2001 (2) TMI 52 - HC - Income Tax

Court emphasizes justice over procedural rules, directs Tribunal to allow verification rectification

The Court overturned the dismissal of appeals by the Income-tax Tribunal due to lack of verification, emphasizing that procedural rules should not hinder ... Appeal To Appellate Tribunal, Procedure Issues:1. Validity of assessment orders passed by the Assessing Officer.2. Dismissal of appeals by the Commissioner of Income-tax.3. Dismissal of appeals by the Income-tax Tribunal due to lack of verification.4. Interpretation of Rule 4A(2)(iii) and (iv) of the Income-tax (Appellate Tribunal) Rules, 1963.Analysis:1. The appellants had filed their income tax return for the year 1993-94, declaring a total income as nil. However, the Assessing Officer determined the income at Rs.6,09,000 and Rs.5,38,444, which led to the appellants filing appeals against the assessment orders. The Commissioner of Income-tax dismissed the appeals, prompting the appellants to move the Income-tax Tribunal, Nagpur. The Tribunal, upon observing that the appellants failed to verify the appeals as required by law, dismissed the appeals, considering the lack of verification as a defect that affected the jurisdiction of the Tribunal.2. The Tribunal held that the failure to verify the appeals was not a curable defect and that it was not obligated to point out such defects to the appellants for rectification. The lack of verification and non-subscribing of signatures in the appeal forms were deemed significant and not mere irregularities. The Tribunal's decision to dismiss the appeals was based on the view that these omissions affected the jurisdiction of the Tribunal, rendering the appeals invalid.3. The appellants argued that the Tribunal overlooked the procedural aspect by not adhering to Rule 4A(2)(iii) and (iv) of the Income-tax (Appellate Tribunal) Rules, 1963. This rule empowers the Registrar to scrutinize appeals for conformity with rules, point out defects to parties, provide an opportunity for rectification, and seek orders for the return of appeals if defects are not rectified. The Court found that the Tribunal's failure to follow this rule resulted in a miscarriage of justice and directed the Registrar to scrutinize the appeals, inform the appellants of defects, and allow them to rectify the issues before further adjudication.4. The Court emphasized that procedural rules should serve the administration of justice and that parties should not be denied relief due to mistakes or procedural errors. Citing precedent, the Court highlighted that rules of procedure are meant to facilitate justice and not act as barriers. Therefore, the Court quashed the impugned orders, reinstated the appeals, and instructed the Registrar to follow the prescribed procedure for rectification of defects before further adjudication by the Tribunal.