Miss Lucy
← All judgments

Principal Commissioner Of Income Tax ... vs M/S Motisons Enterainment India Pvt. ...

Supreme Court7 March 2022S. Ravindra Bhat · Uday Umesh Lalit

Ratio decidendi

The rule this decision rests on

Where a High Court in appellate jurisdiction disposes of an income tax appeal by issuing an order devoid of reasoned discussion of the substantial legal and factual issues raised before it, such disposal is not valid, and the matter must be remitted to the High Court for decision afresh on its merits with full consideration of those issues.

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

Judgment

As delivered

1
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2022 (Arising out of SLP (Civil) No.10396 of 2019)

PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (CENTRAL) Appellant

VERSUS

M/s. MOTISONS ENTERTAINMENT INDIA PVT. LTD. Respondent

WITH

CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2022 (ARISING OUT OF SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (CIVIL) NO.27852/2019)

PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (CENTRAL) Appellant

VERSUS

M/s. MOTISONS GLOBAL PVT.LTD. Respondent

WITH

CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2022 (ARISING OUT OF SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (CIVIL) NO.27853/2019)

PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (CENTRAL) Appellant

VERSUS

M/s. MOTISONS GLOBAL PVT. LTD. Respondent Signature Not Verified

Digitally signed by Dr. Mukesh Nasa Date: 2022.03.11 19:07:34 IST Reason: 2

AND

CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2022 (ARISING OUT OF SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (CIVIL) NO.15664/2020)

PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (CENTRAL) Appellant

VERSUS

M/s. GODAWARI ESTATES PVT. LTD. Respondent

ORDER

CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2022 (Arising out of SLP (Civil) No.10396 of 2019)

1. Leave granted.

2. This appeal challenges the final judgment and order dated 31.07.2018 passed by

the High Court of Judicature for Rajasthan at Jaipur in Income Tax Appeal No.137 of

2018.

3. Insofar as Assessment Year 2012-13 was concerned, an order was passed by the

Assessing Officer adding Rs.7,78,00,000/- to the total income of the assessee which

order was challenged before the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) [for short

“CIT (Appeals)”]. The CIT (Appeals) found that an amount of Rs.6,36,50,000/- out of

Rs.7,78,00,000/- was properly explained by the assessee while in respect of the

remaining amount of Rs.1,41,50,000/-, the source was not properly explained and, as

such, the CIT (Appeals) sustained the addition to the extent of amount of

Rs.1,41,50,000/-.

3

4. The matter was carried in appeal by the assessee as well as the revenue and the

Income Tax Appellate Tribunal vide its judgment and order dated 09.11.2017 affirmed

the view taken by the CIT (Appeals) in respect of Rs.6,36,50,000/- and dismissed the

appeal preferred by the Revenue. It also allowed the appeal in respect of

Rs.1,41,50,000/-, and thus the entire relief was granted in favour of the assessee.

5. Income Tax Appeal No.137 of 2018 preferred at the instance of the Revenue

was disposed of by the High Court by its judgment under appeal with following

observations:

“Counsel for the appellant has taken us to the order of AO, CIT(A) and tribunal and thereafter contended that both CIT(A) as well as Tribunal have erred in deleting the addition of Rs.1.95 crore which was made u/s 56(1). However, the tribunal while considering the matter has discussed the law as well as factual matrix of the case. In our considered opinion, this is more an appreciation of facts rather question of law.”

6. In our view, the High Court was not right and justified in disposing of the

appeal with one paragraph order without discussing the issues which arose for

consideration. We, therefore, allow this appeal, set-aside the view taken by the High

Court and remit the matter back to the High Court for fresh consideration. Income

Tax Appeal No.137 of 2018 is thus restored to the file of the High Court to be decided

afresh and purely on its own merits.

7. For facilitating early disposal, Income Tax Appeal No.137 of 2018 shall be

listed before the High Court on 18.04.2022, on which date, both the Revenue and the

Assessee shall appear before the High Court.

4

8. Since we have remitted the matter for fresh consideration, we have refrained

from making any observations on the merits of the matter.

9. The appeal is allowed in aforesaid terms, with no order as to costs.

CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2022 ARISING OUT OF SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (CIVIL) NO.27852/2019; CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2022 ARISING OUT OF SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (CIVIL) NO.27853/2019; and, CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2022 ARISING OUT OF SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (CIVIL) NO.15664/2020.

10. Leave granted.

11. In view of the order passed in the lead matter, these appeals are also allowed

and Income Tax Appeal Nos.129 of 2018, 128 of 2018; and 164 of 2018 are restored

to the file of the High Court to be decided afresh and the appeals shall also be listed

before the High Court on 18.04.2022.

…………………………………..J. (UDAY UMESH LALIT)

…………………………………..J. (S. RAVINDRA BHAT)

New Delhi, March 07, 2022.

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