IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL ‘B’ BENCH, PUNE SHRI R.S. SYAL, VICE PRESIDENT AND SHRI PARTHA SARATHI CHAUDHURY, JUDICIAL MEMBER ITA No. 230/PUN/2019 : A.Y. 2014-15 Ram V. Chidrawar, Prop. M/s. Shriram Fertilizers New Mondha, Nanded PAN: AAHPC 1043 J Appellant Vs. The Dy. Commissioner of Income-tax, Nanded Circle, Nanded Respondent Appellant by : None Respondent by : Shri M.G. Jasnani Date of Hearing : 21-04-2022 Date of Pronouncement : 21-04-2022 ORDER PER PARTHA SARATHI CHAUDHURY, JUDICIAL MEMBER This appeal preferred by the assessee emanates from order of the ld. Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)-1, Aurangabad dated 26-11-2018 for A.Y. 2014-15 as per the grounds of appeal on record. 2. Despite service of notice, none appeared on behalf of the assessee nor is any application for adjournment filed by the assessee. 3. We have heard Ld. DR and perused the material available on record. We find that the Ld.CIT(Appeals) has passed an ex-parte order and the rights and liabilities of the parties herein were not adjudicated on merits. That on perusal of Para 2 of the CIT(Appeals)’s order, it is apparent that several opportunities were provided to the assessee asking him to attend the hearing. However, the assessee had remained absent. 2 ITA No.248 & 249/PUN/2019 Shree Chhatrapati Shahu SSK Ltd. A.Y. 2014-15 2015-16 4. That further it is evident from Para 3 and 4 of the order of the Ld. CIT(Appeals) that he has decided the appeal on the basis of documents available on record. The process of judicial adjudication requires Sub-ordinate Appellate Authority to adjudicate the case on merits and come out with a speaking order. In the present case, the Ld. CIT(Appeals) was unable to do so because of the evasive nature of the assessee. However, keeping in mind the principles of natural justice and the very fact, the Income Tax Act is welfare legislation; we are of the considered view that one final opportunity should be given to the assessee to present his case on merits. Therefore, the assessee is directed to present himself or through his authorised representative before the Ld. CIT(Appeals) immediately on receipt of this order along with relevant/ necessary documents to present his case on merits before the Ld. CIT(Appeals) and he shall adjudicate the same by passing a speaking order while complying with the principles of natural justice. In view of the aforesaid directions, we set aside the order of the Ld. CIT(Appeals) and remit the matter back to his file. Any issuance of notice is dispensed with. 5. In the result, appeal of the assessee is allowed for statistical purposes. Order pronounced in the open Court on this 21 st day of April, 2022 Sd/- sd/- (R.S. SYAL) (PARTHA SARATHI CHAUDHURY) VICE PRESIDENT JUDICIAL MEMBER Pune; Dated, the 21 st April, 2022 Ankam 3 ITA No.248 & 249/PUN/2019 Shree Chhatrapati Shahu SSK Ltd. A.Y. 2014-15 2015-16 Copy of the Order forwarded to : 1. The Appellant. 2. The Respondent. 3. The Pr. CIT-1, Aurangabad 4. The CIT(A)-1 Aurangabad 5. D.R. ITAT ‘B’ Bench 5. Guard File BY ORDER, Sr. Private Secretary ITAT, Pune. 4 ITA No.248 & 249/PUN/2019 Shree Chhatrapati Shahu SSK Ltd. A.Y. 2014-15 2015-16 1 Draft dictated on 21-04-2022 Sr.PS/PS 2 Draft placed before author 21-04-2022 Sr.PS/PS 3 Draft proposed and placed before the second Member JM/AM 4 Draft discussed/approved by second Member AM/JM 5 Approved draft comes to the Sr. PS/PS Sr.PS/PS 6 Kept for pronouncement on Sr.PS/PS 7 Date of uploading of order 21-04-2022 Sr.PS/PS 8 File sent to Bench Clerk 21-04-2022 Sr.PS/PS 9 Date on which the file goes to the Head Clerk 21-04-2022 10 Date on which file goes to the A.R 11 Date of dispatch of order