CIT-I vs Anand Nishikawa Company Ltd.

S. Ravindra Bhat, J.—The Revenue claims to be aggrieved against an order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (''Tribunal'', for short) dated 16.12.2011 in ITA No. 43/Del/2011 the question of law which arises is whether the Tribunal fell into error in directing a remand of the matter to the CIT(A) in so far as it pertains to the findings relating to the assessment of fringe benefit. The brief facts are that the assessee''s assessment was framed by an order u/s 143(3) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (''Act'', for short) dated 01.12.2008. The fringe benefit tax order was passed separately on 30.12.2008 and the assessee''s liability u/s 115WE of the Act was assessed. The assessee carried the matter in appeal to the CIT(A) in two separate appeals; Appeal No. 145/2008-09 pertains to the additions and disallowances made in the regular proceedings u/s 143(3) of the Act and Appeal No. 157/2008-09 pertains to the disallowances under the FBT. The CIT (Appeals), apparently unmindful of the pendency of the two appeals decided the entire matter i.e., assessment of the income and assessment of the fringe benefits in Appeal No. 145/2008-09, on 25.08.2010. A separate order was made on the appeal vis-�-vis liability u/s 115WE of the Act, (in Appeal No. 157/2008-09) on 11.10.2011. The assessee''s appeal to the Tribunal against the order of the CIT(A) in Appeal No. 145/2008-09 was disposed of by the Tribunal on 16.12.2011 through remit order directing the CIT (Appeals) to decide all the issues after providing due opportunity of hearing to the assessee. It is essential to notice that the assessee preferred appeal to the Tribunal only in respect of order pertaining to the regular assessment u/s 143(3) of the Act. The order made on its appeal i.e. 157/2008-09 pertaining to FBT, had apparently achieved finality, as the same had not been appealed. The confusion in this case was the consequence of the CIT (Appeals) treating the Appeal No. 145/2008-09, as a composite one and encompassing the FBT issues, whereas the reality was that a separate appeal (Appeal No. 157/2008-09) was pending and was subsequently disposed of. This error was not pointed out to the Tribunal. In these circumstances, the Tribunal''s order is modified so far as it pertains to the fringe benefit tax. The Appeal No. 157/2008-09 had achieved finality.

At this stage it would be essential to notice that the assessee claims that it was unaware of the order dated 11.10.2011 passed by the CIT(A) dismissing its Appeal No. 157/2008-09, since it was disposed of ex-parte. It would be in the fitness of things that if the assessee approaches the Tribunal with an appeal against the said order the same would be considered having regard to the totality of the facts and if any application for condonation of delay is made the same shall be considered and the appeal will be heard. The appeal is disposed of in the above terms.