MRS. MEETA BHARAT SHINGHALA,MUMBAI V. ITO WARD, 24(1)(1), MUMBAI

ITA 1814/MUM/2025

AI Insights

This case involves an appeal by Mrs. Meeta Bharat Shinghala against the order of the Ld. Addl./Joint Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), which affirmed various additions made by the Assessing Officer regarding disallowances of expenses for the Assessment Year 2009-10. The Assessee's appeal was initially dismissed ex-parte due to non-compliance with multiple hearing notices, attributed to the health issues of her representative, Mr. V.V. Donga. The Tribunal considered the medical circumstances presented and decided to remand the case for a fresh decision, emphasizing the need for substantial justice and proper adjudication of the issues involved.

• Counselvise Citation: [2025] 140 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 313109 (ITAT-MUMBAI)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 28-04-2025
• Appeal Filed By: Assessee
• Order Result: Allowed
• Bench Allotted: K
• Assessment Year: 2009-2010
• Laws Referred To: Income Tax Act, 1961
• Result in Favour of: Assessee
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Department Lawyers: KIRAN UNAVEKAR; LD.
• Assessee Lawyers: PARESH GOHIL; LD; AN EXPARTE; FILING DULY SWORN AFFIDAVIT DATED
• Section: 143(3)

Judgement Text

"IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL, MUMBAI BENCH “K (SMC)”, MUMBAI BEFORE SHRI NARENDER KUMAR CHOUDHRY, JUDICIAL MEMBER AND SHRI PRABHASH SHANKAR, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER ITA No.1814/M/2025 Assessment Year: 2009-10 Mrs. Meeta Bharat Shinghala, F-901, Splendor Complex, Near Majas Depot, JVLR Andheri East, Maharashtra-400 060 PAN: AMEPS2912H Vs. ITO Wd 24(1)(1), 604, Piramal Chambers, Lalbaug, Mumbai Maharashtra - 400012 (Appellant) (Respondent) Present for: Assessee by : Shri Paresh Gohil, Ld. A.R. Revenue by : Shri Kiran Unavekar, Ld. Sr. D.R. Date of Hearing : 22.04.2025 Date of Pronouncement : 28.04.2025 O R D E R Per : Narender Kumar Choudhry, Judicial Member: This appeal has been preferred by the Assessee against the order dated 27.01.2025, impugned herein, passed by the Ld. Addl/Joint Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) (in short “Ld. Addl./Joint Commissioner”) under section 250 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (in short ‘the Act’) for the A.Y. 2009-10. 2. In the instant case, the Assessing Officer (AO) vide order dated 30.12.2011 u/s 143(3) r.w.s. 147 of the Act has made various additions on account of disallowances of expenses, testing charges, professional charges and freight charges etc. ITA No.1814/M/2025 Mrs. Meeta Bharat Shinghala 2 3. The Assessee, being aggrieved, challenged the assessment order and the additions by filing first appeal before the Ld. Addl./Joint Commissioner, who, though afforded 9 opportunities to the Assessee, however, the Assessee made no compliance. Therefore, in the constrained circumstances the Ld. Addl./Joint Commissioner decided the appeal of the Assessee by an ex-parte order and ultimately affirmed the additions by dismissing the appeal of the Assessee. The Assessee by filing duly sworn affidavit dated 17.04.2025 of Mr. V.V. Donga, has claimed that on dated 29.12.2024 Mr. Donga suffered a cardiac arrest and was admitted in hospital for treatment and remained hospitalized for 5 days and on discharge, the doctor had strictly prescribed him not to go office and rest for few weeks. Mr. Donga further submitted ”since his health was not good, as he was not going to office, the notice dated 07.01.2025 was inadvertently missed. There was inadvertent omission on his part in not attending the hearing fixed on 14.01.2025 due to bad health and unintended lapse on his part and hence could not attend the hearing of the aforesaid appeal; that such mistake was realized only after the receipt of the order on dated 27.01.2025 by the Assessee. The above mistake was absolutely unintentional and inadvertent and the Assessee should not be penalized due to his inadvertent error”. Mr. V.V. Donga has also filed the relevant medical documents. The Assessee, therefore, has prayed for leniency and submitted that one last and final opportunity may be afforded to the Assessee, may be subjected to putting any condition including by imposing a reasonable cost. 4. On the contrary, the Ld. D.R. refuted the claim of the Assessee. 5. We have given thoughtful considerations to the reason given by the Assessee for non appearance before the Ld. Addl./Joint ITA No.1814/M/2025 Mrs. Meeta Bharat Shinghala 3 Commissioner. Though the reason for non appearance before the Ld. Addl./Joint Commissioner on the date of hearing on dated 14.01.2025, in response to the notice dated 07.01.2025, is substantiated by the supporting affidavit and document, however, it is a fact that prior to 14.01.2025 the case was also fixed by the Ld. Addl./Joint Commissioner on 8 occasions by issuing the notices which are not in denial. Therefore, considering all the facts and circumstances specific to the effect that in the absence of relevant documents and/or reply/explanation, the issues involved in the instant case remained to be adjudicated in its right perspective and proper manner by the Ld. Addl./Joint Commissioner and therefore for the just and proper decision of the case and substantial justice and considering the conduct of the Assessee, we are inclined to remand the instant case to the file of the Ld. Addl./Joint Commissioner for decision afresh, however, subject to deposit of cost of Rs.15,000/- to be paid under “other heads” in the Revenue Department within 30 days from the date of the order. Thus, the case is remanded to the file of the Ld. Addl./Joint Commissioner in the aforesaid terms accordingly. 6. In the result, the appeal filed by the Assessee stands allowed for statistical purposes. Order pronounced in the open court on 28.04.2025. Sd/- Sd/- (PRABHASH SHANKAR) (NARENDER KUMAR CHOUDHRY) ACCOUNTANTMEMBER JUDICIAL MEMBER * Kishore, Sr. PS ITA No.1814/M/2025 Mrs. Meeta Bharat Shinghala 4 Copy to: The Appellant The Respondent The CIT, Concerned, Mumbai The DR Concerned Bench //True Copy// By Order Dy/Asstt. Registrar, ITAT, Mumbai. "