Research › Search › Judgment

Kerala High Court · body

2014 DIGILAW 531 (KER)

John Mathews v. Income Tax Officer, Ernakulam, Kochi

2014-07-08

K.VINOD CHANDRAN

body2014
JUDGMENT : K. VINOD CHANDRAN, J. 1. The petitioner is a salaried employee of the 3rd respondent, whose tax deduction at source, though alleged to have been uploaded in the system of the Department, failed to be properly accounted in the system. In such circumstance, Section 143(1) intimation under the Income Tax Act, 1961 was issued to the petitioner and subsequently a demand was raised, as evidenced by Exhibit P1. The petitioner had approached the officer with the relevant documents, being Form No.16 issued by the employer, as evidenced by Exhibit P2. Despite the evidence for tax deduction being produced before the officer, by Exhibit P3 the same was declined. The petitioner's contention is that this is in violation of the umpteen instructions issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes [CBDT] as also the binding precedents in Exhibits P5 and P6 series of judgments. 2. The learned Standing Counsel for Government of India [Taxes] produces a Circular, numbered as F.No.275/032013-IT(B) dated 08.07.2013 [Instruction No.05/2013], wherein a communication was issued by the CBDT taking into account the difficulties faced by the various assessees for reason only of the tax being not uploaded and also pursuant to the directions issued by the Delhi High Court. The Instruction clearly mandates as to how the tax deduction made by the employer, on evidence being produced, is to be dealt with, though not uploaded in the system. 3. This was the precise request made by the petitioner as per Exhibit P2, wherein he had produced the tax deduction certificate, issued under Form No.16 by his employer. In fact the assessee had produced Exhibit P4, which is subsequent to Instruction No.05/2013 and which would also further the case of the assessee. In such circumstance, Exhibit P3 is set aside. The Assessing Officer, the 1st respondent, shall consider the same in accordance with Instruction No.05/2013, Exhibit P4 as also in tune with the dictum laid down by the various High Courts in Exhibits P5 and P6. The petitioner shall approach the Assessing Officer personally within two weeks and produce a certified copy of this judgment along with legible copies of Exhibits P5 and P6 judgments; and within two months from the date of appearance, the matter shall be settled by the Assessing Officer, after calling for any further details from the petitioner, if so required. Writ petition allowed.