Case Law Details
Satia Industries Limited Vs National Faceless Assessment Centre (Delhi High Court)
In the case of Satia Industries Limited Vs. National Faceless Assessment Centre, Delhi in W.P.(C ) 5587/2021 & CM APPL. 17382/2021 (Delhi High Court), it has been considered that since an adverse view was taken, and petitioner’s income got varied, provisions of section 144B(7) get triggered, and that such an aspect had received attention in the judgment dated 27/05/2021 in the matter of Ritnand Balved Education Foundation (Umbrella Organization of Amity Group of Institutions) Vs. National Faceless Assessment Centre & Ors., in W.P.(C ) 5537/2021 (Delhi High Court), wherein the high court has observed that impugned assessment order and consequential notices of demand and penalty were flawed being in contravention of provisions of section 144B(7)(vii) of the Income Tax Act and the standard operation procedure (SOP) for personal hearing through video conferencing under the faceless assessment scheme, 2019 issued by the CBDT under Circular dated 23/11/2020. It has been also observed that since statute itself makes provision for personal hearing, the respondent revenue cannot veer away from the same. As such, impugned assessment had been set aside directing granting of personal hearing to the petitioner or its representative via video conferencing with the concerned officer with a prior notice therefor.
FULL TEXT OF THE HIGH COURT ORDER/JUDGEMENT
[Court hearing convened via video-conferencing on account of COVID-19]
1. This matter was listed before us on 28.05.2021, when the following order was passed:
“CM APPL. 17383/2021
1. Allowed, subject to just exceptions.
CM APPL. 17384/2021
2. The prayer made in the captioned application is to grant exemption from filing the requisite court-fee and sworn/notarised/affirmed affidavits along with the present petition. The captioned application is disposed of with a direction to the petitioner to place on record the duly sworn/notarised/affirmed affidavits and deposit the requisite court-fee, within three days of the resumption of the normal and usual work pattern by this court. P.(C) 5587/2021 and CM APPL. 17382/2021[Application filed on behalf of the petitioner seeking stay on the operation of the impugned assessment order dated 23.04.2021 and consequential proceedings thereto].
3. The principal grievance articulated by the petitioner, qua the impugned assessment order and the consequential notices, issued under Section 156 and Section 270A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (in short ‘the Act’), in essence, is, that no personal hearing was granted, despite the fact that a request was made in that behalf. In support of this plea, Mr. Deepkaran Dalal, who appears on behalf of the petitioner, relies upon the reply dated 16.04.2021.
3.1 Mr. Dalal also draws our attention to the provisions of Section 144B(7)(vii) of the Act.
3.2. Mr. Dalal says that, although, the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) For Personal Hearing Through Video Conference under The Faceless Assessment Scheme, 2019, issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes, via Circular dated 23.11.2020., has not been placed on record, the said SOP also mandates the grant of personal hearing.
4. Accordingly, issue notice. Mr. Shlok Chandra accepts service on behalf of the respondent/revenue. 4.1. Mr. Chandra says that, he would revert with instructions on the next date of hearing. In case instructions are received to resist the petition, an endeavour will be made to file a counter-affidavit, before the next date of hearing.
5. Accordingly, at the request of Mr. Chandra, list the matter on 31.05.2021.
6. In the meanwhile, no coercive measures will be taken against the petitioner.”
2. Mr. Shlok Chandra, who appears on behalf of the respondent/revenue, says that he does not wish to file a counter-affidavit, and would argue the matter based on the record presently available with the Court.
2.1. It is Mr. Chandra’s submission that, in this particular case, there was no clear demand for personal hearing. For this purpose, he has drawn our attention to the reply dated 16.04.2021 (See Annexure P-10 appended on page 82 of the paper book). In particular, our attention has been drawn to the following assertion in the said reply:
“However, at this juncture, it is most humbly prayed that if your good self intends to take any adverse view on this issue another opportunity of hearing may kindly be provided to submit the detailed rebuttal on the same”
2.2. Undoubtedly, an adverse view was taken. The petitioner’s income was varied. Therefore, in our view, as noted in our order dated 28.05.2021, the provisions of Section 144B(7)(vii) were triggered. This aspect of the matter also received our attention in a recent judgement dated 27.05.2021, passed by this Court, in W.P.(C.) 5537/2021, titled Ritnand Balved Education Foundation (Umbrella Organisation of Amity Group of Institutions) vs. National Faceless Assessment Centre & Ors. wherein we had made the following observations:
“5. The principal grievance of the petitioner is that the impugned assessment order and the consequential notice of demand and notice for initiating penalty proceedings issued to the petitioner are flawed, as they are contrary to the provisions of Section 144B(7)(vii) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 [in short “the Act”] and the Standard Operative Procedure For Personal Hearing Through Video Conference under The Faceless Assessment Scheme, 2019 [in short “SOP”], issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes [in short “CBDT”], via Circular dated 23.11.2020.
6. Ved Jain, who appears on behalf of the petitioner, contends that the revenue was obliged in law to grant a personal hearing to the petitioner, if a request was made in that behalf. Mr. Jain says in this case a specific request was made by the petitioner for two reasons: Firstly, because of the prevalence of COVID-19. Secondly, as the matter was complex and needed to be explained to the assessing officer.
7. As noticed above, Mr. Jain has relied upon, both, the provisions of Section 144B(7)(vii) of the Act and the SOP issued by the CBDT.
7.1. For the sake of convenience, the relevant part of Section 144B(7)(vii) of the Act and the SOP framed by the CBDT are extracted hereafter:
“144B. Faceless assessment –
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(7) For the purposes of faceless assessment—
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(vii) in a case where a variation is proposed in the draft assessment order or final draft assessment order or revised draft assessment order, and an opportunity is provided to the assessee by serving a notice calling upon him to show cause as to why the assessment should not be completed as per the such draft or final draft or revised draft assessment order, the assessee or his authorised representative, as the case may be, may request for personal hearing so as to make his oral submissions or present his case before the income-tax authority in any unit;
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“STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE (SOP) FOR PERSONAL HEARING THROUGH VIDEO CONFERENCE UNDER THE FACELESS ASSESSMENT SCHEME, 2019
CIRCULAR F. NO. PR. CCIT/NeAC/SOP/2020-21, DATED 23-11-2020
The Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, National e-assessment Centre, with the prior approval of the Central Board of Direct Taxes, New Delhi, lays down the following circumstances in which personal hearing through Video Conference shall be allowed in the Faceless Assessment Scheme, 2019: Where any modification is proposed in the draft assessment order (DAO) issued by any AU and the Assessee or the authorized representative in his/her written response disputes the facts underlying the proposed modification and makes a request for a personal hearing, the CCIT ReAC may allow personal hearing through Video Conference, after considering the facts & circumstances of the case, as below:- 1. The Assessee has submitted written submission in response to the DAO. 2. The Video Conference will ordinarily be of 30 minutes duration. That may be extended on the request of the Assessee or authorised representative.
3. The Assessee may furnish documents/evidence, to substantiate points raised in the Video Conference during the session or within a reasonable time allowed by the AU, after considering the facts and circumstances of the case.”
7.2. As would be evident, this provision [i.e., Section 144B(7)(vii) of the Act] would squarely apply in this case, as a specific request for personal hearing was made on behalf of the petitioner. The request made by the petitioner is contained in its communication dated 23.04.2021, appended on page 324 of the paper book [See Annexure P-29 (Colly)].
7.3. We may also note that, in the Lemon Tree Case, we had queried Ms. Malhotra as to whether any standards, procedures and processes have been framed by revenue in terms of sub-clause (h) of clause (xii) of Section 144B(7) of the Act1. Ms. Malhotra had informed us that, in this regard, she had no instructions. We have queried Ms. Malhotra, once again today. Ms. Malhotra says that she has, still, not received any instructions in that regard.
7.4. Therefore, we have to presume that, no standards, procedures and processes have been framed in terms of clause (xii) Section 144B(7) of the Act. These standards, procedures and processes are required to be framed, to guide the assessing officer as to whether or not personal hearing in a given matter should be granted.
7.5. That apart, in our view, since the statute itself makes the provision for grant of personal hearing, the respondents/revenue cannot veer away from the same.
8. Accordingly, the impugned assessment order as well as the impugned notice of demand and notice for initiating penalty proceedings, of even date, i.e., 29.04.2021, are set aside.
8.1. Liberty is, however, given to the respondents/revenue to proceed from the stage of the show cause notice-cum-draft assessment order.
8.2. The respondents/revenue will grant a personal hearing to the authorized representative of the petitioner. The concerned officer will conduct the hearing via video-conferencing mechanism. For this purpose, prior notice, indicating the date and time, will be served on the petitioner, through its registered e-mail. Respondent no. 2 will, after hearing the authorized representative of the petitioner, pass a fresh order, albeit, as per law.
9. The writ petition and the pending application are disposed of in the aforementioned terms. The case papers shall stand consigned to the record.”
2.3. Also see: Order dated 21.05.2021, passed by this Court, in W.P. (C) 5427/2021, titled Lemon Tree Hotels Limited vs. National Faceless
Assessment Centre Delhi (Earlier National E-Assessment Centre Delhi) & Anr.
3. Having regard to the above, we are of the opinion that the impugned orders cannot be sustained. Accordingly, the impugned assessment order, dated 23.04.2021, as also the consequential notices, issued under Section 156 and 270A of the Act, are set aside.
4. Liberty is, however, given to the respondents/revenue to proceed from the stage of the show cause notice-cum-draft assessment order.
4.1 The respondent/revenue will grant a personal hearing to the authorized representative of the petitioner. The concerned officer will conduct the hearing via video-conferencing mechanism. For this purpose, prior notice, indicating the date and time, will be served on the petitioner, through its registered e-mail. Respondent/revenue will, after hearing the authorized representative of the petitioner, pass a fresh order, albeit, as per law.
5. The writ petition is disposed of in the aforesaid terms. Pending application shall also stand closed. The case papers shall stand consigned to the record.
Note
1. 144B.
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(xii) the Principal Chief Commissioner or the Principal Director General, in charge of the National Faceless Assessment Centre shall, with the prior approval of the Board, lay down the standards, procedures and processes for effective functioning of the National Faceless Assessment Centre, Regional Faceless Assessment Centres and the unit set up, in an automated and mechanised environment, including format, mode, procedure and processes in respect of the following, namely:—
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(h) circumstances in which personal hearing referred to clause (viii) shall be approved;”
