Cit Vs. Focus Estates (P.) Ltd. - Court Judgment

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head note: income tax appeal (tribunal)--ex parte ordernon-serving of summons whether sufficient cause to set aside ex parte orderwhere assessed could not appear on the date fixed for hearing because no smmons was served to the assessed, whether it constituted sufficient cause, in terms of rule 25 of the income tax appellate tribunal rules.held: yes, non-service of any notice by tribunal was sufficient cause for the purpose of setting aside ex parte order. income tax act, 1961 s.254 income tax (appellate tribunal) rules, 1963 rule 25 appeal (tribunal)--powersrectification of ex parte orderthe revenue|s appeal was heard and disposed of ex parte by the tribunal on the assumption that the notice issued to the assessed had been duly served. the assessed then applied for recall of the said order in terms of rule 25 of the income tax appellate tribunal rules, 1963 on the ground that the summons issued to assessed had not been served. the tribunal thus recalled the earlier order and restored the appeal for fresh hearing and disposal. the revenue was in appeal. held: the tribunal was competent to set aside its earlier order issued ex parte, there being sufficient cause to the effect that summons was not served to assessed. income tax act, 1961 s.254 income tax (appellate tribunal) rules, 1963 rule 25 in the delhi high court t.s. thakur & b.n. chaturvedi, jj. - - the respondent-assessed had, in the instant case, precisely done that.1. the revenue's appeal was heard and disposed of ex parte by the tribunal by its order dated 19-7-2003 on the assumption that the notice issued to the respondent-assessed has been duly served. the assessed then applied for recall of the said order in terms of rule 25 of the appellate tribunal rules, 1963, inter alias on the ground that the summons issued to the assessed had not been duly served. the tribunal has by the order impugned in this appeal, recalled the earlier order disposing of the appeal and restored the appeal for a fresh hearing and disposal in accordance with law.2. we have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the record. it is true that rule 25 of the appellate tribunal rules, 1963 empowers the tribunal to dispose of an appeal on merits after hearing the appellant, if on the date on which the matter is called for hearing, the respondent does not appear in person or through an authorised representative. proviso to the said rule, however, makes it abundantly clear that any such order of disposal of the appeal can be set aside by the tribunal upon an application made by the respondent upon sufficient cause being shown to the tribunal for the respondent's non-appearance. the respondent-assessed had, in the instant case, precisely done that. it had made an application seeking setting aside of the ex parte order and shown to the satisfaction of the tribunal that its non-appearance on the date was fixed for a sufficient cause, namely, non-service of any notice issued by the tribunal. in that view, thereforee, no question of law much less any substantial question of law arises for our consideration. this appeal, accordingly fails and is hereby dismissed.