Case Law Details
Baba Kishan Dasss Education & Charitable Society Vs ITO (Exemptions) Ward (ITAT Chandigarh)
Introduction: In a significant judgment by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) Chandigarh, the case of Baba Kishan Dass Education & Charitable Society Vs ITO (Exemptions) Ward brought to light the critical aspect of taxpayers’ rights to furnish additional evidence in proceedings under section 144 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. This ruling, delivered on January 15, 2024, underscores the tribunal’s approach towards ensuring fairness and justice in the tax assessment process, particularly when assessments are completed ex-parte under section 144.
Detailed Analysis
The appeal was lodged by Baba Kishan Dass Education & Charitable Society against the order of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), NFAC, Delhi, dated May 26, 2023, for the Assessment Year 2016-17. The key issue revolved around the disallowance of exemption under section 10(23C)(iiiad) and the ex-parte assessment framed under section 144 due to non-compliance by the assessee with the notices issued.
The assessee’s primary contention was the inability to comply with the procedural requirements due to genuine hardships, including lack of internet access in a rural setting and severe personal circumstances affecting the authorized manager cum Principal of the School. Further, during the appellate proceedings, the assessee sought permission to submit additional evidence under Rule 46A, which the CIT(A) neither accepted nor rejected explicitly in the impugned order.
The ITAT, upon reviewing the circumstances and the additional evidence proposed, emphasized the importance of such evidence in determining the issue at hand. It was held that the assessee should be given an opportunity to present the additional documentation and explanations in support of its claim for exemption. This decision demonstrates the tribunal’s commitment to the principles of natural justice and the belief that a fair assessment cannot be completed without considering all relevant information, including any additional evidence that the taxpayer wishes to submit.
Conclusion: The ITAT Chandigarh’s ruling in Baba Kishan Dass Education & Charitable Society Vs ITO (Exemptions) Ward signifies a pivotal moment in the interpretation of taxpayers’ rights under the Income Tax Act, 1961. By allowing the submission of additional evidence, the tribunal has affirmed its stance on ensuring equitable and just treatment of taxpayers, especially in cases where assessments are made ex-parte under section 144. This judgment not only provides guidance on the procedural aspects of tax assessments but also reinforces the importance of providing taxpayers with every opportunity to substantiate their claims. The case is a testament to the ITAT’s role in upholding the principles of fairness and justice in the tax adjudication process, setting a precedent for future cases involving similar issues.
FULL TEXT OF THE ORDER OF ITAT CHANDIGARH
This is an appeal filed by the Assessee against the order of the Ld. CIT(A), NFAC, Delhi dt. 26/05/2023 pertaining to Assessment Year 2016-17.
2. In the present appeal, the assessee has raised the following grounds of appeal:
1. That order passed u/s 250(6) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 by the Learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), NFAC Delhi vide order dated 26.05.2023 is against law and facts on the file in as much as CIT(A) was not justified to uphold the action of the Learned Assessing Officer that the appellant is not entitled to claim of exemption u/s 10(23C)(iiiad) of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
2. That the Learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) was not justified to uphold the action of the Learned Assessing Officer in framing assessment exparte u/s 144.
3. That the Learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) was not justified in not adjudicating on the ground of admissibility of additional evidence.
3. Briefly the facts of the case are that the assessee is an educational society running a school by the name of Baba Kishan Dass Education & Charitable Society at Village Salana. The assessee society filed its return of income declaring NIL income on 28/09/2016 which was subsequently revised on 14/11/2017. The case of the assessee was selected for scrutiny. Notice under section 143(2) was issued and thereafter notice under section 142(1) alongwith questionnaire and thereafter final show cause was issued and in absence of any reply submitted by the assessee society, the assessment was framed under section 144 by the AO.
3.1 As per the AO, the assessee has filed its return of income under section 10(23C)(iiiad) of the Act by showing income from other sources at Rs. 69,13,980. As per the AO, in order to claim of exemption, the assessee society has to fufi certain conditions as laid down in the relevant provisions, however in the instant case, the assessee society has failed to furnish the details/ information to substantiate its claim under section 10(23C)(iiiad) of the Act and therefore the exemption claimed was disallowed and whole of the amount of Rs. 69,13,980/- was brought to tax in the hands of the assessee society.
4. Being aggrieved, the assessee society carried the matter in appeal before the Ld. CIT(A) who has since sustained the said addition.
5. Against the said findings and the direction of the Ld. CIT(A), the assessee society is in appeal before us.
6. During the course of hearing the Ld.AR submitted that the assessment in this case was completed under section 144 of the Act. Regarding non compliance to the notices issued by the AO, it was submitted that the assessee did not have access to the email –id being located in small village Salani, Tehsil Amloh District Fatehgarh Sahib where there was no internet facility available. It was further submitted that the authorized manager cum Principal of the School Sardar Sukhwinder Singh looking after the affairs of school could not give due attention due to medical treatment of his son Charanjeet Singh who was suffering from cancer and who has since met with an untimely death. It was accordingly submitted that there was a reasonable cause for non appearance before the AO.
6.1 It was further submitted that during the appellate proceedings, the assessee sought permission of the Ld. CIT(A) to produce additional evidence as per the Rule 46A. However on perusal of the impugned order, it may be noted that the Ld. CIT(A) has failed to record any finding either accepting or rejecting the additional evidence so submitted by the assessee.
6.2 In this regard, our reference was drawn to the impugned order wherein the submissions so filed by the assessee were reproduced by the Ld. CIT(A) wherein the assessee has sought permission to submit additional evidence in terms of copy of audited balance sheet as on 31/03/2016 alongwith audit report in Form No. 10BB, copy of the trust deed, copy of the certificate of registration, copy of the assessment order under section 143(3) for A.Y 2010-11 wherein the AO has allowed the exemption under section 10(23C)(iiiad) of the Act, computation chart showing income applied towards revenue expenses and capital expenses and which shows that the assessee society has utilized more than 85% of the gross receipt towards attaining the object of the society, copy of the bills of assets purchased during the year etc. It was submitted that al these additional evidence are critical for determination of the issue at hand and same may be allowed to be submitted and taken into consideration while deciding the eligibility of the assessee society under section 1 0(23C)(iiiad) of the Act for the year under consideration.
6.3 It was further submitted that the assessee society has been regularly filing its return of income claiming exemption under section 1 0(23C) (iiiad) of the Act and which has been assessed on same basis in all the subsequent assessment years starting from A.Y. 2017-18 to A.Y. 2020-23 and copy of the intimation issued under section 143(1) are placed on record. It was accordingly submitted that the assessee be allowed the necessary exemption under section 10(23C) (iiiad) of the Act after taking into consideration the additional evidence so submitted by the assessee.
7. Per contra, the Ld. CIT/DR has relied on the orders of the lower authorities. It was submitted that the AO has given numbers of opportunities to the assessee and the assessee has miserably failed to avail of the said opportunity resulting in passing of the assessment order under section 144 of the Act. Further he relied on the order passed by the Ld. CIT(A).
8. We have heard the rival contentions and purused the material availabe on Given that the assessment proceedings have been completed u/s 144 and the assessee has come forward with an explanation regarding nonappearance before the AO and has also moved an application seeking permission to submit the additional evidence, it was incumbent on part of the Ld CIT(A) to consider the said prayer of the assessee for submitting additional evidence. In our view, we find that the additional evidence so submitted is critical and germane for deciding the matter under consideration and given that the assessment has been completed u/s 144, the assessee deserve to be allowed an opportunity to furnish the necessary explanation and documentation in support of its claim for exemption u/s 10(23C)(iiiad) of the Act. Therefore, in interest of substantial justice, we hereby admit the additional evidence and the matter is remanded to the file of the ld CIT(A) to examine the matter a fresh after providing reasonable opportunity to the assessee. The contentions on merits are thus left open and not adjudicated upon. It would be open for the assessee to raise the same before the ld CIT(A) who shall consider and decide the same as per law.
9. In the result, the appeal of the assessee is allowed for statistical purposes.
Order pronounced in the open Court on 15/01/2024.
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