PYARE LAL MEHTA,CHANDIGARH vs. DCIT, CHANDIGARH
In favour of the assessee: the assessee's appeal was allowed. From the AI summary of this appeal.
What did the Tribunal hold?
The Tribunal held that since the original assessment had attained finality and no incriminating material was found during the search, additions under Section 153A were not warranted. The assessment proceedings were set aside.
What were the facts?
A search and seizure operation was conducted, leading to assessment proceedings under Section 153A. The Assessing Officer made additions of Rs. 65 lakhs on account of gifts received by the assessee. The assessee argued that the original assessment had attained finality and no incriminating material was found.
What were the issues?
Whether additions under Section 153A are permissible when the original assessment has attained finality and no incriminating material is found during the search.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Cases cited in this judgment(3)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. Kabul Chawla3,235 citing234 Taxmann 300 · 2016 · HC · Read judgment
- CIT v. Continental Warehousing Continental Warehousing Corporation44 citing279 CTR 389 · 2015 · HC
- CIT v. Continental Warehousing Corporation39 citing120 DTR 89 · 2015 · HC
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, DIVISION BENCH, ‘B’ CHANDIGARH
Before: SHRI SANJAY GARG & DR. B.R.R. KUMAR
Per Sanjay Garg, Judicial Member:
The present appeal has been preferred by the assessee against
the order dated 10.02.2015 of the Principal Commissioner of Income
Tax (OSD) cum CIT(A), Gurgaon [hereinafter referred to as CIT(A)],
Gurgaon relating to assessment year 2007-08.
The assessee in this appeal is aggrieved by the action of the
CIT(A) in confirming the additions made by the Assessing officer in
the assessment proceedings carried out u/s 143(3) read with section
153A of the of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (in short 'the Act') of Rs.
35,00,000/- and Rs. 30,00,000/- in relation to the gifts received by
ITA No.278/Chd/2057- Sh. Praye Lal Mehta, Chandigarh 2
the assessee from relatives and father respectively, during the year
under consideration.
The brief facts of the case relating to the issue under
consideration are that a search and seizure operation was conducted
at the residential and business premises of the Mehta and Zandar
Group on 18.2.2011, the assessee being part of that group was also
covered. The assessment was completed u/s 143(3) read with section
153A of the Act making the impugned additions of Rs. 65 lakhs into
the income of the assessee on account of certain gifts allegedly
received by the assessee from his relatives during the year under
consideration.
It has been pleaded by the Ld. Authorised Representative (AR)
of the assessee that the original assessment proceedings for the
assessment year under consideration had already attained finality as
on the date of search. That even the limitation period for issuance of
notice u/s 143(2) of the Act for initiation of scrutiny assessment
proceedings had expired and further that since no incriminating
material was found during the search action, hence, no additions
were warranted u/s 153A of the Act. He in this respect has relied
upon the decision of the Hon'ble Bombay High Court in the case of
“All Cargo Global Logistics Ltd.” 120 DTR 89 and of the Delhi High
Court in the case of “CIT Vs. Kabul Chawla” 234 Taxman 300 (
Delhi) and in “Principal CIT Vs. Meeta Gutgutia Prop M/s Ferns ‘N’
Petals”, ITA 306/2017 and others decided vide order dated
25.5.2017. He has further relied upon the decision dated 28.8.2017
of this Tribunal in the case of relative of the assessee in ITA Nos.
ITA No.278/Chd/2057- Sh. Praye Lal Mehta, Chandigarh 3
275 to 277/Chd/2015 Shri B.L. Mehta, who was also covered in the
same search action, wherein the Tribunal relying upon the aforesaid
decisions of the High Courts has deleted the addition made by the
Assessing officer in the assessment carried out u/s 153A of the Act.
Thought the Ld. DR has relied upon the findings of the lower
authorities, he, however, has been fair enough to admit that the issue
is squarely covered by the decision of the Tribunal in B.L. Mehta’s
case (supra).
We have gone through the decision of the Tribunal in the case
of relative of the assessee Shri B.L. Mehta In ITA Nos. 275 to
277/Chd/2015 vide order dated 28.8.2017. The issue, as submitted
by the Ld. representatives of the parties, is covered in favour of the
assessee by the above decision of the Tribunal. The relevant part of
the order of the Tribunal (supra) is reproduced as under:-
“8. The above decision has also been followed by another co-ordinate bench of the Tribunal in the case of Atul Barot (HUF) vs. DCIT” in ITA No.2889/M/2011 & ors. decided on 26.02.2014. We agree with the view taken by the co-ordinate bench of the Tribunal in the case of ‘Shri Jayendra P Jhaveri” (Supra).
Further, the Special Bench Decision in the case of “All Cargo Global Logistics Ltd.” (supra) has now been approved by the Hon’ble Bombay High Court in the cases of ‘All Cargo Logistics’ ITA No.1969 of 2013 and ‘Continental Warehousing Corporation’ ITA No. 523 of 2013 reported in (2015) 279 CTR 0389 (Bombay) decided by common order, wherein, it has been held that in relation to the assessments which have already been concluded, the AO was precluded from making additions on any other issue except relating or concerning to the incriminating material found
ITA No.278/Chd/2057- Sh. Praye Lal Mehta, Chandigarh 4
during the search action. The AO cannot disturb the assessment order or reassessment order which has attained finality, unless the material gathered in the course of proceedings u/s 153A of the Act establishes that relief granted under the final assessment/reassessment was contrary to the fact unearthed during the course of 153A proceedings. Identical view has been taken by the Hon’ble Bombay High Court in the case of CIT Vs. Murli Agro Products Ltd. ITA No.36 of 2009 decided vide order dated 29-10-2010 and by the Hon'ble Delhi High Court in the recent decision in the case of “Principal CIT Vs. Meeta Gutgutia Prop M/s Ferns ‘N’ Petals (supra)”. We may mention here that the Hon'ble Delhi High Court has also discussed and distinguished the case of “Smt. Dayawanti Vs. CIT” in ITA 357/2015 & others dated 27.10.2016, which authority has been relied upon by the Ld. DR. It has been held that in the case of Smt. Dayawanti Vs. CIT”, incriminating material was found during the search action, however, in the case of “Principal CIT Vs. Meeta Gutgutia Prop M/s Ferns ‘N’ Petals (supra)”, no incriminating material was found during the search action, hence, the additions made by the Assessing officer were not justified.
In view of the above discussion, this issue is decided in favour of the assessee. Consequently, the assessment proceedings carried by the Assessing officer u/s 143(3) read with section 153A of the Act are set aside.
Since we have already set aside the assessment proceedings done by the Assessing officer, hence, the consequent addition made in the said assessment proceedings stand deleted. The ground taken by the assessee on merits of the addition thus become infructuous and the same do not require any adjudication at this stage.
In the result, the appeal of the assessee is hereby allowed.”
ITA No.278/Chd/2057- Sh. Praye Lal Mehta, Chandigarh 5
Respectfully following the aforesaid decision, this appeal of the assessee is also accordingly stands allowed.
Order pronounced in the Open Court.
Sd/- Sd/- (B.R.R.KUMAR) (SANJAY GARG) ACCOUNTANT MEMBER JUDICIAL MEMBER Dated : 10.04.2018 Rkk Copy to: • The Appellant • The Respondent • The CIT • The CIT(A) • The DR
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