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Issues involved: Assessment of business as a firm, refusal of registration by Assessing Officer, treatment as 'AOP', disallowance of interest and remuneration, violation of law u/s rule 39 of AP Indian Liquor and Foreign Liquor Rules, 1970, applicability of section 184(3) of the Income-tax Act.
Assessment as a firm: The assessee obtained a business license in the name of an individual partner while conducting business as a firm with another partner. The Assessing Officer refused firm registration, treating the assessee as an 'AOP'. The CIT(A) directed to treat the assessee as a firm based on a previous ITAT decision. The Departmental Representative argued against treating the assessee as a firm, citing rule violations and a different ITAT decision. Policy decision and appeals: The revenue filed appeals for assessment years below Rs. 2 lakhs, contrary to CBDT policy circulars on monetary limits for appeals. The ITAT dismissed the revenue's appeals as unadmitted, emphasizing the importance of following CBDT instructions to avoid arbitrariness and uphold equality principles. Legal provisions and status as a firm: Section 184 of the Income-tax Act, as amended from 1-4-1993, outlines norms for firm status. Compliance with section 184(1) and furnishing partnership instrument obligates the Assessing Officer to grant firm status. Section 184(3) mandates assessment as a firm for subsequent years unless there are changes in firm constitution or partner shares. The Assessing Officer cannot alter the firm's status without valid reasons post-1993 amendments. Judicial analysis and dismissal of appeals: Case laws cited by the Departmental Representative were deemed irrelevant as they predated the 1993 amendments to section 184. The ITAT dismissed revenue appeals, noting the lack of discussion on amended provisions in previous decisions. The ITAT emphasized that the Assessing Officer cannot change the firm's status without valid grounds post-1993 amendments, leading to the dismissal of revenue appeals.
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