Case Law Details
M/s. Bhartia-SMSIL (JV) Vs ITO (ITAT Guwahati)
Solitary grievance of the assessee has been confined to the issue that since clause (i) of section 92BA has been omitted by Finance Act, 2017, w.e.f. 01.04.2017 and the effect of such omission without any saving clause of General Clauses Act, means that the above provisions was not in existence or never existed in the statute, therefore, the jurisdiction exercised by the ld PCIT under section 263 of the Act is void and as a result the order passed by the assessing officer dated 30.08.2016, under section 143(3) of the Act is neither erroneous nor prejudicial to the interest of the Revenue.
If a provision of a statute is unconditionally omitted without a saving Clause in favour of pending proceedings, all actions must stop where the omission finds them, and if final relief has not been granted before the omission goes into effect, it cannot be granted afterwards. Savings of the nature contained in Section 6 of General Clauses Act or in special Acts may modify the position. Thus, the operation of repeal or deletion as to the future and the past largely depends on the savings applicable. In a case where a particular provision in a statute is omitted and in its place another provision dealing with the same contingency is introduced without a saving clause in favour of pending proceedings then it can be reasonably inferred that the intention of the legislature is that the pending proceeding shall not continue but a fresh proceeding for the same purpose may be initiated under the new provision.
In this case, Clause (i) of section 92BA was omitted w.e.f 01.04.2017, and after its omission the ld. PCIT passed order u/s. 263 on 13.03.2019. Since clause (i) of section 92BA was unconditionally omitted without a saving clause in favour of Pending Proceedings therefore ld. PCIT ought not to have proceeded u/s. 263 of the Act, since the omission took place prior to 08.03.2019 and such omission in clause (i) of section 92BA is unconditional, that is, it does not say that Pending Proceedings under clause (i) of section 92BA would continue in future, even after its omission on 01.04.2017. Therefore, Ld. PCIT erred in exercising his jurisdiction u/s. 263 of the Act, so far clause (i) of section 92BA is concerned, reason being, in the eyes of law after omission of clause (i) of section 92BA, it would be treated as if it never existed in the Statute Book. In other words, clause (i) of section 92BA, was omitted w.e.f 1.4.2017 unconditionally and without a saving clause therefore section 6 of the General Clauses Act has no application.
We note that ld PCIT issued the above show cause notice u/s 263 in respect of specified domestic transactions referred to in clause (i) of section 92BA of the Act which was omitted with effect from 01.04.2017, and effect of such “omission” of clause (i) of section 92BA means that this provision never existed in the statute book, since clause (i) of section 92BA never existed in the statute book therefore, ld PCIT cannot exercise his jurisdiction under section 263 of the Act in respect of specified domestic transactions referred to in clause (i) of section 92BA of the Act. Therefore, the action of the Assessing Officer cannot be held to be erroneous as well as prejudicial to the interest of the revenue, in the facts and circumstances as narrated above. Thus, the usurpation of jurisdiction of exercising revisional jurisdiction by the Principal CIT is ‘’null’’ in the eyes of law and, therefore, we are inclined to quash the very assumption of jurisdiction to invoke revisional jurisdiction u/s 263 of the Act by the Principal CIT.
Please become a Premium member. If you are already a Premium member, login here to access the full content.
