SATPAL KASWAN,HARYANA vs. WARD-4(1), GURGAON

We have considered rival submissions and perused materials on record. The solitary dispute in these appeals relates to disallowance of deduction claimed in respect of delayed payment of employees’ contribution under the Provident Fund (PF) Act and Employees State Insurance (ESI) Act. While processing the returns of income filed by the assessee for the impugned assessment years, the Central Processing Centre (CPC), having found that employees’ contribution to PF and ESI were not paid within the due dates prescribed under the PF and ESI Acts, disallowed the deductions claimed by the assessee in respect thereof. The disallowance so made was confirmed by the first appellate authority.

Before us, it is the say of the assessee that due to misstatement/misreporting of facts, the disallowance has been made under section 36(1)(va) of the Act. However, on a reading of the order passed by the first appellate authority, it is observed that the assessee had taken a plea that due to scarcity of fund, employees’ contribution to PF and ESI could not be deposited within the due date prescribed under the relevant Acts. Be that as it may, considering the specific contention of the assessee before us that the disallowance has been made due to misstatement/misreporting of facts relating to payment of employees’ contribution to PF and ESI, we are inclined to restore the issue to the Assessing Officer for factually verifying assessee’s claim. It is open to the assessee to furnish all necessary documentary evidences to establish its claim that employees’ contribution to PF and ESI were deposited within the due date prescribed under the PF and ESI Acts. Needless to mention, the Assessing Officer shall decide the issue after considering the evidences filed by the assessee and applying the ratio laid down by Hon’ble Supreme Court in case of Checkmate Services P. Ltd. vs. CIT, 448 ITR 518 (SC). Before deciding the issue, the assessee must be provided a reasonable opportunity of being heard. Grounds are allowed for statistical purposes.

In the result, appeals are allowed for statistical purposes.