Kay Jay Fincap Pvt. Ltd.,, New Delhi vs Department Of Income Tax
- CitationI.T.A .No.-4601/Del/2011
Ratio decidendi
The rule this decision rests on
The Revenue's appeal, which challenged the CIT(A)'s restriction of a Section 14A disallowance, was allowed: an appellate order that accepts the assessee's assertions and relies on case law without first establishing that the cited decisions are pari materia with the facts on record cannot stand, and must be set aside and restored to the CIT(A) for a fresh speaking order after a reasonable opportunity of hearing. An assessee's appeal may be dismissed for want of prosecution where, despite a specific query, the authorised representative whose signature appears on the power of attorney fails to address the grounds raised and makes no submissions in their support, the Tribunal having applied the rule in Multi Plan India (P) Ltd. to that effect. Where an assessee seeks recall of an ex parte dismissal, the Tribunal may recall the order if the assessee satisfies it that it is genuinely interested in pursuing the appeal and that there was bonafide reason for the repeated last-minute adjournments, the Bench being entitled to examine the genuineness of the petition on the facts.
Written by Miss Lucy from the judgment below, not taken from a headnote.
Judgment
As delivered
M/s kay Jay Fincap Limited, vs ACIT, C/o-M/s Wahi & Co.,K-1, Kailash Colony, Circle-5(1), New Delhi New Delhi-110048 PAN-AAACK0163H (APPELLANT) (RESPONDENT) I.T.A .No.-2433/Del/2013 (ASSESSMENT YEAR- 2009-10) M/s kay Jay Fincap Limited, vs DCIT, (Formerly known as Kay Jay Auto Ltd.) Circle-5(1), New Delhi C/o-M/s Wahi & Co.,K-1, Kailash Colony, New Delhi-110048 (APPELLANT) (RESPONDENT) I.T.A .No.-2874/Del/2013 (ASSESSMENT YEAR- 2009-10) DCIT, vs M/s kay Jay Fincap Limited, Circle-5(1), New Delhi (Formerly known as Kay Jay Auto Ltd.) C/o-M/s Wahi & Co.,K-1, Kailash Colony, New Delhi-110048 (APPELLANT) (RESPONDENT)
Appellant by Application reject. Respondent by Sh.Gaurav Dudeja, Sr. DR
Date of Hearing:-24.02.2015 Date of Pronouncement:-27.02.2015
ORDER PER DIVA SINGH, JM
All these appeals are being decided by a common order for the sake of convenience. Whereas ITA No.-4601/Del/2011 is filed by the assessee against the order dated 12.09.2011 of CIT(A)-VIII, New Delhi pertaining to 2008-09 2 I.T.A .No.-4601/Del/2011; 2433 & 2874/Del/2013
assessment year; ITA No. 2433 & 2874/Del/2013 are cross appeals filed by the assessee and the Revenue respectively against the order dated 26.12.2012 of CIT(A)-XV, New Delhi pertaining to 2009-10 assessment year. Since there is no one appearing on behalf of the assessee in the appeals filed, the department was directed to argue its appeal. The Revenue has raised the following grounds in their appeal:-
1. "On the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the learned CIT(A) erred in restricting the disallowance of u/s 14A of the Income tax Act read with Rule 8D of the IT Rules at Rs.7,68,838/- against the total disallowance of Rs.34,56,036/- made by the AO.
2. On the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Ld. CIT(A) erred in giving the finding that interest was paid on secured term loan for purchase of specified asset alluding to fixed assets at page 13 of his order, despite the fact that the balance sheet of the assessee clearly show that as against increase in secured loan of Rs.3.83 crores during the year, the fixed assets of the assessee increased merely by Rs.13.02 lacs.
3. The Ld. CIT(A) erred is not appreciating the fact that the balance sheet of the assessee shows that the assessee had invested the amounts received as secured loan in purchase of shares, income from which are either exempt as dividend or taxable as capital gains under special method of computation prescribed in law. The interest on such secured loan is not a available for deduction under the law.
4. The appellant craves leave to add, to alter, or amend any grounds of the appeal raised above either before or at the time of the hearing"
2. Addressing the above grounds, Ld. Sr. DR pointing out to the paper Book filed on behalf of the assessee stated that the Paper Book filed is not certified as per ITAT Rules as it contains a general non-speaking certification stating that the documents filed are drawn from the record of the lower authorities and no fresh document is filed. Pointing to the requirements it was submitted that the assessee is specifically required to address which documents was before the AO and or also the CIT(A). Pointing to the documents to Sl. No. 14 & 15 it was his submission that these were definitely not before the AO. In the said background addressing the grounds raised attention was invited to the assessment order at pages 07 to 09 wherein the AO taking cognizance of the fact that the Mumbai High Court in the case of Godrej & Boyce Ltd. vs. DCIT has held that Rule 8D is applicable from 2008-09 assessment year and the assessee's case pertains to 3 I.T.A .No.-4601/Del/2011; 2433 & 2874/Del/2013
2009-10 assessment year. Considering the judicial precedent laid down by the Special Bench in M/s Cheminvest Ltd. vs ITO 317 ITR 86 (SB) (Del.) and the facts on record wherein the AO has discussed the issue in paras 10 to 10.2 at pages 7 to 9 of his order disallowance was made in terms of Rule 8D. The CIT(A) in appeal it was submitted has granted relief to the assessee without addressing the facts on record and has blindly accepted the assertions of the assessee and thereafter proceeded to refer to decisions without first addressing how the facts are identical. Accordingly it was his submission that the finding of the CIT(A) in restricting the disallowance to Rs.7,68,838/- was bad in law and deserves to be rejected..
3. The Ld. AR in the meantime at this stage moved a petition dated 24.02.2015 requesting for time on the ground that Sh. Anil Kumar Malhotra, was down with flu. The said request was accompanied by a medical certificate of Dr.S.P.Seth dated 22.02.2015. The Counsel appearing on behalf of the assessee was directed to inform in what capacity he had presented the petition seeking time as although it was signed on behalf of the C.A. Firm however it did not specify the name of the signatory. The Ld. AR submitted that it is his signature and it also appeared on the Power of Attorney as he was authorized to argue and represent. In view of the fact that the department had completely argued their appeal, the Ld. AR was directed to give his reply thereon and address the assessee's appeal. In response to the same, the Ld. AR made no submission. In this background it was pointed out that as per the medical certificate of Dr. S.P.Seth dated 22.02.2015, Sh. Anil Kumar Malhotra was presumably ill from the said date, in these circumstances why adjournment was not moved a day earlier as the Ld. AR presumably was aware that he is not in a position to argue. The Ld. AR made no reply to the said query also. It was indicated that in the circumstances following Multiplan the assessee's appeals would be dismissed. The Ld. AR remained silent. The record further shows that on the last two dates when the appeal came up for hearing namely 09.01.2014 & 29.04.2014 the 4 I.T.A .No.-4601/Del/2011; 2433 & 2874/Del/2013
assessee moved a petition on both the occasions seeking time. Adjournment on 09.01.2014 it is seen was sought vide application dated 09.01.2014 stating that the Ld. AR was out of station on which request time was granted and on 29.04.2014 adjournment was moved on health grounds accompanied by medical certificate of Dr.S.P.Seth that Sh. Anil Kumar Malhotra was suffering from Gastroenteritis since 24.04.2014. The record further shows that on 25.09.2013 adjournments were moved both by the department and the assessee. The department had moved an adjournment seeking time to prepare; the assessee had sought an adjournment on the ground that Sh. Anil Kumar Malhotra was down with viral fever accompanied again by medical certificate of Dr. S.P.Seth. In these circumstances since no response was made by the Ld. AR who stated that his signature is appearing in the Power of Attorney filed, we find that in the absence of any representation on behalf of the assessee and finding the impugned order qua the departmental appeal filed that the CIT(A) has merely accepted the assessee's assertions without caring to discuss relevant and cogent facts and has failed to arrive at an independent finding on facts, we find that the same cannot be upheld. A reading of the order shows that the CIT(A) accepting the assertions made has relied upon the case law cited without first establishing how the same is pari materia qua the facts on record. In view of the above the impugned order is set aside and the issue is restored back to the file of the CIT(A) with the direction to decide the same afresh in accordance with law by way of a speaking order after giving the assessee a reasonable opportunity of being heard. In the result the departmental ground is allowed.
4. Since Sh. Lalit Kumar Sharma, Advocate whose signature is appearing in the Power of Attorney filed despite a specific query failed to address the grounds raised by the assessee in its appeals in 2008-09 & 2009-10 assessment year. Accordingly for want of any argument and representation, the assessee's appeal is dismissed applying Commissioner of Income-Tax vs. Multi Plan India (P) Ltd.;
5 I.T.A .No.-4601/Del/2011; 2433 & 2874/Del/2013
38 ITD 320 (Del) and Estate of Late Tukojirao Holkar vs. CWT: 223 ITR 480 (M.P).
5. Before parting, we deem it appropriate to observe that in case on a future date the assessee if so advised moves a petition and satisfies the Bench that it is genuinely interested in pursuing its appeals and there was a bonafide reason when on each of the dates adjournment was moved time was granted when the appeals came up for hearing where every time acceding to the assessee's request despite lack of information to the other side; despite the fact that the entire machinery for issuance of notice etc. had been set in motion adjournments were repeatedly moved on the day itself instead of well in time as the reasons suggest that the assessee had reason to believe that on the date of hearing Ld. AR would not be appearing. The Bench if so satisfied by the genuineness of assessee's petition may recall the ex-parte orders if so warranted on facts.
6. In the result the appeals of the assessee are dismissed and the appeal of the Revenue is allowed for statistical purposes.
The order is pronounced in the open court on 27th of February 2015.
Sd/- Sd/- (P.K.BANSAL) (DIVA SINGH) ACCOUNTANT MEMBER JUDICIAL MEMBER
Dated: 27/02/2015 *Amit Kumar*
Copy forwarded to: 1. Appellant 2. Respondent 3. CIT 4. CIT(Appeals) 5. DR: ITAT ASSISTANT REGISTRAR ITAT NEW DELHI
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