MERILINA FOUNDATION V. ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX

ITA/124/2023

AI Insights

The case involves the Merilina Foundation (appellant) challenging an order from the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal concerning the Assessment Year 2011-12. The Tribunal had previously remitted an issue regarding the validity of reassessment proceedings under Section 148/147 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, back to the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals). Both parties agreed that the Tribunal should have addressed the appeal on its merits rather than remitting the issue back to the CIT(A). The High Court of Delhi, upon hearing the arguments, decided to set aside the Tribunal's order and remand the matter back to the Tribunal for a comprehensive re-evaluation of both the appeal and the cross-objections.

• Counselvise Citation: [2023] 140 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 768441 (HC-DELHI)
• Appeal Type: Others
• Pronouncement Date: 31-07-2023
• Assessment Year: misc
• Other Referred Cases: Commissioner of Sales Tax, U.P., Lucknow v. Vijai Int. Udyog, G.T. Road, Sikandrarao, Hathras
• Laws Referred To: Income Tax Act, 1961
• Result in Favour of: Partly Allowed
• Court: HIGH COURT
• Department Lawyers: SUNIL AGARWAL; SHIVANSH PANDYA; UTKASH TIWARI
• Assessee Lawyers: YOGESH JAGIA; HRIDAY MINOCHA
• Keywords: Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals); Income tax appellate tribunal; Reassessment proceedings; Validity
• Section: 147; 148

Judgement Text

" ITA No.124/2023 Page 1 of 3 $~23 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI % Decision delivered on: 31.07.2023 + ITA 124/2023 MERILINA FOUNDATION ..... Appellant Through: Mr Yogesh Jagia and Mr Hriday Minocha, Advs. versus ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX.... Respondent Through: Mr Sunil Agarwal, Sr Standing Counsel with Mr Shivansh B. Pandya, Standing Counsel and Mr Utkash Tiwari, Adv. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJIV SHAKDHER HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE GIRISH KATHPALIA [Physical Hearing/Hybrid Hearing (as per request)] RAJIV SHAKDHER, J. (ORAL): 1. This appeal concerns Assessment Year (AY) 2011-12. 2. Via this appeal, the appellant/assessee seeks to assail the order dated 16.11.2022 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal [in short, “Tribunal”]. 3 The record shows that the impugned order concerns the appeal filed by the respondent/revenue and cross-objections filed by the appellant/assessee, against the order dated 21.08.2020 passed by the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) [in short, “CIT(A)”]. 4. Inter alia, the Tribunal was confronted with the issue as to whether Digitally Signed By:ATUL JAIN Signing Date:13.08.2023 11:42:26 Signature Not Verified ITA No.124/2023 Page 2 of 3 the CIT(A) had dealt with the aspect concerning validity of the reassessment proceedings initiated under Section 148/147 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 [in short, “Act”]. 5. The Tribunal took the view that since this issue had not been dealt with by the CIT(A), the best course would be to remit the issue to the CIT(A). 5.1 Based on this approach, the cross-objections filed by the appellant/assessee were allowed “for statistical purposes”. As a result of this direction, the appeal preferred by the respondent/revenue, was also allowed, albeit, “for statistical purposes”. 6. Mr Yogesh Jagia, who appears on behalf of the appellant/assessee, says that the Tribunal ought to have dealt with the appeal preferred by the respondent/revenue on merits. 7. On the other hand, Mr Sunil Agarwal, learned senior standing counsel, who appears on behalf of the respondent/revenue, says that the appeal and cross-objections go hand in hand, and that one cannot be divorced from the other. 7.1 In support of his submission, Mr Agarwal relies upon the judgment rendered by the Supreme Court in Commissioner of Sales Tax, U.P., Lucknow v. Vijai Int. Udyog, G.T. Road, Sikandrarao, Hathras, (1984) 4 SCC 543. 8. Both counsels submit that, in the present circumstances, the best course would be to set aside the impugned order and remit the matter to the Tribunal. 8.1 We tend to agree with learned counsel for the parties. 9. Accordingly, the impugned order is set aside. The matter is remanded Digitally Signed By:ATUL JAIN Signing Date:13.08.2023 11:42:26 Signature Not Verified ITA No.124/2023 Page 3 of 3 to the Tribunal for a fresh hearing, concerning both the appeal preferred by the respondent/revenue, and the cross-objections lodged by the appellant/assessee. 10. The appeal is disposed of, in the aforesaid terms. 11. Parties will act based on the digitally signed copy of the order. RAJIV SHAKDHER, J GIRISH KATHPALIA, J JULY 31, 2023 aj Digitally Signed By:ATUL JAIN Signing Date:13.08.2023 11:42:26 Signature Not Verified "