ISRAIL,CHITRAKOOT V. INCOME TAX OFFICER, BANDA

ITA 30/ALLD/2025

AI Insights

The case involves Israil Tirthrajpuri, who did not file his income tax return for the assessment year 2017-18. The Income Tax Department identified substantial cash deposits made by the assessee during the demonetization period, amounting to Rs.31,54,300. Consequently, the Assessing Officer assessed the total income at Rs.4,08,000 and made an addition of the same amount under section 69A of the Income Tax Act. The assessee's appeal against this assessment was dismissed ex-parte by the CIT(A). The Tribunal found that both the Assessing Officer and the CIT(A) had not provided sufficient time and opportunity to the assessee, and the CIT(A) failed to pass a speaking order as required under section 250(6) of the Act.

• Counselvise Citation: [2025] 140 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 398345 (ITAT-ALLAHABAD)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 05-06-2025
• Appeal Filed By: Assessee
• Order Result: Allowed
• Bench Allotted: SMC
• Assessment Year: 2017-2018
• Laws Referred To: Income Tax Act
• Result in Favour of: Assessee
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Department Lawyers: REVENUE; A.K. SINGH
• Keywords: Condonation of delay; Set aside; Opportunity of being heard
• Section: 144

Judgement Text

"I.T.A. No.30/Alld/2025 Assessment Year:2017-18 1 IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL ALLAHABAD BENCH “SMC”, ALLAHABAD BEFORE SHRI ANADEE NATH MISSHRA, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER AND SHRI SUBHASH MALGURIA, JUDICIAL MEMBER I.T.A. No.30/Alld/2025 Assessment year:2017-18 Israil Tirthrajpuri, Sitapur Karwi, Chitrakoot. PAN:AEPPI5875N Vs. Income Tax Officer-2(2)(4), Banda. (Appellant) (Respondent) O R D E R PER SUBHASH MALGURIA:J.M. This appeal vide I.T.A. No.30/Alld/2025 has been filed by the assessee for assessment year 2017-18 against impugned appellate order dated 07/02/2024 (DIN & Order No.ITBA/APL/S/250/2023- 24/1060608080(1) of Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) [“CIT(A)” for short]. 2. This appeal has been filed by the assessee, beyond time limit prescribed under section 253(3) of IT Act. The assessee has submitted application for condonation of delay in filing of the appeal pleading that the Appellant by None Respondent by Shri A. K. Singh, Sr. D.R. I.T.A. No.30/Alld/2025 Assessment Year:2017-18 2 delay was unintentional and beyond the control of the assessee and has requested to admit the appeal for hearing. The learned Sr. Departmental Representative for Revenue did not express any objection to assessee’s application for condonation of delay in filing of the appeal. In view of the foregoing, and in specific facts and circumstances of the present appeal before us, the delay in filing of this appeal is condoned; and the appeal is admitted for hearing. 3. The facts of the case, in brief, are that the assessee is an individual. The assessee has not filed his return of income for the year under consideration. On the basis of information gathered during the phase of online verification, the Department gathered a list of assessees who had deposited substantial cash in bank account during the demonetization period but have not filed income tax return. The data revealed that the assessee had deposited cash amounting to Rs.31,54,300/-. The Assessing Officer completed the assessment under section 144 of the Act and assessed the total income of the assessee at Rs.4,08,000/- and made addition of Rs.4,08,000/- under section 69A of the Act. Being aggrieved, the assessee filed appeal against the assessment order in the office of learned CIT(A). Vide order dated 07/02/2024, the assessee’s appeal was dismissed by the learned ADDL/JCIT(A) ex-parte. The present appeal has been filed by the assessee against the aforesaid impugned appellate order dated 07/02/2024 passed by the learned ADDL/JCIT(A). 4. During the course of hearing, the assessee was represented by none. In the absence of any representation from assessee’s side, we heard learned Sr. D.R., who relied on the orders of the authorities below. On perusal of records, it is seen that that the Assessing Officer as well as learned CIT(A) have passed order without affording sufficient time and I.T.A. No.30/Alld/2025 Assessment Year:2017-18 3 opportunity to the assessee. It is also noted that the learned CIT(A) failed to pass a speaking order on merits and dismissed the assessee’s appeal in a summary manner in violation of the provisions u/s 250(6) of the Act. The learned CIT(A) is duty bound u/s 250(6) of the IT Act to pass a speaking order on various grounds of appeal, on merits, but learned CIT(A) failed to do so. The learned Sr. Departmental Representative for the Revenue left the matter to the discretion of the Bench. 5. We have heard learned Departmental Representative for Revenue and perused materials on record. In view of the foregoing and keeping in view the facts and circumstances of the present case, we set aside the impugned appellate order dated 07/02/2024 to the file of learned CIT(A) and we direct the learned CIT(A) to pass speaking order in accordance with law after providing reasonable opportunity of being heard to the assessee. 6. In the result, the appeal of the assessee stands allowed for statistical purposes. (Order pronounced in the open court on 05/06/2025) Sd/. Sd/. (ANADEE NATH MISSHRA) (SUBHASH MALGURIA) Accountant Member Judicial Member Dated:05/06/2025 *Singh Copy of the order forwarded to : 1. The Appellant 2. The Respondent. 3. Concerned CIT 4. D.R., I.T.A.T., Lucknow "