Sh. Atul Jindal, Ludhiana vs Assessee
- CitationITA No. 632/Chd/2014
Ratio decidendi
The rule this decision rests on
The Tribunal may treat an appeal as unadmitted and dismiss it for non-prosecution where the appellant, despite due service of notice of hearing, fails to appear and does not pursue the appeal, applying Rule 19(2) of the Appellate Tribunal Rules as applied in the cited authority. An appeal is not pursued merely by filing a memorandum of appeal; it must be effectively prosecuted by the appellant, and a party who, after notice, fails to appear at the hearing and take steps to prosecute the appeal is taken to have ceased to be interested in it, so that dismissal for non-prosecution follows.
Written by Miss Lucy from the judgment below, not taken from a headnote.
Judgment
As delivered
Shri Atul Jindal, Vs. The A.C.I.T. Prop. Usha Impex, B-XX 2955, Circle VI, Gurdev Nagar, Ludhiana. Ludhiana. PAN: ACKPJ4006F (Appellant) (Respondent)
Appellant by : None Respondent by : Shri Manjit Singh, DR
Date of hearing : 08.06.2015 Date of Pronouncement : 08.06.2015
O R D E R
PER BHAVNESH SAINI, J.M. :
This appeal filed by the assessee is directed against
the order of the learned Commissioner of Income Tax
(Appeals)-II, Ludhiana dated 24.4.2014 for assessment year
2008-09.
2. The order of the learned CIT (Appeals) revealed that
the appeal of the assessee was fixed before him many times
and despite service of notices, the assessee did not make any
compliance. Therefore, the appeal of the assessee was
decided ex-parte.
2
3. The assessee was notified of the dates of hearing
through registered post. However, none appeared on behalf
of the assessee at the time of hearing of the appeal despite
service of notice in ordinary course of business. It, therefore,
appears that the assessee is no more interested in prosecuting
the appeal. Therefore, the appeal of the assessee is liable to
be dismissed. The laws aid those who are vigilant, not those
who sleep upon their rights. The principle is embodied as
well known dictum, 'VIGILANTIBUS ET NON DORMIENTIBUS
JURA SUBVENIUNT'. Considering the facts and keeping in
view the provisions of Rule 19(2) of the Appellate Tribunal
Rules as were considered in 38 ITD 320 (Del) in the case of
CIT v Multiplan India Ltd., we treat this appeal as
unadmitted.
4. Similar view has been taken by Hon'ble M.P. High Court
in the case of Estate of Late Tukojirao Holkar v CWAT 223 ITR
480 wherein it has been held as under:-
" I f t h e p a r t y , a t wh o s e i n s t a n c e t h e r e f e r e n c e i s made, f ails to appear at the hearing, or f ails in taking steps f or preparation of the paper books so as to enable hearing of the ref erence, the c o u r t i s n o t b o u n d t o a n s we r t h e r e f e r e n c e . "
5. Similarly, Hon'ble Punjab & Haryana High Court in the
case of New Diwan Oil Mills Vs CIT (2008) 296 ITR 495
returned the reference unanswered since the assessee
remained absent and there was not any assistance from the
assessee.
3
6. Their Lordships of Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of
CIT v B.N. Bhattarchargee And Another 118 ITR 461 at page
477-78 held that the appeal does not mean, mere filing of the
memo of appeal but effectively pursuing the same.
7. So by respectfully following the view taken in the cases
cited (supra), we dismiss this appeal filed by the assessee for
non prosecution.
8. In the result, the appeal filed by the assessee is
dismissed.
Order pronounced in the open court on this 8th day of
June, 2015.
Sd/- Sd/- (T.R.SOOD) (BHAVNESH SAINI) ACCOUNTANT MEMBER JUDICIAL MEMBER
Dated : 8 t h June, 2015
*Rati*
Copy to: The Appellant/The Respondent/The CIT(A)/The CIT/The DR.
Assistant Registrar, ITAT, Chandigarh
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