, the Department found that the

assessee (Smt. Mamidi Ruth) has made cash deposits of Rs.

41,50,000/- in her bank accounts during the Financial Year

2016-17 besides other credits through transfers / cheques at Rs.

4,63,635/- the details of which are tabulated by the Ld. AO in his

order at page 2. As per the data available before the Ld. AO, it is

noted by the Ld. AO that the assessee has made cash deposits of

Rs. 41,50,000/- during the AY under consideration but not filed

4 her return of income for AY 2017-18 U/s. 139 of the Act.

Accordingly, the Ld. AO issued notice U/s. 142(1) of the Act on

12/3/2018 and served on the assessee on 15/3/2018 and called

for the assessee to file her return of income as per the relevant

provisions of the Act. But the assessee failed to furnish the

return of income either U/s. 139 of the Act or in response to the

notice issued U/s. 142(1) of the Act. However, the assessee was

given an opportunity vide letter dated 21/8/2019 and served on

the assessee on 24/8/2019. Considering the non-compliance of

the assessee, the Ld. AO issued a show cause letter dated

20/09/2019 and served on the on 21/9/2019 manually and

another show cause letter on 03/12/2019 and requested her to

furnish the information called for and asked as to why the cash

deposits made by the assessee during the demonetization period

should not be treated as her undisclosed cash credits made into

her bank accounts. Since the assessee did not furnish the

information and explanation with evidence with respect to the

cash deposits made, the Ld. AO invoked the provisions of section

144(1)(b) of the Act and completed the assessment proceedings

ex-parte and passed the assessment order U/s. 144 of the Act

dated 19/12/2019. In the assessment, the Ld. AO made an

addition of Rs. 46,13,635/- U/s. 69A of the Act and determined

5 the total income at Rs. 46,13,635/- against the NIL income

returned by the assessee. Aggrieved by the order of the Ld. AO,

the assessee filed an appeal before the Ld. CIT(A), NFAC. On

appeal, the Ld. CIT(A)-NFAC considered the submissions of the

assessee and partly allowed the appeal of the assessee by

granting relief to the assessee to the extent of Rs. 6,50,000/-.

Aggrieved by the order of the Ld. CIT(A)-NFAC, the assessee is in

further appeal before the Tribunal by raising the following

Grounds of Appeal:

“1. That under the facts and circumstances of the case the orders passed under the provisions of section 250 of the Act is contrary to the provisions of law. 2. The Ld. CIT(A)-NFAC having given relief to the extent of Rs. 6,50,000/- erred in confirming the balance amount of Rs. 39.80 lakhs U/s. 69A of the Act. 3. The Ld. CIT(A)-NFAC failed to consider the submissions made before him and the evidence filed but concluded the proceedings in a summary and casual manner, therefore such order is not legally tenable and liable to be dismissed. 4. The Ld. CIT(A)-NFAC failed to adjudicate the ground wherein the assessee challenged the applicability of the amendment brought into section 115BBE of the Act which is operational from 15/12/2016 and cannot be made applicable for deposits made prior to this date. 5. For these and other reasons that are to be urged at the time of hearing of the case the appellant prays that the additions made are

6 unwarranted, therefore the same may be deleted in the interest of justice and fair play.”

assessee’s parents were holding 8.30 acres of agricultural land in

West Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh and also gold jewellery

of 6 Tulas. After the demise of assessee’s parents, the assessee

and her sister inherited 8.30 acres of agricultural land out of

which the assessee got 5.07 Acres as her share and assessee’s

sister got 3.23 Acres. After the division of shares, the Revenue

records were also accordingly got mutated in the case of the

assessee. Thereafter, assessee decided to dispose off the existing

dry land and to buy agricultural wet land and therefore the

assessee sold out her agricultural land vide registered document

dated 28/12/2016 for a sale consideration of Rs. 25,71,000/-.

During the time registration, the purchaser of the land made a

request to get the signatures of the assessee’s sister and

assessee’s son & daughter. Since, the said three individuals are

no way concerned with the ownership of the land, they have

agreed and singed the sale document. The assessee’s children

and her sister have confirmed the same by submitting their

confirmation letters stating that they are only signatories in the

document and no way concerned with the land disposed off by

7 the assessee.Though these facts are placed before the Ld. AO

during the assessment proceedings, the Ld.AO did not consider

them and came to an arbitrary conclusion that since there are 4

co-owners to the impugned land sold as per the sale deed

including the assessee, only 1/4th of the assessee’s share of sale

consideration / cash is available with the assessee for depositing

into the bank account. Accordingly, the ld.AO disallowed 3/4th of

the sale consideration and considered the proportionate cash

deposit by the assessee as unexplained cash before, during and

after demonetization period. Further, the Ld. AR also submitted

that since the value of the land proposed to be purchased by the

assessee is around Rs. 40 lakhs to Rs. 50 lakhs, the assessee

required some additional funds to purchase the land, apart from

the sale consideration received towards sale of agricultural land.

Therefore, keeping the mother’s situation in mind, the assessee’s

son Mr. R. Kanaka Rao gifted Rs. 15 lakhs in cash of Rs. 5 lakhs

each on three occasions. The assessee also accumulated her past

saving and the receipts / proceeds from the sale of agricultural

activity and pooled up the total money to purchase the proposed

agricultural wet land. Since the deliberations were going on

pending purchase of the land, the assessee was holding the

pooled up cash, as explained above but in the meanwhile on

8 8/11/2016 demonetization was announced and therefore the

assessee has deposited an amount aggregating to Rs. 41,50,000/-

on various dates [Rs. 7/11/2016-Rs. 10,00,000/-; 10/11/2016-

Rs. 30,00,000/- and on 23/02/2017-Rs. 1,50,000/-]. The Ld. AR

further submitted that out of the above deposits, the assessee

deposited Rs. 10,00,000/- to her son’s account through bank

transfer and Rs. 30,00,000/- was also deposited by way of

transfer. Even though these facts were explained to the Ld. AO,

he did not consider the same and brought the amount of Rs.

41,50,000/- along with cash credit of Rs. 4,63,635/- to tax and

made addition U/s. 69A of the Act. The Ld. AR further submitted

that on appeal to the First Appellate Authority, the Ld. CIT(A)-

NFAC did not consider the above facts and granted a part relief to

the assessee. Before me Ld. AR pleaded that with regard to the

sale of the agricultural land, gift received by the assessee and the

receipts from the agricultural activity, the documentary evidence

were produced before the Bench by way of paper book containing

29 pages. He further pleaded that the deposits are fully

explained by the assessee, the additions made by the Ld. Revenue

Authorities may be deleted and the assessee may be granted

relief.

9 6. On the other hand, the Ld. DR vehemently argued in

support of the orders of the Ld. Revenue Authorities and

supported the decision taken by them.

available on record and the orders of the Ld. Revenue

Authorities. From the record available before me, it is apparent

that the assessee made cash deposits aggregating to Rs.

46,13,635/- during the period from 7/11/2016 to

29/12/2016.With respect to these cash deposits, it was explained

by the assessee’s Ld. AR that the source for the said cash

deposits is as under:

(i) With respect to Rs. 15 lakhs the Ld.AR submitted that

this amount was received by the assessee as a gift on

three occasions from the assessee’s son Mr. R. Kanaka

Rao on various dates ie., 25/09/2017; 10/10/2016

and 29/10/2016 (Rs. 5 lakhs on each date).

(ii) On 26/10/2016 the assessee entered into an

agreement ofsale of immovable property valued at Rs.

25,71,000/- out of which the assessee has received Rs.

22 lakhs on 26/10/2016 and the balance amount of

Rs. 3,71,000/- on 31/10/2016 as sale consideration.

10 (iii) On 28/12/216 and 29/12/2016 the assessee deposited

Rs. 4 laksh and Rs. 60,000/- as the same are the

receipts from agricultural activities and past savings.

7/11/2016, the Ld. AR brought my attention to the bank

statements filed in the paper book(Pages 9 to 10)and

demonstrated that the assessee had deposited Rs. 10,00,000/-

[Rs. 5,00,000 + Rs. 5,00,000] on 07/11/2016 and the source for

the same is out of the gift received from the assessee’s son as

explained above. This deposit was made by the assessee since

the assessee’s proposal to purchase agricultural wet land did not

materialize and therefore the assessee returned the gift amount

of Rs. 10,00,000/- received from his son.Before me, it is the

pleading of the Ld. AR that the assessee has received the gift of

Rs. 10,00,000/- from his son but on the same day the assessee

deposited the same amount and transferred the sum of Rs.

10,00,000/- to her son’s account before demonetization period,

and therefore this sum of Rs. 10 lakhs should not be added as an

income of the assessee. On perusal of the bank statement and

the relevant documents placed before me, I am of the opinion

that the argument of the assessee holds merit on this issue and

in my view the deposit of Rs. 10 lakhs is properly explained by

11 the assessee with evidence. Therefore, I hereby delete the

addition of Rs. 10 lakhs made by the Ld. Revenue Authorities as

unexplained cash deposit made by the assessee before the

demonetization period. It is ordered accordingly.

submitted that Rs. 30,00,000/- was deposited by the assessee on

10/11/2016. The source for the same is out of the sale proceeds

of agricultural land for Rs. 25,71,000/- by executing a registered

sale deed coupled with agreement of sale. He further submitted

that in the assessment, the Ld. AO made addition of Rs. 30 lakhs

as unexplained cash deposits during the demonetization period.

On appeal, the Ld. CIT(A)-NFAC observed that since there are 4

co-owners of the impugned land sold by the assessee as per the

sale deed,1/4th of the sale consideration of the agricultural land

shall only be the available cash to deposit into the bank account.

Therefore, the Ld. CIT(A)-NFAC granted relief to the extent of Rs.

6,27,500/- [mentioned as Rs5,50,000/- in the Ld. CIT(A)-NFAC

order]. On this aspect, the contention of the assessee is that the

assessee herself is the absolute owner of the immovable property

while the other three individuals are assessee’s sister, assessee’s

son &daughter only signatories to the document. He also

12 explained that while executing the sale deed, the purchaser

requested the assessee to get the signatures of the above three

individuals as the agricultural land was inherited property from

the parents of the assessee. Therefore, it was submitted that the

said three individuals viz., assessee’s sister, assessee’s son &

daughter are no way concerned with the land and due to the

request made by the purchaser they have also signed on the

document as sellers of the property. To this effect, they have also

furnished the confirmation letters before the Ld. AO and the Ld.

CIT(A)-NFAC and even before the Tribunal. Apart from that, the

assessee also filed Revenue records showing the land holdings

i.e., Pattadar Pass Book, Adangal and IB Record wherein it was

clearly mentioned that the assessee is the sole owner of the

property. Therefore, considering the above facts and

circumstances of the case as well as the evidence produced

before Tribunal, I have no hesitation to come to a conclusion that

the assessee is the sole owner of the property and therefore the

entire sale consideration of Rs. 25,71,000/- should be treated as

the source of the assessee. Thus, the assessee’s cash deposit of

Rs. 25,71,000/- into the bank account ie., Rs. 22,00,000/- on

26/10/2016 and Rs. 3,71,000/- on 31/10/2016is treated as

explained and the balance of Rs.4,29,000 [Rs. 30,00,000 – Rs.

13 25,71,000 = Rs.4,29,000] is treated as unexplained and I hereby

confirm the action of the Ld. Revenue Authorities to this extent.

It is ordered accordingly.

Rs. 60,000/- on 29/12/2016 are concerned, the contention of the

assessee is that the assessee sold the agricultural proceeds on

the date of sale of agricultural land and thereby the assessee

received an amount of Rs. 4,60,000/- which includes personal

saving also. To this extent the assessee has not produced any

convincing and satisfactory documentary evidence before the

Bench. However, the assessee being a woman agriculturist and

having agricultural holdings, in the absence of any evidence, I

deem it reasonable to allow Rs. 2,00,000/- as the assessee’s

source for her deposit and the balance of Rs. 2,60,000/- [Rs.

4,60,000 – Rs. 2,00,000] is hereby confirmed.

concerned the assessee contended before me that this amount is

accumulated from her savings in the past years. During the

proceedings before the Ld. Revenue Authorities, the assessee has

not produced either documentary evidence or proper explanation

on this issue. However, the Ld. CIT(A)-NFAC was of the view that

14 since the assessee is an old aged women agriculturist, the assessee must be having some cash for her medical expenses and therefore taking a lenient view, the Ld. CIT(A)-NFAC considered Rs. 1,00,000/- as the assessee’s Stridhan/Pin money and confirmed the amount of Rs. 50,000/- as unexplained cash deposit.In this situation, considering the facts and circumstances of the case relatable to this issue, I am of the view that the Ld. CIT(A)-NFAC has rightly adjudicated this issue and therefore there is no infirmity in the order of the Ld. CIT(A)-NFAC. Accordingly, the sustenance of addition of Rs. 50,000/- is hereby confirmed.

Pronounced in the open Court on 17th July, 2023. Sd/- (दु�वू�आर.एलरे�डी) (DUVVURU RL REDDY) �या�यकसद�य/JUDICIAL MEMBER Dated : 17th July, 2023 OKK - SPS आदेशक���त�ल�पअ�े�षत/Copy of the order forwarded to:- �नधा�रती/ The Assessee–Mrs. Ruth Mamidi, 3-45 Ananthapalli, 1. Ramalayam Veedhi, Nallajerla Mandal, West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh – 534111.

15 राज�व/The Revenue – Income Tax Officer, Officer of the Income Tax 2. Department, Ward-1, Aayakar Bhawan, D.No. 2-1-56/1, Opp. Punjab National Bank, K.N. Road, Tadepalligudem, Andhra Pradesh – 534101. 3. The Principal Commissioner of Income Tax, आयकरआयु�त (अपील)/ The Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), 4. �वभागीय��त�न�ध, आयकरअपील�यअ�धकरण, �वशाखापटणम/ DR,ITAT, 5. Visakhapatnam गाड�फ़ाईल / Guard file 6.

आदेशानुसार / BY ORDER

Sr. Private Secretary ITAT, Visakhapatnam