THE HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE UJJAL BHUYAN
AND
THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE N. TUKARAMJI
I.T.T.A.Nos.256, 257, 259, 261, 262, 263, 264, 265, 266,
268, 269, 270, 271, 272, 273, 274, 275, 279, 281, 283,
284 and 294 of 2022
COMMON JUDGMENT: (Per the Hon'ble the Chief Justice Ujjal Bhuyan)
This order will dispose of the above batch of income tax
appeals.
2. Heard Mr. Dwarakanath, learned Senior Counsel
representing Mr. Karthik Ramana Puttam Reddy, learned
counsel for the assessees/appellants and Ms. K.Mamata
Choudary, learned Standing Counsel, Income Tax
Department and Ms. Sapna Reddy, learned counsel
representing Mr. J.V.Prasad, learned Standing Counsel,
Income Tax Department for the respondents.
3. All the related appeals have been filed under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (briefly referred to hereinafter as 'the Act') assailing the common order dated 21.03.2022 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, 2 HCJ & NTRJ I.T.T.A.Nos.259 of 2022 & batch Hyderabad Bench 'A', Hyderabad (briefly referred to hereinafter as 'Tribunal') disposing of the following appeals corresponding to the relevant assessment years: Sl.No. & Appellant ITA No. Asst. Year
1. Dakshin 651/Hyd/2020 2012-13 Infrastructures Private Limited, Hyderabad.
2. Kapil Property 652/Hyd/2020 2013-14 Developers Limited, Hanumakonda.
3. Kapil Foods and 653/Hyd/2020 2012-13
Structures Private
654/Hyd/2020 2013-14
Limited, Warangal.
4. Nalgonda Realtors 655/Hyd/2020 2012-13
Private Limited,
656/Hyd/2020 2013-14
Secunderabad.
657/Hyd/2020 2017-18
5. Ujwala Publications 658/Hyd/2020 2012-13
and Developers Pvt.
659/Hyd/2020 2013-14
Ltd., Warangal.
6. M/s. Indur Avenues 666/Hyd/2020 2012-13
and Foods Private
667/Hyd/2020 2013-14
Limited, Nizamabad.
7. M/s.Kausalya 668/Hyd/2020 2012-13
Management Services
669/Hyd/2020 2013-14
and Structures Private
Limited, Karimnagar. 691/Hyd/2020 2017-18
8. Indur Developers 670/Hyd/2020 2012-13
and Agencies Private
671/Hyd/2020 2013-14
Limited, Vijayawada.
672/Hyd/2020 2016-17
9. Kausalya Agro 673/Hyd/2020 2012-13
Farms & Developers
674/Hyd/2020 2013-14
Private Limited,
Hyderabad. 675/Hyd/2020 2014-15
676/Hyd/2020 2017-18
3 HCJ & NTRJ
I.T.T.A.Nos.259 of 2022 & batch
10. Kausalya Shelters 678/Hyd/2020 2013-14
Private Limited,
679/Hyd/2020 2014-15
Karimnagar.
680/Hyd/2020 2017-18
11. M/s. Kausalya 681/Hyd/2020 2012-13
Avenues Private
682/Hyd/2020 2013-14
Limited, Karimnagar.
683/Hyd/2020 2016-17
684/Hyd/2020 2017-18
685/Hyd/2020 2018-19
12. Kapil Infra 686/Hyd/2020 2012-13
Avenues Private
687/Hyd/2020 2013-14
Limited, Vijayawada.
13. Preethi Foods and 688/Hyd/2020 2012-13
Villas Private Limited,
689/Hyd/2020 2013-14
Khammam.
690/Hyd/2020 2017-18
4. Learned Senior Counsel for the appellant has proposed the following questions as substantial questions of law:
1. Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal is correct in upholding the jurisdiction of the assessing officer in initiating reassessment under Section 147 of the Act overlooking the contention of the appellant that the first proviso to Section 147 of the Act is not applicable since there is full and true disclosure of all material facts necessary for assessment?
2. Whether the Tribunal misdirected itself in dealing with a contention based on Section 153-A read with Section 153- C of the Act as if the reassessment is challenged based on 4 HCJ & NTRJ I.T.T.A.Nos.259 of 2022 & batch the material recovered at the time of search of a group concern?
3. Whether the Tribunal failed to appreciate that the reasoning given in appeal of Indur Developers and Agencies Private Limited (ITA No.672/Hyd/2020 dated 21.3.2022) formed the basis for decision in this appeal and hence, it cannot be construed as a concession by a group entity?
4. Whether the Tribunal was justified in remanding the matter for de novo examination to verify whether the borrowings and advances made by the appellant contain interest stipulation or not when it is clearly admitted by the appellant in the assessment proceedings that borrowings had interest stipulation while there was no such stipulation for advances given to sister concerns?
5. Whether the remand direction of the Tribunal is wholly unnecessary when, for the purpose of Section 37 of the Act, the interest on borrowings is a revenue expenditure and is admissible for deduction irrespective of the fact whether the advances made out of such borrowings yielded interest thereon?
6. Whether it is within the power of the Tribunal to undo the relief granted by the CIT(A) when the Department has not chosen to challenge the order of the CIT(A) either through a separate appeal or through cross objections?
5. Upon going through the common order passed by the Tribunal and as agreed to by learned counsel for the 5 HCJ & NTRJ I.T.T.A.Nos.259 of 2022 & batch parties, the appeals are taken up for final disposal at the stage of admission hearing itself.
6. In one bunch of appeals, the sole ground raised by the assessees before the Tribunal was disallowance of interest expenditure under Section 36(1)(iii) of the Act made by the assessing officer and partly affirmed by the first appellate authority. As a matter of fact, first appellate authority had granted limited relief to the assessees. For the balance relief, appeals were filed by the assessees before the Tribunal.
7. In another batch of appeals, we find that the ground urged before the Tribunal was validity of reopening of assessment proceedings under Section 147 of the Act.
8. However, we find from the order dated 21.03.2022 that instead of adjudicating on the grounds raised by the assessees before the Tribunal, Tribunal had remanded the appeals to the file of the assessing officer. In paragraph 46 of the common order, Tribunal has held that assessing officer has to examine the assessees' fund position as well as the 6 HCJ & NTRJ I.T.T.A.Nos.259 of 2022 & batch clinching issue as to whether the corresponding borrowings claimed to have been carrying no interest involving plotted land buyers, afresh and in light of all the evidence on wholesome basis only.
9. We are afraid Tribunal was required to adjudicate on the grounds which were urged before it by the assessees/appellants. Remanding the matter in its entirety to the assessing officer has caused serious prejudice to the appellants in as much as even those reliefs which have been granted by the first appellate authority would now stand nullified in view of the Tribunal's direction to the assessing officer to re-do the whole exercise in its entirety.
10. We may also mention that no cross-appeals were filed by the revenue against the order of the first appellate authority granting substantial relief to the assessees/ appellants.
11. That being the position, we set aside the common order of the Tribunal dated 21.03.2022 and direct the 7 HCJ & NTRJ I.T.T.A.Nos.259 of 2022 & batch Tribunal to hear the appeals before it on the limited grounds urged by the appellants, namely, disallowance of interest expenditure under Section 36(1)(iii) of the Act to the extent disallowed by the first appellate authority as well as the validity of the re-assessment proceedings.
12. The questions framed are accordingly answered in favour of the appellants/assessees and against the revenue.
13. Consequently, the appeals are allowed. However, there shall be no order as to costs.
14. As a sequel, miscellaneous applications pending, if any, in this Appeal, shall stand closed.
_______________________ UJJAL BHUYAN, CJ _______________________ N.TUKARAMJI, J Date: 02.02.2023 KL