Shrikrishna Vaman Vartak, Pune V. Income-tax Officer,

CO 7/PUN/2016

• Counselvise Citation: [2016] 123 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 2232 (ITAT-PUNE)
• Duration Of Justice: 20 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Cross Objection
• Pronouncement Date: 10-02-2016
• Appeal Filed By: Assessee
• Order Result: Dismissed
• Bench Allotted: B
• Assessment Year: 2008-2009
• Appeal Filed On: 21-01-2016
• Result in Favour of: Revenue
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Department Lawyers: HITENDRA NINAWE
• Keywords: Tax effect
• Section: 143(3); 12A

Judgement Text

IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL PUNE BENCH B , PUNE , . . , BEFORE MS. SUSHMA CHOWLA, JM AND SHRI R.K. PANDA, AM . / ITA NO. 1599/PN/2014 / ASSESSMENT YEAR : 20 08 - 09 THE I NCOME TAX OFFICER, WARD - 7 ( 2 ), PUNE . / APPELLANT VS. SHRI SHRIKRISHNA VAMAN VARTAK, 499, VARTAK APARTMENT, SHANIWAR PETH, PUNE - 30 . / RESPON DENT PAN NO.AAIPV4852H . / CO NO. 0 7 /PN/201 6 . / CO NO. 0 7 /PN/201 6 / ASSESSMENT YEAR : 20 08 - 09 SHRI SHRIKRISHNA VAMAN VARTAK, 499, VARTAK APARTMENT, SHANIWAR PETH, PUNE - 30 / CROSS OBJECT OR PAN NO.AAIPV4852H VS. THE INCOME TAX OFFICER, WARD - 7(2), PUNE . / RESPONDENT ASSESSEE BY : NONE REVENUE BY : SHRI HITENDRA NINAWE / DATE OF HEARING : 2 7.01 .201 6 / DATE OF PRONOUNCEMENT: 10 . 02 .201 6 2 ITA NO.1599/PN/2014 CO NO.7/PN/2016 / ORDER PER SUSHMA CHOWLA, JM: THE APPEAL FILED BY THE REVENUE IS AGAINST THE ORDER OF CIT(A) - III, PUNE, DATED 20.06.2014 RELATING TO ASSESSMENT YEAR 2008 - 09 AGAINST ORDER PASSED UNDER SECTION 143(3) OF THE INCOME - TAX ACT, 1961 (IN SHORT THE ACT). THE ASSESSEE HAS FILED CROSS OBJECTIONS AGAINST THE APPEAL OF THE REVENUE. 2. DESPITE SERVICE OF NOTICE, NONE APPEARED ON BEHALF OF THE ASSESSEE NOR ANY APPLICATION WAS MOVED FOR ADJOURNMENT AND SINCE THE ISSUE INVOLVED IN THE PRESENT APPEAL IS LOW TAX EFFECT, WE PROCEED TO DEC IDE THE ISSUE AFTER HEARING THE LEARNED DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE REVENUE. 3. THE LEARNED DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE REVENUE POINTED OUT THAT IN THE PRESENT APPEAL FILED BY THE REVENUE, THE TAX EFFECT IS BELOW RS.10 LAKHS AND HENCE, T HE SAME IS NOT MAINTAINABLE. LAKHS AND HENCE, T HE SAME IS NOT MAINTAINABLE. 4. ON PERUSAL OF THE RECORD, WE FIND THAT THE ASSESSEE HAD MOVED AN APPLICATION FOR TRANSFER OF APPEAL TO MUMBAI. HOWEVER, AS POINTED OUT BY THE LEARNED DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE REVENUE, THE TAX EFFECT IN THE PRESE NT APPEAL IS BELOW RS.10 LAKHS AND IN VIEW OF CBDTS CIRCULAR NO.21/2015 ISSUED ON 10.12.2015, WHERE IT HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED THAT SUBJECT TO CERTAIN INSTRUCTIONS, WHICH ARE NOT RELEVANT TO THE PRESENT CASE, NO DEPARTMENTAL APPEAL WOULD BE FILED AGAINST THE R ELIEF GIVEN BY THE CIT(A) BEFORE THE TRIBUNAL, UNLESS THE TAX EFFECT EXCLUDING INTEREST EXCEEDS RS.10 LAKHS. IT IS FURTHER PROVIDED VIDE THE SAID CIRCULAR ITSELF THAT THE SAID LIMIT WOULD BE APPLICABLE NOT ONLY TO ALL FUTURE TAX LITIGATIONS BUT EVEN TO T HE PENDING APPEALS WHERE THE TAX INVOLVED IN THE APPEALS DOES NOT EXCEED RS.10 LAKHS AND THE SAME SHALL NOT BE PRESSED OR WITHDRAWN. THE LEARNED DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE REVENUE HAS 3 ITA NO.1599/PN/2014 CO NO.7/PN/2016 FAIRLY AGREED FOR DISMISSAL OF THE PRESENT APPEAL FILED BY THE REVENUE, IN VIEW OF LOW TAX EFFECT IN LINE WITH THE CBDTS CIRCULAR NO.21/2015, DATED 10.12.2015. 5. THE ISSUE ARISING IN THE PRESENT APPEAL IS IN RELATION TO THE ADDITION, WHEREIN THE TAX EFFECT IS LESS THAN RS.10 LAKHS. IN THIS BACKGROUND, WE HAVE TO CONSIDER THE CIRCULAR NO.21/2015 DATED 10.12.2015 OF CBDT. THE CBDT VIDE THE SAID CIRCULAR HAS ANNOUNCED THAT SUBJECT TO CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS, NO DEPARTMENTAL APPEAL WOULD BE FILED AGAINST THE RELIEF GIVEN BY THE CIT(A) BEFORE THE TRIBUNAL, WHERE THE TAX EF FECT EXCLUDING INTEREST DOES NOT EXCEED RS.10 LAKHS. THE SAID INSTRUCTIONS ARE MADE APPLICABLE NOT ONLY TO THE FUTURE APPEALS TO BE FILED BY THE REVENUE BUT EVEN TO THE PENDING APPEALS WHERE THE TAX INVOLVED IN EACH OF THE APPEAL DOES NOT EXCEED RS.10 LAK HS, THE SAME ARE INSTRUCTED NOT TO BE PRESSED OR TO BE WITHDRAWN BY THE REVENUE. IN VIEW THEREOF, WHERE AN APPEAL IS PENDING BEFORE THE TRIBUNAL, IRRESPECTIVE OF THE YEAR TO WHICH IT RELATES, THE SAID INSTRUCTIONS OF THE CBDT WOULD BE APPLICABLE AND THE A PPEALS OF THE REVENUE PENDING BEFORE THE TRIBUNAL WHERE THE TAX EFFECT IS LESS THAN RS.10 LAKHS WOULD BECOME NULLITY. THE RELEVANT EXTRACT OF THE CIRCULAR IS AS UNDER: - 3. HENCEFORTH, APPEALS/SLPS SHALL NOT BE FILED IN CASES WHERE THE TAX EFFECT DOES NOT EXCEED THE MONETARY LIMITS GIVEN UNDER: - S NO APPEALS IN INCOME - TAX MATTERS MONETARY LIMIT (IN RS.) 1 BEFORE APPELLATE TRIBUNAL 10,00,000/ - 2 BEFORE HIGH COURT 20,00,000/ - 3 BEFORE SUPREME COURT 25,00,000/ - IT IS CLARIFIED THAT AN APPEAL SHOULD NOT BE FILED MERELY BECAUSE THE TAX EFFECT IN A CASE EXCEEDS THE MONETARY LIMITS PRESCRIBED ABOVE. FILING OF APPEAL IN SUCH CASES IS TO BE DECIDED ON MERITS OF THE CASE. 4. FOR THIS PURPOSE, TAX EFFECT MEANS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TAX ON THE TOTAL INCO ME ASSESSED AND THE TAX THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN CHARGEABLE HAD SUCH TOTAL INCOME BEEN REDUCED BY THE AMOUNT OF INCOME IN RESPECT OF THE ISSUES AGAINST WHICH APPEAL IS INTENDED TO BE FILED (HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS DISPUTED ISSUES). HOWEVER, THE TAX WILL NOT INCLUDE ANY INTEREST THEREON, EXCEPT WHERE CHARGEABILITY OF INTEREST ITSELF IS IN DISPUTE. IN CASE THE CHARGEABILITY OF INTEREST IS THE ISSUE UNDER 4 ITA NO.1599/PN/2014 CO NO.7/PN/2016 DISPUTE, THE AMOUNT OF INTEREST SHALL BE THE TAX EFFECT. IN CASES WHERE RETURNED LOSS IS REDUCED OR AS SESSED AS INCOME, THE TAX EFFECT WOULD INCLUDE NOTIONAL TAX ON DISPUTED ADDITIONS. IN CASE OF PENALTY ORDERS, THE TAX EFFECT WILL MEAN QUANTUM OF PENALTY DELETED OR REDUCED IN THE ORDER TO BE APPEALED AGAINST. 5. THE ASSESSING OFFICER SHALL CALCULATE THE TAX EFFECT SEPARATELY FOR EVERY ASSESSMENT YEAR IN RESPECT OF THE DISPUTED ISSUES IN THE CASE OF EVERY ASSESSMENT. IF, IN THE CASE OF AN ASSESSEE, THE DISPUTED ISSUES ARISE IN MORE THAN ONE ASSESSMENT YEAR, APPEAL, CAN BE FILED IN RESPECT OF SUCH ASSESSM ENT YEAR OR YEARS IN WHICH THE TAX EFFECT IN RESPECT OF THE DISPUTED ISSUES EXCEEDS THE MONETARY LIMIT SPECIFIED IN PARA 3. NO APPEAL SHALL BE FILED IN RESPECT OF AN ASSESSMENT YEAR OR YEARS IN WHICH THE TAX EFFECT IS LESS THAN THE MONETARY LIMIT SPECIFIE D IN PARA 3. IN OTHER WORDS, HENCEFORTH, APPEALS CAN BE FILED ONLY WITH REFERENCE TO THE TAX EFFECT IN THE RELEVANT ASSESSMENT YEAR. HOWEVER, IN CASE OF A COMPOSITE ORDER OF ANY HIGH COURT OF APPELLATE AUTHORITY, WHICH INVOLVES MORE THAN ONE ASSESSMENT Y EAR AND COMMON ISSUES IN MORE THAN ONE ASSESSMENT YEAR, APPEAL SHALL BE FILED IN RESPECT OF ALL SUCH ASSESSMENT YEARS EVEN IF THE TAX EFFECT IS LESS THAN THE PRESCRIBED MONETARY LIMITS IN ANY OF THE YEAR(S), IF IT IS DECIDED TO FILE APPEAL IN RESPECT OF THE YEAR(S) IN WHICH TAX EFFECT EXCEEDS THE MONETARY LIMIT PRESCRIBED. IN CASE WHERE A COMPOSITE ORDER / JUDGMENT INVOLVES MORE THAN ONE ASSESSEE, EACH ASSESSEE SHALL BE DEALT WITH SEPARATELY. 6. THE CBDT HAS FURTHER CLARIFIED THAT IN CASE THE DISPUTE D ISSUE ARISES IN MORE THAN ONE ASSESSMENT YEAR, THEN THE APPEAL CAN BE FILED IN RESPECT OF SUCH ASSESSMENT YEAR OR YEARS IN WHICH THE TAX EFFECT IN RESPECT OF THE DISPUTED ISSUE EXCEEDS THE MONETARY LIMIT SPECIFIED IN PARA 3 I.E. RS.10 LAKHS BEFORE THE TR IBUNAL. IT IS FURTHER DIRECTED THAT HENCEFORTH, THE APPEALS CAN BE FILED BY THE REVENUE ONLY WITH REFERENCE TO THE TAX EFFECT IN THE RELEVANT ASSESSMENT YEAR. HOWEVER, IN CASE OF A COMPOSITE ORDER OF ANY HIGH COURT OR APPELLATE AUTHORITY, WHICH INVOLVES MORE THAN ONE ASSESSMENT YEAR AND COMMON ISSUES IN MORE THAN ONE ASSESSMENT YEAR, THEN APPEAL SHALL BE FILED IN RESPECT OF SUCH ASSESSMENT YEAR, EVEN IF THE TAX EFFECT IS LESS THAN THE PRESCRIBED MONETARY LIMITS IN ANY OF THE YEAR(S), IF IT IS DECIDED TO F ILE APPEAL IN RESPECT OF THE YEAR(S) IN WHICH TAX EFFECT EXCEEDS THE MONETARY LIMIT PRESCRIBED. WHERE A COMPOSITE ORDER / JUDGMENT INVOLVES MORE THAN ONE ASSESSEE, THEN EACH ASSESSEE SHALL BE DEALT WITH SEPARATELY. IT IS ALSO PROVIDED FURTHER VIDE PARA 6 THAT WHERE THE APPEAL BEFORE THE TRIBUNAL WAS NOT FILED ONLY ON ACCOUNT OF TAX EFFECT BEING LESS 5 ITA NO.1599/PN/2014 CO NO.7/PN/2016 THAN SPECIFIED MONETARY LIMIT, THEN THE INCOME - TAX DEPARTMENT SHALL NOT BE PRECLUDED FROM FILING AN APPEAL AGAINST THE DISPUTED ISSUES IN THE CASE OF THE SA ME ASSESSEE FOR ANY OTHER ASSESSMENT YEAR, OR IN CASE OF ANY OTHER ASSESSEE FOR THE SAME OR ANY OTHER ASSESSMENT YEAR, IF THE TAX EFFECT EXCEEDS THE SPECIFIED MONETARY LIMITS. THE CBDT HAS FURTHER VIDE PARA 8 SPECIFIED THE ISSUE WHICH SHOULD BE CONTESTED ON MERITS NOTWITHSTANDING THAT THE TAX EFFECT ENTAILED IS LESS THAN THE MONETARY LIMITS SPECIFIED. FURTHER, THE SPECIFIED MONETARY LIMITS AS PER PARA 9 WOULD NOT APPLY TO WRIT MATTERS AND DIRECT TAX MATTERS OTHER THAN INCOME TAX AND ALSO IS NOT APPLICABLE TO THE APPEALS WHERE TAX EFFECT IS NOT QUANTIFIABLE OR NOT INVOLVED, SUCH AS THE CASE OF REGISTRATION OF TRUSTS OR INSTITUTIONS UNDER SECTION 12A OF THE ACT. IN SUCH CASES, THE DECISION TO FILE AN APPEAL IS TO BE TAKEN ON THE MERITS OF A PARTICULARS CASE . THE PARAS 6 TO 9 OF THE CIRCULAR READ AS UNDER: - 6. IN A CASE WHERE APPEAL BEFORE A TRIBUNAL OR A COURT IS NOT FILED ONLY ON ACCOUNT OF THE TAX EFFECT BEING LESS THAN THE MONETARY LIMIT SPECIFIED ABOVE, THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME - TAX SHALL SPECIFICALLY RECORD THAT EVEN THOUGH THE DECISION IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, APPEAL IS NOT BEING FILED THAT EVEN THOUGH THE DECISION IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, APPEAL IS NOT BEING FILED ONLY ON THE CONSIDERATION THAT THE TAX EFFECT IS LESS THAN THE MONETARY LIMIT SPECIFIED IN THIS INSTRUCTION. IN SUCH CASES, THERE WILL BE NO PRESUMPTION THAT THE INCOME - T AX DEPARTMENT HAS ACQUIESCED IN THE DECISION ON THE DISPUTED ISSUES. THE INCOME - TAX DEPARTMENT SHALL NOT BE PRECLUDED FROM FILING AN APPEAL AGAINST THE DISPUTED ISSUES IN THE CASE OF THE SAME ASSESSEE FOR ANY OTHER ASSESSMENT YEAR, OR IN THE CASE OF ANY O THER ASSESSEE FOR THE SAME OR ANY OTHER ASSESSMENT YEAR, IF THE TAX EFFECT EXCEEDS THE SPECIFIED MONETARY LIMITS. 7. IN THE PAST, A NUMBER OF INSTANCES HAVE COME TO THE NOTICE OF THE BOARD, WHEREBY AN ASSESSEE HAS CLAIMED RELIEF FROM THE TRIBUNAL OR THE C OURT ONLY ON THE GROUND THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS IMPLICITLY ACCEPTED THE DECISION OF THE TRIBUNAL OR COURT IN THE CASE OF THE ASSESSEE FOR ANY OTHER ASSESSMENT YEAR OR IN THE CASE OF ANY OTHER ASSESSEE FOR THE SAME OR ANY OTHER ASSESSMENT YEAR, BY NOT FILIN G AN APPEAL ON THE SAME DISPUTED ISSUES. THE DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVES/COUNSELS MUST MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO BRING TO THE NOTICE OF THE TRIBUNAL OR THE COURT THAT THE APPEAL IN SUCH CASES WAS NOT FILED OR NOT ADMITTED ONLY FOR THE REASON OF THE TAX EFFECT BEING LESS THAN THE SPECIFIED MONETARY LIMIT AND, THEREFORE, NO INFERENCE SHOULD BE DRAWN THAT THE DECISIONS RENDERED THEREIN WERE ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT. ACCORDINGLY, THEY SHOULD IMPRESS UPON THE TRIBUNAL OR THE COURT THAT SUCH CASES DO NOT HAVE A NY PRECEDENT VALUE. AS THE EVIDENCE OF NOT FILING APPEAL DUE TO THIS INSTRUCTION MAY HAVE TO BE PRODUCED IN COURTS, THE JUDICIAL FOLDERS IN THE OFFICE OF CSIT MUST BE MAINTAINED IN A SYSTEMIC MANNER FOR EASY RETRIEVAL. 6 ITA NO.1599/PN/2014 CO NO.7/PN/2016 8. ADVERSE JUDGMENTS RELATING TO THE FOLLOWING ISSUES SHOULD BE CONTESTED ON MERITS NOTWITHSTANDING THAT THE TAX EFFECT ENTAILED IS LESS THAN THE MONETARY LIMITS SPECIFIED IN PARA 3 ABOVE OR THERE IS NO TAX EFFECT: ( A ) WHERE THE CONSTITUTIONAL VALIDITY OF THE PROVISIONS OF AN ACT OR RULE ARE UNDER CHALLENGE, OR ( B ) WHERE BOARDS ORDER, NOTIFICATION, INSTRUCTION OR CIRCULAR HAS BEEN HELD TO BE ILLEGAL OR ULTRA VIRES, OR ( C ) WHERE REVENUE AUDIT OBJECT IN THE CASE HAS BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE DEPARTMENT, OR ( D ) WHERE THE ADDITION RELATES TO UNDISCLOSED FOREIGN ASSETS / BANK ACCOUNTS. 9. THE MONETARY LIMITS SPECIFIED IN PARA 3 ABOVE SHALL NOT APPLY TO WRIT MATTERS AND DIRECT TAX MATTERS OTHER THAN INCOME TAX. FILING OF APPEALS IN OTHER DIRECT TAX MATTERS SHALL CONTINUE TO BE GOVERNED BY RELEVANT PROVISIONS OF STATUTE & RULES. FURTHER, FILING OF APPEAL IN CASES OF INCOME TAX, WHERE THE TAX EFFECT IS NOT QUANTIFIABLE OR NOT INVOLVED, SUCH AS THE CASE OF REGISTRATION OF TRUSTS OR INSTITUTIONS UNDER SECTION 12A OF THE IT ACT, 1961, SHALL NOT BE GOVERNED BY THE LIM ITS SPECIFIED IN PARA 3 ABOVE AND DECISION TO FILE APPEAL IN SUCH CASES MAY BE TAKEN ON MERITS OF A PARTICULAR CASE. 7. THE RETROSPECTIVE OPERATION OF THE INSTRUCTIONS TO PENDING APPEALS IS PROVIDED IN PARA 10 OF THE CIRCULAR, WHICH READS AS UNDER: - PROVIDED IN PARA 10 OF THE CIRCULAR, WHICH READS AS UNDER: - 10 . THIS INSTRUCTION WILL APPLY RETROSPECTIVELY TO PENDING APPEALS AND APPEALS TO BE FILED HENCEFORTH IN HIGH COURTS / TRIBUNALS. PENDING APPEALS BELOW THE SPECIFIED TAX LIMITS IN PARA 3 ABOVE MAY BE WITHDRAWN / NOT PRESSED. APPEALS BEFORE THE SUPREME COUR T WILL BE GOVERNED BY THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THIS SUBJECT, OPERATIVE AT THE TIME WHEN SUCH APPEAL WAS FILED. 8. IN VIEW OF THE ABOVE SAID INSTRUCTIONS OF CBDT IN THE APPEAL WHERE THE TAX EFFECT IS LESS THAN RS.10 LAKHS, THE APPEAL FILED BY THE REVENUE, WHIC H IS PENDING BEFORE THE TRIBUNAL IS NOT TO BE PRESSED OR WITHDRAWN BY THE REVENUE. SINCE THE TAX EFFECT IN THE PRESENT APPEAL FILED BY THE REVENUE IS ADMITTEDLY LESS THAN RS.10 LAKHS, THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE INSTRUCTIONS OF CBDT AND THE ENTIRETY OF FACT S, WE DISMISS THE APPEAL FILED BY THE REVENUE AS NOT MAINTAINABLE. 7 ITA NO.1599/PN/2014 CO NO.7/PN/2016 9. THE CROSS OBJECTIONS FILED BY THE ASSESSEE ARE IN SUPPORT OF THE ORDER OF CIT(A) AND IT HAS BEEN POINTED OUT THAT THE APPEAL OF THE REVENUE IS NOT MAINTAINABLE ON ACCOUNT OF LOW TAX EFFECT, HENCE, THE CROSS OBJECTIONS FILED BY THE ASSESSEE BECOME INFRUCTUOUS AND THE SAME ARE DISMISSED . 10 . IN THE RESULT, BOTH THE APPEAL OF THE REVENUE AND THE CROSS OBJECTIONS FILED BY THE ASSESSEE ARE DISMISSED. ORDER PRONOUNCED ON THIS 10 TH DAY OF FEBRUARY , 201 6 . SD/ - SD/ - ( R.K. PANDA ) ( SUSHMA CHOWLA ) / ACCOUNTANT MEMBER / JUDICIAL MEMBER / PUNE ; DATED : 10 TH FEBRUARY , 201 6 . GCVSR / / COPY OF THE ORDER FORWARDED TO : 1. / THE APPELLANT 2. / THE RESPONDENT 3 . CIT (A) - III, PUNE 4 . 5. 6. CIT - I V, PUNE , , , / DR, ITAT, B PUNE; / GUARD FILE . / BY ORDER , //TRUE COPY// / SR. PRIVA TE SECRETARY , / ITAT, PUNE