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Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, VISAKHAPATNAM BENCH, VISAKHAPATNAM
Before: SHRI DUVVURU RL REDDY, HON’BLE & SHRI S BALAKRISHNAN, HON’BLE
the Act. The Ld. DR further relied on the order of the Ld. AO.
We have heard both the sides and perused the material available on record. As per section 142(2A) of the Act, the Special Auditor is expected to provide his Special Audit Report within a period of 180 days.
With respect to Ground No.1 & 2 regarding the time limit prescribed U/s. 142(2A) for submission of Special Audit Report, we find that the Special Auditor has sought first extension on 26/03/2019 for another 90 days.
However, the Ld. Assessing Officer on 27th March, 2019 has merely
9 communicated the permission accorded to him by the Ld. Pr. CIT (Central), Visakhapatnam for extension of time limit by another 60 days which will expire on 25/5/2019. Further, another extension was applied by the Special Auditor on 27/5/2019. The Ld. AO once again has not applied his mind in giving the extension as provided U/s. 142(2C) of the Act but has once again merely communicated the permission accorded to him by the Ld. Pr. CIT (Central), Visakhapatnam. Even though it is not required to obtain the permission from the Ld. Pr. CIT under the provisions of the Act, since the permission to grant extension time for the purpose of Special Audit Report are vested with the Ld. AO and accordingly the Ld. AO is mandated to pass an order U/s. 142(2C) of the Act with respect to the extension of time limit sought by the Special Auditor. In the instant case, the Ld. AO failed to pass such order in both the circumstances to extend the time limit. The Ld. AO merely communicated the decision of the Ld. Pr. CIT (Central), Visakhapatnam on 6/6/2019 which is beyond the limitation period of the second extended time. Even assuming a moment that it is a valid extension, we find that the extension as per the Limitation Act should have been granted before the expiry of the time limit permitted in the earlier extension ie., on 25/5/2019. We find force in the arguments of the Ld. AR that mere communication of extension by the Ld. AO instead of passing an order U/s. 142(2C) is not valid in law. The case law relied on 10 by the Ld. AR, the judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of State of Punjab & Ors vs. M/s. Shreyans Indus Ltd in Civil Appeal Nos.
2506 to 2511 of 2016 arising out of SLP (C) Nos. 21712 – 21717 of 2009 is pertinent to mention here with respect to grant /order of extension of time limit should be given before the time for passing any order expires as prescribed under the Act or before the expiry of the original period of limitation prescribed in the original order. On this issue, the Hon’ble Apex Court observed that once the period of limitation expires, the immunity against being subject to assessment sets in and the right to make assessment gets extinguished. The Hon’ble Supreme Court further observed that “there would no question of extending the time for assessment when the assessment has already become time barred. A valuable right has also accrued in favour of the assessee when the period of limitation expires. If the Commissioner is permitted to grant the extension even after the expiry of original period of limitation prescribed under the Act, it will give him right to exercise such a power at any time even much after the last of assessment………when the last date of assessment in respect of these assessment years expire, it vested a valuable right in the assessee which cannot be lightly taken away…..”. .
Therefore in our considered opinion, the ratio laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court squarely applies to the instant case also. In the instant case on hand, the Ld. AO ought to have pass an order U/s. 142(2C) of the Act on or before 25/5/2019 ie., expiry of the first extension.
Further, the case law relied on by the Ld. AR in ACIT Vs Soul Space projects Limited [2020] 117 Taxmann.com 395 (Delhi) (Trib.) (supra) is also relevant to the issue which was also considered by the Ld. CIT(A).
The Ld. CIT(A) in para 6.7 of his order held as under:
“6.7. During the course of appellate proceedings, the Authorised Representative of the appellant relied on the decision of the Hon'ble Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Delhi Bench 'G' in the case of Assistant Commissioner of Income tax vs. M/s. Soul Space Projects Ltd., reported in 177 Taxman, 395 (Delhi Tribunal) wherein similar issue was involved and the Hon'ble Tribunal, while passing the order held as under:
"Heard the arguments of both the parties and perused the material available on record 15. The case lows quoted by the ld. AR as rebutted by the Id. DR have been closely perused while the Id. DR argued that the relevance of the case laws with regard to the Sections for which the case laws emanated, the ld. AR stressed on the ratio of the case laws as to the statutory discretion of the powers of the various authorities. The Id. DR's contention was that the "administrative approval" of the CIT for sanctioning extension of the period should not vitiate the conduct of special audit. It was argued that the letter of the CIT, Central-II should construed only as an administrative direction whereas the real extension has been granted by the DCIT, Central Cirecle-17 vide letter dated 13-4-2010. It was also argued that while approval of the CIT, is required for ordering fresh audit u/s 142(2A), no such approval for extension it is not required. It is the administrative permission sought by the DCIT for the CIT, hence the action cannot be said to be illegal. The undisputed facts are,
The assessing officer has received the request from special auditor for extension of time to complete audit u/s 142(2A) which was account of delay on the part of the assessee.
The assessing officer was satisfied on the reason submitted by the special auditor and recommended for extension to CIT as there were other cases having inter-group transaction for special audit and extension was granted by CIT(C)-II, New Delhi.
CIT(C)-II, New Delhi has conveyed the extension.
The AO conveyed the granting of extension of 60 days by the CIT, Central-Il to the assessee.
The Sec, 142 (2A) provides that the directions for special audit shall be given by the Assessing officer, with the previous approval of Chief Commissioner or Commissioner. In this case, there is no dispute that these directions have been given. Thus, the legislature clearly intended that initial direction shall be with the approval and after examination of the subject matter by the higher after prior approval of CIT, Central - II, New Delhi. Thereafter, proviso below Sec. 142 (2C) provides for the procedure for giving extension for completing the special audit task. It clearly provides that the Assessing Officer shall extend the said time period if the conditions as mentioned in the said proviso stands satisfied. Thus, while initial direction is to be given with the approval of CCIT/CIT, however, for extension, it is only the Assessing Officer who has to take a decision for extension. It is to be specifically pointed out that in Sec. 142 (2A) law mandates the prior approval of CCIT/CIT, while in the proviso below Sec. 142 (2C), while to grant extension, the sole power is vested with the Assessing Officer. The statute u/s 142(2A) provides for special audit with the previous approval of the CIT is intended with an objective that the subject matter stands examined by the higher and more experienced officers so that it may not bring unnecessary work and equity to the assessed. Once the issue u/s 142(2A) stands examined by the higher authorities, thereafter, for the issue of extension u/s 142(2C), there is no need for the higher authorities to be involved and the law provided the circumstances, on existence of which, this decision has been left over to be taken by the concerned Assessing Officer.
In the present case, the extension has been given by CIT and not by the Assessing Officer, vide letter dtd. 13-4-2010, as under:- - "In this connection you are hereby informed that the Commissioner of Income-tax (Central) Il, New Delhi vide his office letter F.No. CIT/(C)-II/10- 11/24 dated 12/04/2010 has granted extension of 60 days to the special auditors M/s. Sanjay Satpal & Associates, Chartered Accountants, for furnishing the audit report u/s. 142 (2A) in your case."
We have carefully gone through the entire events and the verbatim of the letters. We also tried to dwell whether the intention of the Assessing Officer is to "extend the period" or conveying the "approval of the CIT". While it may be an administrative phenomenon to intimate, inform the CIT about the fact of the special audit party appointed seeking extension, but statutorily that power is vested with the Assessing Officer. On going through the established judgment, it cannot be disputed that the statutory powers vested with one specified authority cannot be exercised by another authority unless and until the statute provides for the same. And we find that the extension has not been given by the Assessing Officer.
The powers and the jurisdiction of the various authorities to implement the Income-tax Act stands clearly defined in the statute. For example, the power to approve the accounts audited w/s 142(2A) lies with CIT/PCIT/CCIT or PCCIT. The powers w/: 144A are to be exercised by the Joint Commissioner or Additional Commissioner. The powers w/s 251 are specific to the Commissioner (Appeals) Similarly, the powers w/s 263 and 264 are to be exercised by the PCIT/CIT. Further, in exercise of the powers conferred under clause (e) of sub-section (2) of section 119 of Income-tax Act, 1961, Central Board of Direct Taxes, may direct that the Chief Commissioner of Income-tax and Director General of Income-tax may reduce or waive interest charged under section 234A or section 2348. Further to mention, while levy of the penalty w/s 271AAB is the power of the Assessing Officer, the provisions w/ 274(2) mandates that the prior approval of the ICIT is required before levy of such penalty. Thus, we find that the statute has accorded implementation of the various provisions to specified authorities which cannot be interchanged
A power which has been given to a specified authority has to be discharged only by him. Substitution of that officer/authority by any other officer, may be of higher rank, cannot validate the said order/action. The extension could have been valid only if it had been given by the Assessing Officer after due application of mind and after examining the existence of circumstances as provided in proviso below Sec. 142 (2C), since, it has to be given only by competent authority. In this case, the extension has not been given by the Assessing Officer but by the CIT, Central-it and the Assessing Officer has only conveyed the approval, therefore, we hold that the extension given by the CIT, Central-ll is beyond the powers vested as per the statute and accordingly the assessment completed after the due date is held to be void ob initio.
Since, the order has been held to be invalid ab initio, any adjudication on the other grounds would only be academic in nature and hence not resorted to.
Before parting, we would like to keep on record our appreciations to the ld. CIT DR, Sh. H.K. Choudhary and the AR, Sh. Rohit Jain for their radiant arguments.
In the result, the appeals of the revenue are dismissed and the Cross Objections of the assessee are allowed.”
Further, the Ld. CIT(A) at paras 6.12 has held as follows:
“6.12. Thus the proviso sec.142(2C) is very clear that the authority who is competent to extend the time limit is only the Assessing Officer but not any other superior authority of law. The Statute has rendered the power for extension of time lies with the Assessing Officer. As per Section 2(7A) under the definition of Assessing Officer, Includes only ACIT/DCIT or Income Tax Officer and not Principal Commissioner of Income Tax.
Hence, In the instant case under appeal, the approval for extension was given by Principal Commissioner of Income Tax, which was against the statute. On a careful examination of the letter given by the Assessing Officer to the appellant, it can be seen that the extension of time limit for submission of Special Audit report has not given by the Assessing Officer as enunciated in the Act. Instead it was given by the Principal Commissioner of Income Tax (Central) and the same was conveyed to the appellant through a letter, which is beyond the powers vested as per the statute. The extension could have been valid only if it had been given by the assessing Officer himself as stipulated in the proviso to section 142(2C) of the Act. Hence, the Assessing Officer has not utilized the powers as prescribed in the statute for extension of time for submission of special Audit report. Under the circumstances, it can be clearly construed that the Assessing Officer has not extended the time limit for submission of special audit report as provided in Section 142(2C). Thus, it is clear that the Assessing Officer has not exercised the Jurisdiction in a proper way. As there is no valid extension as on 27.03.2019, the assessment has to be completed within 60 days U/s 153B from the end of the day in which the last date i.e.27.03.2019 for submission of Special Audit report. By taking into cognizance the above stipulated period, the assessment has to be completed by 25.05.2019. Whereas, the assessment in the instant case under appeal was completed by the Assessing Officer u/s 143(3) r.w.s 153A of the IT Act, on 22.08.2019 which is bad in the eyes of law and is barred by limitation and void ab initio. Thus, the appeal made by the appellant on these grounds stands allowed.”
We find that the Ld. CIT(A) has discussed the issue at length and rightly concluded the matter and therefore we are of the considered view that no interference is required in the order of the Ld. CIT(A) on this issue.
Ground No.3 is with respect to quashing of assessment 10. completed by the Ld. AO u/s. 143(3) r.w.s 153A of the Act. As this issue has been decided in favour of the assessee while adjudicating the Grounds No. 1 & 2, which are technical in nature, in the above paragraphs of this order, we are of the considered view that no separate adjudication is required on this ground.
Ground No.4 is general in nature and need not be adjudicated.
In the result, appeal of the Revenue is dismissed.
With respect the other appeals viz., 88, 89, 90, 91, 92 & 94/Viz/2021 for the Assessment Years 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17 (2 appeals) & 2017-18, the Revenue has raised the identical issues to that of the issues raised in their appeal ITA No.86/Viz/2021 (AY: 2011-12) which we have disposed off as a lead appeal in the above paragraphs of this order. Since the issues raised by the Revenue in the appeals in ITA Nos.87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92 & 94/Viz/2021 are similar to that of the issues raised in the appeal ITA No.86/Viz/2021 (AY: 2011- 12), our decision given therein while adjudicating the appeal for the AY 2011-12 mutatis mutandis applies to these appeals also.
Accordingly, the appeals of the Revenue for the Assessment Years 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17 (2 appeals) & 2017-18 are dismissed.
16 14. Ex-consequenti, all the appeals filed by the Revenue are dismissed.
Pronounced in the open Court on the 23rd January, 2023.