Case Law Details
PCIT Vs Dozco (India) Pvt. Ltd. (Calcutta High Court)
In the case of PCIT-1 Vs Dozco (India) Pvt. Ltd., the Calcutta High Court dismissed an appeal filed by the revenue challenging an Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) order regarding an assessment under Section 153 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The revenue questioned whether the ITAT erred in allowing the assessee’s appeal without properly considering Section 153’s provisions, particularly regarding the service date of April 3, 2015. The Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) [CIT(A)], in a prior order dated September 14, 2020, had ruled in favor of the assessee, noting that the assessment order was served beyond the statutory deadline and was therefore invalid. The CIT(A) found that only a partial order and computation sheet were served on the assessee, which did not constitute valid service. The ITAT reviewed and upheld the CIT(A)’s factual findings and concluded that the assessment was not legally compliant. The High Court found no substantial question of law in the case, upholding the dismissal of the revenue’s appeal and affirming the ITAT’s decision. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed.
FULL TEXT OF THE JUDGMENT/ORDER OF CALCUTTA HIGH COURT
This appeal by the revenue under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (the Act) is directed against the order dated August 22, 2023 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, “A” Bench, Kolkata in ITA/48/KOL/2021 for the assessment year 2012-2013.
The revenue has raised the following substantial question of law for consideration:
a. WHETHER on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the learned Income Tax Appellate Tribunal is justified in law in allowing the appeal of the assessee without appreciating the purport of Section 153 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 where default date of service has been reflected as April 03, 2015 and the same did not prove that the order was served to the assessee on that date as it was system generated default date?
We have heard learned Advocates on either side.
The revenue has filed the appeal before the learned tribunal challenging the order passed by the Commissioner of Income Tax [Appeals]-7, Kolkata [CIT(A)] dated 14.9.2020 for the assessment year 2012-13. The CIT(A) by an order dated 14.9.2020 allowed the appeal filed by the assessee challenging the assessment order dated 23.4.2015. The CIT(A) after considering the entire facts in paragraph 4.1 of its order has recorded that the Assessing Officer has not adhered to the statutory provisions of section 153 of the Act in passing the assessment order under section 143[3]. In fact, the CIT(A) had given an opportunity to the Assessing Officer to submit a remand report on the queries which was sought for. However, the Assessing Officer failed to submit a report. Thus, after taking into considering the facts the CIT(A) found that only a computation sheet was served on the assessee on 7.4.2015 along with a part of the assessment order dated 29.3.2015. The assessee filed an affidavit stating that the computation sheet is only a tax computation sheet which is to be served along with the assessment order. On facts, the CIT(A) found that the assessment order has been passed well beyond the date of limitation and it is not a valid order in terms of section 153 of the Act. The correctness of this factual finding was re-examined by the tribunal and after considering the facts affirmed the said finding. The learned tribunal not stopping with that proceeded to consider the merits of the matter and recorded its reasons on facts as to why the CIT(A) was justified in allowing the assessee’s appeal.
Thus, we find no question of law much less substantial question of law arises for consideration in this appeal.
Accordingly, the appeal fails and dismissed. Consequently, the application, GA/2/2024 stands dismissed.
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