Sri.G.Sunilkumar, Thiruvalla V. ACIT, Cochin

ITA 257/COCH/2013

• Counselvise Citation: [2013] 140 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 68939 (ITAT-COCHIN)
• Duration Of Justice: 3 month(s) 30 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 05-09-2013
• Appeal Filed By: Assessee
• Order Result: Dismissed
• Bench Allotted: DB
• Next Hearing Date: 08-06-2017
• Assessment Year: 2006-2007
• Appeal Filed On: 06-05-2013
• Result in Favour of: Revenue
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Assessee Lawyers: K I JOHN
• Keywords: Unexplained expenditure; Principle of natural justice
• Section: 69C; 12A; 147; 263; 10

Judgement Text

1 ITA NO. 257/COCH/2013 IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL COCHIN BENCH, COCHIN BEFORE SHRI N.R.S. GANESAN (JM) AND SHRI B.R. BASKA RAN(AM) I.T.A NOS. 257 & 258/COCH/2013 (ASSESSMENT YEARS 2006-07 & 2009-10) SHRI G SUNILKUMAR VS DY.CIT, CENT.CIR. SUNEETRON AGENCIES KOTTAYAM M.C. ROAD, THIRUVALLA PAN : ABQPA1789H (APPELLANT) (RESPONDENT) APPELLANT BY : SHRI K.I. JOHN RESPONDENT BY : SHRI M ANIL KUMAR, CIT / SMT. S VIJAYAPRABHA / SHRI K.K. JOHN DATE OF HEARING : 03-09-2013 DATE OF PRONOUNCEMENT : 05-09-2013 O R D E R PER N.R.S. GANESAN (JM) BOTH THE APPEALS OF THE ASSESSEE ARE DIRECTED AGAI NST THE RESPECTIVE ORDERS OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMISSIONER PASSED U/ S 263 OF THE INCOME- TAX ACT, 1961 FOR THE ASSESSMENT YEARS 2006-07 AND 2009-10. SINCE COMMON ISSUE ARISES FOR CONSIDERATION, THESE APPEAL S WERE HEARD TOGETHER AND ARE DISPOSED OF BY THIS COMMON ORDER. 2 ITA NO. 257/COCH/2013 2. SHRI K.I. JOHN, THE LD.REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE AS SESSEE SUBMITTED THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMISSIONER FOUND THAT LIC PREM IUM PAID TO THE EXTENT OF RS. 76,300 AND REPAYMENT OF HOUSING LOAN TO THE EXTENT OF RS.1,57,490 WAS UNEXPLAINED EXPENDITURE U/S 69C OF THE ACT FOR THE ASSESSMENT YEAR 2006-07. FOR THE ASSESSMENT YEAR 2 009-10 THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMISSIONER FOUND THAT THE ASSESSIN G OFFICER ASSESSED THE INCREASE IN WEALTH FOR ASSESSMENT YEAR 2007-08 WHEREAS FOR THE ASSESSMENT YEAR 2009-10 THE SAME WAS NOT ASSESSED. REFERRING TO THE ASSESSMENT ORDERS THE LD.REPRESENTATIVE SUBMITTED T HAT THE ASSESSING OFFICER SPECIFICALLY CALLED FOR ALL THE DETAILS WIT H REGARD TO HOUSING LOAN REPAYMENT AND LIC PREMIUM PAYMENT AS ALSO THE INCRE ASE IN WEALTH. THE ASSESSEE FILED ALL THE MATERIALS INCLUDING THE CASH FLOW STATEMENT. THE ASSESSING OFFICER, AFTER SATISFYING HIMSELF ABOUT T HE CASH FLOW STATEMENT FILED BY THE ASSESSEE ALLOWED THE CLAIM OF THE ASSE SSEE. HOWEVER, HE HAS NOT DISCUSSED ANYTHING IN THE ASSESSMENT ORDERS. A CCORDING TO THE LD.REPRESENTATIVE, WHEN THE ASSESSING OFFICER CALLE D FOR ALL THE DETAILS AND SATISFIED HIMSELF ABOUT THE EXPENDITURE INCURRED BY THE ASSESSEE, THERE IS NO NEED FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION IN THE ASSESSMENT OR DERS. THEREFORE, ACCORDING TO THE LD.REPRESENTATIVE, THE ADMINISTRAT IVE COMMISSIONER HAD NO JUSTIFICATION IN EXERCISING HIS JURISDICTION U/S 263 OF THE ACT. WE HEARD SMT. S VIJAYAPRABHA, THE LD.DR ALSO. 3 ITA NO. 257/COCH/2013 3. THE MAIN CONTENTION OF THE LD.REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE ASSESSEE IS THAT THE ASSESSING OFFICER HAD CALLED FOR DETAILS W ITH REGARD TO LIC PREMIUM AND HOUSING LOAN REPAYMENT AS ALSO THE INCR EASE IN WEALTH. THEREFORE, THE ASSESSING OFFICER WAS SATISFIED HIMS ELF ABOUT THE EXPENDITURE INCURRED BY THE ASSESSEE AND THE INCREA SE IN WEALTH. ADMITTEDLY, THE PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE ASSESSING OF FICER ARE JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS. THEREFORE, THE ASSESSING OFFICER IS B OUND TO GIVE REASONS FOR THE CONCLUSIONS REACHED IN THE ASSESSME NT ORDER. IT IS WELL SETTLED PRINCIPLES OF LAW THAT A JUDICIAL / AD MINISTRATIVE ORDER SHALL CONTAIN REASONS FOR THE CONCLUSIONS REACHED IN THE ORDER ITSELF. THE REASONS FOR THE CONCLUSION REACHED CANNOT BE SUBSTI TUTED BY WAY OF FILING DOCUMENTS OR FURTHER AFFIDAVITS IN THE APPEL LATE / JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS. IN OTHER WORDS, THE ASSESSING OFFICER IS BOUND TO PASS A SPEAKING ORDER. IN THIS CASE, EVEN THOUGH THE ASSE SSING OFFICER CALLED FOR THE DETAILS, HE HAS NOT DISCUSSED THE SAME IN T HE ASSESSMENT ORDERS. THEREFORE, THE REASONS FOR ALLOWING THE CL AIM OF THE ASSESSEE / NOT INCLUDING THE INCREASE IN WEALTH IN THE ASSES SMENT ARE NOT FORTHCOMING FROM THE ASSESSMENT ORDERS. THIS TRIBU NAL IS OF THE CONSIDERED OPINION THAT THE FAILURE OF THE ASSESSIN G OFFICER TO RECORD 4 ITA NO. 257/COCH/2013 REASONS FOR THE CONCLUSIONS REACHED IN THE ASSESSME NT ORDERS IS AN ERROR WHICH IS PREJUDICIAL TO THE INTEREST OF THE R EVENUE. THE NON APPLICATION OF MIND TO THE MATERIALS FILED BY THE A SSESSEE IS AN ERROR WHICH WARRANTS THE EXERCISE OF POWERS BY THE ADMINI STRATIVE COMMISSIONER U/S 263 OF THE ACT. 4. IN FACT THE PUNJAB & HARYANA HIGH COURT HAD AN O CCASION TO EXAMINE THIS ISSUE IN COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX VS SUNIL KUMAR GOEL (2005) 274 ITR 53 (P&H) AND AFTER CONSIDERING THE JUDGMENT OF THE APEX COURT IN MUKHERJEE (S.N.) VS UOI (1990) AI R 1990 SC 1984 HAS OBSERVED AS FOLLOWS: IN S.N. MUKHERJEE V. UNION OF INDIA, AIR 1990 SC 1984, A CONSTITUTION BENCH OF THE SUPREME COURT DISCUSSED THE DEVELOPMENT OF LAW ON THIS SUBJECT IN INDIA, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, ENGLAND AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND AFTER MAKING REFERENCE TO A LARGE NUMBE R OF JUDICIAL PRECEDENTS, THEIR LORDSHIPS CULLED OUT THE FOLLOWING PROPOSITIONS (PAGE 1995): THE DECISIONS OF THIS COURT REFERRED TO ABOVE INDICATE THAT WITH REGARD TO THE REQUIREMENT TO REC ORD REASONS THE APPROACH OF THIS COURT IS MORE IN LINE WITH THAT 5 ITA NO. 257/COCH/2013 OF THE AMERICAN COURTS. AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION WHICH HAS WEIGHED WITH THE COURT FOR HOLDING THAT A N ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY EXERCISING QUASI-JUDICIAL FUNCTIONS MUST RECORD THE REASONS FOR ITS DECISION, IS THAT S UCH A DECISION IS SUBJECT TO THE APPELLATE JURISDICTION O F THIS COURT UNDER ARTICLE 136 OF THE CONSTITUTION AS WELL AS TH E SUPERVISORY JURISDICTION OF THE HIGH COURTS UNDER A RTICLE 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION AND THAT THE REASONS, IF RE CORDED, WOULD ENABLE THIS COURT OR THE HIGH COURTS TO EFFEC TIVELY EXERCISE THE APPELLATE OR SUPERVISORY POWER. BUT T HIS IS NOT THE SOLE CONSIDERATION. THE OTHER CONSIDERATIO NS WHICH HAVE ALSO WEIGHED WITH THE COURT IN TAKING TH IS VIEW ARE THAT THE REQUIREMENT OF RECORDING REASONS WOULD (I) GUARANTEE CONSIDERATION BY THE AUTHORITY; (II) INTR ODUCE CLARITY IN THE DECISIONS; AND (III) MINIMIZE CHANCE S OF ARBITRARINESS IN DECISION MAKING. IN THIS REGARD A DISTINCTION HAS BEEN DRAWN BETWEEN ORDINARY COURTS OF LAW AND TRIBUNALS AND AUTHORITIES EXERCISING JUDICIAL F UNCTIONS ON THE GROUND THAT A JUDGE IS TRAINED TO LOOK AT TH INGS OBJECTIVELY UNINFLUENCED BY CONSIDERATIONS OF POLIC Y OR EXPEDIENCY WHEREAS AN EXECUTIVE OFFICER GENERALLY L OOKS AT THINGS FROM THE STAND POINT OF POLICY AND EXPEDI ENCY. REASONS, WHEN RECORDED BY AN ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY IN AN ORDER PASSED BY IT WHILE EXERCISING QUASI- JUDICIAL FUNCTIONS, WOULD NO DOUBT FACILITATE THE E XERCISE OF ITS JURISDICTION BY THE APPELLATE OR SUPERVISORY AU THORITY. 6 ITA NO. 257/COCH/2013 BUT THE OTHER CONSIDERATIONS, REFERRED TO ABOVE, WH ICH HAVE ALSO WEIGHED WITH THIS COURT IN HOLDING THAT A N ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY MUST RECORD REASONS FOR IT S DECISION, ARE OF NO LESS SIGNIFICANCE. THESE CONSIDERATIONS SHOW THAT THE RECORDED OF REASONS BY AN ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY SERVICES A SALUTARY PURPOS E, NAMELY, IT EXCLUDES CHANCES OF ARBITRARINESS AND EN SURES A DEGREE OF FAIRNESS IN THE PROCESS OF DECISION-MAK ING. THE SAID PURPOSE WOULD APPLY EQUALLY TO ALL DECISIO NS AND ITS APPLICATION CANNOT BE CONFINED TO DECISIONS WHI CH ARE SUBJECT TO APPEAL, REVISION OR JUDICIAL REVIEW. IN OUR OPINION, THEREFORE, THE REQUIREMENT THAT REASONS BE RECORDED SHOULD GOVERN THE DECISIONS OF AN ADMINIST RATIVE AUTHORITY EXERCISING QUASI-JUDICIAL FUNCTIONS IRRES PECTIVE OF THE FACT WHETHER THE DECISION IS SUBJECT TO APPEAL, REVISION OR JUDICIAL REVIEW. IT MAY, HOWEVER, BE ADDED THAT IT IS NOT REQUIRED THAT THE REASONS SHOULD BE AS ELABORATE AS IN THE DECISION OF A COURT OF LAW. THE EXTENT AND NATURE OF THE REASONS WOULD DEPEND ON PARTICULAR FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES. WHAT IS NECESSARY IS THAT THE REASO NS ARE CLEAR AND EXPLICIT SO AS TO INDICATE THAT THE AUTHO RITY HAS GIVEN DUE CONSIDERATION TO THE POINTS IN CONTROVERS Y. THE NEED FOR RECORDING OF REASONS IS GREATER IN A CASE WHERE THE ORDER IS PASSED AT THE ORIGINAL STAGE. THE APP ELLATE OR REVISIONAL AUTHORITY, IF IT AFFIRMS SUCH AN ORDER, NEED NOT GIVE SEPARATE REASONS IF THE APPELLATE OR REVISIONA L 7 ITA NO. 257/COCH/2013 AUTHORITY AGREES WITH THE REASONS CONTAINED IN THE ORDER UNDER CHALLENGE. IN TESTEELS LTD V. N.M. DESAI (1970) 37 FJR 7; AIR 1970 GUJ 1, A FULL BENCH OF THE GUJARAT HIGH COURT HAS MADE AN EXTREMELY LUCID ENUNCIATION OF LAW ON THE S UBJECT AND WE CAN DO NO BETTER THAN TO EXTRACT SOME OF THE OBSERVATIONS MADE IN THE DECISION. THE SAME ARE (HEADNOTE OF AIR 1970 (GUJ)): THE NECESSITY OF GIVING REASONS FLOWS AS A NECESSARY COROLLARY FROM THE RULE OF LAW WHICH CONS TITUTES ONE OF THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF THE INDIAN CONSTITUT IONAL SET- UP. THE ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITIES HAVING A DUTY T O ACT JUDICIALLY CANNOT THEREFORE DECIDE ON CONSIDERATION S OF POLICY OR EXPEDIENCY. THEY MUST DECIDE THE MATTER SOLELY ON THE FACTS OF THE PARTICULAR CASE, SOLELY ON THE MATERIAL BEFORE THEM AND APART FROM ANY EXTRANEOUS CONSIDERATIONS BY APPLYING PRE-EXISTING LEGAL NORMS TO FACTUAL SITUATIONS. NOW THE NECESSITY OF GIVING RE ASONS IS AN IMPORTANT SAFEGUARD TO ENSURE OBSERVANCE OF THE DUTY TO ACT JUDICIALLY. IT INTRODUCES CLARITY, CHECKS T HE INTRODUCTION OF EXTRANEOUS OR IRRELEVANT CONSIDERAT IONS AND EXCLUDES OR, AT ANY RATE, MINIMIZES ARBITRARINE SS IN THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS. 8 ITA NO. 257/COCH/2013 ANOTHER REASON WHICH COMPELS MAKING OF SUCH AN ORDER IS BASED ON THE POWER OF JUDICIAL REVIEW WHIC H IS POSSESSED BY THE HIGH COURT UNDER ARTICLE 226 AND T HE SUPREME COURT UNDER ARTICLE 32 OF THE CONSTITUTION. THESE COURTS HAVE THE POWER UNDER THE SAID PROVISIONS TO QUASH BY CERTIORARI A QUASI-JUDICIAL ORDER MADE BY AN ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER AND THIS POWER OF REVIEW CAN BE EFFECTIVELY EXERCISED ONLY IF THE ORDER IS A SPEAKI NG ORDER. IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY REASONS IN SUPPORT OF THE ORD ER, THE SAID COURTS CANNOT EXAMINE THE CORRECTNESS OF THE O RDER UNDER REVIEW. THE HIGH COURT AND THE SUPREME COURT WOULD BE POWERLESS TO INTERFERE SO AS TO KEEP THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER WITHIN THE LIMITS OF THE LAW . THE RESULT WOULD BE THAT THE POWER OF JUDICIAL REVIEW W OULD BE STULTIFIED AND NO REDRESS BEING AVAILABLE TO THE CI TIZEN, THERE WOULD BE INSIDIOUS ENCOURAGEMENT TO ARBITRARI NESS AND CAPRICE. IF THIS REQUIREMENT IS INSISTED UPON, THEN, THEY WILL BE SUBJECT TO JUDICIAL SCRUTINY AND CORRE CTION. IF THE ORDER PASSED BY THE TRIBUNAL IS SCRUTINIZED IN THE LIGHT OF THE AFOREMENTIONED PROPOSITION OF LAW, WE DO NOT FIND ANY DIFFICULTY IN SETTING ASIDE THE SAME O N THE GROUND OF VIOLATION OF THE RULES OF NATURAL JUSTICE . THE FLOWERY LANGUAGE USED BY THE TRIBUNAL TO JUSTIFY IT S ACCEPTANCE OF THE RESPONDENTS PLEA THAT HE DID NOT KNOW THE LAW DOES NOT WARRANT OUR AFFIRMATION. IN OUR O PINION, THE TRIBUNAL WAS DUTY BOUND TO RECORD TANGIBLE AND 9 ITA NO. 257/COCH/2013 COGENT REASONS FOR UPSETTING WELL REASONED ORDERS P ASSED BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER AND THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX (APPEALS). IT SHOULD HAVE DIRECTED ITS ATTENTION TO THE LANGUAGE OF SECTION 271D AND 271E OF THE ACT IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER PROVISIONS OF THE SAM E FAMILY AND THEN DECIDED BY A REASONED ORDER WHETHER THE RESPONDENT HAD BEEN ABLE TO MAKE OUT A CASE FOR DEL ETING THE PENALTY. THE ORDER PASSED BY THE TRIBUNAL SHOU LD HAVE CLEARLY REFLECTED THE APPLICATION OF MIND BY T HE LEARNED MEMBERS. 5. THE APEX COURT ALSO HAD AN OCCASION TO CONSIDER THIS ISSUE IN TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION VS COMMISSIONER OF INCOME- TAX (2008) 306 ITR 52 (SC). THE APEX COURT HAS OBSERVED AS FOLLOW S AT PAGE 53 OF THE ITR: WE ARE NOT INCLINED TO INTERFERE WITH THE IMPUGNE D ORDER OF THE HIGH COURT. THE HIGH COURT HAS HELD T HAT THE ASSESSING OFFICER HAD DISPOSED OF THE PROCEEDINGS STATING THE PENALTY PROCEEDINGS INITIATED IN THIS C ASE UNDER SECTION 271C READ WITH SECTION 274 OF THE INCOME-TA X ACT, 1961 ARE HEREBY DROPPED. ACCORDINGLY TO THE HIGH C OURT, THERE WAS NO BASIS INDICATED FOR DROPPING THE PROCEEDINGS. THE TRIBUNAL REFERRED TO CERTAIN ASPE CTS AND HELD THAT THE INITIATION OF PROCEEDINGS UNDER S ECTION 10 ITA NO. 257/COCH/2013 263 OF THE INCOME-TAX ACT, 1961 (IN SHORT, THE I.T . ACT) WAS IMPERMISSIBLE WHEN CONSIDERED IN THE BACKGROUND OF THE MATERIALS PURPORTEDLY PLACED BY THE ASSESSEE BE FORE THE ASSESSING OFFICER. WHAT THE HIGH COURT HAS DON E IS TO REQUIRE THE ASSESSING OFFICER TO PASS A REASONED ORDER. THE HIGH COURT WAS OF THE VIEW THAT THE TRIBUNAL CO ULD NOT HAVE SUBSTITUTED ITS OWN REASONINGS WHICH WERE REQUIRED TO BE RECORDED BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER. ACCORDING TO THE ASSESSEE, ALL RELEVANT ASPECTS WER E PLACED FOR CONSIDERATION AND IF THE OFFICER DID NOT RECORD REASONS, THE ASSESSEE CANNOT BE FAULTED. WE DO NOT THINK IT NECESSARY TO INTERFERE AT THIS STAGE. IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT WHEN THE MATTER BE TAKEN UP BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER ON REMAND, IT SHA LL BE HIS DUTY TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ALL THE RELEVANT ASPE CTS INCLUDING THE MATERIALS, IF ANY, ALREADY PLACED BY THE ASSESSEE, AND PASS A REASONED ORDER. 6. WE ALSO FIND THAT THE ALLAHABAD HIGH COURT IN A RECENT UNREPORTED JUDGMENT EXPRESSED ITS SHOCK AND ANGUISH THE WAY IN WHICH THE ASSESSMENT ORDERS AND THE REVISIONAL ORDE RS ARE BEING PASSED. IN FACT, THE ASSESSEE, M/S FATEH CHAND CHA RITABLE TRUST IN WRIT TAX NO.1629 OF 2010 (JUDGMENT DATED 27-05-2013 ) BEFORE THE ALLAHABAD HIGH COURT RECEIVED DONATION OF RS.5.23 C RORES. THE 11 ITA NO. 257/COCH/2013 ASSESSING OFFICER ACCEPTED THE SAME WITHOUT ANY ENQ UIRY AND REASONING IN THE ASSESSMENT ORDER. THE COMMISSIONE R OF INCOME- TAX INITIATED PROCEEDINGS TO CANCEL THE REGISTRATIO N U/S 12A OF THE ACT. HOWEVER, IT WAS DROPPED WITHOUT RECORDING ANY REASO N. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE CASE WAS REOPENED AND NOTICE WAS ISSUED U/S 147 OF THE ACT. THE ASSESSEE CHALLENGED THE NOTICE ISS UED FOR REOPENING THE ASSESSMENT BY WAY OF WRIT PETITION. WHILE CONS IDERING THE WIT PETITION, THE ALLAHABAD HIGH COURT EXPRESSED ITS SH OCK AND ANGUISH ON THE WAY IN WHICH THE ORDERS ARE BEING PASSED BY THE INCOME-TAX AUTHORITIES. IN FACT, THE ALLAHABAD HIGH COURT HAS OBSERVED AS FOLLOWS: THE INCOME TAX AUTHORITIES ARE REQUIRED TO ADMINISTER THE ACT. THE RIGHT TO ADMINISTER, CANNO T OBVIOUSLY INCLUDE THE RIGHT TO MAL-ADMINISTER. THU S, WE FIND NO WORDS TO EXPRESS ANGUISH AS WHAT KIND OF GOVERNANCE IT HAD BEEN. THERE IS ANOTHER REASON FOR IGNORING THE AFORESAID ORDER, DROPPING THE CANCELLATION PROCEEDING OF REGISTRATION. THE SAID ORDER DOES NOT CONTAIN ANY REASON. REASONS INTRODUCE CLARITY IN AN ORDER. REASON IS T HE 12 ITA NO. 257/COCH/2013 HEART BEAT OF EVERY CONCLUSION AND WITHOUT THE SAME IT BECOMES LIFELESS. (SEE RAJ KISHORE JHA VERSUS STAT E OF BIHAR AND OTHERS, AIR 2003 SC 4664). EVEN IN RESPECT OF ADMINISTRATIVE ORDERS LORD DENNING M.R. IN BREEN VS. AMALGAMATED ENGINEERING UNION, (1971) ALL. E.R. 1148) OBSERVED: THE GIVING OF REASONS IS ONE OF THE FUNDAMENTALS OF GOOD ADMINISTRATION. FAILURE TO GIVE REASONS AMOUNTS TO DENIAL OF JUSTI CE. REASONS ARE LIVE LINKS BETWEEN THE MIND OF THE DECI SION TAKER TO THE CONTROVERSY IN QUESTION AND THE DECISI ON OR CONCLUSION ARRIVED AT. REASONS SUBSTITUTE SUBJECTI VITY BY OBJECTIVITY. THE EMPHASIS ON RECORDING REASONS IS THAT IF THE DECISION REVEALS THE INSCRUTABLE FACE OF THE S PHINX, IT CAN, BY ITS SILENCE, RENDER IT VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE COURTS TO PERFORM THEIR APPELLATE FUNCTION OR EXERC ISE THE POWER OF JUDICIAL REVIEW ON ADJUDGING THE VALIDITY OF THE DECISION. RIGHT TO REASON IS AN INDISPENSABLE PART OF A SOUND JUDICIAL SYSTEM; REASONS AT LEAST SUFFICIENT TO INDICATE AN APPLICATION OF MIND TO THE MATTER BEFOR E COURT. ANOTHER RATIONALE IS THAT THE AFFECTED PARTY CAN KN OW WHY THE DECISION HAS GONE AGAINST HIM. ONE OF THE SALU TARY REQUIREMENTS OF NATURAL JUSTICE IS SPELLING OUT REA SONS FOR THE ORDER MADE; IN OTHER WORDS, A SPEAKING-OUT. TH E 13 ITA NO. 257/COCH/2013 INSCRUTABLE FACE OF THE SPHINX IS ORDINARILY INCO NGRUOUS WITH A JUDICIAL OR QUASI-JUDICIAL PERFORMANCE. A FEEBLE ARGUMENT WAS ADVANCED THAT THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX BEING HIGHER IN HIERARCH Y THAN ADDITIONAL COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX, THE INITIATION OF THE PROCEEDINGS AT THE INSTANCE OF AD DITIONAL COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX IS BAD. IN VIEW OF OUR ABOVE CONCLUSION THAT THE ORDER DROPPING THE PROCEEDING UNDER SECTION 12A WAS NOT A VALID ACTION ON THE PART OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INC OME TAX, THE SAID ARGUMENT IS REJECTED. HAVING REGARD TO WHAT HAS BEEN SAID ABOVE. WE FIND THAT IT IS A CASE WHERE THE THEN ASSESSING OFF ICER (SHRI BHOPAL SINGH), THE ADDITIONAL COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX, RANGE-II, MUZAFFARNAGAR AND SHRI KUNDAN MISRA, THE THEN COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX, MUZAFFARNAGAR WHO PASSED THE ORDER DATED 25.1.2008 HAVE ABDICATED THEIR DUTIES. THE COURT IN THE EXER CISE OF SUPERVISORY JURISDICTION UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA CANNOT BE A MUTE SPECTATOR. SUCH ACTIONS ON THE PART OF THE DEPARTMENT NOT ONLY BRIN G DISREPUTE TO THE DEPARTMENT BUT ALSO ENCOURAGE THE DISHONEST ASSESSEES AND PROMOTES THE NEFARIOUS 14 ITA NO. 257/COCH/2013 ACTIVITIES WHICH NOT ONLY CAUSES LOSS TO REVENUE BU T ALSO PROMOTES DISHONESTY. AN HONEST TAX PAYER FEELS CHE ATED. LET THE MATTER BE EXAMINED BY THE CHIEF COMMISSIONE R OF INCOME TAX AND APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENTAL PROCEEDINGS MAY BE TAKEN OUT AGAINST THE ERRING OFFICIALS. A C OPY OF THIS JUDGMENT MAY ALSO BE SENT TO THE CHAIRMAN OF T HE CENTRAL BOARD OF DIRECT TAXES FOR AN APPROPRIATE AC TION. 7. IN VIEW OF THE ABOVE, THIS TRIBUNAL IS OF THE CO NSIDERED OPINION THAT THE ASSESSMENT ORDER DOES NOT REFLECT THE APPL ICATION OF MIND BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER TO THE MATERIAL FILED BY THE ASSESSEE. THE NON APPLICATION OF MIND TO THE MATERIAL FILED BY THE AS SESSEE IS AN ERROR WHICH IS PREJUDICIAL TO THE INTEREST OF THE REVENUE . THEREFORE, THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMISSIONER HAS RIGHTLY EXERCISED H IS JURISDICTION U/S 263 OF THE ACT. THEREFORE, THIS TRIBUNAL DO NOT FI ND ANY REASON TO INTERFERE WITH THE ORDERS OF THE LOWER AUTHORITY. ACCORDINGLY THE ORDERS OF THE LOWER AUTHORITY ARE CONFIRMED. 8. IN THE RESULT, APPEALS FILED BY THE ASSESSEE ARE DISMISSED. ORDER PRONOUNCED IN THE OPEN COURT ON THIS 05 TH SEPTEMBER, 2013. SD/- SD/- (B.R. BASKARAN) (N.R.S. GANESAN) ACCOUNTANT MEMBER JUDICIAL MEMBER COCHIN, DT : 05 TH SEPTEMBER, 2013 PK/- 15 ITA NO. 257/COCH/2013 COPY TO: 1. THE APPELLANT 2. THE RESPONDENT 3. THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX 4. THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX(A) 5. THE DR (TRUE COPY) BY ORDER ASSTT. REGISTRAR, INCOME-TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL, COCHIN BENCH