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Attorney(S)
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  • u/s 143(3)/147 of I.T.Act ,1961
  • provision of section 263 of the I.T.Act,1961.
  • Rule 18(6) of ITAT Rules
  • u/s 263 of the Income Tax Act 1961 (hereinafter referred
  • u/s 143(3)/147 of the Income-tax Act,1961
  • Income Tax-2, Bhubaneswar u/s 263 of the LT. Act, 1961
  • section 120; (b)
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Cites
Cited by
Citation Codes
Equivalent Citations
citation codes
Case Number
Disposition
Attorney(S)
Acts
  • u/s 143(3)/147 of I.T.Act ,1961
  • provision of section 263 of the I.T.Act,1961.
  • Rule 18(6) of ITAT Rules
  • u/s 263 of the Income Tax Act 1961 (hereinafter referred
  • u/s 143(3)/147 of the Income-tax Act,1961
  • Income Tax-2, Bhubaneswar u/s 263 of the LT. Act, 1961
  • section 120; (b)
Smart Summary

Concise Analytical Summary of the Opinion: ITA No.12/CTK/2020 (A.Y. 2012-2013)

Factual and Procedural Background

The assessee (Shri Sangram Keshari Samantaray) filed return for A.Y.2012-13 declaring income of Rs.1,82,100/-. The case was selected for scrutiny under section 147 and, after statutory notices and enquiry, the Assessing Officer (AO) completed assessment u/s 143(3)/147 on 10.11.2016 determining total income at Rs.3,41,780/-, including additions of Rs.9,674 and Rs.1,50,000. The AO's assessment specifically investigated high-value transactions reported from the Sub-Registrar (purchase of immovable property for Rs.48,48,000) and called for documents, bank accounts and confirmations regarding cash / sale consideration received from eight persons which the assessee claimed as source of investment.

The Principal Commissioner of Income Tax (Pr.CIT-2, Bhubaneswar) issued a show cause notice dated 16.01.2019 proposing revision under section 263 on the ground that the AO had accepted investment of Rs.50,90,400 without proper enquiry and had not verified whether the payers were persons "man of means". The Pr.CIT concluded the AO's order was erroneous and prejudicial to revenue and set aside the assessment directing the AO to re-do the assessment after verification.

The assessee appealed to the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Cuttack Bench. The appeal was initially time-barred by 224 days; the Tribunal condoned the delay in the interest of justice and proceeded to hear the appeal on merits.

Legal Issues Presented

  1. Whether the Pr.CIT validly exercised jurisdiction under section 263 of the Income‑tax Act by holding the AO's order erroneous and prejudicial to the revenue where the AO had initiated scrutiny specifically to verify the high‑value transaction and had called for and considered detailed confirmations and documents.
  2. Whether the Pr.CIT could set aside the assessment and remit the matter to the AO for fresh verification without conducting any independent enquiry or verification himself, given the requirement under section 263 that the revisional authority must call for and examine records, give the assessee opportunity of hearing and make or cause to be made such enquiry as he deems necessary.
  3. Whether, on the facts, the AO had made adequate enquiry and applied his mind (so that two possible views existed), thereby precluding exercise of revisional powers under section 263 merely because the Pr.CIT would have taken a different view.

Arguments of the Parties

Appellant's Arguments (Assessee)

  • The AO conducted appropriate enquiries during assessment proceedings, examined all issues and accepted the assessee's explanation and confirmations regarding source of investment; therefore the AO's order could not be termed erroneous.
  • The Pr.CIT's action was based merely on internal audit observations and did not reflect independent application of mind; the same language was repeated from the audit in the s.263 order.
  • The revisional proceedings u/s 263 were initiated without any new facts, information or corroborative materials being produced by the Pr.CIT; hence the revision order should be quashed.
  • The assessee relied on several judicial decisions (listed in the record) supporting the proposition that where the AO has made enquiries and taken a possible view, revisional powers cannot be exercised simply because a different view is possible.

Respondent's Arguments (Revenue / Departmental Representative)

  • The Pr.CIT correctly set aside the assessment because the AO had accepted the investment without adequate verification: many of the persons who gave advances admitted payment in cash, dates of payment were not provided, and the creditworthiness of payers was not verified by the AO.
  • The confirmations and list of persons were filed for the first time before the Pr.CIT and the AO did not take sufficient steps (such as eliciting PANs, bank account details, IT returns) to verify genuineness of those transactions.
  • The Department relied on judicial decisions (M.B. Tyres and Virbhadra Singh (HUF)) to support the proposition that Pr.CIT's exercise of revision was justified in the circumstances.

Table of Precedents Cited

Precedent Rule or Principle Cited For Application by the Court
Ornate Traders (P) Ltd. vs. ITO, 312 ITR 193 Cited by Revenue before the Tribunal in opposition to condonation of delay. The Tribunal heard parties and, notwithstanding the Department's reliance on Ornate Traders, condoned delay of 224 days and proceeded to decide merit.
Nanda Kishore Agarwalla vs. Pr.CIT (ITA No.212/CTK/2017, order dated 26.04.2018) Cited by the assessee in support of his position (specific principle not restated in text). The Tribunal noted the decision among authorities relied upon by the assessee when assessing legal positions; it considered similar authorities to conclude revisional action was not sustainable on facts.
Surekha Builders & Developers Pvt. Ltd. vs. Pr.CIT (ITA No.207/CTK/2018, order dated 17.07.2020) Supports the proposition that the revisional authority should itself conduct enquiries before declaring an AO's order erroneous under s.263. Tribunal relied on this decision to hold that the Pr.CIT did not conduct independent enquiry and therefore could not validly set aside the assessment; it reinforced the conclusion that revisional authority must make or cause to be made necessary enquiries.
Pr.CIT vs. Delhi Airport Metro Express (2017) 398 ITR 8 (Del) Referenced among authorities relied by the assessee (principle: limits to exercise of s.263 when AO has applied mind). Used as part of the body of case law supporting the Tribunal's conclusion that revisional powers cannot be exercised where AO had applied mind and taken one of permissible views.
Director of Income Tax vs. Jyoti Foundation (2013) 357 ITR 388 (Del) Holds that where AO has applied mind and inquiries were made (even if not reflected in assessment order), s.263 cannot be invoked merely because the revisional authority has a different view. Tribunal cited Jyoti Foundation (and related authorities) to support finding that the AO had conducted adequate enquiries and that Pr.CIT could not remand the matter without having made independent enquiries.
ITO vs. DG Housing Projects Ltd. (2012) 343 ITR 329 Authority for the principle that the Commissioner must conduct or cause enquiry and record a clear finding of error before exercising revisional power; remand without finding is impermissible. Quoted in support of the proposition that the Pr.CIT could not merely remit matter to AO; the Tribunal relied on this line of authorities to quash the revisional order.
Aditi Aggarwal vs. Pr.CIT (ITA No.21/Chd/2021, order dated 20.09.2021) Cited by the assessee among authorities supportive of limits on s.263 exercise (specific reasoning not separately elaborated in text). Included in the list of decisions relied upon by the assessee and considered by the Tribunal as part of precedent supporting restraint on revisional power.
Sh. Jaswinder Singh vs. CIT-II (ITA No.690/Chd/2010, order dated 09.03.2012) Cited by the assessee (specific principle not restated in the opinion). Referenced among the authorities relied upon by the assessee; the Tribunal considered such authorities in reaching its conclusion.
Shri Sunil Chhagan Bhaybhang vs. Pr.CIT (ITA No.932/PUN/2016, order dated 07.03.2019) Cited by the assessee (specific principle not restated in the opinion). Considered as part of the body of decisions supporting the assessee's contention that revisional powers were inappropriately exercised.
Raghunath Exporters vs. Pr.CIT (ITA No.92/Kol/2017, order dated 10.11.2017) Cited by the assessee (specific principle not restated in the opinion). Listed among authorities relied upon by the assessee; formed part of the Tribunal's survey of relevant case law.
CIT vs. Nirav Modi ([2016] 71 taxmann.com 272 (Bombay)) Affirms that s.263 powers require the revisional authority to establish that the order is erroneous and prejudicial; if AO has taken one of two possible views, s.263 should not be invoked. Tribunal cited this authority to underscore the legal standard for exercise of s.263 and to support the conclusion that where the AO applied his mind, revisional power should not be exercised merely because a different view is possible.
Shri Kailash Khandelwal (Gujarat High Court) — Tax Appeal Nos.177 & 178 of 2016 Considered the question whether Tribunal was right in upholding CIT order u/s 263 when AO had carried out enquiries; held no question of law arose where AO had made enquiries and two views were possible. Quoted by the Tribunal to show that High Court decisions have supported the proposition that s.263 cannot be used where AO has inquired and taken a possible view; this supported dismissal of the revisional proceedings.
CIT vs. Anil Kumar (335 ITR 83) Affirms that if it is discernible that AO applied his mind, revisional jurisdiction cannot be invoked merely because CIT forms a different opinion. The Tribunal relied upon this decision as reinforcing the requirement that revisional power under s.263 cannot substitute the opinion of the AO where the latter has applied his mind.
Vikas Polymer (341 ITR 537) Explains the twin conditions for s.263: (i) call for and examine record; (ii) give opportunity to assessee and make or cause to be made such enquiry as deemed necessary. Quoted by the Tribunal (via Anil Kumar) to explain the legal framework of s.263 and to show that mere disagreement by the revisional authority is insufficient to exercise s.263.
M.B. Tyres (11 TAXMANN 208) & Virbhadra Singh (HUF) (86 Taxmann.com 113) Cited by the Revenue to support the proposition that Pr.CIT's setting aside of assessment was justified on facts presented (as authorities favorable to revisional action in some circumstances). The Tribunal found these decisions distinguishable on facts and held they were not applicable to the instant case where the AO had conducted specific enquiries and accepted confirmations after applying his mind.
Malabar Industrial Co. Ltd. vs. Commissioner of Income Tax (referred) Referenced among authorities establishing limits to revisional powers (specific citation context: precedential line cited by Tribunal). Used along with other decisions to reinforce the Tribunal's conclusion that Pr.CIT failed to satisfy conditions required for valid exercise of s.263.
Max India Ltd (referred) & Green World Corporation (referred) Grouped with other apex/High Court authorities cited to show binding precedent limiting exercise of s.263 (specifics not restated in text). Part of the body of authorities relied on by the Tribunal to conclude that revisional order could not stand where AO had made adequate enquiry and applied mind.
ITO vs. Shri Narayan Tatu Rane (ITAT Mumbai ITA Nos.2690 & 2691/Mum/2016 dated 06.05.2016) Referenced as a coordinate bench decision supporting limits on s.263 exercise (context provided in Tribunal's discussion). Included as one of the precedents that the Tribunal relied upon in concluding that the Pr.CIT erred in exercising revisional jurisdiction without independent enquiry.
M/s Radhishwari Developers P. Ltd. (Now R.C. Warehousing Pvt. Ltd.), ITA No.493/Ind/2018 (order dated 20.07.2021) Holds that where detailed information was called by AO, specific replies submitted, and AO conducted independent enquiries (including notices u/s 133(6)), AO had conducted adequate enquiry and Pr.CIT lacked jurisdiction under s.263 if he did not conduct independent enquiry. Tribunal relied upon this coordinate bench decision as directly analogous and supportive of the conclusion that the revisional order was unsustainable where the AO had made adequate enquiries and the Pr.CIT did not undertake independent verification.

Court's Reasoning and Analysis

The Tribunal first addressed the procedural issue of delay and, after hearing parties, condoned the delay of 224 days and proceeded to examine the appeal on merits. The Tribunal then set out the statutory framework of section 263, emphasising the twin conditions: (i) the revisional authority must call for and examine the record and (ii) after giving the assessee an opportunity, must make or cause to be made such enquiries as it deems necessary before passing a revisional order. The explanation to section 263 was invoked to show when an AO's order is to be deemed erroneous (e.g., where no inquiry/verification has been made).

Applying the statutory standard to the facts, the Tribunal observed that the AO had initiated assessment proceedings specifically to verify the high‑value purchase transaction (data from Sub‑Registrar) and had called for and received detailed responses: confirmations from the eight persons, lists and bank/account related information. The AO accepted the assessee's explanation regarding the source of investment after these enquiries. The Tribunal noted that the Pr.CIT also acknowledged that confirmations were filed and that many persons admitted giving cash advances and that dates were not always provided.

The Tribunal found that (i) the AO had made specific enquiries and had applied his mind to the question of source of investment; (ii) the assessment was framed after those enquiries; and (iii) the Pr.CIT, before setting aside the assessment, did not himself conduct independent enquiries (nor establish a clear, unambiguous finding of error in the AO's inquiries or findings). The Tribunal relied on the consistent line of authorities it had cited to hold that where the AO has made enquiries and taken one of the permissible views, revisional powers under s.263 should not be exercised merely because the Pr.CIT disagrees.

The Tribunal considered the Revenue's reliance on some High Court decisions but found them distinguishable on the facts. It also relied on coordinate bench and High Court authorities (such as Surekha Builders, Jyoti Foundation, DG Housing Projects, Radhishwari Developers and others) to emphasize that the revisional authority must itself conduct the necessary enquiry and must record a clear finding of error if it intends to remand for further enquiry; mere remand without such finding is impermissible.

Concluding its analysis, the Tribunal held that the issuance of the s.263 notice and the consequential revisional order were not sustainable because the Pr.CIT failed to conduct independent enquiry and could not show that the AO's order was erroneous in law or prejudicial to revenue when the AO had made adequate enquiries and applied his mind.

Holding and Implications

HOLDING: The appeal is allowed. The Tribunal quashed the proceedings initiated under section 263 of the Income‑tax Act and set aside the revisional order; it restored the assessment order dated 10.11.2016 framed u/s 143(3) r.w.s.147 of the Act.

Implications:

  • Direct effect: The Pr.CIT's notice under s.263 and the subsequent revisional order are quashed and the AO's assessment order is restored in favour of the assessee.
  • Legal consequence: The decision applies established principles limiting exercise of s.263 — confirming that where the AO has conducted adequate enquiry and applied his mind (and taken one of the permissible views), the revisional authority cannot set aside the assessment merely because it would have taken a different view, especially if the revisional authority has not itself carried out requisite enquiries.
  • Precedential impact: The Tribunal applied existing authorities to the facts; the order does not purport to lay down a new principle of law but reaffirms the settled approach that a revisional authority must make or cause to be made necessary enquiries and record clear findings before invoking s.263. In that sense, no new precedent was created — the Tribunal followed and applied established case law to the facts.

Order pronounced in open court on 28/10/2021 by Judicial Member C.M. Garg and Accountant Member Manish Borad (ITAT Cuttack Bench). Appeal allowed.

    Sangram Keshari Samantaray, Bhubaneswar v. Principal Commissioner of Income Tax-2, Bhubaneswar

    आयकर अपीऱीय अधिकरण, कटक न्यायपीठ, कटक

    IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL CUTTACK BENCH, CUTTACK

    BEFORE SHRI C.M. GARG, JM & SHRI MANISH BORAD, AM आयकर अपीऱ सं./ITA No.12/CTK/2020

    (नििाारण वष ा / Assessment Year :2012-2013) Sangram Keshari Samantaray, Vs Pr.CIT-2, Bhubaneswar Plot No.38,

    Chintamaniswar Area,

    Bhubaneswar-751006

    PAN No. : BBOPS 7915 N

    (अऩीलाथी /Appellant) .. (प्रत्यथी / Respondent) ननधाारिती की ओर से /Assessee by : Shri D.Parida/C.Parida, AR िाजस्व की ओर से /Revenue by : Shri M.K.Gautam, CITDR सुनवाई की तािीख / Date of Hearing : 20/10/2021 घोषणा की तािीख/Date of Pronouncement : 28/10/2021

    आदेश / O R D E R Per Bench:

    By way of this appeal, the assessee has challenged the revisionary proceedings initiated u/s 263 of the Income Tax Act 1961 (hereinafter referred to as 'The Act' for short) by the Ld. Pr. CIT-2, Bhubaneswar vide order dated 26.03.2019.

    2. This appeal is barred by limitation of 224 days. Ld. AR of the assessee has filed an application along with affidavit for condonation of delay stating the reasons for delay mentioned therein. Ld. DR objected to condone the delay and submitted that no sufficient cause for delay has been stated by the assessee, therefore, delay should not be condoned. In this regard, ld. DR placed reliance on the decision of Ornate Traders (P) Ltd. Vs. ITO, 312 ITR 193.

    1

    2

    3. We have heard both the parties and looking to the facts and circumstances of the case as well as the reasons stated in the application and in the interest of justice, we condone the delay of 224 days in filing the present appeal and the appeal is heard on merits.

    4. The assessee has raised following grounds of appeal:-

    1. That the order passed by the Learned Pr. Commissioner of Income Tax-2, Bhubaneswar u/s 263 of the LT. Act, 1961 is excessive, arbitrary and bad in law.

    2. That on the fact and circumstances of the case and in law, the revisionary proceeding u/s 263 of the LT.Act,1961 by the Learned Pr. Commissioner of Income Tax-2, Bhubaneswar merely on the basis of finding of the internal audit observations of the internal audit party is bad in law and required to be quashed.

    3. That on the fact and circumstances of the case and in law, the revisionary proceeding u/s 263 of the IT.Act, 1961 is bad in law in absence of any new fact, information, corroborative evidence or materials being made available by the Learned Pr. Commissioner of Income Tax-2, Bhubaneswar, the impugned order u/s 263 of the Act be annulled and quashed.

    4. That the appellant may add, alter, delete or modify any of the grounds at the time of hearing of the matter with the leave of the Hon'ble ITAT.

    5. Brief facts of the case as culled out from the records are that the assessee is an individual filed his return of income for A.Y.2012-2013 on 29.08.2012 declaring total income of Rs.1,82,100/- from civil contract. The case of the assessee was selected for scrutiny u/s.147 of the Act followed by serving of statutory notices along with questionnaire. Thereafter the assessment was completed on 10.11.2016 on total income of Rs.3,41,780/- u/s.143(3)/147 of the Act, making additions of Rs.9,674/- on account of income from other sources and Rs.1,50,000/- on account of income from commission.

    6. Subsequently, Ld. Pr. CIT assuming jurisdiction u/s 263 of the Act issued following show cause notice:

    3

    GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

    OFFICE OF THE PR.COMMISSIONER OF INCOME T AX-2, 2nd FLOOR ,AAYAKAR BHAWAN, RAJASWA VIHAR, BHUBANESWAR - 751 007.

    F. No.Pr.CIT-2/BBSR/J & T/263/2018-19/4023 Dated, Bhubaneswar the 16th Jan.,2019. To

    SHRI SANGRAM KESHARI SAMANTARAY,

    PLOT N0.38,

    CHINTAMANISWAR AREA,

    BUDHESWARI,

    BHUBANESWAR -751006.

    PAN: BBOPS7915N

    Sir,

    Sub: Initiation of proceedings u/s 263 of the I.T.Act,1961 for the Asst. Year 2012-13 - Matter regarding.

    The assessment in your case for the Assessment Year 2012-13 was completed by the Assessing Officer (here-in-after A.O.) namely ITO, Ward-5(3), Bhubaneswar vide order u/s 143(3)/147 of I.T.Act ,1961 dated 10.11.2016 determining total income at Rs.3,41,780/-. On verification of case record it is observed that you have' purchased immovable property for a consideration of RS.48,48,OOO/- and paid Stamp Duty of Rs.1,60,OOO/- and Registration Fee of Rs.82,400/- totaling Rs.50,90,400/-. With regard to the source of investment in the immovable property, you have claimed to have received advances for sale of land from eight different persons. On the basis of confirmation received, the AO has accepted the source of investment in the immovable property. It is observed from the confirmations received that the persons have not furnished the basic information like PAN, Bank Account No., copy of IT. Returns etc. to establish the creditworthiness of the persons making advance. Most of the persons have admitted that they have given advance in cash but the date of payment has not been provided by them. It is also not verified that whether the persons, who have given advance, were man of means to advance such a huge sum. Hence, the investment in immovable property of Rs.50,90,400/- has been accepted by the AO without conducting due and proper enquiry.

    In view of the above, the assessment order passed u/s 143(3)/147 of the Income-tax Act,1961 dated 10.11.2016 appears to be erroneous in so far as it is prejudicial to the interest of revenue. Therefore, I propose to revise the assessment order passed under section 143(3)/147 dated 10.11.2016, for the Asstt. Year 2012-13 by invoking provision of section 263 of the I.T.Act,1961.

    However, before doing so, I deem it proper to allow the assessee an opportunity of being heard which is fixed at 11.30. A.M. on 29.01.2019- in my office at 2nd Floor, Aayakar Bhawan, Rajhaswa Vihar, Bhubaneswar. You may appear either in person or through your authorized representative to represent your case. If you so desire, you may file your written submission in this regard, which will be considered before passing any order. In case you fail to avail the opportunity of hearing, order will be passed on the basis of facts available in record.

    Yours faithfully,

    Sd/-

    (Subrat Mishra)

    Pr. Commissioner of Income-tax-2,

    Bhubaneswar

    4

    7. In the above referred show cause notice it was alleged that the assessing officer has accepted the investment made by the assessee in immovable property of Rs.50,90,400/- without conducting due and proper enquiry. The AO has also not verified as to whether the persons, who have given advance, were not man of means to advance such a huge sum. The show cause notice was duly replied by the assessee submitting that the Ld. AO completed assessment by conducting appropriate enquiries and applied his mind. It was also submitted that during the course of assessment proceedings the AO examined all the issues for which no such observation of the issue raised in the show cause notice is appearing in the body of assessment order cannot give rise to take a view that the order of assessing officer is erroneous and prejudicial to the interest of revenue. However, Ld. Pr. CIT was not satisfied with the submissions made by the assessee and concluded to hold the order of the assessing officer as erroneous so for as prejudicial to the interest of revenue as the AO had not made required enquiry/investigation regarding investment made by the assessee in immovable property and accordingly the Pr.CIT set aside the assessment order to the file of AO to redo the assessment after making necessary verification and after giving reasonable opportunity of being heard to the assessee.

    8. Now the assessee is in appeal before this Tribunal.

    9. Ld. counsel for the assessee vehemently argued referring to the following written submission and placing reliance on decisions mentioned herein :-

    5

    1. No independent application of mind of The Ld. PClT as the issue is based merely on the audit observation and same language has been mentioned in the consequential asst order and 263 order Para 2 of page 2 of Asst order u/s 263/143(3).

    2. AO has verified the source of investment issue in details after considering all the necessary details/documents and taken the view to accept the same which is lawful and cannot be call as inadequate enquiry whereas the Ld. PClT has to verify himself to record the finding that the asst order is erroneous when the assessee stated before the Ld PClT to produce the customers in person (submission of the assessee before the Ld. PCIT at Page 2 of PB) .

    To support his contentions, ld. counsel for the assessee relied on the following case laws :-

    i) Nanda Kishore Agarwalla Vs. Pr.CIT, ITA No.212/CTK/2017, order dated 26.04.2018;

    ii) Surekha Builders & Developers Pvt. Ltd. Vs. Pr.CIT, ITA No.207/CTK/2018, order dated 17.07.2020;

    iii) Pr.CIT Vs. Delhi Airport Metro Express (P) Ltd., (2017) 398 ITR 8 (Del);

    .

    iv) Director of Income Tax Vs. Jyoti Foundation (2013) 357 ITR 388 (Del;);

    v) ITO Vs. DG Housing Projects ltd. (2012) 343 ITR 329;

    vi) Aditi Aggarwal Vs. Pr.CIT, ITA No.21/Chd/2021, order dated 20.09.2021;

    vii) Sh. Jaswinder Singh Vs. CIT-II, ITA No.690/Chd/2010, order dated 09.03.2012;

    viii) Shri Sunil Chhagan Bhaybhang Vs. Pr.CIT, ITA No.932/PUN/2016, order dated 07.03.2019; and

    ix) Raghunath Exporters Vs. Pr.CIT, ITA No.92/Kol/2017, order dated 10.11.2017.

    10. It was also submitted by the ld. AR of the assessee that the AO allowed the claim on being satisfied with the explanation of assessee, on an enquiry made during the course of assessment proceedings. Thus, the decision of Ld. AO cannot be held to be erroneous.

    11. Per Contra, ld. Departmental Representative (DR) took us through the finding of ld. Pr. CIT and submitted that Pr.CIT has rightly set aside

    6

    the assessment framed by the AO as the persons who have given the advance to the assessee were not man of means to advance such a huge sum and no proper enquiry has been conducted by the AO. It was also submitted by the ld.DR that most of the persons who have given advance to the assessee have admitted that they have given advance in cash but the date of payment has not been provided by them. Ld. DR also submitted that most of the details in support of source of investment were filed for the first time before the ld. Pr.CIT. The assessee had merely filed a list of persons from whom advance/sale consideration had been received which was used for making investment in purchase of immovable property. The AO made no efforts to call for further details to examine the genuineness and correctness of advance/sale consideration received from various parties. Reliance was placed on the judgment of Hon'ble Madhya Pradesh High Court in the case of M.B.Tyres, 11 TAXMANN 208 and the judgment of Hon'ble Himachal Pradesh High Court in the case of Virbhadra Singh (HUF) 86 Taxmann.com 113. Therefore, ld. DR submitted that the order passed by the Pr.CIT deserves to be upheld.

    12. We have heard rival contentions and perused the records placed before us by to the sides and with the assistance of the ld. Counsel, we have considered the documentary evidences brought on record in the form of Paper Book in light of Rule 18(6) of ITAT Rules and have also perused the judicial decisions relied upon by both the sides.

    13. We would like to reproduce the provisions of Section 263(1) of the Act, which read as under :-

    7

    Revision of orders prejudicial to revenue.

    263. (1) The Principal Commissioner or Commissioner may call for and examine the record of any proceeding under this Act, and if he considers that any order passed therein by the Assessing Officer is erroneous in so far as it is prejudicial to the interests 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, including an order enhancing or modifying the assessment, or cancelling the assessment and directing a fresh assessment.

    Explanation 1.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that, for the purposes of this sub-section,—

    (a) an order passed on or before or after the 1st day of June, 1988 by the Assessing Officer shall include—

    (i) an order of assessment made by the Assistant Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner or the Income- tax Officer on the basis of the directions issued by the Joint Commissioner under section 144A;

    (ii) an order made by the Joint Commissioner in exercise of the powers or in the performance of the functions of an Assessing Officer conferred on, or assigned to, him under the orders or directions issued by the Board or by the Principal Chief Commissioner or Chief Commissioner or Principal Director General or Director General or Principal Commissioner or Commissioner authorised by the Board in this behalf under section 120;

    (b) "record" shall include and shall be deemed always to have included all records relating to any proceeding under this Act available at the time of examination by the Principal Commissioner or Commissioner;

    (c) where any order referred to in this sub-section and passed by the Assessing Officer had been the subject matter of any appeal filed on or before or after the 1st day of June, 1988, the powers of the Principal Commissioner or Commissioner under this sub-section shall extend and shall be deemed always to have extended to such matters as had not been considered and decided in such appeal. Explanation 2.—For the purposes of this section, it is hereby declared that an order passed by the Assessing Officer shall be deemed to be erroneous in so far as it is prejudicial to the interests of the revenue, if, in the opinion of the Principal Commissioner or Commissioner,—

    (a) the order is passed without making inquiries or verification which should have been made;

    (b) the order is passed allowing any relief without inquiring into the claim;

    8

    (c) the order has not been made in accordance with any order, direction or instruction issued by the Board under section 119; or

    (d) the order has not been passed in accordance with any decision which is prejudicial to the assessee, rendered by the jurisdictional High Court or Supreme Court in the case of the assessee or any other person.

    14. It is a settled position of law that powers u/s 263 of the Act can be exercised by the Ld. Pr. Commissioner on satisfaction of twin conditions, i.e., the assessment order should be erroneous and prejudicial to the interest of the Revenue. By 'erroneous' is meant contrary to law. Thus, this power cannot be exercised unless the Ld. Pr. Commissioner is able to establish that the order of the Assessing Officer is erroneous and prejudicial to the interest of the Revenue. Thus, where there are two possible views and the Assessing Officer has taken one of the possible views, no action to exercise powers of revision can arise, nor can revisional power be exercised for directing a fuller enquiry to find out if the view taken is erroneous. This power of revision can be exercised only where no enquiry, as required under the law, is done. It is not open to enquire in case of inadequate inquiry. Our view is fortified by the decision of Hon'ble High Court of Bombay in the case of CIT vs. Nirav Modi, [2016] 71 taxmann.com 272 (Bombay).

    15. This view is further supported by the decision of the Hon'ble Gujarat High Court in the case of Shri Prakash Bhagchand Khatri in Shri Kailash Khandelwal Tax Appeal No. 177 with Tax Appeal No.178 of 2016, wherein the Hon'ble Gujarat High Court was seized with the following substantial question of law:-

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    "Whether the Tribunal is right in law and on facts in upholding the order passed by the CIT under section 263 of the Act on merits and still storing the issue of allowability of deduction under section 54 of the Act to the file of Assessing Officer even though the working of allowability of deduction under section 54F is available in the order under section 263 which is not disputed by the assessee before ITAT."

    16. And the Hon'ble High Court, after considering the facts, held as under:-

    "6. It can thus be seen that though final order of assessment was silent on this aspect, the Assessing Officer had carried out inquiries about the nature of sale of land and about the validity of the assessee's claim of deduction under section 54F of the Act. Learned counsel for the Revenue however submitted that these inquiries were confined to the claim of deduction under section 54F of the Act in the context of fulfilling conditions contained therein and may possibly have no relevance to the question whether the sale of land gave rise to a long term capital gain. Looking to the tenor of queries by the Assessing Office and details . A.Y. 2009-10 supplied by the assessee, we are unable to accept such a condition. In that view of the matter, the observation of the Tribunal that the Assessing Officer having made inquiries and when two views are possible, revisional powers could not be exercised, called for no interference. Since with respect to computation and assertions of other aspects of deduction under section 54Fofthe Act, the Tribunal has remanded the proceedings, nothing stated in this order would affect either side in considerations of such claim.

    7. No question of law arises. Tax Appeals are dismissed."

    17. We find the Hon'ble Delhi High Court in the case of CIT Vs. Anil Kumar reported in 335 ITR 83 has held that where it was discernible Shri Kailash Khandelwal from record that the A.O has applied his mind to the issue in question, the ld. CIT cannot invoke section 263 of the Act merely because he has different opinion. Relevant observation of the High Court reads as under:

    "63. We find the Hon'ble Delhi High Court in the case of Vikas Polymer reported in 341 ITR 537 has held as under:

    "We are thus of the opinion that the provisions of s. 263 of the Act, when read as a composite whole make it incumbent upon the CIT before exercising revisional powers to : (i) call for and examine the

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    record, and (ii) give the assessee an opportunity of being heard and thereafter to make or cause to be made such enquiry as he deems necessary. It is only on fulfilment of these twin conditions that the CIT may pass an order exercising his power of revision. Minutely examined, the provisions of the section envisage that the CIT may call for the records and if he prima facie considers that any order passed therein by the AO 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 enquiry as he deems necessary, pass such order thereon as the circumstances of the case justify. The twin requirements of the section are manifestly for a purpose. Merely because the CIT considers on examination of the record that the order has been erroneously passed so as to prejudice the interest of the Revenue will not suffice. The assessee must be called, his explanation sought for and examined by the CIT and thereafter if the CIT still feels that the order is erroneous and prejudicial to the interest of the Revenue, the CIT may pass revisional orders. If, on the other hand, the CIT is satisfied, after hearing the assessee, that the orders are not erroneous and prejudicial to the interest of the Revenue, he may choose not to exercise his power of revision. This is for the reason that 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 were 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. In the instant case, for example, the CIT has observed in the order passed by him that the assessee has not filed certain documents on the record at the time of assessment. Assuming it to be so, in our opinion, this does not justify the conclusion arrived at by the CIT that the AO had shirked his responsibility of examining and investigating the case. More so, in view of the fact that the assessee explained that the capital investment made by the partners, which had been called into question by the CIT was duly reflected in the respective assessments of the partners Shri Kailash Khandelwal who were I.T. assessees and the unsecured loan taken from M/s Stutee Chit & Finance (P) Ltd. was duly reflected in the assessment order of the said chit fund which was also an assessee."

    64. Since in the instant case the A.O after considering the various submissions made by the assessee from time to time and has taken a possible view, therefore, merely because the DIT does not agree with the opinion of the A.O, he cannot invoke the provisions of section 263 to substitute his own opinion. It has further been held in several decisions that when the A.O has made enquiry to his satisfaction and it is not a case of no enquiry and the DIT/CIT wants that the case could have been investigated/ probed in a particular manner, he cannot assume jurisdiction u/s 263 of the Act. In view of the above discussion, we hold that the assumption of jurisdiction by the DIT u/s 263 of the Act is not in accordance with law. We, therefore, quash the same and grounds raised by the assessee are allowed."

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    18. In the light of the provisions of Section 263 of the Act and the decision relied hereinabove and examining the facts of the case, we find that the ld.AO for completing the assessment u/s.143(3) r.w.s.147 of the Act, dated 10.11.2016 initiated the proceedings, for the specific purpose of verification of the high value transaction, data received from the Sub- Registrar Khandagiri as per which the assessee had purchased the immovable property for a sum of Rs.48,48,000/-. Since the assessment proceedings were for this specific purpose the ld. AO called for necessary details which included various documents, bank accounts and list of persons, who gave cash sum of Rs.48,13,000/- to the assessee, which was utilized for making investment in purchase of immovable property. In the impugned order also the ld. Pr.CIT has accepted the fact that the assessee had filed various confirmation letters before the AO and accepted the same as source of investment in the immovable property. Ld. Pr.CIT also admitted the fact that most of the persons have admitted that they have given advance in cash but the date of payment was not provided. So it remains an undisputed fact that the ld. AO has raised a specific query about the source of investment to the assessee and the complete details were filed by the assessee and the ld.AO accepted the claim of the assessee regarding source of investment in the immovable property as the assessee received sale consideration from sale of land from eight different persons. List of persons as per the sale deeds as a proof of amount received from the eight different parties are as under :-

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    19. Further these facts which were available before the assessing officer during the course of scrutiny assessment proceedings itself and were also placed before the Ld. Pr. CIT during proceedings u/s 263 of the Act, however, no new enquiry was conducted by Ld. Pr. CIT, in this regard at its own motion as required in the provisions of section 263 of the Act. Thus, this is a case where adequate enquiry was conducted by the assessing officer with application of mind. In our considered view, it was not open for Ld. Pr. CIT to order for a fresh enquiry, without conducting the basic enquiry at its own end to come to a conclusion that there was inadequate enquiry by the AO. For the proposition that such enquiry as deemed necessary should be conducted by the Revisionary Authority before recording the finding that the AO is erroneous or prejudicial to the interest of revenue, we rely on the decision of the Tribunal in the case of Surekha Builders & Developers Pvt. Ltd. Vs. Pr.CIT, ITA No.207/CTK/2018, order dated 17.07.2020, wherein the Tribunal has observed that the enquiry should have been conducted by the revisional authority himself to record the findings that the assessment order was

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    erroneous or prejudicial to the interest of revenue. The findings recorded by the Tribunal are as under :-

    22. From a careful reading of the impugned order, we also observe that the Pr. CIT has not made any inquiries or exercise himself before alleging the assessment order as erroneous and prejudicial to the interest of the revenue. As principle rendered by Hon'ble Delhi High Court in the case of Jyoti Foundation (supra), it is ample clear that the assessment order which had been passed after proper inquiry/investigation on the question are per se clearly treated as erroneous and prejudicial to the interest of revenue because the revenue authorities failed to show that further inquiry/investigation was required or further scrutiny should be undertaken. The methodology adopted by the assessee for revenue recognition was being consistently followed by the assessee during previous and subsequent assessment years and same cannot be tinkered or disturbed by placing new method of revenue recognition wherein work in progress shown by the assessee has not been taken into consideration. In such type of case, inquiry should have been conducted by the revisional authority himself to record the finding that the assessment order was erroneous.

    23. In the present case, the Pr. CIT has not made inquiry himself on the submission/reply of the assessee to before exercising his power u/s.263 of the Act vide dated 23.3.2018 (APB pages 59 to 68) and relevant part as reproduced by the ld Pr. CIT in para 4 of the impugned order. He merely set aside the assessment order and directed the AO to redo the assessment denovo on the issue, which is not permissible as per principle laid down by Hon'ble Delhi High Court in the cases of Jyoti Foundation (supra) and DG Housing (supra).

    24. The ld AR in his submission relied upon the views expressed in the case of DG Housing Project (supra) wherein, Their Lordships of Hon'ble Delhi High Court held thus:

    "Thus, in cases of wrong opinion or finding on the merits, the Commissioner of Income-tax has to come to the conclusion and himself decide that the order is erroneous, by conducting necessary enquiry, if required and necessary, before the order under section 263 is passed. In such cases, the order of the Assessing Officer will be erroneous because the order passed is not sustainable in law and the said finding must be recorded. The Commissioner of Income-tax cannot remand the matter to the Assessing Officer to decide whether the findings recorded are erroneous. In cases where there is inadequate enquiry but not lack of enquiry, again the Commissioner of Income-tax must give and record a finding that the order/inquiry made is erroneous. This can happen if an enquiry and verification is conducted by the Commissioner of Income-tax and he is able to establish and

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    show the error or mistake made by the Assessing Officer, making the order unsustainable in law. In some cases possibly though rarely, the Commissioner of Income-tax can-also show and establish that the facts on record or inferences drawn from facts on record per se justified and mandated further enquiry or investigation but the Assessing Officer had erroneously not undertaken the same. However, the said finding must be clear, unambiguous and not debatable. The matter cannot be remitted for a fresh decision to the Assessing Officer to conduct further enquiries without a finding that the order is erroneous. Finding that the order is erroneous is a condition or requirement which must be satisfied for exercise of jurisdiction under section 263 of the Act. In such matters, to remand the matter/issue to the Assessing Officer would imply and mean the Commissioner of Income-tax has not examined and decided whether or not the order is erroneous but has directed the Assessing Officer to decide the aspect/question."

    25. In view of foregoing discussion, we reach to a logical conclusion that the issuance of notice u/s.263(1) of the Act and impugned revisional order u/s.263 of the Act is not sustainable and revisionary authority had no valid jurisdiction to revise the assessment order. Consequently, the impugned notice as well as revisional order u/s.263 of the Act are hereby dismissed.

    20. Reliance is also placed on the decision of coordinate Indore Bench in the case of M/s. Radhishwari Developers P. Ltd. (Now Known as R.C. Warehousing Pvt. Ltd. ), ITA No.493/Ind/2018, order dated 20.07.2021, wherein the Tribunal has held as under :-

    44. We, therefore, under the given facts and circumstances of the case, find that detailed information was called for by the Ld. AO, specific reply submitted to each of such query by the assessee, independent enquiry conducted by the Ld. AO by issuance of notice u/s 133(6) of the Act and are satisfied that the ld. AO has conducted adequate and detailed enquiry to investigate and examine all the unsecured loan taken during the year including the loan taken from cash creditors named in the show cause notice issued u/s 263 of the Act and find that the Ld. AO has taken one of the permissible view in law by verifying the identity of the cash creditors, got satisfied with the genuineness of the transactions between the assessee and cash creditors and also satisfied with the creditworthiness of the cash creditors. We further find that this is not a case of no enquiry or inadequate enquiry and also find that Ld. Pr. CIT had not carried out any independent enquiry at his end and thus grossly erred in observing that the order of the Ld. AO u/s 143(3) of the Act is erroneous and prejudicial to the interest of Revenue. The impugned order deserves to be quashed in light of the judgment of Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of Malabar

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    Industrial Co. Ltd. vs. Commissioner of Income Tax, (supra), Max India Ltd (supra) and Green World Corporation (supra) and also the decision of Coordinate Bench Mumbai in the case of ITO vs. Shri Narayan Tatu Rane in ITANo.2690 & 2691/Mum/2016 dated 06.05.2016 and the judgment of Hon'ble Delhi High Court in the case of D.G. Housing Projects Ltd.(supra). In the instant case Ld. Pr. CIT failed to show that both conditions exists i.e. neither it has been proved that order is erroneous nor it has been proved to be prejudicial to the interest of revenue. We thus find merit in the contentions of the assessee that the revisionary order passed by the Ld. Pr. CIT in the years under appeal i.e. A.Y. 2013-14 is beyond the scope of section 263 and hence not valid. Thus the action of the Ld. Pr. CIT is contrary to the ratio laid down by binding precedence. We, therefore, quash the impugned order and decide in favour of the assessee. All the grounds raised in this appeal by the assessee are allowed and the assessment order u/s 143(3) of the Act dated 07.03.2016 is restored.

    21. We also observe that though the copies of sale deeds were not filed before the AO at the time of assessment proceedings, however, the details of the name of persons and the amount along with confirmations were filed and the same are true and correct vis-à-vis the copies of sale deeds placed before us. Therefore, it cannot be said that there was no enquiry on the part of the AO. Even it is not a case of inadequate enquiry also as the assessment proceedings were initiated for the very basic purpose of examining the investment in immovable property and the source thereof. Prima facie, there seems to be proper application of mind by the AO and the same is further verified by the fact that all the alleged persons mentioned in the list above arte the buyers of the property sold by the assessee and the total sale consideration received from all these eight persons duly supported by registered sale deed was utilized for making investment in the immovable property.

    22. We, therefore, under the given facts and circumstances of the case and in the light of the decision referred hereinabove and also observed

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    that the decision referred by the ld. DR of the Revenue are distinguishable and not applicable in the instant appeal, are of the considered view that in the instant case, the assessee has sold certain immovable property to eight persons through registered sale deed and received sum of Rs.50,78,420/-(which includes Cheque of Rs.2,65,420/- and the remaining amount in cash) and the sale consideration so received was utilized for making investment in immovable property and these details were placed before the AO in the form of list of persons and confirmation letters and after proper application of mind, he accepted the submissions of the assessee, and, therefore, it cannot be said that there was no enquiry or inadequate enquiry by the AO. We, thus, find no merit in the revisionary proceedings carried out by the ld. Pr.CIT holding the order of AO dated 10.11.2016 as erroneous and prejudicial to the interest of revenue and, therefore, the impugned proceedings u/s.263 of the Act are quashed. We accordingly restore the assessment order dated 10.11.2016 framed u/s.143(3) r.w.s.147 of the Act and allow the appeal of the assessee.

    23. In the result, appeal of the assessee is allowed. Order pronounced in the open court on 28/10/ 2021.

    Sd/- Sd/- (सी.एम.गगा) (मनिष बोरड़)

    (C.M.GARG) (MANISH BORAD)

    न्यानयक सदस्य / JUDICIAL MEMBER ऱेखा सदस्य / ACCOUNTANT MEMBER कटक Cuttack; ददनाांक Dated 28/10/2021

    Prakash Kumar Mishra, Sr.P.S.

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    आदेश की प्रनिलऱपप अगे्रपषि/Copy of the Order forwarded to :

    1. अऩीलाथी / The Appellant- Sangram Keshari Samantaray, Plot No.38,

    Chintamaniswar Area, Bhubaneswar-751006

    2. प्रत्यथी / The Respondent- Pr.CIT-2, Bhubaneswar

    3. आयकि आयुक्त(अऩील) / The CIT(A),

    4. आयकि आयुक्त / CIT

    5. ववभागीय प्रनतननधध, आयकि अऩीलीय अधधकिण, कटक / DR, ITAT, Cuttack

    6. गार् ा पाईल / Guard file. सत्यावऩत प्रनत //True Copy//

    आदेशािुसार/ BY ORDER, (Senior Private Secretary)

    आयकर अपीऱीय अधिकरण, कटक/ITAT, Cuttack

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    Sangram Keshari Samantaray, Bhubaneswar v. Principal Commissioner of Income Tax-2, Bhubaneswar
    (Oct 28, 2021)