Ali Mohammad, New Delhi vs Department Of Income Tax
- CitationITA No.2801/Del/2013
Ratio decidendi
The rule this decision rests on
The Tribunal cannot sustain a CIT(A)'s deletion of an addition where the reasons the CIT(A) gave for deletion are not traceable to the assessment order, because the appellate reasoning then rests on a basis the AO never adopted; in such a case the appellate order is set aside. Where the assessee fails to appear and the record shows an apparent contradiction between the impugned appellate order and the assessment order, the appropriate course to meet the ends of justice is to set aside the appellate order on that point and restore the issue to the Assessing Officer for fresh adjudication after affording a reasonable opportunity of being heard, with the assessee at liberty to lead fresh evidence.
Written by Miss Lucy from the judgment below, not taken from a headnote.
Judgment
As delivered
This appeal by the Revenue is directed against the order passed by
the CIT(A) on 19.3.2013 in relation to the assessment year 2007-08. ITA No.2801/Del/2013
2. We have heard the ld. DR and perused the relevant material on
record. There is no appearance from the side of the assessee despite
notice. As such, we are proceeding to dispose of this appeal ex parte
qua the assessee.
3. Briefly stated, the facts of the case as given in the assessment order
are that the assessee is an estate agent and is in the construction
business. The AIR information was received about the assessee
purchasing some immovable property at Rs.34,70,000/-. The assessee
paid only a sum of Rs.5 lac by cheque. On being called upon to explain
where from the additional amount of Rs.29.70 lac was paid, the assessee
did neither tender any explanation nor furnish any details about the
remaining payments. This led to the making of addition of Rs.29.70 lac.
The ld. CIT(A) deleted the addition.
4. After perusing the relevant record and hearing the ld. DR, it is
observed that the AO proceeded to make addition for the alleged
undisclosed payment of Rs.29.70 lac in respect of the property
purchased by the assessee on the basis of the AIR information. On the
2 ITA No.2801/Del/2013
other hand, the ld. CIT(A) deleted the addition by observing in para 3
that the addition was made by the AO 'merely on the basis of difference
in valuation taken by the Registrar Office for registration of documents
and consideration shown by the assessee.' The ld. CIT(A) further
observed that the AO had applied section 50C which was not applicable
in the hands of the vendor. We are unable to ascertain the veracity of
the reasoning given by the ld. CIT(A) for deleting the addition for the
reason that there is no reference whatsoever in the assessment order
about the addition having been made on account of difference between
valuation taken by the Registrar office and the declared sale
consideration. The assessment order divulges that there was AIR
information that the assessee purchased immovable property for
Rs.34.70 lac against which only a payment of Rs.5 lac was declared in
the books of account and the remaining amount of Rs.29.70 lac
remained undisclosed. It appears that the ld. CIT(A) got swayed with
the submissions advanced on behalf of the assessee without properly
considering the assessment order on this point. In para 3, the ld. CIT(A)
has referred to some `Remand report' of the AO, but, the contents of 3 ITA No.2801/Del/2013
such remand report have not been discussed. The Revenue, through
Ground no. 5, is aggrieved against the admission of additional evidence
in violation of Rule 46A of the Income-tax Rules, 1962. When the
assessee has chosen not to appear to explain his point of view and there
is apparent contradiction in the impugned and the assessment order, we
are of the considered opinion that the ends of justice would meet
adequately if the impugned order on this score is set aside and the matter
is restored to the file of AO. We order accordingly and direct the AO to
decide this issue afresh as per law, after allowing a reasonable
opportunity of being heard. Needless to say, the assessee will be at
liberty to lead any fresh evidence in his defence in such fresh assessment
proceedings.
5. In the result, the appeal is allowed for statistical purposes.
The order pronounced in the open court on 06.05.2015.
Sd/- Sd/-
[A.T. VARKEY] [R.S. SYAL] JUDICIAL MEMBER ACCOUNTANT MEMBER
Dated, 06th May, 2015.
4 ITA No.2801/Del/2013
dk Copy forwarded to: 1. Appellant 2. Respondent 3. CIT 4. CIT (A) 5. DR, ITAT AR, ITAT, NEW DELHI.
5
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