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Monitor Vincom (P) Ltd, Kolkata vs Assessee

Income Tax Appellate Tribunal27 February 2015

Ratio decidendi

The rule this decision rests on

The Tribunal may dismiss an appeal for non-prosecution where the appellant, despite notice, neither appears on the date of hearing nor seeks an adjournment, the inference being that the appellant is not interested in prosecuting the appeal. The mere filing of an appeal is not sufficient to keep it alive; the appellant must effectively pursue it, and a failure to appear without explanation or adjournment request permits the Tribunal to dismiss it for non-prosecution.

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

Judgment

As delivered

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

[Before Hon'ble Sri Mahavir Singh, JM & Hon'ble Sri Shamim Yahya, AM] I.T.A No. 1702/Kol/2013 Assessment Year : 2008-09

Monitor Vincom (P) Ltd. -vs.- C.I.T., Kol-II, Kolkata Kolkata [PAN : AAFCM 1761 L) (Appellant) (Respondent) For the Appellant : None For the Respondent : Shri Varinder Mehta, CIT(DR)

Date of Hearing : 27.02.2015 Date of Pronouncement : 27.02.2015. ORDER

Per Shri Shamim Yahya, AM

This appeal by the assesee is directed against the order of ld.CIT-II, Kolkata and pertains to Assessment year 2008-09.

2. This appeal came for hearing first on 17.09.2014 and on several dates and subsequently today on 27.02.2015. The notice was sent to the assessee for hearing. However no one was present on behalf of the assessee on the date of hearing. Neither an adjournment petition was filed in respect of the above assessee It means that assessee is not interested to prosecute the appeal. Hence the appeal filed by the assessee is liable to be dismissed for non prosecution. For this view we find support from the following decisions :-

"1. In the case of CIT vs B.N.Bhattachrgee 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.1702/Kol/2013 Monitor Vincom (P) Ltd.

A.Yr.2008-09 "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, if so desired, shall be free to move this Tribunal praying for recalling this order and explaining reasons for non-compliance etc. then this order may be recalled.

4. In the result, the appeal of the revenue is dismissed for non-prosecution.

Order pronounced in the open Court on 27.02.2015.

Sd/- Sd/- [ Mahavir Singh ] [ Shamim yahya ] Judicial Member Accountant Member

Dated : 27.02.2015.

[RG PS]

Copy of the order forwarded to:

1.Monitor Vincom (P) Ltd., Kaveri House, 132/1, M.G.Road, 4th floor, Kolkata-700007.

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

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

True copy

By Order

Asstt.Registrar, ITAT, Kolkata Benches

2 3 ITA No.1702/Kol/2013 Monitor Vincom (P) Ltd.

A.Yr.2008-09

3

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