GUJARAT POLY-AVX ELECTRONICS LTD. VS DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX (ASSESSMENT)
1998 P T D 2444
[222 I T R 140]
[Gujarat High Court (India)]
Before B.C. Patel and R. R. Jain, JJ
GUJARAT POLY-AVX ELECTRONICS LTD.
versus
DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX (ASSESSMENT)
Special Civil Application No.425 of 1996, decided on 05/07/1996.
Income-tax---
----Assessment---Assessment procedure---Scope of subsections (1) & (2) of S.143---Notice issued under S.143(2)---Assessing Officer cannot make adjustment or pass order under S.143(1)---Assessment must be made under S.143(3)---Indian Income Tax Act, 1961, S.143.
Reading the language of sub-clause (i) of clause (a) of subsection (1) of section 143 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, it is clear that the Assessing Officer is permitted to make adjustments and the same is without prejudice to the provisions of subsection (2). The right of the Assessing Officer to proceed under section 143(2) is preserved despite intimation to the assessee under section 143(1) of the Act. The use of the word "shall" in sub section (2) of section 143 of the Act mandates the Assessing Officer to issue notice to the assessee with a view to ensure that the assessee has not understated the income or has not computed excessive loss or has not underpaid the tax in any manner. After expiry of 12 months from the end of the month in which the return is furnished no notice can be served on the assessee. But intimation under section 143(1) can be sent before the expiry of two years from the end of the assessment year. Thus, the Legislature has not permitted simultaneous proceedings. The Central Board of Direct Taxes in its Circular No.549 dated October 31, 1989, has advised the Assessing Officer to issue intimation under section 143(1) before issuance of notice under section 143(2) of the Act. Hence, after issuance of notice under section 143(2) of the Act, it is not open for the Assessing Officer to make adjustment or to pass order under section 143(1) of the Act but he has to make assessment in accordance with law, i.e., under section 143(3) of the Act.
Though the writ of prohibition or certiorari would not issue against an order prohibiting an Executive Authority, the High Court has power to issue in a fit case an order prohibiting an Executive Authority from acting without jurisdiction. Where such action of an Executive Authority acting without jurisdiction subjects, or is likely to subject, a person to lengthy proceedings and unnecessary harassment, the High Courts would issue appropriate orders or directions to prevent such consequences. The existence of such alternative remedies as appeals and reference to the High Court is not always a sufficient reason for refusing a party quick relief by a writ or order prohibiting an authority acting without jurisdiction from continuing such action. When the Constitution conferred on the High Courts the power to give relief it becomes the duty of Courts to give such relief in fit cases and the Courts would be failing to perform their duty if relief were refused without adequate reasons.
Calcutta Discount Co. Ltd. v. ITO (1961) 41 ITR 191 (SC) and Modern Fibotex India Ltd. v. Dy. CIT (1995) 212 ITR 496 (Cal.) ref.
J.P. Shah for Petitioner.
Bharat J. Shelat for Bhatt & Co. for Respondent.
JUDGMENT
B.C. PATEL, J.---The assessee, a company, has filed this petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for a writ of certiorari or any other appropriate writ, order or direction for quashing the intimation/order Annexure "D", dated December 18, 1995, under section 143(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as "the Act"). It has also prayed for quashing the demand of Rs.1,30,83,741.
The short facts leading to the present proceedings are as under:
On September 12, 1994, the assessee submitted a return of loss of Rs.1,74,78,530 for the assessment year 1993-94 as per the computation of income and depreciation chart annexed to the petition at Annexure "A". The assessee claimed depreciation of Rs.1,7478,526. Manufacturing activities started on March 24, 1993, i.e., during the accounting year ending on March 31, 1993 (the assessment year 1993-94). It was specifically pointed out that "the amount of interest received during the public issue of Rs.1,07,85,590 is not to be considered as income and has been given set-off against the interest outgoings included under pre-operative expenditure" in view of several decisions including that of the apex Court.
As stated by learned counsel, on filing of the return, the Assessing Officer under the new scheme for assessment under section 143 of the Act, had two options, i.e., (i) either to accept the return under section 14391) with necessary adjustments, if there is any, or (ii) to proceed to make assessment under section 143(3) or under section 144 by issuing notice under section 143(2) of the Act. In the instant case, instead of accepting the return under section 143(1) of the Act undisputedly, the Assessing Officer issued notice under section 143(2) of the Act on December 1, 1994, vide Annexure "C". It is contended in the petition that in continuation of the notice the Assessing Officer addressed a letter on November 15, 1995, calling upon the assessee to attend on November 27, 1995, vide letter Annexure "C-1". The assessee's representative appeared before the Assessing Officer on November 27, 1995, but the Assessing Officer adjourned the case to December 1, 1995. On December 1, 1995, there was a discussion between the representative of the assessee and the Assessing Officer. The assessee was called upon to make clarifications regarding various points and was also asked to clarify as to how the depreciation as claimed should not be disallowed and why interest should not be taxed as receipt on the revenue account. It is contended by the assessee that the Assessing Officer was in the midst of the proceedings under section 143(3) of the Act. However, the Assessing Officer issued intimation/order under section 143(1)(a) of the Act, vide Annexure "D", rejecting the return of income as computed by the assessee resulting in disallowing depreciation as claimed and by taxing the interest income of Rs.1,07,85,590 as income from other sources and thus raised the demand of Rs.1,30,83,741 under various heads and sections of taxes, surcharge and additional tax under sections 143(1-A), 234-A and 234-B.
Mr. Shah, learned counsel appearing for the assessee, has contended that once the Assessing Officer has exercised an option to proceed under section 143(3) of the Act by issuing notice under section 143(2) of the Act even if adjustments that may be made by the Assessing Officer are in order, the Assessing Officer has forfeited the authority to act under section 143(1) by virtue of his having exercised option to make an assessment under section 143(3) of the Act by issuing a notice under section 143(2) of the Act.
As against this, Mr. Shelat, learned counsel, has contended that it is open for the Assessing Officer to follow the procedure under sections 143(1) and 143(2) simultaneously. His contention is that it is open to have parallel proceedings and it is not compulsory to assess as per section 143(3) of the Act though notice under section 143(2) of the Act is issued and before making the assessment under section 143(3) of the Act he can proceed under section 143(1) of the Act. No other contention is raised.
It would be better to have a look at the relevant section which is reproduced as under:
" 143. (1)(a). Where a return has been made under section 139, or in response to a notice under subsection (1) of section 142,---
(i) If any tax or interest is found due on the basis of such return, after adjustment of any tax deducted at source, any advance tax paid and any amount paid otherwise by way of tax or interest, then, without prejudice to the provisions of subsection (2), an intimation shall be sent to the assessee specifying the sum so payable, and such intimation shall be deemed to be a notice of demand issued under section 156 and all the provisions of this Act shall apply accordingly; and
(ii) if any refund is due on the basis of such return, it shall be granted to the assessee:
Provided that in computing the tax or interest payable by, or refundable to, the assessee, the following adjustments shall be made in the income or loss declared in the return, namely:---
(i) any arithmetical errors in the return, accounts or documents accompanying it shall be rectified;
(ii) any loss carried forward, deduction, allowance or relief, which, on the basis of the information available in such return, accounts or documents, is prima facie admissible but which is not claimed in the return, shall be allowed;
(iii) any loss carried forward, deduction, allowance or relief claimed in the return, which, on the basis of the information available in such return, accounts or documents, is prima facie inadmissible, shall be disallowed;
Provided further that where adjustments are made under the first proviso, an intimation shall be sent to the assessee, notwithstanding that no tax or interest is found due from him after making the said adjustments:
Provided also that an intimation for any tax or interest due under this clause small not be sent after the expiry of two years from the end of the assessment year in which the income was first assessable ....
(1-A) (a) Where as a result of the adjustments made under the first proviso to clause (a) of subsection(1),---
(i) the income declared by any person in the return is increased or
(ii) the loss declared by such person in the return is reduced or is converted into income, the Assessing Officer shall,---
(A) in a case where the increase in income under sub-clause(i) of this clause has increased the total income of such person, further increase the amount of tax payable under subsection (1) by an additional income-tax calculated at the rate of twenty percent on the difference between the tax on the total income so increased and the tax that would have been chargeable had such total income been reduced by the amount of adjustments and specify the additional income-tax in the intimation to be sent under sub-clause (i) of clause (a) of subsection (1);
(B) in a case where the loss so declared is reduced under sub-clause (ii) of this clause or the aforesaid adjustments have the effect of converting that loss into income, calculate a sum (hereinafter referred to as ' additional income-tax') equal to twenty percent of the tax that would have been chargeable on the amount of the adjustments as if it had been the total income of such person and specify the additional income-tax so calculated in the intimation to be sent under sub-clause (i) of clause (a) of subsection (1),
(C) where any refund is due under subsection (1), reduce the amount of such refund by an amount equivalent to the additional income-tax calculated under sub-clause (A) or sub-clause (B), as the case may be...
(2) Where a return has been made under section 139, or in response to a notice under subsection (1) of section 142, the Assessing Officer shall, if he considers it necessary or expedient to ensure that the assessee has not understated the income or has not computed excessive loss or has not underpaid the tax in any manner, serve on the assessee a notice requiring him, on a date to be specified therein, either to attend his office or to produce, or cause to be produced there, any evidence on which the assessee may rely in support of the return:
Provided that no notice under this subsection shall be served on the assessee after the expiry of twelve months from the end of the month in which the return is furnished.
(3) On the day specified in the notice issued under subsection (2), or as soon afterwards as may be, after hearing such evidence as the assessee may produce and such other evidence as the Assessing Officer may require on specified points, and after taking into account all relevant material which he has gathered, the Assessing Officer shall, by an order in writing, make an assessment of the total income or loss of the assessee, and determine the sum payable by him on the basis of such assessment.
(4) Where a regular assessment under subsection (3) of this section or section 144 is made,--
(a) any tax or interest paid by the assessee under subsection (1) shall be deemed to have been paid towards such regular assessment.
(b) if no refund is due on regular assessment or the amount refunded under subsection (1) exceeds the amount refundable on regular assessment, the whole or the excess amount so refunded shall be deemed to be tax payable by the assessee and the provisions of this Act shall apply accordingly..."
Reading the language of sub-clause (i) of clause (a) of subsection (1) of section 143 it is clear that the Assessing Officer is permitted to make adjustments and the same is without prejudice to the provisions of sub section (2). If the Assessing Officer is accepting the return after making adjustments then he has to sent intimation to the assessee in that behalf. The proviso makes it clear that in computing the tax or interest payable by or refund to the assessee, the adjustments shall be made in the income or lows declared in the return under three types of cases as mentioned in the proviso. If the assessee has not claimed deduction in his return but if the deduction is "prima facie" admissible then in that case the Assessing Officer is duty bound to allow that deduction straightaway. In the same way if relief claimed in the return is "prima facie" inadmissible the same is to be disallowed. Mr. Shah, learned counsel for the petitioner, has contended that the Legislature has intentionally used the word "prima facie". According to him merely looking at the return filed by the assessee the Assessing Officer should be satisfied about the claim being admissible or inadmissible. If admissibility or inadmissibility of the claim requires evidence further information then it cannot be said that the claim is "prima facie" inadmissible or admissible "prima facie".
It is thus clear that the Assessing Officer even after issuing intimation after making adjustments as per the provisions of section 143(1) of the Act can call upon the assessee, if he considers it necessary or expedient to ensure that the assessee has not understated the income or has not computed excessive loss or has not underpaid the tax in any manner. Once this opinion is formed then the Assessing Officer will have to serve on the assessee a notice under section 143(2) of the Act requiring him to produce evidence before him on the date specified in the notice. This is permissible in view of the saving clause in section 143(1) of the Act. Section 143(1) of the Act is to be exercised without prejudice to the provisions of subsection (2) of section 143 of the Act. However, exercise of the powers under section 143(1) is not made permissible after issuance of notice under section 143(2) of the Act. The Assessing Officer cannot exercise the powers under section 143(1) of the Act as he himself has decided to make regular assessment under section 143(3) of the Act. That in section 143(2) like under section 143(1) powers are not saved. As the Assessing Officer has called upon the assessee to furnish evidence to satisfy himself about the correctness or legality of the claim made by the assessee in his return, hence only after hearing the assessee and after considering the evidence that may be produced by the assessee the Assessing Officer has to make the order in writing making assessment of the total income or loss of the assessee and he has to determine the amount payable on the basis of such assessment, that is, under section 143(3) of the Act. Mr. Shelat, learned counsel for the, Revenue, fairly stated that notice under section 143(2) of the Act cannot be withdrawn. Notice under section 143(2) of the Act is a step towards regular assessment under section 143(3) of the Act and, therefore, in the absence of any provision it is not open to make assessment in any other manner than provided as per section 143(3) of the Act.
Mr. Shelat, learned counsel for the Revenue, has submitted that with a view to have clarification the Assessing Officer may issue notice and if he is satisfied, he may pass an order under section 143(1)(a) of the Act. We are concerned with the notice which is issued under the provisions contained in section 143(2) of the Act. In reading the language of section 143(2) of the Act, the only conclusion possible is that the Assessing Officer has to make assessment under section 143(3) of the Act. Once having come to the conclusion, the Assessing Officer has called upon the assessee to produce evidence before him for making assessment under section 143(3) of the Act. Notice under section 143(2) is issued with a view to ensure that the assessee has not understated the income or has not computed excessive loss or has not underpaid tax in any manner. As indicated earlier, in view of the saving clause in section 143(1) of the Act, the right of the Assessing Officer to proceed under section 143(2) is preserved despite intimation to the assessee under section 143(1) of the Act. It may be noticed that the section is amended and one of the main changes brought about is that under section 143(1) a regular assessment order as such is not to be passed but only an intimation after adjustment, if any, is to be sent.
Powers to make assessment in terms of its proviso can be invoked and when the claim is prima facie inadmissible or prima facie admissible, as the case may be, adjustment is to be made. The word "prima facie" clearly indicates that it must be first evidenced. A decision on the debatable issue is not envisaged. Issuance of notice suggests that the Assessing Officer has determined to make assessment under section 143(3) of the Act. It is clear, looking to the language used in different subsections that an order under section 143(1) is a summary one and the Assessing Officer on perusal of the return, that is, computation of income, is able to accept it as it is or with necessary adjustments as indicated in sub-clause (a) of subsection (1) of section 143 of the Act. The submission made by learned counsel for the Revenue is that even after the issuance of notice under section 143(2) of the Act, it is permissible for the Assessing Officer to assess under section 143(1) of the Act. One has to examine the claim on account of the result of adjustments made in the income shown in the return whether it results in increase or the loss declared in the return is reduced or is converted into income. If that is so it would entail further tax at the rate of 20 percent on the income so increased or a further tax of 20 percent on the loss so reduced as if it is income and the assessee will be charged as per subsection (1-A) of section 143 of the act. With a view to see that taxpayers in the return furnish details with a accuracy and correctness this provision is made. The assessee is aware about the provision and should take care that no incorrect statement is made with a view to save additional tax which may be imposed on him. However, when the Assessing Officer is not assessing the correctness about the claim which is either prima facie admissible or prima facie inadmissible, and the Assessing Officer with a view to ensure that the assessee has not computed excessive loss or has not underpaid tax in any manner has issued notice under section 143(2) of the Act, then there should be evidence before him and on the basis of the evidence that may be produced by the assessee assessment is to be made under section 143(3) of the Act, and assessee will be liable to tax in the manner laid down in the Act if he is required to pay. After calling upon the assessee to produce if the Assessing Officer is sending intimation instead of making regular assessment under section 143(3) of the Act then in that case the Assessing Officer would assess and would charge tax as per section 143(1-A) of the Act which is not contemplated under section 143(3) of the Act, and thus, what is not permissible under section 143(3) of the Act cannot be made permissible by allowing the Assessing Officer to resort to section 143(1) of the Act.
The use of the word "shall" in subsection (2) of section 143 of the Act mandates the Assessing Officer to issue notice to the assessee with a view to ensure that the assessee has not understated the income or has not computed excessive loss or has not underpaid the tax in any manner. This power has to be exercised when the Assessing Officer has formed an opinion that it is necessary or expedient to call upon the assessee to ensure that the tax is paid in accordance with law and for that purpose he shall call upon the assessee to produce evidence before him. Thus, in view of the language used in section 143(2) of the Act, notice must be issued in a case where the opinion is formed by the Assessing Officer as stated above. In section 143(3), the word used is "shall". It reads as under:
" ....Assessing Officer shall by order in writing make assessment of the total income or loss of the assessee. " '
Thus, reading the language it is mandatory for the Assessing Officer to call upon the assessee to produce evidence before him to ensure that the tax paid is in accordance with law and to make assessment under section 143(3) of the Act.
Whether simultaneous or parallel proceedings are permissible? Looking to the proviso to subsection (2) of section 143, after expiry of 12 months from the end of the month in which the return is furnished no notice can be served on the assessee. Intimation under section 143(1) is to be sent before the expiry of two years from the end of the assessment year in which the income was first assailable. Under section 153 of the Act no order of assessment shall be made under section 143 at any time after the expiry of two years from the end of the assessment year in which the income was first assessable. Thus, in any case, for regular assessment under section 143(3) of the Act notice is to be issued within the period of one year as per the proviso to section 143(2) of the Act, however, after the expiry of that period as indicated under section 143(2) of the Act intimation as contemplated under section 143(1) can be issued. Thus, the Legislature has not permitted simultaneous proceedings. If we consider the submission made by learned counsel that simultaneous or parallel proceedings can be commenced is certainly not acceptable. As indicated above, after the expiry of 12 months from the end of the month in which the return is furnished no notice can be served on the assessee. Is it open to the Department to issue notice after the period has expired? Certainly it is not open but intimation under section 143(1) can be sent before the expiry of two years from the end of the assessment year and, therefore, parallel proceedings are not contemplated. The Central Board of Direct Taxes in its Circular No.549, dated October 31, 1989 (see (1990) 182 ITR (St.) 1, 26 at paragraph 5.16 has advised as under:
"In fact, it will be preferable if action under section 143(1)(a) is completed even before the issue of a notice under section 143(2) in such cases.
Thus, even the Assessing Officers are advised by the Department to issue intimation before issuance of notice under section 143(2) of the Act.
Mr. Shah, learned counsel has placed reliance on the decision of the Calcutta High Court in the case of Modern Fibot India Ltd. v. Dy. CIT (1995) 212 ITR 496. In the view of the Calcutta High Court when once notice under section 143(2) has been issued there is no scope for the Assessing Officer either to make prima facie adjustment on the basis of the return as filed or issue an intimation under section 143(1)(a) of the Act. Emphasis is given to the omission by the Legislature with regard to savings of powers as is found in subsection (1) of section 143. If issuance of notice under section 143(2) would have been without prejudice to intimation under section 143(1) it could be said that parallel proceedings are permitted. The Legislature specifically provided that issuance of intimation under section 143(l)(a) would he without prejudice to the provisions of section 143(2). The provision is made so as to indicate the difference in the nature of two subsections. In view of the Calcutta High Court the jurisdiction exercised under section 143(1)(a) of the Act is a summary one. Looking to the language of section 143(2) of the Act, it is clear that the Assessing Officer has to follow the procedure under section 143(3) of the Act for making assessment. Mr. Shah, learned counsel, submitted that in the instant case by issuing notice under section 143(2) of the Act, proceedings commenced under section 143(3) of the Act. According to him, once the proceedings under section 143(3) of the Act have commenced the Assessing Officer has no power to pass order under section 143(1) of the Act. He submitted that the order passed by the Assessing Officer is without jurisdiction and, therefore, it must be quashed and set aside and the party should not be relegated to an alternative forum. He pointed out the procedure and drew our attention to the decision of the apex Court in the case of Calcutta Discount Co. Ltd. v. ITO (1961) 41 ITR 191. The Court has held as under (headnote):
....though the writ of prohibition or certiorari would not issue against an executive authority, the High Courts had power to issue in a fit case an order prohibiting an executive authority from acting without jurisdiction. Where such action of an executive authority acting without jurisdiction subjected, or was likely to subject, a person to lengthy proceedings and unnecessary harassment, the High Courts would issue appropriate orders or directions to prevent such consequences. The existence of such alternative remedies as appeals and references to the High " Court was not, however, always a sufficient reason for refusing a party quick relief by a writ or order prohibiting an authority acting without jurisdiction from continuing such action. When the Constitution conferred on the High Courts the power to give relief it became the duty of the Courts to give such relief in fit cases and the Courts would be failing to perform their duty if relief were refused without adequate reasons."
In this view of the matter, we are of the opinion that after issuance of notice under section 143(2) of the Act, it is not open to the Assessing Officer to make adjustment or to pass an order under section 143(1) of the Act, but he has to make assessment in accordance with law, i.e., under section 143(3) of the Act.
In view of this, the order at Annexure "D" dated December 18, 1995, as well as demand of Rs.1,30,83,741 made are hereby quashed and set aside. The Assessing Officer is directed to proceed further in accordance with law forthwith.'
The other questions raised by Mr. Shah with regard to entitlement or depreciation and the interest being prima facie inadmissible is patently wrong are not considered by us. This petition is deposed of on a short question as discussed above.
Rule is made absolute to the aforesaid extent. No order as to costs.
M.B.A./1524/FCRule made absolute.