INDRANI SIKDER,KOLKATA V. ITO, WARD 36(6), KOLKATA

ITA 3284/KOL/2025

AI Insights

The case involves Indrani Sikder, the appellant, who is engaged in the business of importing Damarbatu from Thailand and selling it in India. The Income Tax Department selected her return for scrutiny and issued notices under sections 143(2) and 142(1) of the Income-tax Act, 1961. The primary legal issue was the validity of the notice issued under section 143(2), which was challenged on the grounds that it did not comply with the mandatory format specified in a CBDT circular. The Tribunal, referencing a similar case and the directives of the CBDT, ruled in favor of the appellant, leading to the quashing of the assessment order.

• Counselvise Citation: [2026] 140 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 839004 (ITAT-KOLKATA)
• Duration Of Justice: 1 month(s) 18 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 17-02-2026
• Appeal Filed By: Assessee
• Order Result: Allowed
• Bench Allotted: SMC
• Assessment Year: 2017-2018
• Appeal Filed On: 31-12-2025
• Other Referred Cases: Shib Nath Ghosh Vs. ITO in ITA No. 1812/KOL/2024 for A.Y. 2018-19
• Laws Referred To: Income-tax Act, 1961
• Result in Favour of: Assessee
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Department Lawyers: SUSANTA SAHA
• Assessee Lawyers: SOMNATH GHOSH
• Keywords: Invalid notice; Bad and doubtful debts
• Section: 143(3); 142(1)

Judgement Text

" IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL “SMC” BENCH, KOLKATA BEFORE SHRI RAJESH KUMAR, AM ITA No. 3284/KOL/2025 (Assessment Year: 2017-18) Indrani Sikder C/o S.N. Ghosh & Associates, Advocates, 2 Garstin Place, 2 nd Floor, Suite No.203, Off Hare Street, Kolkata-700001, West Bengal Vs. ITO, Ward 36(6) Aaykar Bhawan Poorva, 110, Shanti Pally, 9 th Floor, Eastern Metropolitan Bypass, Kolkata-700107, West Bengal (Appellant) (Respondent) PAN No. AZTPS4342P Assessee by : Shri Somnath Ghosh, AR Revenue by : Shri Susanta Saha, DR Date of hearing: 29.01.2026 Date of pronouncement: 17.02.2026 O R D E R Per Rajesh Kumar, AM: This is an appeal preferred by the assessee against the order of the National Faceless Appeal Centre, Delhi (hereinafter referred to as the “Ld. CIT(A)”] dated 26.08.2025 for the AY 2017-18. 2. At the outset, we note that the appeal of the assessee is barred by limitation by 61 days. At the time of hearing the counsel of the assessee explained the reason for delay in filing the appeal. The Ld. D.R did not raise any objection in condoning the delay. After hearing the rival contentions and perusing the materials available on record, we find that the delay is for bonafide and genuine reason, hence, we condone the delay and adjudicate the appeal. Printed from counselvise.com Page | 2 ITA No. 3284/KOL/2025 Indrani Sikder; A.Y. 2017-18 3. The only issue raised by the assessee is against the issue of notice u/s 143(2) in violation of CBDT Circular No. F.NO.225/157/2017/ITA-11 on 23.06.2017. 4. The facts in brief are that the assessee engaged in the business of Import of Damarbatu (which is used in making the agarbatti) from Thailand and sale in India. The assessee filed its the return of income u/s 139(1) of the Act on 02.11.2017, declaring total income of ₹10,44,240/-, which was selected for complete scrutiny. Thereafter the notice u/s 143(2) & 142(1) of the Act were issued on 27.09.2018 & 16.05.2019 respectively, along with the questionnaire which were duly served upon the assessee. The AO was framed u/s 143(3) of the Act vide order dated 03.12.2019, by determining the total income at ₹37,23,410/-. 5. In the appellate proceedings also the ld. CIT (A) confirmed the order of the ld. AO by dismissing the appeal of the assessee. 6. After hearing the rival contentions and perusing the materials available on record, I find that particularly the notice was issued u/s 143(2) of the Act on 27.09.2018, a copy of which is available at page no. 94 of the Paper Book of the assessee. I note that the said notice has not been issued in consonance with the CBDT Instruction F No. 225/157/2017/ITA-II Dated 23.06.2017. The said notice is extracted below for the sake of ready reference:- “आमकर अधिनियम 1961 की िारा 143(2) क े अिीि िोटिस Notice under section 143(2) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 संवीक्षा (क ंप्यूिर आिाररत संवीक्षा चयि Scrutiny (Computer Alded Scrutiny Selection) महोदय/महोदया/ भेससस, Sir/Madam/ M/s, Printed from counselvise.com Page | 3 ITA No. 3284/KOL/2025 Indrani Sikder; A.Y. 2017-18 आपको सूधचत ककया जाता है कक नििासरण वर्स 2017-18 क े पावती संख्या 252026051231017 क े अिुसार आपक े द्वारा टदिांक 23/10/2017 को दाखिल की गई आयकर वववरणी को संवीक्षा क े ललए चुिा गया है। This is for your kind information that the return of income filed by you for assessment year 2017-18 vide ack, no. 252026051231017 on 23/10/2017 has been selected for Scrutiny. 2. इस संबंि में, आपको टदिीक 16/01/2019 को 01:55 PM तक साक्ष्य प्रस्तुत करिे अथवा साक्ष्य प्रस्तुत करािे का अवसर प्रदाि ककया जा रहा है जजस पर आप उक्त आयकर वववरणी क े समथसि में निभसर हैं/ रहेंगे। 2. In this regard, an opportunity is being given to you to produce or cause to produce any evidence on which you may like to rely in support of the said return of income by 16/01/2019 at 01:55 PM. 3. उपयुसक्त निटदसष्ि प्रमाण / सूचिा को आपको ऑिलाइि माध्यम से इलेक्रॉनिक रूप में Incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in पर अपिे ई-फाईललंग िाता द्वारा प्रस्तुत ककया जािा है। बाद की नििासरण कायसवाही भी आयकर ववभाग की 'ई-कायसवाही' सुवविा द्वारा की जायेगी। 'ई-कायसबाही' पर एक संक्षक्षप्त िोि आपक े संदभस क े ललए संलग्ि है। 3. The evidence/information specified above has to be furnished online electronically through your E-filing account in incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in. Subsequent assessment proceedings shall also be conducted electronically through the 'E-Proceeding' facility of Income-tax Department. A brief note on 'E-Proceeding' is enclosed for your kind reference. 4. नििासरण कायसवाही क े दौराि, यटद आवश्यक होगा तो सूचिा / दस्तावेज हेतु ववशेर् प्रश्िावली (यों) या अधियाचिा (यााँ) को बाद में जारी ककया जाएगा। 4. In course of assessment proceedings, if required, specific questionnaire(s) or requisition(s) for information/document shall be issued subsequently. 5. क ृपया ध्याि दें कक यटद आपक े पास ई-फाइललंग िाता है तो आपक े ललए पैरा 3 लागू है। आपक े द्वारा स्वयं अपिा िाता ि बिा लेिे तक निर्धारण कधर्ावधही आपक े द्वधरध वर्णात की गई ई-मेल क े मधध्र्म से र्ध मैन्र्ुअल रूप से (र्दि ई-मेल उपलब्र् िहीीं है) की जधएगी। इसक े अनतररक्त उि मधमलों में, जजिमें आर्कर अधर्निर्म 1961 की र्धरध 143 (3) क े सधथ पदित र्धरध 153ए / 153सी क े अर्ीि आिेश पधररत ककर्ध जधिध है, निर्धारण कधर्ावधही मैन्र्ुअल रूप से की जधएगी। 5. Please note that Para 3 is applicable if you have an E-filling account. Till the time such an account is created by you, assessment proceedings shall be carried out either through your specified e-mail account or manually (if e-mail is not available). Further, in cases where order has to be passed under section 153A/153C read with section 143(3) of the Income-tax Act, 1961, assessment proceedings would be conducted manually. सींलग्िक: र्थोपरर Printed from counselvise.com Page | 4 ITA No. 3284/KOL/2025 Indrani Sikder; A.Y. 2017-18 Enclosure :as above 7. In our opinion, the notice issued u/s 143(2) of the Act which is not in the prescribed format as provided under the Act is an invalid notice and accordingly, all the subsequent proceedings thereto would be invalid and void ab initio. The case of the assessee find support from the decision of Shib Nath Ghosh Vs. ITO in ITA No. 1812/KOL/2024 for A.Y. 2018-19 vide order dated 29.11.2024, wherein the co-ordinate Bench has held as under:- “10. After hearing both the sides and the materials available on record, we find that the notice issued u/s 143(2) dated 9th August, 2017 was not in any of the formats as provided in the CBDT instruction F.No.225/157/2017/ITA-II dated 23.06.2017. We have examined the notice, copy of which is available at page no.1 of the Paper Book and find that the same is not as per the format of CBDT Instruction F.No. 225/157/2017/ITA-II dated 23.06.2017 as stated above. In our opinion, the instruction issued by the CBDT are mandatory and binding on the Income tax authorities failing which the proceedings would be rendered as invalid. Hon'ble Apex Court in case of UCO Bank (supra) held that the circular issued by CBDT in exercise of its statutory powers u/s 119 of the Act, are binding on the authorities. The Hon'ble Apex court held as under:-:- “The Central Board of Direct Taxes under section 119 of the Income-tax Act, 1961, has power, inter alia, to tone down the rigour of the law and ensure a fair enforcement of its provisions, by issuing circulars in exercise of its statutory powers under section 119 of the Act which are binding on the authorities in the administration of the Act. Under section 119(2)(a), however, the circulars as contemplated therein cannot be adverse to the assessee. The power is given for the purpose of just, proper and efficient management of the work of assessment and in public interest. It is a beneficial power given to the Board for proper administration of fiscal law so that undue hardship may not be caused to the assessee and the fiscal laws may be correctly applied. Hard cases Which can be properly categorized as belonging to a class, can thus be given the benefit of relaxation of law by Issuing circulars binding on the taxing authorities. In order to aid proper determination of the income of money lenders and banks, the Central Board of Direct Taxes issued a circular dated October 6, 1952, providing that where interest accruing on doubtful debts is credited to a suspense account, It need not be included in the assessee's taxable income, provided the Income-tax Officer is satisfied that recovery is practically improbable. Twenty-six years later, on June 20, 1978, in view of the judgment of the Kerala High Court In STATE BANK OF TRAVANCORE v. CIT [1977] 110 ITR 336, the Board by another circular, withdrew with immediate effect the earlier circular. However, by circular dated October 9, 1984, the Board decided that Interest in respect of doubtful debts credited to suspense account by banking companies would be subjected to tax but Interest charged in an account where there has been no Printed from counselvise.com Page | 5 ITA No. 3284/KOL/2025 Indrani Sikder; A.Y. 2017-18 recovery for three consecutive accounting years would not be subjected to tax in the fourth year and onwards. The circular also stated that if there is any recovery in the fourth year or later, the actual amount recovered only would be subjected to tax in the respective years. This procedure would apply to assessment year 1979-80 and onwards. 11. Similarly, Hon'ble Calcutta High Court in case of Amal Kumar Ghosh (supra), held as under:- “Held, allowing the appeal, (1) that even assuming that the intention of the Central Board of Direct Taxes was to restrict the time for selection of the cases for scrutiny to a period of three months, It could not be said that the selection in the case of the assessee was made within the period. The return was filed on October 29, 2004, and the case was selected for scrutiny on July 6, 2005. By any process of reasoning, it was not open to the Tribunal to come to a finding that the Department acted within the four corners of Circulars Nos. 9 and 10 Issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes The circulars were evidently violated. The circulars were binding upon the Department under section 119.” 12. Therefore case of the assessee is therefore squarely covered by the ratio laid down in the above decisions and respectfully following the same , we are inclined to hold the assessment as invalid being based on the invalid issue of notice u/s 143(2) of the Act. The first additional ground raised by the assessee is allowed.” 8. Considering the facts of the instant case in the light of the decisions of the co-ordinate benches, I am inclined to hold that notice issued u/s 143(2) of the Act is invalid notice and accordingly, the assessment framed consequent to that is also invalid and is hereby quashed. 9. In the result, the appeal of the assessee is allowed. Order pronounced in the open court on 17.02.2026. Sd/- (RAJESH KUMAR) (ACCOUNTANT MEMBER) Kolkata, Dated: 17.02.2026 Sudip Sarkar, Sr.PS Printed from counselvise.com Page | 6 ITA No. 3284/KOL/2025 Indrani Sikder; A.Y. 2017-18 Copy of the Order forwarded to: BY ORDER, True Copy// Sr. Private Secretary/ Asst. Registrar Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Kolkata 1. The Appellant 2. The Respondent 3. CIT 4. DR, ITAT, 5. Guard file. Printed from counselvise.com "