ORDER
N.K. Saini, Accountant Member - This is an appeal by the assessee against the order dated 5th March, 2013 of learned CIT, Kota. The following grounds have been raised in this appeal :
"1.
The impugned order passed under s. 263 of the Act by the learned CIT, Kota, is barred by limitation and hence, kindly be quashed.
2.
The learned CIT, Kota erred in law as well as on the fact of the case in invoking the provisions of s. 263 of the Act. Therefore, the impugned order under s. 263 of the Act kindly be quashed.
3.
The learned CIT, Kota erred in law as well as on the fact of the case in assuming jurisdiction under s. 263 of the Act by wrongly and incorrectly folding that the subjected assessment order was passed on dt. 29th Oct., 2010 was without making proper enquiries. Such finding and the assumption of jurisdiction, both are contrary to the provisions of law and facts on record. Hence, the proceedings initiated under s. 263 of the Act and the impugned order dt. 5th March, 2013 kindly be quashed.
4.
The learned CIT, Kota erred in law as well as on the fact of the case in ignoring the various facts, submissions with regard to five cash creditors and the decision/s binding upon him and hence, the impugned order kindly be quashed.
5.
The learned CIT, Kota erred in law as well as on the fact of the case in holding that the subjected assessment order dt. 29th Oct., 2010 under s. 143(3) of the Act was erroneous and prejudicial to the interest of the Revenue which is contrary to the provisions of law and facts and hence, the impugned order kindly be quashed.
6.
The appellant prays your Honour's indulgence to add, amend or alter all or any of the grounds of the appeal on or before the date of hearing."
2. The only grievance of the assessee in this appeal relates to the action of the learned CIT under s. 263 of the IT Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Act' in short) in quashing the assessment order dt. 29th Oct., 2010 passed by the AO under s. 143(3) of the Act considering the same as erroneous and prejudicial to the interest of the Revenue.
3. Facts of the case in brief are that the assessee filed his return of income on 28th Sept., 2008 declaring an income of Rs. 2,75,550, which was processed under s. 143(1) of the Act, on 20th May, 2009. Later on case was selected for scrutiny. The AO framed the assessment under s. 143(3) of the Act at an income of Rs. 3,33,150. Thereafter, ITO, Ward-3. Sawai Madhopur vide letter No. 3737, dt. 2nd Sept., 2011 proposed the action under s. 263 of the Act on the following points decided by the AO considering the same as erroneous and prejudicial to the interest of the Revenue :
"During the year under consideration, the assessee has shown following cash creditors :
| |
1. |
Shri Ghanshyam Lal Gupta |
Rs. 90,000 |
| |
2. |
Shri Rupesh Mittal |
Rs. 50,000 |
| |
3. |
Shri Yogesh Bansal |
Rs. 1,00,000 |
| |
4. |
Shri Sunil Kumar Gupta |
Rs. 90,000 |
| |
5. |
Shri Ashok Kumar Agarwal |
Rs. 1,00,000 |
Though the statements of the above-mentioned creditors were recorded by the AO and copies of bank accounts have been obtained but it was found that before transferring the amount in assessee's bank account, similar amount has been deposited in cash within 2-3 days before by these creditors, therefore, creditworthiness of these creditors not proved. The AO was expected to make concrete inquiries about source of cash deposit before finalizing the case keeping in view the fact which is vital to determine the creditworthiness of these creditors."
4. On receipt of proposal under s. 263 of the Act from the ITO, Ward 3, Sawai Madhopur, a notice under s. 263 of the Act dt. 9th Jan., 2013 was issued to the assessee, who vide written submission submitted on 22nd Jan., 2013 as under :
"The creditworthiness and genuineness of all transactions relating to all the fresh credits narrated in your show-cause notice was duly examined by the learned AO during the course of assessment proceedings as is evident from the details of unsecured loans (mentioning complete names, addresses and PAN), confirmations, copies of bank accounts, copies of IT returns, affidavits etc. of the depositors required by the learned AO from time to time and filed by the assessee accordingly. Statements of all the creditors mentioned in the show-cause notice were duly recorded by the learned AO during the course of assessment proceedings as has been stated in the show-cause notice itself. Shri Ashok Kumar Agrawal and Shri Sunil Kumar Gupta arc regularly assessed with ITO, Ward-3 and copies of IT returns of them were filed during assessment proceedings. With regard to Shri Yogesh Bansal, the learned AO required to file copy of his balance sheet for financial year 2008-09 along with copy of cash book for the period from 1st April, 2007 to 7th April, 2007 (showing available cash balance which was deposited into bank on different dates) which was duly furnished by the assessee. For all other creditors necessary details were furnished as required by the learned AO. After satisfying himself the learned AO treated the cash creditors as genuine. Since the matter was duly examined by the learned AO, the revision of the order on this account should not be called for.
Further, since the matter narrated by your Honour was duly examined by the learned AO during assessment proceeding the order passed by the learned AO is not erroneous and prejudicial to the interest of the Revenue. The proceedings under s. 263 cannot be initiated simply to cause enquiries. The contention of the assessee may be substantiated from the following decisions :
Commissioner Of Income-Tax v. Ganpat Ram Bishnoi [2005] 198 CTR (Raj) 546 -From the record of the proceedings, in the present case, no presumption can be drawn that the AO had not applied its mind to the various aspects of the matter. In such circumstances, without even prima facie laying foundation for holding that assessment order is erroneous and prejudicial to interest in any matter merely on spacious ground that the AO was required to make an enquiry, cannot be held to satisfy the test of existing necessary condition for invoking jurisdiction under s. 263. Jurisdiction under s. 263 cannot be invoked for making short enquiries or to go into the process of assessment again and again merely on the basis that more enquiry ought to have been conducted to find something.
Cit v. M/S. Vikas Polymers [2010] 236 CTR (Del) 476 : [2010] 47 DTR (Del) 348 : [2010] 194 Taxman 57 (Del) -If a query is raised during the course of scrutiny by the AO, which was answered to the satisfaction of the AO, but neither the query nor the answer was reflected in the assessment order, this would not by itself lead to the conclusion that the order of the AO called for interference and revision.
Commissioner Of Income-Tax v. Sunbeam Auto Ltd. [2009] 227 CTR (Del) 133 : [2009] 31 DTR (Del) 1-If there is an enquiry, even inadequate, that would not by itself give occasion to the CIT to pass order under s. 263.
Antala Sanjaykumar Ravjibhai v. CIT [2012] 148 TTJ (Rajkot) 121 : [2012] 74 DTR (Rajkot)(Trib) 228 : [2012] 135 ITD 506 (Rajkot) -The provisions of the s. 263 does not visualize a case of substitution of the judgment of CIT for that of ITO where ITO in exercise of its quasi-judicial powers while making an assessment examines the accounts, makes enquiry, applies his mind to the facts and circumstances of the case and determines the income by either accepting or making changes in accounts. Such order cannot be called as erroneous.
Looking to the above facts and circumstances of the case it is requested your Honour to please drop the proceedings initiated under s. 263 and oblige."
5. Learned CIT did not find merit in the abovesaid submission of the assessee and observed that the AO completed the assessment in a routine manner and there was not only lack of verification but also mistaken view of law which had made the order erroneous and rireiudieial to the interest of the Revenue. Learned CIT reiterated the observation of the ITO, Ward (3), Sawai Madhopur in his letter dt. 2nd Sept., 2011 vide which action under s. 263 was proposed that the assessce had shown the following cash creditors :
| Shri Ghanshyam Lal Gupta |
Rs. 90,000 |
| Shri Rupcsh Mittal |
Rs. 50,000 |
| Shri Yogesh Bansal |
Rs. 1,00,000 |
| Shri Sunil Kumar Gupta |
Rs. 90,000 |
| Shri Ashok Kumar Agarwal |
Rs. 1,00,000 |
6. He also pointed out that though statements of the above-mentioned creditors were recorded by the AO and the copies of bank accounts had been obtained, but it was found that before transferring the amount in assessee's bank account, similar amount had been deposited in cash within 2-3 days by these creditors. Therefore, creditworthiness of these creditors was not proved. Learned CIT was of the view that the assessment order passed under s. 143(3) of the Act was without due and proper enquiry and calls for further enquiry. He, accordingly set aside the assessment order with a direction to the AO to frame it de novo after making proper verification and enquiry. Now the assessee is in appeal.
7. Learned counsel for the assessee submitted that in the present case assessment was framed under s. 143(3) of the Act. Thereafter, AO moved a proposal under s. 263 of the Act dt. 2nd Sept., 2011 to the learned CIT for revision of the assessment order and a show-cause notice dt. 9th Jan., 2013 was then issued by the ITO (Tech.) to the assessee reference was made to 2nd and 3rd paras of the impugned order. It was further stated that consequently, the learned CIT passed the order under s. 263 of the Act holding that the assessment order passed by the AO under s. 143(3) of the Act was without due and proper enquiry and was mistaken view of law which had made the order erroneous and prejudicial to the interest of the Revenue. It was emphasized that the condition precedent for issuance of notice under s. 263 of the Act is that the CIT is to call record for examination of any proceedings under this Act before forming his opinion that the assessment order passed by the AO was erroneous so far as it was prejudicial to the interest of the Revenue. However, in the present case, as evident from paras 2 and 3 of the impugned order, the learned CIT initiated the proceedings under s. 263 of the Act by not calling and examining the records and on the proposal moved by the AO to revise the assessment order dt. 29th Oct., 2010 passed under s. 143(3) of the Act, which was against the plain language of s. 263 of the Act because the suggestion of the AO cannot be a basis for revision of the assessment order. Reliance was placed on the following case laws :
(1)
Malabar Industrial Co. Ltd. v.
CIT [2000] 243 ITR 83/109 Taxman 66 (SC)
(2)
CIT v.
Max India Ltd. [2007] 295 ITR 282/[2008] 166 Taxman 188 (SC)
(3)
Commissioner Of Income-Tax v. Padam Singh Chouhan [2008] 215 CTR (Raj) 303
(4)
Aravali Trading Co. v.
ITO [2010] 187 Taxman 338 (Raj.)
(5)
Labh Chand Bohra v.
ITO [2010] 189 Taxman 141 (Raj.);
(6)
Kanhaialal Jangid v.
Asstt. CIT [2008] 217 CTR (Raj) 354
(7)
Cit v. M/S. Vikas Polymers [2012] 341 ITR 537/[2010] 194 Taxman 57 (Delhi)
(8)
CIT v.
Honda Siel Power Products Ltd. [2011] 333 ITR 547/[2010] 194 Taxman 175 (Delhi)
(9)
Pawan Kumar v.
Assessing Officer [2007] 15 SOT 7 (Jodhpur)(URO)
(10)
Kulbir Singh v.
Asstt CIT [2009] 124 TTJ (Agra)(TM) 1
(11)
Ganesh Builders v.
CIT [2013] 158 TTJ (Jd.) 801
(12)
Commissioner Of Income-Tax v. Ganpat Ram Bishnoi [2008] 296 ITR 292/[2006] 152 Taxman 242 (Raj.)
(13)
Cit v. Bihar State Financial Corpn. [1998] 229 ITR 246/[1996] 88 Taxman 58 (Raj.)
(14)
Vikas Polymers (
supra)
(15)
Balwant Singh v.
ITO [1995] 55 ITD 363 (Jaipur)
(16)
Kamal Kumar Gupta v.
CIT [2012] 23 taxmann.com 28 (Jaipur)
(17)
Commissioner Of Income-Tax v. Hindustan Marketing & Advertising Co. Ltd…. [2012] 341 ITR 180/[2011] 196 Taxman 368/8 taxmann.com 128 (Delhi)
(18)
CIT v.
Trustees Anupam Charitable Trust [1987] 167 ITR 129/31 Taxman 335
(19)
Commissioner Of Income-Tax v. Sunbeam Auto Ltd. [2011] 332 ITR 167/[2010] 189 Taxman 436 (Delhi)
(20)
CIT v.
Leisure Veer Exports Ltd. [2012] 341 ITR 166/[2011] 11 taxmann.com 54/202 Taxman 130 (Gee Vee Enterprise…Petitioner v. Additional Commissioner Of Income Tax… [1975] 99 ITR 375 (Delhi)
(22)
Honda Siel Powra Products Ltd. (
supra)
(23)
CIT v.
Emery Stone Mfg. Co. [1995) 213 ITR 843/83 Taxman 643 (Raj.).
8. In his rival submissions, learned Departmental Representative strongly supported the impugned order passed by the learned CIT and further submitted that the AO did not make proper enquiries while passing the assessment order. Therefore, the assessment order was not only erroneous but also prejudieial to the interest of the Revenue.
9. We have considered the submissions of both the parties and carefully ; gone through the material available on record. In the present case, it is abundantly clear from para-2-of the impugned order that the 1TO, Ward-3, Sawai Madhopur vide letter No. 3737, dt. 2nd Sept., 2001 proposed action under s. 263 of the Act and it was not the learned CIT, who himself called record and examined the same for any proceeding under s. 263 of the Act. Therefore, it can be said that the learned CIT had not applied his mind but the matter was referred by the AO for initiating the proceeding under s. 263 of the Act. In the present case, from para 3 of the impugned order, it is noticed that the notice dt. 9th Jan., 2013 under s. 263 of the Act was issued only on receipt of the proposal under s. 263 of the Act from the ITO, Ward-1(2), Kota and the assessee explained, vide written submission which has been reproduced in para 4 of the impugned order, each and every objection raised by the ITO, Ward-2, Sawai Madhopur. It is well-settled that the learned CIT while exercising the revisionary powers under s. 263 of the Act may call for and examine the records of any proceedings and thereafter if he considers that any order passed therein is erroneous insofar as it is prejudicial to the interest of the Revenue, he may, after giving the assessee an opportunity of being heard and after making or causing to be made such inquiry as he deems necessary, pass such order thereon as the circumstances of the case justify. Therefore, before taking any action, learned CIT himself shall apply his mind after examining the record of any proceedings and his satisfaction is must. However, in the present case, the satisfaction was of the ITO (Tech.) who proposed action under s. 263 of the Act, but not of the learned CIT. Therefore, issuance of notice under s. 263 of the Act on the basis of the proposal made by the ITO was void ab initio; We, therefore, set aside the same. For the aforesaid view, we are fortified by the various judicial pronouncements relied by the learned counsel for the assessee.
10. In the result, appeal of the assessee is allowed.
USP