SHRI JAVAID IQBAL TARA,SAPORE vs. INCOME TAX OFFICER WARD-3(5), BARAMULA

The present appeal has been filed by the assessee against the order of the Ld. Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)-2, Amritsar (Camp Office at Jammu) dated 22.02.2019 in respect of Assessment Year 2012-13.

Javaid Iqbal Tara v. ITO 2. The assessee has raised the following grounds of appeal:

“1. The ld. CIT(A) has erred in law & facts by confirming action of AO by making addition of Rs.1,96,591/-. The addition is bad in law and needs to be deleted.

3. None appeared for the appellant nor any adjournment application filed on record. Considering the minor issue of excess claim of agricultural income of Rs.1,96,591/-, it is decided to hear the Ld. DR and dispose the appeal on merits. The assessee is working as an engineer with the R&B Department of the J&K Govt. and he filed Return of income declaring a Net taxable at Rs. 4, 52, 928/- after claiming deduction under chapter VIA/Sec 80C at Rs. 8,09,000/-. The AO discussed that the assessee had declared Gross Total income of Rs. 12,61,928 /- in his return of income. After reducing the salary income of Rs. 6,40,337 and agricultural income of Rs.4,25,000/, there still remained income of Rs. 1,96,591/- which was assessed as Income from other sources.

4. The assesse being aggrieved with the Assessment Order, went in appeal before the Ld. CIT(A) who has confirmed the addition by observing as under:

“4. During appeal, none attended nor any written submissions have been filed. The grounds of appeal are, therefore, adjudicated on the basis of facts on record as under:

I have considered the issue. The assessee is working as an engineer with the R&B Department of the J&K Govt. Return of income was filed declaring a Gross total income of Rs. 12, 61, 928/-. Net taxable income was shown at Rs. 4, 52, 928/-after claiming deduction under chapter VIA/Sec 80C at Rs. 8,09,000/-. During assessment proceedings, it was submitted by the appellant that he was under a wrong impression that agricultural income is exempt and deductible from the gross income due to lack of knowledge of the Income Tax Act provisions.

The appellant filed salary certificate in form 16 issued by the DDO as per which he had received gross salary of rupees 6,40,337/-. Accordingly, salary income was rightly taken by Ld. AO as per form 16.

The appellant had added agricultural income to the salary income and then claimed it as deduction under chapter VIA. Deduction under chapter VIA was rightly allowed by Ld AO at Rs.1,07,000/.

During assessment proceedings, the assessee produced ownership proof in respect of orchard/ agricultural land of about 30 kanals in his name and also a confirmation regarding receipt of agricultural income from sale of apples. As per the documentary evidence furnished, the agricultural income was accepted at Rs. 4,25,000/-

The assessee had declared income of Rs. 12,61,928 /- in his return of income. After reducing the salary income of Rs. 6,40,337 and agricultural income of Rs.4,25,000/, there still remained income of Rs. 1,96,591/- which was rightly assessed as Income from other sources. I find no infirmity in the assessment order as made above, In the absence of any submissions filed by the appellant during appeal, I have no reason to interfere with the above order of Ld AO.

Javaid Iqbal Tara v. ITO 5. The appellant contended in the grounds of appeal that the ld. CIT(A) has erred in law and on facts by confirming action of AO by making addition of Rs.1,96,591/- by not allowing the benefit of Agriculture Rebate.

6. Per contra, the Ld DR strongly supported the impugned order and explained that the CIT(A) has rightly confirmed the addition being the amount over and above the salary and agricultural income shown by the appellant itself in its Return of income under the head income from other sources.

Javaid Iqbal Tara v. ITO 8. In view of the above, we find no perversity as infirmity in the order of the CIT(A) and accordingly, the order of the Ld. CIT(A) is sustained.

Order pronounced in the open court on 30.03.2023