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Bravo Sponge Iron (P) Ltd., Kolkata vs Assessee

Income Tax Appellate Tribunal13 May 2015

Ratio decidendi

The rule this decision rests on

The Tribunal may dismiss an appeal for non-prosecution where the appellant, having been given notice of the hearing, neither appears nor seeks an adjournment, since filing an appeal does not by itself amount to effectively pursuing it. Where the party at whose instance a matter is brought fails to appear at the hearing or to take the steps needed to enable it to proceed, the adjudicating body is not bound to decide the matter on its merits. The dismissal is without prejudice to the assessee's right to move the Tribunal for recall of the order by showing sufficient cause for its non-appearance.

Written by Miss Lucy from the judgment below, not taken from a headnote.

Judgment

As delivered

IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL "A" BENCH : KOLKATA

[Before Hon'ble Sri Mahavir Singh, JM & Hon'ble Sri B.P.Jain, AM] I.T.A No. 783/Kol/2014 Assessment Year : 2009-2010 M/s. Bravo Sponge Iron (P)Ltd -vs.- C.I.T.-I, Kolkata Kolkata Kolkata [PAN : AACCB 5058 J) (Appellant) (Respondent) For the Appellant : None For the Respondent : Shri K.K.Srivastava, CIT, DR

Date of Hearing : 13.05.2015 Date of Pronouncement : 13.05.2015 ORDER

Per Shri B.P.Jain, AM

This appeal of the assesee arises from the order of ld.CIT-I, Kolkata for Assessment Year 2009-10.

2. The present appeal came for hearing for the first time on 07.11.2014 and notice was sent by RPAD for hearing on 04.02.2015. Subsequently the case was fixed for hearing on 13.05.2015. Neither an adjournment petition was filed by the assessee nor anybody appeared on behalf of the assessee. Therefore the assessee appears to be not interested to prosecute the appeal and accordingly the appeal filed by the assessee is liable to be dismissed for non prosecution. In view of the decision in the case of CIT vs B.N.Bhattachrjee and another, reported in 118 ITR 461 [relevant pages 477 & 478] wherein their Lordships have held that :

"The appeal does not mean merely filing of the appeal but effectively pursuing it."

2. In the case of Estate of late Tukojirao Holkar vs CWT; 223 ITR 480 (MP) while dismissing the reference made at the instance of the assessee in default made following observation in their order :

2 ITA No.783/Kol/2014 M/s.Bravo Sponge Iron (P)Ltd..

A.Yr.2009-10 "If the party, at whose instance the reference is made, fails to appear at the hearing, or fails in taking steps for preparation of the paper books so as to enable hearing of the reference, the court is not bound to answer the reference."

3. In the case of Commissioner of Income-tax vs Multiplan India (P) Ltd.: 38 ITD 320(Del), the appeal filed by the revenue before the Tribunal, which was fixed for hearing. But on the date of hearing nobody represented the revenue/appellant nor any communication for adjournment was received. There was no communication or information as to why the revenue chose to remain absent on that date. The Tribunal on the basis of inherent powers, treated the appeal filed by the revenue as un admitted in view of the provisions of Rule 19 of the Appellate Tribunal Rules, 1963.

3. The assessee shall be free to move the petition before this Tribunal praying for recalling of this order by explaining the sufficient cause for his non appearance.

4. In the result, the appeal of the assessee is dismissed.

Order pronounced in the open Court on13.05.2015.

Sd/- Sd/-= [ Mahavir Singh ] [ B.P.Jain ] Judicial Member Accountant Member

Dated : 13.05.2015.

[RG PS]

Copy of the order forwarded to:

1.M/s. Bravo Sponge Iron (P)Ltd., Suit No.204A, 2nd floor, India Steamship House, 21, Hemant Basu Sarani, Kolkata-700001.

2. C.I.T.- I, Kolkata.

3. CIT(DR), Kolkata Benches, Kolkata.

True copy

By Order

Asstt.Registrar, ITAT, Kolkata Benches 2 3 ITA No.783/Kol/2014 M/s.Bravo Sponge Iron (P)Ltd..

A.Yr.2009-10

3

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