CBDT should investigate arm twisting measures adopted by Revenue for tax recovery: HC

Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust (Shirdi) Vs. UOI (Bombay High Court)

The allegations with regard to the CIT(A) mentioning of incorrect dates in the order sheet and the office of the CIT[E] threatening to attach the Petitioner’s bank account and reopen Assessments for the last two years in case it fails to deposit the amount of Rs.20 Crores before 31^st March, 2018, is, indeed very serious. Particularly, when the Assessing officer or the CIT[E] could have dealt with the request of deposit by passing an order on the application under Section 220(6) of the Act filed by the petitioner. In the absence of denial on affidavit by the CIT(A) and CIT[E] the allegations in the petition cannot be discarded. Although in effect Mr. Mohanty the learned counsel for the Revenue has disputed the allegations by stating that if the date was wrongly mentioned there was no compulsion to sign the same. We could have asked for a response from the CIT(A) and CIT[E] to the allegations in the petition, considering the fact that the petition has just been filed yesterday. However it would be best if the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) carry out the necessary investigation on the above allegations and if there is truth in it, it would take corrective action on the same. This is particularly because this conduct alleged on the part of the CIT(A) and the office of the CIT[E] appears to us to be an aberration, as normally we have noted that the officers Revenue do administer the Act with fairness and with loyalty to the Act. Therefore if the allegation in the petition are correct, then such failures on the part of its Officers needs to be corrected by the CBDT before it becomes the norm. Failing corrective measures by the CBDT, would only result in our entertaining petitions from orders under the Act as the alternative remedy would cease to be an efficacious remedy, if such arm twisting measures de­hors application of the law, are adopted by the Revenue. We therefore direct the CBDT to carry out necessary investigation on the allegations made in the petition and if found correct, to take corrective measures to ensure that its Officers shall not be overzealous in seeking to recover maximum revenue before 31st March of any financial year, in total disregard of the law.