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Raj Kumar Jain, New Delhi vs Assessee

Income Tax Appellate Tribunal24 April 2015

Ratio decidendi

The rule this decision rests on

The Tribunal affirmed the CIT(A)'s enhancement only on the reasoning that the CIT(A)'s order was "very speaking and reasoned," with no independent reasons given; the text carries no stated legal principle beyond that deference to the lower authority's findings.

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

Judgment

As delivered

IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNALDELHI BENCH 'F': NEW DELHIBEFORE SHRI G.C. GUPTA, HON'BLE VICE PRESIDENTANDSHRI INTURI RAMA RAO, ACCOUNTANT MEMBERITA No. 4950/Del/2011Assessment Year 2008-09

M/s Raj Kumar Jain Vs. Income Tax Officer, W-19/9, Western Avenue Ward 14(3), Sainik Farm, Delhi. New Delhi

(PAN AAEPJ 2076 K)

(Appellant) (Respondent)

Date of hearing : 09.04.2015 Date of Pronouncement : 24.04.2015

Appellant by : None Respondent by : Shri Vikram Sahay, Sr. DR

ORDER

PER SHRI INTURI RAMA RAO, AM:

1. This is an appeal filed by the assessee for the AY 2008-09 against the order

of Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)-XVII, New Delhi dated 30.09.2011 in

ITA No. 150/10-11.

2. However, at the time of hearing no one was present on behalf of the

assessee. The notice for the date of hearing has been intimated on 05.11.2014.

Despite the same neither the assessee was present nor any request for adjournment

has been placed before us. It is further seen that it is recalled matter. On the earlier

occasion also the appeal was dismissed for non-appearance on 10.01.2012. ITA Nos.4950/Del /2011 2

However, on recall petition filed by the assessee, the order was recalled by the

order dated 05.04.2013. This only goes to show that the assessee is not serious in

pursuing the appeal. Therefore, we proceed to dispose of the appeal on merits.

3. The brief facts of the case are the assessee is an individual deriving income

from salary income for the AY 2008-09. The assessee filed the return of income on

24.03.2009, declaring income of Rs.13,20,889/-. Against the said return of income,

assessment was made u/s 143(3) of the Act vide order dated 21.12.2010 by Income

Tax Officer, Ward-14(3), New Delhi after making addition of Rs.43,000/- towards

household expenditure. Being aggrieved, the assessee preferred an appeal before

the CIT(A)-XVII, New Delhi who vide order dated 30.09.2011, enhanced the

addition by Rs.6,23,000/-. The CIT(A) after going through the details filed, had

come to the conclusion that the additional should be enhanced by Rs.6.23 lacs.

Accordingly, he had put the appellant on notice as required by the provisions of the

Act. The CIT(A) had dealt the same vide Paras No.2.3 to 2.5 & 5.3 of the CIT(A)

which is reproduced as under:-

"......Sub:- Notice u/s 251(2) of the IT Act. 1961 in the case of Shri Raj Kumar jain. for the Assessment Year 2008-09 - reg- Please refer to your appeal for the Assessment Year 2008-09 filed on 28.01.2011.

1. From the details submitted by your AR, it is seen that you have paid RS.60,000/- per month as cash towards rent of your sainik farm residence to the rent account in the books of M/s PRJ Enterprises Ltd. for the relevant assessment year. The total amount paid is Rs. 6,20, 000/- as 60,000/- per month is paid for 10 months from June, 2007 to March, 2008 while Rs.10,000/- per month is paid for the months of April & May, 2007. Your entire salary income of ITA Nos.4950/Del /2011 3

Rs.100,000/- per month and Rs.60,000/- as house rent allowance is seen credited in your individual ledger account in M/s PRJ Enterprises Ltd. There is no withdrawal in this individual ledger account to make the payment of Rs. 6,20, 000/- paid as cash to the rent account in M/s PRJ Enterprises Ltd. As per your AR's letter dated 19.04.2011, your withdrawal from the above ledger account is only Rs.2,08,000/- during the year.

2. From the details of cash withdrawals submitted, it is also seen that the withdrawals on 10.12.200.7, 04.11.2008, 06.02.2008 and 17.03.2008 totaling Rs.40,000/- i.e. Rs.10,000/- represents cash paid for deposit in Union Bank of India. These details indicate that during the 6 months period from 01.10.2007 to 31.03.2008 the only cash withdrawal made from the above ledger account is Rs.14,000/- made on 30.12.2007. Therefore, the addition made by the AO in the assessment order for inadequate withdrawal for household expenses appears to be correct at least for the period between 01.10.2007 and 31.03.2008. Based on the AO's estimate of RS.10,000/- per month, amount of Rs.46,000/- i.e. RS.10,000x6=60000-14000 (explained) needs to be added, instead of Rs.43,000/- added by the AO.

3. Therefore, in exercise of powers as per provisions of section 251(1)(a) of the I. T. Act, 1961, I propose to enhance the income by Rs.6,23,000/- i.e. Rs.6,20,000/- u/s 69C of the I. T. Act, 1961 for unexplained expenditure and Rs.3,000/- as inadequate withdrawal for household expenses.

4. You may submit your explanation if any, in writing during the hearing on 11.07.2011 at 11.00 a.m."

2.4. The appellant's AR finally appeared on 21.07.2011 and submitted the following written submission:

"The appellant respectfully showeth:

1. That referring to para 2 of the notice first, the appellant submits that the appellant had already taken into account the amount of Rs. 40,000/- which i:s included in the total amount of Rs. 77,000/- as re-deposited with the Bank. The kind attention of the Ld. CIT is invited in this behalf to the appellant's letter dated 19.04.2011 which is already on record. After accounting for the said re-deposit the appellant has still available a cash in hand of Rs.1,38,000/- (Rs.2,15,084 - Rs.77,000). The Ld. AO has estimated the house-hold expenses at RS.1,20,000/- which is duly covered by the cash withdrawals made by the appellant ITA Nos.4950/Del /2011 4

and not re-deposited in the bank. The addition of Rs.43,000/- or proposed amount of Rs.46,000/- is therefore not called for.

2. That in regard to cash deposited by the appellant with the company, the said amount has clearly come out of the cash in hand available with the appellant as per a copy of the balance-

sheet enclosed herewith for the assessment year in appeal which is already on record and the immediate preceding assessment year. No addition is therefore called for. "

2.5. The above submission of the appellant is to be taken into account after considering the fact that the total income of the appellant was only Rs.19,20,890/-.

From this income of Rs.19,20,890/-, the appellant has made an investment of Rs.20,10,000/- in mutual funds and life insurance (Rs.5,00,000/- each in Tata, Reliance and Kotak Mahindra and Rs.5,10,000/- in Aviva Life Insurance). The appellant has not filed any cash flow statement either before me or the AO. In the enhancement notice I have clearly indicated that the appellant's withdrawal after 01.10.2007 was only Rs.14,000/- made on 30.12.2007. Instead of, explaining the source of house hold expenses for the period between 01.10.2007 to 31.03.2008, the appellant is only stating that the overall drawings during the year is adequate to explain the house hold expenses estimated by the AO at Rs.1,20,000/-. The balance sheet now filed by the appellant can only be treated as self generated evidence as the assessment records indicates that no balance sheet or P&L was filed alongwith the return of income as the appellant had only salary income and only a meager interest income of Rs.889/-. In light of the above findings, the various grounds of appeal raised by the appellant are considered in the paragraphs below."

"A person having Rs.6,95,200/- in cash at the beginning of the year need not withdraw such small amounts from his personal amount to make deposits in the bank account. Therefore, the appellant's AR's explanation is only an after thought and therefore, rejected and the appellant's income is enhanced with Rs.6,20,000/- u/s 69C of the Act for unexplained expenditure as proposed in my notice u/s 251(2) dated 04.07.2011. Therefore, the total enhancement of Rs.6,23,000/- is made including Rs.3,000/- enhanced as per para 3.1. above."

ITA Nos.4950/Del /2011 5 4. As regards the addition of Rs.43,000/- Ld. CIT(A) held that the total

estimated household expenditure for six months at the rate of Rs.10,000/- per

month comes to Rs.60,000/- out of which 14,000/- is met out of withdrawals of the

money and the balance of Rs.46,000/- was treated as unexplained expenditure

thereby enhancing the household expenditure by Rs.3000/-.

5. We find that the Ld. CIT(A) passed very speaking and reasoned order in

support of the enhancement of Rs.6,23,000/-. Hence, we do not find any reason to

interfere with the order of the CIT(A). The appeal filed by the assessee is

dismissed.

6. In the result, the appeal filed by the assessee is dismissed.

The Order pronounced in the open Court on 24th April, 2015.

Sd/- Sd/- (G.C. GUPTA) (INTURI RAMA RAO) Vice President Accountant Member

Dated: 24th April, 2015. Aks/- DCOM

Copy forwarded to 1. Appellant 2. Respondent 3. CIT 4. CIT(A) 5. DR Asst. Registrar, ITAT, New Delhi

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