GYANWATI,NEW DELHI vs. ITO, WARD- 24(4), NEW DELHI
What did the Tribunal hold?
The Tribunal found the CIT(Appeals)'s order to be cryptic and illegible. In the interest of justice and to ensure natural justice, the matter was remitted back to the CIT(Appeals) to pass a speaking and legible order after providing the assessee with an adequate opportunity to be heard.
What were the facts?
The assessee's appeals concern the treatment of land purchase and construction costs as unexplained expenditure under Section 69 of the Income-tax Act. The Assessing Officer and the CIT(Appeals) treated these costs as unexplained, agreeing with the AO's findings.
What were the issues?
Whether the CIT(Appeals) order was passed in accordance with principles of natural justice and whether the assessee was provided with adequate opportunity to present their case.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, DELHI BENCH ‘C’ : NEW DELHI
ASSESSEE BY : None REVENUE BY : Shri Waseem Arshad, CIT DR Date of Hearing : 20.12.2023 Date of Order : 26.12.2023
ORDER PER SHAMIM YAHYA, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER : These appeals filed by the assessee are directed against the respective orders of ld. CIT (Appeals)-31, New Delhi for the Assessment Years 2006-07 to 2009-10. 2. Since the issues are common & connected and the appeals were heard together, these are being consolidated and disposed off by this common order.
The common issue raised by the assessee is treatment of cost of purchase of land and construction cost as unexplained expenditure under section 69 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (for short 'the Act') amounting to
In this case, pursuant to AO’s order treating the amount spent in house construction from unexplained sources, the assessee appealed before the ld. CIT (A). Ld. CIT (A) scanned AO’s order and also scanned assessee’s submissions and reproduced the same in his order in a hardly legible manner. Thereafter, ld. CIT (A) passed a cryptic order holding that assessee could not prove the source of investment and he agreed with the findings of the AO.
Against this order, assessee is in appeal before us. We have heard ld. DR for the Revenue. None appeared on behalf of the assessee.
Upon careful consideration, we note that ld. CIT (A)’s order is a very cryptic order and also not easily legible. It is a settled law that even administrative orders have to be consistent with the rules of natural justice. Accordingly, in the interest of justice, we remit the issue to the ld. CIT (A). Ld. CIT (A) is directed to pass a speaking order which should be legible also. Needless to add, assessee should be granted adequate opportunity of being heard.
In the result, these appeals by the assessee are allowed for statistical purposes.
Order pronounced in the open court on this 26th day of December, 2023.
More judgments on Section 69
- Azure Knowledge Corporation Private… vs The Dy.CIT, Circle-1(1)(1), AhmedabadITA 2013/AHD/2024[2018-19]Status: Disposed19 Oct 2026AY 2018-19
- Naresh Chandra Khattar, Agra vs ITO Ward-1(1)(2), AgraITA 475/AGR/2026[2019-20]Status: Disposed16 Oct 2026AY 2019-20
- Ranchhodbhai Kurjibhai Kakadiya, Rajkot vs Income Tax Officer, Ward-1(1)(1), RajkotITA 553/RJT/2025[2019-20]Status: Disposed16 Oct 2026AY 2019-20
- Gorantla Rahul Kumar, Visakhapatnam vs The Asst. Commissioner of Income Tax…ITA 670/VIZ/2025[2021-22]Status: Disposed16 Oct 2026AY 2021-22
- Gorantla Rahul Kumar, Visakhapatnam vs The Asst. Commissioner of Income Tax…ITA 669/VIZ/2025[2020-21]Status: Disposed16 Oct 2026AY 2020-21
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