Devki Global Capital Pvt. Ltd., New ... vs Assessee
- CitationITA No. 5702/Del/2013 : Asstt. Year: 2005-06
Ratio decidendi
The rule this decision rests on
The appeal of an assessee who, having been given notice of the hearing by registered post and having neither appeared nor sought an adjournment, has shown no interest in prosecuting the matter may be dismissed for non-prosecution; where the party at whose instance proceedings are brought fails to appear or take steps to advance them, the forum is not bound to decide the matter on its merits, and filing a memo of appeal does not by itself amount to effectively pursuing it.
Written by Miss Lucy from the judgment below, not taken from a headnote.
Judgment
As delivered
Date of Hearing : 13.03.2015 Date of Pronouncement :17.03.2015
ORDER
Per N. K. Saini, AM:
This is an appeal by the assessee against the order dated 26.07.2013 of ld. CIT(A) -XVII, New Delhi.
2. During the course of hearing, neither anybody was present on behalf of the assessee nor the adjournment was sought. The notice of hearing was sent to the assessee vide Registered Post on 13.02.2015 fixing the date of hearing on 13.03.2015, the said notice was not returned by the Postal Authority It, therefore, appears that the assessee is not interested to prosecute the matter.
3. The law aids those who are vigilant, not those who sleep upon their rights. This principle is embodied in well known dictum, "VIGILANTIBUS ET NON DORMIENTIBUS JURA SUB VENIUNT'. Considering the facts and keeping in view the provisions of rule 19(2) of the Income-tax Appellate ITA No. 5702/Del/2013 2
Tribunal Rules as were considered in the case of CIT vs. Multiplan India Ltd., (38 ITD 320)(Del), we treat this appeal as unadmitted.
4. Similar view has been taken by the Hon'ble Madhya Pradesh High Court in the case of Estate of Late Tukojirao Holkar vs. CWT (223 ITR 480) wherein it has been held as under:
"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."
5. Similarly, Hon'ble Punjab & Haryana High Court in the case of New Diwan Oil Mills vs. CIT (2008) 296 ITR 495) returned the reference unanswered since the assessee remained absent and there was not any assistance from the assessee.
6. Their Lordships of Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of CIT vs. B. Bhattachargee & Another (118 ITR 461 at page 477-478) held that the appeal does not mean, mere filing of the memo of appeal but effectively pursuing the same.
7. So by respectfully following the view taken in the cases cited supra, we dismiss the appeal for non-prosecution.
8. In the result, the appeal filed by the assessee is dismissed.
(Order pronounced in the open Court on 17/03/2015).
Sd/- Sd/- (George George K) (N. K. Saini) JUDICIAL MEMBER ACCOUNTANT MEMBER
Dated: 17/03/2015 ITA No. 5702/Del/2013 3
A.K. Verma Copy forwarded to:
1. Appellant 2. Respondent 3. CIT 4. CIT(Appeals) 5. DR: ITAT ASSISTANT REGISTRAR ITA No. 5702/Del/2013 4
Initial Date
1. Draft dictated on 16.03.2015 PS
2. Draft placed before author 16.03.2015 PS
3. Draft proposed & placed before the JM/AM second member
4. Draft discussed/approved by JM/AM Second Member.
5. Approved Draft comes to the 18/03/15 PS/PS Sr.PS/PS
6. Kept for pronouncement on PS
7. File sent to the Bench Clerk 18/03/15 PS
8. Date on which file goes to the AR
9. Date on which file goes to the Head Clerk.
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