Home Case Index All Cases Income Tax Income Tax + HC Income Tax - 2024 (4) TMI HC This
Forgot password New User/ Regiser ⇒ Register to get Live Demo
2024 (4) TMI 752 - HC - Income TaxValidity of reopening of assessment - appeals for Assessment Years 2011-2012, 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 were pending before the ITAT and as the assessment was getting time barred and to safeguard the interest of the Revenue, the assessment was reopened on 3 issues i.e., 8% profit treating contractor, Proportionate income and Capital gain - HELD THAT:- Admittedly, the ITAT has now held against the Revenue. Therefore, the entire basis for reopening has collapsed. The Revenue’s case that an appeal has been filed in this Court challenging the orders passed by the ITAT for Assessment Years 2011-2012, 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 will not be of any help because admittedly there is no stay. As held in Union of India v/s. Kamlakshi Finance Corporation Ltd. [1991 (9) TMI 72 - SUPREME COURT] the principles of judicial discipline require that the orders of the higher appellate authorities should be followed unreservedly by the subordinate authorities and the order is the subject matter of an appeal can furnish no ground for not following it unless its operation has been suspended by a competent Court. Admittedly, the order of the ITAT, which is challenged in appeal in this Court, has not been suspended. Therefore, the order of the ITAT is certainly binding on the Revenue. Respondents also submitted that assessment can be opened on the basis of order passed in another assessment year which is a settled position in law. Though we will not enter into a debate with him/Respondents on this aspect, still to issue notice itself the Revenue has to, in the facts of the case, cross the first hurdle of the proviso u/s 147 of the Act and if they do not, as we have observed above, the reopening will be bad in law. We hereby quash and set aside the impugned notice. Consequently the order on objections also is hereby quashed and set aside.
|