Overview
The article examines whether an assessee can seek condonation of delay in filing an income tax appeal when the delay occurs due to reliance on professional advice. Referring to Shiksha Foundation v. DCIT CPC, Bangalore (2023), it explains that a genuine delay arising from an advisor's guidance may not necessarily reflect negligence or a casual approach by the assessee, particularly where the case has strong merits.
The discussion also analyses the contrasting ruling in Greater Kailash Hospitals Pvt. Ltd. v. ACIT (2023), where the ITAT rejected the explanation for a 156-day delay as insufficient and emphasised the assessee's responsibility to establish a genuine and plausible cause. The article highlights the judicial principle that meritorious cases should not ordinarily be dismissed on technical grounds, while clarifying that professional advice alone does not automatically guarantee condonation of delay.
In the case of SHIKSHA FOUNDATION Vs DCIT CPC, BANGALORE [2023-VIL-191-ITAT-AHM], The question of law framed is that incase the assessee acts on behalf of the professional advice, can he be held guilty for defiance of any provision of law, particularly latches? It was decided that Incase it can be proved that the delay in filing of the appeal was on the advice of a professional, it would be considered that the delay is not attributable on the negligent/casual approach of the assessee. Further incase on merit the assessee has a strong case to succeed, the delay in filing the appeal by the assessee should be condoned and the issue should be decided on merit.
The Supreme Court has observed in numerous decisions, including Ramlal v. Rewa Coalfields Ltd. AIR 1962 SC 361, State of West Bengal v. Administrator, Howrah Municipality AIR 1972 SC 749 and BabutmalRaichand Oswal v. Laxmibai R. Tarte AIR 1975 SC 1297, that the State authorities should not raise technical pleas if the citizens have a lawful right and the lawful right is being denied to them merely on technical grounds. The State authorities cannot adopt the attitude which private litigants might adopt. The authorities under the Act are under an obligation to act in accordance with law. Tax can be collected only as provided under the Act. If an assessee, under a mistake, misconception or on not being properly instructed, is over-assessed, the authorities under the Act are required to assist him and ensure that only legitimate taxes due are collected.
Further, one of the propositions of settled legal position is to ensure that a meritorious case is not thrown out on the ground of limitation. Therefore, it is necessary to examine, at least prima facie, whether the assessee has or has not a case on merits.
However, one needs to substantiate that there is a genuine delay and not a made up after thought. In the case of M/s GREATER KAILASH HOSPITALS PVT. LTD Vs ACIT 2(1), INDORE (MP) [2023-VIL-280-ITAT-IND], additional income was admitted during an assessment and after that a consultant explained to the assessee that additional income was offered to tax even though source of amount as advanced was duly explained from the cash as available in the regular books of account of the company and assessee it was advised to file an appeal before the Tribunal at the earliest. The delay of 156 days was explained due to this reason and sought to be condoned. Further, all the four grounds raised in the revised form No.36 were additional grounds as the same were never agitated before the ld.CIT(A) in Form No.35 and these were sought to be admitted as per the proposition rendered by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd. (1998). In this case the ground were considered inadequate, not a sufficient and plausible cause for the delay of 156 days in filing the appeal before the Tribunal, relying on the case of Collector Land Acquisition, Anantnag & Anr. vs Mst. Katiji & Ors, judgement dated 19 February, 1987, reported in 1987 AIR 1353, where their Lordships, speaking for the Hon’ble Supreme Court, categorically held that the onus is on the assessee to explain by way of sufficient and plausible cause the delay in filing the appeal.
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