CEA CONSULTANTS PVT LTD,NEW DELHI vs. DCIT, CENTRAL CIRCLE-2, NOIDA
What did the Tribunal hold?
The Tribunal held that the CIT(A) should have decided the appeals on merits rather than dismissing them for want of prosecution. The appeals were restored to the CIT(A) for fresh adjudication.
What were the facts?
The assessee filed appeals against two separate orders of the CIT(A) for AY 2014-15 and 2015-16. The assessee did not appear for the hearings, and the CIT(A) dismissed the appeals for want of prosecution.
What were the issues?
Whether the CIT(A) erred in dismissing the appeals for want of prosecution without adjudicating on merits. Whether the assessment order was void due to lack of mandatory approval and procedural irregularities.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, DELHI BENCH ‘B’, NEW DELHI
Before: SH. N. K. BILLAIYA & SH. ANUBHAV SHARMA
Since common issues are involved in both the appeals they were heard exparate and disposed of by this common order for the sake of convenience and brevity.
None attended on behalf of the assessee inspite of notices to the assessee. We decided to proceed exparate.
The common grievance in both the appeals are as under :-
That on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the Ld CIT-A vide impugned order dated I8.05.2022 has grossly erred in dismissing assessee’s appeal for want of prosecution without lawfully adjudicating the appeal on its independent merit by deciding the self explanatory appeal grounds raised
vide FORM 35 as per provisions of sec. 251(1) of the 1961 Act.
2. That on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the Ld CIT-A vide impugned, order dated 18.05.2022 has grossly erred in not accepting the legal and jurisdictional plea/ground that there is lack of mandatory VALID approval u/s 153D as per undisputed facts of the case due to which impugned extremely “HIGL1 PITCHED” assessment is void ab initio.
3. That on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the Ld CIT-A vide impugned order dated 18.05.2022 has grossly erred in not deleting the unlawful and arbitrary impugned extremely additions/disallowances made in “high pitched” assessment order which were patently made without any “application of mind” and in total/complete violation of principles of natural justice that is without valid/requisite mandatory SCN/ “SHOW CAUSE NOTICE” as per CBDT instruction no. 20/2015 dated 29.12.2015 (which is firmly Established when main addition u/s 68 of Rs 90,31,50,000 is rested on elementary terra-firma of sec. 68).
4. That on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the Ld. CIT-A vide impugned order dated 18.05.2022 has grossly erred in not accepting the appellant case that all the additions/ disallowances made in impugned HIGH PITCHED asst. order defies all sense of rationality and are made in most arbitrary and capricious manner.
As can be seen from the grounds of appeal and also from the perusal of the order of the CIT(A) the appeals have been dismissed for want of prosecution as none attended the appellate proceedings.
6. In our considered view the first appellate authority ought to have dismissed / decided the appeals on merits of the case.
7. In the interest of justice we restore both the appeals to the files of the CIT(A). The CIT(A) is directed to decide the appeal afresh after affording a reasonable and sufficient opportunity of being heard to the assessee.
In the result, both the appeals are allowed for statistical purpose.
Decision announced in the open court on 30.05.2023.
More judgments on Section 251(1)
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- Mukesh Kumar Sharma, Chandigarh vs ITO Ward 5(5), ChandigarhITA 1047/CHANDI/2026[2013-14]Status: Disposed11 Aug 2026AY 2013-14
- Bhakti Enterprises, Mumbai vs ITO, Ward 41(1)(1), MumbaiITA 5056/MUM/2026[2019-20]Status: Disposed24 Jul 2026AY 2019-20
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