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2009 DIGILAW 979 (KAR)

Krishna Fabrications Ltd. v. Joint Commissioner of Income Tax (Asst. ), Special Range-1

2009-12-08

ARAVIND KUMAR, K.L.MANJUNATH

body2009
JUDGMENT K.L. Manjunath, J.—The assessee has come up in this appeal, challenging the concurrent findings on the order passed by the Assessing Officer by the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), which has been confirmed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal in ITA No. 711/Bang./2001, dated 10-2-2004 for the assessment year 1997-98. 2. The appeal is admitted to consider the following substantial questions of law: 1. Whether the Tribunal was right in law in confirming the order of respondent through the confirming order passed by the Commissioner of Income Tax on grounds 7 and 8, when the same was not a speaking order? 2. Whether the Tribunal was right in law in confirming the order of respondent when admittedly the said order had not considered the documents filed by the appellant? 3. Whether the Tribunal was right in forming an opinion that appellant had taken a stubborn stand of non-co-operation without any material to support the same? 4. Whether the Tribunal was right in law in not holding that there has been violation of principles of natural justice because of the passing of the Assessment Order by the respondent under Section 144 of the Act? 5. Whether the Tribunal was right in not holding that the respondent ought not to have initiated proceedings under Section 144(1)(b) of the Act when admittedly the assessee/appellant have produced materials and relevant information? 6. Whether the Tribunal was right in not holding that the respondent ought to have assessed the appellant under Section 143(3) of the Act? 7. Whether the Tribunal was right in not holding that the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) has not exercised his mind while reviewing the order of respondent? 3. We have heard the Learned Counsel for the parties. 4. The assessee is engaged in the manufacture and supply of automobile components to various automobile companies in India. For the assessment year 1997-98, return of income was filed by the assessee on 27-11-1997 by declaring total income of Rs. 55,42,403. The case was taken up for scrutiny. The Assessing Officer proceeded on the ground that the assessee-company did not co-operate with the proceedings. The order of assessment was completed on 20-9-2000. Being aggrieved by the same, the assessee filed an appeal before the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals). 55,42,403. The case was taken up for scrutiny. The Assessing Officer proceeded on the ground that the assessee-company did not co-operate with the proceedings. The order of assessment was completed on 20-9-2000. Being aggrieved by the same, the assessee filed an appeal before the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals). The appeal filed before the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) came to be dismissed, against which an appeal was preferred before the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, which appeal also came to be dismissed. Being aggrieved by the same, the present appeal is filed. 5. The main grievance of the appellant is that the authorities did not consider the documents filed by the assessee-company while passing orders. 6. The Learned Counsel for the appellant further contends that the assessee-company has sponsored two of its directors for higher education in connection with the specialised intensive training in the field of general management, marketing, finance and information technology, including project strategy, with a condition that after securing higher education, they should serve the assessee-company as directors, contending that the sponsorship of two directors is for the benefit of the company and the Assessing Officer did not consider the deductions claimed for the education of the two directors only on the ground that they are the children of the Managing Director is bad in law. Therefore, she requests to set aside all the orders and to remand the matter to the Assessing Officer for fresh consideration on the ground that the assessee would co-operative with the Assessing Officer by furnishing all the documents. 7. Per contra, the Learned Counsel for the revenue contends that all the authorities were justified in confirming the order of assessment, since the assessee-company had sponsored two children of the Managing Director for higher education at U.S.A., even though they are directors of M/s. Bangalore Software Services. There is no nexus between qualification, which they acquire in U.S.A., with the business of the company. 8. The Learned Counsel for the revenue would further contend that these two directors, who are sponsors for higher education were directors of another company by name M/s. Bangalore Software Services. Therefore, he requires the Court to reject the contention of the Learned Counsel for the assessee. 9. 8. The Learned Counsel for the revenue would further contend that these two directors, who are sponsors for higher education were directors of another company by name M/s. Bangalore Software Services. Therefore, he requires the Court to reject the contention of the Learned Counsel for the assessee. 9. After hearing the Learned Counsel for the parties, we are of the view just because the two directors were children of the Managing Director of the company, cannot be a ground for the Assessing Officer to reject the claim of the assessee, until and unless it is established that these two children of the Managing Director, sponsored to acquire higher education are not connected with the business of the company, even though they are directors. Since the vital issue has not been considered by the Assessing Officer and such a mistake is committed by the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) as well as the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, we have no other business, except to set aside all the orders and remand the matter to the Assessing Officer for fresh consideration without answering questions of law framed herein, keeping open all the contentions since the order of dismissal is in the nature of best judgment assessment. 10. Therefore, the appeal is allowed in part. The orders passed by the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) as well as the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal are set aside and the matter is remanded to the Assessing Officer only to consider whether the appellant is entitled to claim deduction in respect of the amount spent by the appellant-company to educate its two directors under Section 37(1) of the Income Tax Act (for short 'the Act') and also to consider the claim under Section 80-IA of the Act. Only to consider these two aspects, the matter is remanded. In all other aspects, the order of assessment is confirmed.