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Issues involved: The judgment discusses the refusal to refer a question of law to the High Court by the Income-tax Appellate Tribunal, focusing on the condonation of delay in filing an appeal.
Condonation of Delay: The Tribunal declined to refer a question of law to the High Court regarding the condonation of a five-day delay in filing an appeal. The petitioner argued that the discretion to condone delay is a question of law, citing a Supreme Court judgment. However, the court found that the judgment cited was not applicable to the present case. It emphasized that limitations must be applied rigorously and delay can only be condoned for valid reasons supported by evidence. The court highlighted that the decision not to condone delay does not give rise to a question of law when based on appropriate reasons. Reasons for Non-Condonation: The authorities cited three reasons for not condoning the delay: the absence of an affidavit from the person handling the file, failure to produce relevant records, and the hearsay nature of the filed affidavit. The Tribunal found that the Departmental Representative did not provide the necessary affidavit, leading to the dismissal of the reference application by the Revenue. Legal Precedents: The judgment referenced legal precedents such as the case of Oriental Investment Co. Ltd. v. CIT and Brajabandhu Nanda v. CIT to support the view that the exercise of discretion in condoning delay is a question of fact. It emphasized that unless the decision is illogical or perverse, it does not constitute a question of law under section 256 of the Income-tax Act. Conclusion: The court concluded that the Tribunal's decision to decline the reference was justified, as the reasons provided were in line with legal principles. It rejected the petitioner's arguments that the Tribunal erred in its decision or applied incorrect principles of law. Ultimately, the court dismissed the petition, finding no jurisdictional error in the Tribunal's order.
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