Mahalakshmi Textile Mills Limites V. The Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax

WP(MD)/7182/2023

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Mahalakshmi Textile Mills Limited, represented by its Managing Director, L. Alagusundaram, filed a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India against the Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax, Corporate Circle, seeking permission to pay a tax demand of Rs.1,00,00,000 in ten monthly installments. The company had previously been wound up, and its affairs were managed by an official liquidator, complicating direct legal proceedings. The tax demand arose from an assessment order under Section 143(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, for the assessment year 2021-2022. The petitioner argued that the payment schedule imposed by the respondent was unmanageable, leading to the request for a revised installment plan. The court, considering the circumstances and the sincerity of the petitioner's intent to settle the dues, granted the relief sought but with strict conditions regarding the payment schedule.

• Counselvise Citation: [2023] 140 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 672775 (HC-MADURAI)
• Appeal Type: Others
• Pronouncement Date: 10-04-2023
• Assessment Year: misc
• Laws Referred To: Income Tax Act, 1961
• Result in Favour of: Others
• Court: HIGH COURT
• Department Lawyers: N DILIP KUMAR
• Assessee Lawyers: J BARATHAN
• Keywords: Assessment Order; Income Tax; Installment Payment; Official liquidator; Writ of Mandamus
• Section: 143(1)(a); 220(2)

Judgement Text

"W.P.(MD) No.7182 of 2023 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 10.04.2023 CORAM THE HONOURABLE Ms.JUSTICE P.T.ASHA W.P.(MD) No.7182 of 2023 and W.M.P.(MD) No.6774 of 2023 Mahalakshmi Textile Mills Limited, through its Managing Director, L.Alagusundaram, S/o. AL.Lakshmanan, aged about 49 years, Door No.777/P, Thirteenth Main, Indira Nagar, Bangalore 560 008. ... Petitioner /vs./ The Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax, Corporate Circle, Income Tax Department, C.R.Building, Door No.2, V.P.Rathinasamy Nadar Road, B.B.Kulam, Madurai 625 002. ... Respondent 1/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD) No.7182 of 2023 PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondent to permit the petitioner company to pay the sum of Rs.1,00,00,000/- in ten monthly installments of Rs. 10,00,000/- each commencing from the month of April, 2023. For Petitioner : Mr.J.Barathan For Respondent : Mr.N.Dilip Kumar Standing Counsel ORDER The above writ petition has been filed for the issue of a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondent to permit the petitioner company to pay the sum of Rs.1,00,00,000/- in ten monthly installments of Rs.10,00,000/- each commencing from the month of April, 2023. 2.The petitioner company had been wound up by orders in C.P.No.68 of 1985. The official liquidator had been appointed to take charge of the affairs of the company and as a result any legal proceeding initiated without impleading the official liquidator was non-est in the eye of law. Meanwhile, the respondent had passed an assessment order on 07.10.2022 demanding payment of Rs. 1,33,45,480/- under Section 143(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, (herein after 2/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD) No.7182 of 2023 referred to as Act) for the assessment year 2021-2022, which is payable on or before 14.10.2022. 3.The petitioner, who was not in a position to repay this huge amount, had sent a representation dated 20.12.2022 requesting the respondent to permit him to pay the said sum in easy installments. In response to the above letter, the petitioner, vide letter dated 29.12.2022, was directed to pay the above sum in three installments, which is as follows:- “a) a sum of Rs.31,83,690/- was directed to be paid on or before 06.01.2022; b) a sum of Rs.50,00,000/- was directed to be paid on or before 31.01.2023; and c) further a sum of Rs.50,00,000/- was directed to be paid on or before 28.02.2023;” 4.This was totally unworkable as far as the petitioner is concerned and on 20.01.2023, the petitioner had paid a sum of Rs.20,00,000/- and on 31.01.2023, a further sum of Rs.11,83,690/- had also been paid thereby clearing the first installment of Rs.31,83,690/-. With regard to the remaining amount of Rs. 1,00,00,000/-, the petitioner company was unable despite its best efforts to make 3/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD) No.7182 of 2023 the payment on the due dates directed. Therefore, they have requested the respondent to receive a sum of Rs.1,00,00,000/- in 10 equated monthly installments commencing from April, 2024. 5.The petitioner would submit that the properties of the company are under litigation in execution proceedings and that apart, the petitioner did not have the resources to pay such a huge sum. Since the respondent was reluctant to accept the same, the petitioner has come forward with the above writ petition. 6.The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted a calculation memo showing the manner in which the outstanding was to be repaid by the petitioner to the Department. 7.The learned Standing Counsel for the respondent would submit that the respondent has already considered the request of the petitioner for payment in installments and had also granted the said installments and the respondent cannot once again grant further schedule of payment. However, without prejudice to their contentions, he has submitted a calculation sheet as detailed herein below:- 4/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD) No.7182 of 2023 Particulars Amount Interest u/s 220(2) Tax payable as per intimation u/s 143(1) dated 13.06.2022 13345480 Less: Tax paid on 11.10.2022 150000 7/2022 to 10/2022=4M on Rs. 13345480/- @ 1% 533819 Balance Tax Payable 13195480 Less: Tax paid on 20.01.2020 & 31.01.2023 3183690 11/2022 to 1/2023=3M on Rs.13195480/- @ 1% 395864 Balance Tax Payable 10011790 2/2023 to 3/2023=2M on Rs.10011790/- @ 1% 200236 1129919 Monthly Installments: Month Installment amount Interest 220(2) calculation Interest u/s 220(2) Total Installment due April’2023 1000000 10011790x1%=10011 8 +1129919 =1230037 1230037 2230037 May’2023 1000000 9011790x1%=90118 90118 1090118 June’2023 1000000 8011790x1%=80118 80118 1080118 July’2023 1000000 7011790x1%=70118 70118 1070118 Aug’2023 1000000 6011790x1%=60118 60118 1060118 Sep’2023 1000000 5011790x1%=50118 50118 1050118 Oct’2023 1000000 4011790x1%=40118 40118 1040118 Nov’2023 1000000 3011790x1%=30118 30118 1030118 Dec’2023 1000000 2011790x1%=20118 20118 1020118 Jan'2024 1011790 1011790x1%=10118 10118 1021908 Total 10011790 1681099 11692889 5/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD) No.7182 of 2023 8.Heard the learned counsels appearing on either side. 9.Admittedly, the petitioner company has been wound up and the entire affairs of the company now rest with the official liquidator. The petitioner company does not have any property, which can be easily sold to clear the dues of the respondent herein. However, the intent of the petitioner appears to be sincere despite the odds stacked against them. 10.Therefore, this Court is of the view that the petitioner must be permitted to show their bona fides and settle the dues. With this intent and in the interest of justice, the Writ Petition is allowed permitting the petitioner to pay the amount in installments. The calculation sheet provided by the respondent is taken as the calculation for the repayment of the amount. 11.In the calculation submitted by the respondent, the first installment payable is a sum of Rs.10,00,000/- together with interest of a sum of Rs. 11,29,919/-, totally a sum of Rs.22,30,037/-. This amount would be a little too steep for the petitioner to repay. Therefore, the first installment of Rs.22,30,037/- 6/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD) No.7182 of 2023 is split into two installments. The first of which will be a sum of Rs.11,29,919/- and the remaining shall be paid as the 11th installment and the amount due under the 11th installment would be a sum of Rs.10,21,908/-. It is needless to state that default of even one of the installments would bring an end to this concession shown to the petitioner. However, there shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed. Speaking : Yes / No 10.04.2023 NCC : Yes / No Internet : Yes / No Index : Yes / No mm 7/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD) No.7182 of 2023 P.T.ASHA, J. mm W.P.(MD) No.7182 of 2023 10.04.2023 8/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis "