Case Law Details
Agasthya Auto Products LLP Vs ITO (ITAT Delhi)
Agasthya Auto Products LLP filed an appeal against the order of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) for the assessment year 2011-12. The appeal raised multiple grounds, challenging the validity of the reassessment proceedings initiated by the Assessing Officer (AO) under Section 147 of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
The appellant contended that the reassessment proceedings were initiated without valid jurisdiction, and the AO failed to comply with the prescribed procedure under the statute. The reasons recorded by the AO for reopening the assessment were vague and did not demonstrate an independent application of mind. The AO heavily relied on information from the Investigation Wing without establishing a link between the tangible material and the formation of reasons to believe that income had escaped assessment.
The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) carefully reviewed the reasons recorded by the AO and found that the AO had not demonstrated valid satisfaction or jurisdiction for initiating the reassessment proceedings. The ITAT relied on precedents set by the Delhi High Court, which held that a mere reproduction of conclusions from an investigation report cannot be considered a valid basis for forming reasons to believe that income has escaped assessment.
Based on the analysis and legal precedents, the ITAT allowed grounds 3 and 4 of the appellant, quashing the reassessment proceedings, notice u/s 148, and the reassessment order for the assessment year 2011-12. The other grounds were not discussed due to the absence of arguments. The appeal was partly allowed in favor of the assessee.
FULL TEXT OF THE ORDER OF ITAT DELHI
1. This is an appeal filed by the assessee against the order of the ld CIT(A)-13, Delhi dated 05.02.2020 for AY 2011-12.
2. The assessee has raised the following grounds of appeal:-
“1 On the facts and circumstances of the case, the order passed by the learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) [CIT(A)] is bad, both in the eye of law and on the facts
2 On the fact and circumstances of the case, Id CIT(A) has erred both on facts and in law in passing the order without giving assessee a fair and adequate opportunity of being heard.
3. On the facts and circumstances of the case, the initiation of the proceedings under Section 147, read with Section 148, made by A.O. is bad and liable to be quashed as the condition and procedure prescribed under the statute have not been satisfied and complied with
4 (1) On the fact and circumstances of the case, the order passed by the AO is bad in the eye of law and on facts as the same is made on the basis of reasons recorded without there being any independent application of mind (11) That the reassessment order passed by the A.O. is bad and liable to be quashed as the same has been reopened on the basis of the reasons which are vague and against the facts on record.
5. On the fact and circumstances of the case, Ld. AO has erred in reopening u/s 147 of the income tax Act, 1961 without obtaining valid approval from the prescribed authority as required u/s 151 of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
6. (1) On the facts and circumstances of the case, Id CIT(A) has erred both on facts and in law in confirming an addition of Rs. 40,00,000/- under section 68 of the Act. on account of share capital received.
(ii) That the above said addition has been confirmed rejecting arbitrarily the explanation and evidences produced by the assessee to prove the identity and credit worthiness of shareholder as well as the genuineness of the transaction.
7. On the facts and circumstances of the case, Id. CIT(A) has erred both on facts and in law in confirming the addition despite the same having been made on the basis of material collected/ statement recorded at the back of the assessee without giving it an opportunity to rebut/ cross examine the same in gross violation of the principles of natural justice.”
3. Ground No. 1 and 2 of the assessee are general in nature and therefore, same are dismissed.
4. Apropos ground No. 3 and 4 of the assessee, the ld counsel of the assessee submitted that on the facts and circumstances of the case the initiation of proceedings u/s 147 read with section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (for short ‘the Act’) made by the ld AO is bad in law and liable to be quashed as the condition and procedure prescribed under the statue have not been satisfied and complied with by the AO. She further submitted that reassessment order passed by the AO is bad in law and on facts as the same has been made on the basis of reasons recorded without there being any independent application of mind by the AO. She vehemently pointed out that the reassessment order is bad in law and liable to be quashed as the case has been reopened on the basis of the reasons which are vague and against the facts of the case and the AO initiated proceedings without having valid reason to believe that income has escaped assessment for relevant assessment year. Further placing reliance on various orders and judgments including order of ITAT Delhi Benches in the case of Pioneer Town Planners Pvt. Ltd Vs. DCIT in ITA No. 132/Del/2018 reported in 2018 (8) TMI 515-ITA Delhi submitted that when the text and words used by the AO in the reasons recorded for reopening clearly shows that the AO proceeded to initiate reassessment proceedings and reopening of assessment without having any valid satisfaction and only on the basis of borrowed satisfaction and in absence of independent application of mind to the material received by the AO from the Investigation Wing. The AO could not have valid reasons to believe that income has escaped assessment only on the basis of report of Investigation Wing. Therefore, initiation of reassessment proceedings and reassessment order may kindly be quashed.
5. Replying to the above, the ld Sr. DR drew my attention towards copy of the reasons recorded by the AO, available at page 16 and 17 of the assessee’s paper book, and submitted that the AO property followed and analyzed the material received from the Investigation Wing and thereafter have valid reasons to believe that income has escaped assessment for the relevant period therefore, the legal ground Nos. 3 and 4 of the assessee may kindly be dismissed.
6. The ld counsel further pressing into service ground No. 5 of assessee submitted that the AO has erred in initiating the reopening of assessment u/s 147 of the Act without obtaining valid approval from the competent authority as per mandatory requirement u/s 151 of the Act therefore, the reassessment proceedings and impugned reassessment order also deserved to be quashed only on this count.
7. Replying to the above the ld Sr. DR also took my attention through page No. 15 of the assessee’s paper book and submitted that ld PCIT after perusal of the relevant material and reasons recorded by the AO applied his mind and thereafter in cloumn 13 mentioned detailed reasons for granting approval, showing application of mind and thereafter having satisfaction on the reasons recorded by the AO that it was a fit case for issue notice u/s 148 of the Act. Therefore, legal ground No. 5 of the assessee may kindly be dismissed.
8. On careful consideration of the above submission apropos ground No. 5 of assessee I am of the considered view that the ld PCIT has given his approval u/s 151 of the Act in Column 13 of page 15 wherein, he has given a detailed basis based on the exercise undertaken by him, before granting approval u/s 151 of the Act. I am unable to see any discrepancy therein, which could show non-application of mind by the PCIT at the time of granting approval u/s 151 of the Act. Therefore, I hold that the legal ground No. 5 of assessee have no lags to stand on the legal platform of tax jurisprudence thus, the grounds No. 5 is dismissed.
9. So far as, regarding ground Nos. 3 and 4 of the assessee, the legal contention of the ld counsel of the assessee alleging non application of mind by the AO, at the time of initiation of reassessment proceedings, is concerned, from vigilant careful perusal and reading two pages of reasons recorded (pages 16 and 17) I observe that in first three paras the AO has noted facts of the information received from Investigation Wing and modus operanti of entry providers. Thereafter, the AO in para 4 drawn a conclusion that the information noted in the preceding para remains unexplained and hence it is undisclosed income of the assessee for the year under consideration. Thereafter in para 5 the AO directly jump to conclusion that he has reason to believe that the assessee’s undisclosed income for AY 2011-12 has escaped assessment within the meaning of section 147 of the Act therefore, it is fit case for initiation of notice u/s 148 of the Act. The text and words used by the AO in the reasons recorded for reopening of the assessment clearly shows that the AO proceeded to initiate assessment proceedings u/s 147 of the Act and to issue notice u/s 148 of the Act without having any valid satisfaction and assuming valid jurisdiction, only on the basis of borrowed satisfaction based on report of investigation wing only and there was no independent application of mind by the AO to the information and documents received from the Investigation Wing which could form a valid basis and reason to believe that income has escaped assessment.
10. Keeping in view, above noted factual position and legal analysis of the reasons recorded by the AO, respectfully following the decision of jurisdictional High Court of Delhi, as has been vehemently relied by the ld counsel of the assessee, in the cases of PCIT Vs. Meenashi Overseas 395 ITR 677 (Delhi), PCIT Vs. RMG Polyvinyl (India) Ltd 396 ITR 5 (Del) wherein, their lordship speaking for the Hon’ble Jurisdictional High Court held that where the reasons recorded by the AO failed to demonstrate link between the tangible material and the formation of reasons to believe that the income has escaped assessment, then, indeed it amounts to borrowed satisfaction and the conclusion of the AO based on reproduction of conclusion drawn in the investigation report cannot be held as valid basis and reason to believe after application of mind. Therefore, in my considered opinion the AO did not assume valid jurisdiction for initiation of reassessment proceedings u/s 147 of the Act and issue notice u/s 148 of the Act and to frame reassessment order u/s 143(3)/ 147 of the Act dated 31.12.2018 and hence, I am compelled to hold that the said reassessment proceeding notice and reassessment orders are not valid and sustainable being bad in law and passed without assuming valid jurisdiction by the AO and I hold so.
11. On the basis of foregoing discussion ground No. 3 and 4 of assessee are allowed and impugned proceedings, u/s 147 of the Act notice u/s 148 of the Act and impugned reassessment order dated 31.12.2018 for AY 2011-12 are quashed.
12. Since ld representatives of both sides have not placed any argument on the other ground of assessee therefore, I do not deem it proper to adjudicate the same in absence of any argument thereon.
13. In the result, appeal of the assessee is partly allowed. .
Order pronounced in the open court on 30/06/2023.
