2025 (4) TMI 1457 - HC - Income Tax

Denial of principles of natural justice by passing the final assessment order without granting or rejecting the petitioner s request for adjournment and opportunity to respond to the show cause notice - HELD THAT - As relevant extract from the affidavit of Shri Sanjeev Jain Principal CIT(OSD)(EXEMPTION) shows as relevant point of time when the Petitioner had made application dated 02.03, 2021 for adjournment the entries of adjournment in the hearing module were not synchronized in Case History Noting/ order sheet on account of gap in software development due to which the said adjournment request made by the petitioner did not reflect in the Case History Noting / order sheet. As humbly say and submit that such shortcoming in software came to be noticed subsequently and accordingly in the year 2023 the software was updated so that adjournment entries in the hearing module get synchronized in Case History Noting /order sheet module. Department had taken us through the files which inter alia contained questionnaires to the concerned officers and their written responses to their respective Superiors. From the same it is apparent that the failure of the administration rested on the twin factors issues with the portal and human error. This Court deems it appropriate not to venture in the area of errors and the degrees of negligence in the performance of duties by the concerned officers. It is up to the Department to deal with the same on the administrative side. As far as issues with the portal are concerned we find that these portals have become silent stakeholders in the Justice Delivery System. On the last hearing we were pleased to note that there is an acknowledgment on behalf of the Department coupled with a sincere effort to rectify the issues. Given such a situation the Department whose avowed objective being to participate in the economic growth of the country through the Tax collection system as mandated and circumscribed by Parliament in Article 265 of the Constitution of India has to ensure that at all times every wing of the Department including the portal is attuned and fine tuned to the imminent needs of the functioning of the Department. Likewise it is bounden duty of this Court to strike a balance between the competing rights of the Assessee and the duty of the Department to collect tax to ensure that the Constitutional mandate is carried out in the best possible manner. Department intends to position the CIT(J) as a Nodal Officer to be connected with each jurisdictional High Court. The further functions elaborated under the Head Work Domain under paragraph No.4 of the aforesaid instruction No.1/2024 if implemented should go a long way in mitigating lapses of the kind forming the subject matter of the present proceedings. This Court therefore passes the following directions - (1) In all future Income Tax petitions (Special Civil Applications and Tax Appeals) apart from the usual respondents the CIT (Judicial) is to be mandatory made a party respondent by the Assessee petitioners and a co-petitioner by the Income Tax Department where the Tax Appeals are filed by the Department. The postal address and E-mail address for CIT (Judicial) given (2) Once the CIT (Judicial) stands impleaded in the petition the sole responsibility for implementation of the Orders of this Court and to follow Instruction No. 1/2024 to the hilt shall be upon the CIT (Judicial) as a representative of the Income Tax Department. The buck shall stop there. The present proceedings were being continued beyond the immediate reliefs claimed in personam by the Petitioner herein because in the course of the hearings this Court had become aware of the systemic deficiencies in the administration of the Income Tax Department which has resulted in egregious violation of the rule of law.With the aforesaid steps taken by the Department in consultation with the Chairman CBDT and the directions passed by us in the foregoing paragraphs we are buoyant and optimistic that the deficiencies recorded in the Orders of this Court of which the Department is now alive to and both pro-active and re-active the administration of the provisions of the Income Tax Act will be optimized to ensure that a powerful engine of our economy can maximize its potential and at the same time remain just and humane to the Assessee. It is the need of the hour. Lastly it brings us to the individual case of the little man who had knocked the doors of this Court for his own statutory and Constitutional rights. Denial of Exemption u/s 11 and 12 - allegedly violated the conditions prescribed under Section 12A of the Act by not filing the return of income and Form No.10B within the prescribed time limit - Penalty imposed ignoring stay orders - In view of the fact that the penalty and demand orders both dated 21.12.2021 were passed in the teeth of the order dated 06.04.2021 by which Assessment Order dated 04.03.2021 came to be stayed the penalty order under Section 270-A dated 21.12.2021 and the Demand Notice u/s 156 of the Act dated 21.12.2021 are hereby quashed and set aside.

Summary

1. ISSUES PRESENTED and CONSIDERED

The core legal questions considered by the Court in this matter include:

• Whether the Assessing Officer violated the principles of natural justice by passing the final assessment order without granting or rejecting the petitioner's request for adjournment and opportunity to respond to the show cause notice.
• Whether the denial of exemption under Sections 11 and 12 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, on the ground of alleged non-compliance with filing timelines for Form No.10B and return of income, was justified.
• Whether the penalty order under Section 270A and the demand notice issued in disregard of the Court's stay order were valid.
• The systemic issues within the Income Tax Department's administration, particularly relating to faceless assessment proceedings, including procedural lapses, software deficiencies, and disregard of judicial orders.
• The appropriate remedial measures and administrative reforms to prevent recurrence of such systemic failures.

2. ISSUE-WISE DETAILED ANALYSIS

Issue 1: Violation of Principles of Natural Justice in Passing the Assessment Order

Legal framework and precedents: The principles of natural justice require that a party be given a fair opportunity to present its case before adverse orders are passed. In tax proceedings, this includes the right to be heard before an assessment order is finalized. The Income Tax Act, 1961, under Sections 143(2) and 143(3), mandates issuance of notices and opportunity for representation.

Court's interpretation and reasoning: The petitioner filed a request for adjournment on 02.03.2021 seeking time till 11.03.2021 to respond to the show cause notice dated 27.02.2021, which provided only three days for response. Despite this, the Assessing Officer passed the final assessment order on 04.03.2021 without granting or rejecting the adjournment request or providing an opportunity for submissions.

The Department initially filed an affidavit denying that any adjournment request was made against the 27.02.2021 notice, relying on order sheets and portal records. However, this affidavit was found to be false and contradictory to the documentary evidence on record, including the petitioner's communication and Court's own order dated 06.04.2021 admitting the petition and staying the assessment order.

The Court emphasized that the failure to consider the adjournment request and to pass the assessment order without hearing constituted a clear breach of natural justice. The Court noted that the assessment date was extended till 30.04.2021, further underscoring the unreasonable haste in passing the order.

Key evidence and findings: Documentary evidence included the petitioner's adjournment request dated 02.03.2021, the show cause notice dated 27.02.2021, and the order sheet of the faceless assessment portal. The Court found that the adjournment request was not reflected in the portal due to software synchronization issues, but was nonetheless filed and acknowledged.

Application of law to facts: The Court held that the Assessing Officer's conduct violated the mandatory requirement of affording a fair hearing, rendering the assessment order invalid.

Treatment of competing arguments: The Department's initial denial of the adjournment request was rejected due to the false affidavit. The Department's apology and subsequent withdrawal of the affidavit were accepted but did not absolve the breach.

Conclusion: The assessment order dated 04.03.2021 was quashed for violation of natural justice.

Issue 2: Denial of Exemption under Sections 11 and 12 on Grounds of Procedural Non-Compliance

Legal framework and precedents: Sections 11 and 12 of the Income Tax Act provide exemption for income applied for charitable or religious purposes, subject to compliance with procedural requirements including filing of return and audit report (Form 10B) within prescribed timelines. The Supreme Court and High Courts have held that procedural compliance is mandatory unless specifically exempted, as in Checkmate Services Pvt Ltd v VIT and Principal CIT v New Nobel Educational Society.

Court's interpretation and reasoning: The petitioner had filed its original audit report and return of income claiming exemption. Subsequently, a revised audit report was filed correcting inadvertent errors. The Department contended that the revised audit report was filed beyond the prescribed time and that the exemption was thus not allowable.

The Court noted that the revised audit report was filed belatedly (after approximately 18 months from the date of obtaining the report), and the petitioner did not revise the return of income accordingly. The Department's reliance on binding precedents emphasizing mandatory procedural compliance was accepted.

Key evidence and findings: The dates of filing original and revised audit reports and returns, and the failure to revise the return of income to reflect the revised audit figures.

Application of law to facts: The Court found that the exemption could not be allowed in absence of valid and timely filing of audit report and return, consistent with statutory mandates and judicial precedents.

Treatment of competing arguments: The petitioner's contention that the revised audit report should be considered was rejected due to procedural non-compliance.

Conclusion: The denial of exemption under Sections 11 and 12 was upheld on grounds of procedural non-compliance.

Issue 3: Validity of Penalty and Demand Notices Issued in Disregard of Court's Stay Order

Legal framework and precedents: Once a Court grants a stay on assessment proceedings or orders, the Department is bound to comply with such orders. Issuance of penalty or demand notices in violation of stay orders constitutes contempt and is liable to be quashed.

Court's interpretation and reasoning: Despite the stay order dated 06.04.2021 restraining operation of the assessment order, the Department passed a penalty order under Section 270A and issued a demand notice on 21.12.2021. The Court found this to be a deliberate and egregious violation of judicial orders, undermining the rule of law and judicial authority.

Key evidence and findings: The stay order dated 06.04.2021 and the subsequent penalty and demand notices issued in December 2021.

Application of law to facts: The Court quashed and set aside the penalty order and demand notice issued in violation of the stay.

Treatment of competing arguments: The Department tendered unconditional apology and withdrew the penalty order under Section 154. The Court accepted the apology but emphasized the gravity of the breach.

Conclusion: The penalty order and demand notice issued in violation of the stay were quashed.

Issue 4: Systemic Failures in Income Tax Department's Administration and Faceless Assessment Scheme

Legal framework and precedents: The Income Tax Department is obligated to administer tax laws in accordance with constitutional mandates, statutory provisions, and judicial orders. The faceless assessment scheme was introduced to enhance transparency and efficiency but must not compromise procedural fairness.

Court's interpretation and reasoning: The Court identified systemic failures including:

• Software deficiencies causing failure to record adjournment requests and hearing notes properly.
• Human errors and negligence in processing cases and ignoring Court orders.
• Lack of coordination between jurisdictional and faceless assessment officers.
• Failure to implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) and monitoring mechanisms.

The Court underscored that such systemic lapses undermine the rule of law and taxpayer rights.

Key evidence and findings: Affidavits filed by Income Tax Officers, internal inquiries, and reports of the Committee constituted by the Department to investigate and propose remedial measures.

Application of law to facts: The Court recognized the Department's acknowledgment of errors and its commitment to remedial steps, including software upgrades and institutional reforms.

Treatment of competing arguments: The Department tendered unconditional apology and submitted detailed affidavits explaining the genesis of failures and steps taken to rectify them.

Conclusion: The Court accepted the Department's apology and remedial measures but emphasized the need for strict compliance and monitoring.

Issue 5: Appropriate Remedial Measures and Directions

Legal framework and precedents: Courts have inherent powers to issue directions to ensure effective implementation of their orders and to prevent abuse of process.

Court's interpretation and reasoning: The Court directed that:

• The Commissioner of Income Tax (Judicial) (CIT (Judicial)) be made a mandatory party in all future Income Tax petitions to ensure centralized responsibility for compliance with Court orders.
• The CIT (Judicial) shall be the nodal officer responsible for implementation of Court directions and departmental instructions.
• The Department's Committee on improvement of compliance shall continue its work, including uploading Court orders on ITBA portal, introducing color coding and alerts for stay orders, enhancing communication between jurisdictional and faceless officers, and conducting training programs.
• The Department shall take administrative action against officers responsible for lapses.

Key evidence and findings: The Department's affidavit dated 2nd April 2025 detailing remedial steps, constitution of a multi-member Committee, and proposed technical and procedural improvements.

Application of law to facts: The directions aim to institutionalize accountability and prevent recurrence of errors.

Treatment of competing arguments: The Department's acceptance and cooperation were noted positively.

Conclusion: The Court issued binding directions to strengthen compliance and monitoring mechanisms.

3. SIGNIFICANT HOLDINGS

"The assessment order dated 04.03.2021 has been clearly passed in utter disregard of the principles of natural justice and is consequently quashed and set aside."

"The penalty order under Section 270-A dated 21.12.2021 and the Demand Notice under Section 156 dated 21.12.2021 are hereby quashed and set aside as they were passed in the teeth of the order dated 06.04.2021 by which the assessment order came to be stayed."

"The Department is directed to bear the costs of Rs. 500/- in each petition payable to The Gujarat High Court Advocates Library."

"The Commissioner of Income Tax (Judicial) shall be made a mandatory party in all future Income Tax petitions and shall bear the sole responsibility for implementation of the orders of this Court and to follow the departmental instructions to the hilt."

"The Department's acknowledgment of errors, tendering of unconditional apology, and commitment to remedial measures including software upgrades, establishment of monitoring committees, and training programs are noted with optimism."

"The failure of the Department to comply with Court orders and filing of a false affidavit constitute serious breaches of judicial discipline, which must be remedied to preserve the rule of law."