Naema Begam, New Delhi vs Department Of Income Tax
- CitationITA No. 3990/Del/2011
Ratio decidendi
The rule this decision rests on
Where an assessment is completed ex parte under section 144 and the Assessing Officer makes an addition of sundry creditors without any enquiry into their genuineness or any opportunity to the assessee during remand proceedings, such an ad hoc addition cannot be sustained, and the appellate authority may reduce it to a lump-sum estimate to guard against revenue leakage. Where the Assessing Officer estimates a gross profit addition without any material or finding on record to support the estimate, and the Revenue produces no material to uphold it, the addition is not sustainable and the appellate order deleting it is confirmed. Where an addition is made on the basis of cash in hand that is duly reflected in the books of account, and the Assessing Officer records no basis for disturbing it, the addition is unjustified and the appellate order deleting it is upheld.
Written by Miss Lucy from the judgment below, not taken from a headnote.
Judgment
As delivered
Income Tax Officer Vs. Mrs. Naema Begam, Ward-29(2), L/R and wife of late Mohd. Nasim New Delhi. (assessee) Prop. M/s National Drug Store, 94A, Tilak Bazar, 1st Floor, Gandhi Gali, Delhi-110006
(PAN AABPN 0006 C)
(Appellant) (Respondent)
Date of hearing : 26.02.2015 Date of Pronouncement : 27.2.2015
Appellant by : None Respondent by: Shri P. Dam Kaunjna, Sr. D.R.
ORDER
PER SHRI GEORGE GEORGE K, JM:
1. This appeal, at the instance of the Revenue, is directed against the CIT(A)'s
order dated 27.06.2011. The relevant assessment year is AY 2007-08.
2. The grounds raised reads as follow:-
" 1. On the facts and circumstances of the case and in law, the Ld CIT(A) XXV, New Delhi has erred in deleting the addition of Rs.35,17,128/- u/s 41 of the IT Act.
ITA No.3990/Del /2011 2 2. On the facts and circumstances of the case and in law, the Ld CIT(A) XXV, New Delhi has erred in deleting the addition of Rs.46,715/- on a/c of low G.P. rate.
3. On the facts and circumstances of the case and in law, the Ld CIT(A) XXV, New Delhi has erred in deleting the addition of Rs.26,761/- u/s 68 of the IT Act."
Ground No.1
3. The assessee in its books of account had shown Rs.37,17,128/- as sundry
creditors. In the course of scrutiny assessment, assessee was asked to file the
details of the sundry creditors. Since the assessee did not file details/confirmation
before the AO, the assessment was completed ex-parte u/s 144 of the Act by
adding the entire sundry credits to the total income.
3.1. Aggrieved by the assessment order, assessee filed an appeal before the
CIT(A). The Ld. Representative of the assessee submitted that the assessee had
expired on 22.02.2010 and Accountant of the assessee was not cooperated. It was
submitted that the legal heirs of the assessee being lady could not represent the
case properly before the AO.
3.2 The CIT(A) reduced the addition on account of sundry creditor to
Rs.2,00,000/- instead of Rs.37,17,128/- made by the Assessing Officer.
3.3 The Revenue being aggrieved is in appeal before us. The Ld. DR relied on
the order of the assessment. None was present on behalf of the assessee
3.4. We have heard Ld. DR and perused the material on record. The CIT(A) has
deleted the addition by observing as under:-
ITA No.3990/Del /2011 3
"Para 7.3 I have considered the addition of the AO and the submissions of the assessee and I find considerable merit in the submission of the assessee. It is apparent from the order of the AO that the assessee even though technically the assessee was not able to represent the case properly during the course of assessment proceedings, the AO was not justified to make such ad hoc addition and in a sweeping manner and in a very high pitched assessment by disallowing the entire sundry creditors without inquiring the genuineness of the sundry creditors. Perusal of the order of the AO and the assessment record shows that the AO had given limited opportunity to the assessee to represent the case during the course of assessment proceedings and no further opportunity or inquiry was made during the course of remand proceedings.
Para 7.4 It is matter of fact that the assessee is a very small assessee with nominal income and has not been able to comply with the rigorous of law on the issue of compliance. But at the same time, it is apparent that the AO has made the ex-parte assessment u/s 144 on technical grounds and the addition of the entire sundry creditors has been made on an ad hoc manner which does not seem to be legally sound and proper and appropriate. It may also be mentioned that when the submissions of the assessee were remanded to the AO, the AO was directed to give further opportunity to the assessee and examine the claim of the assessee during the course of the remand proceedings but it is seen that the AO has just tried to defend his order and has sent the remand report by summarising the assessment order without affording any opportunity to the assessee and without examining the submissions and claim of the assessee. It is difficult and it will be miscarriage of justice if the addition of entire sundry creditors which has been made in an ad hoc manner is sustained. It is also difficult to sustain such ad hoc addition as the assessee is a too small assessee and the assessee has expired during the period of appellate proceedings. Para 7.5 After considering all the facts and circumstances of the case, I am of the view that it will not be interest of substantive justice to confirm such ad hoc addition and I am constrained to delete the ad hoc addition made by the AO as the same has been made without any inquiry and without allowing any further opportunity during the course of remand proceedings. At the same time, keeping the interest of mind that there has been no proper representation from the assessee and there may have been possible leakage of revenue, it will be in the interest of justice to confirm some lump sum addition and accordingly, a lump sum estimated addition of Rs.2,00,000/- is confirmed to plug the possible leakage of revenue and the balance addition of Rs.35,17,128/- is deleted."
3.5 The entire sundry creditors appearing in the books of account of the
assessee was added by the Assessing Officer in the course of best judgment ITA No.3990/Del /2011 4
assessment u/s 144 of the Act. The Assessing Officer had made the addition
without making any enquiry or granting opportunity to the assessee during the
course of remand proceeding. The CIT(A) keeping in view, the interest of justice
and equity had reduced the addition to Rs.2,00,000/-. The Revenue has not placed
any material/document to enhance the addition sustained by the CIT(A).
Accordingly, we confirm the CIT(A)'s order on this issue. Therefore, Ground
No.1 raised by the Revenue is rejected.
Ground No.2
4. The assessee was in the business of supplying raw material for Ayurvedic
and Unani medicine. On a total turnover of Rs.23,50,219/-. The assessee had
declared the net profit of Rs.70,796/-. The ex-parte assessment was completed u/s
144 of the Act wherein AO made an addition of Rs.46,715/- by estimating GP at
5% on the turnover of Rs.23,50,219/- (1,17,511/- - 70,796/-).
4.1 The CIT(A) deleted the addition made by the Assessing Officer.
4.2 The Revenue being aggrieved is in appeal before us.
4.3. We have heard Ld. DR and perused the material on record. The relevant
finding of the CIT(A) reads as under:-
"Para 5.3. I have considered the addition of the AO and the submissions of the assessee and I find considerable merit in the submission of the assessee. It is matter of fact that the AO has made the GP addition purely on estimated basis without bringing any material on record and the same is apparently not justified. After considering all the facts and circumstances of the case, I am of the view that the AO is not justified to make such estimated addition without any proper finding or basis and accordingly, the same is deleted."
ITA No.3990/Del /2011 5 4.4. The CIT(A) has categorically held that GP addition made by the AO is on
estimate basis without any material. The Revenue has not produced any
material/document to uphold the GP estimated by the AO. Therefore, we uphold
the CIT(A)'s order on this issue as correct and in accordance with law. Hence,
Ground No.2 raised by the Revenue is dismissed.
Ground No.3
5. The AO made an addition of Rs.26,761/- being cash in hand. The CIT(A)
deleted the addition by observing thus:-
"Para 6.3. I have considered the addition of the AO and the submissions of the assessee and I find considerable merit in the submission of the assessee that the AO has made the addition of Rs 26,761/- merely on the basis of details of cash in hand as per the books of accounts without any proper finding. After considering all the facts and circumstances of the case, I am of the view that the AO is not justified to make such ad hoc addition merely on technical grounds and accordingly, the same is deleted."
5.1 We have heard Ld. DR and perused the material on record. On perusal of
the assessment order, we notice that the AO had made the addition without any
basis. The cash in hand is duly reflected in the books of account. Therefore, the
CIT(A)'s order is justified and we refrain from interfering with the same. It is
ordered accordingly.
ITA No.3990/Del /2011 6
6 In the result, the appeal filed by the Revenue is dismissed.
The decision was pronounced in the open Court on 27th February, 2015.
Sd/- Sd/- (B.C. MEENA) (GEORGE GEORGE K.) Accountant Member Judicial Member
Dated: 27th February, 2015. Aks/-
Copy forwarded to 1. Appellant 2. Respondent 3. CIT 4. CIT(A) 5. DR Asst. Registrar, ITAT, New Delhi
This page reproduces a public judgment and a summary of it. It is research material, not legal advice, and it is no substitute for advice from an advocate on your own facts.
Research this judgment with Miss Lucy
Ask what it holds, what has followed it, and what it means for your matter — in plain English, with the citations.
Try Miss Lucy free