Kerala High Court
Commissioner Of Income Tax vs M/S.Hotel Meriya on 26 May, 2010
Bench: C.N.Ramachandran Nair, P.S.Gopinathan
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
ITA.No. 551 of 2009()
1. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX,
... Petitioner
Vs
1. M/S.HOTEL MERIYA
... Respondent
For Petitioner :SRI.JOSE JOSEPH, SC, FOR INCOME TAX
For Respondent :SRI.T.M.SREEDHARAN
The Hon'ble MR. Justice C.N.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR
The Hon'ble MR. Justice P.S.GOPINATHAN
Dated :26/05/2010
O R D E R
"CR"
C.N.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR
&
P.S.GOPINATHAN, JJ.
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I.T.Appeal No.551 of 2009.
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Dated this the 26th day of May, 2010.
J U D G M E N T
Gopinathan, J.
This is an appeal preferred by the Department under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act (hereinafter referred to as 'IT Act') against the assessee. The assessee M/s.Hotel Meriya, Pala is running a bar attached hotel and was subjected to assessment with PAN.FV.4140. On 28.6.2001 a search was conducted under Sec.132 of the IT Act. During the search, though no material was disclosed to show that there was suppression of business, it was revealed that there was suppression of sale outcome. Cash book was seen recorded upto 25.6.2001. Cash book showed a cash balance of Rs.21,31,523/-. But, the physical balance was only I.T.Appeal No.551 of 2009.
-: 2 :- Rs.34,552/-. On interrogation of the Managing Partner and the employees it was revealed that only 80% of the actual sales turnover in respect of liquors are recorded in the cash book. Consequently, the respondent was served notice to file return under Sec.158BC of IT Act. In response to the notice, a return was filed on 4.1.2002 as Sl.No.866. Subsequently, a modified return was filed on 5.2.2006. In the return a negative income of Rs.29,770/- was disclosed for the assessment year 2002-'03. In respect of earlier assessment years of the block period, it was declared that there was no undisclosed income for assessment under Sec.158BC.
2. The assessing officer after perusing the return filed under Sec.158BC and hearing the assessee arrived at a conclusion that there was concealing of income amounting to 20% of the disclosed turnover. Accordingly, the total undisclosed income was determined at Rs.2,37,68,975/-. Consequently, a sum of Rs.1,47,28,446/- including I.T.Appeal No.551 of 2009.
-: 3 :- surcharge at the rate of 2% along with interest at the rate of 1.25% under Sec.158BFA(1) of the IT Act was assessed.
3. Aggrieved by the said assessment, respondent preferred appeal before the CIT (Appeals). Though CIT (Appeals) concurred with the assessment officer that there was concealment of income, it didn't agree with the assessment officer that there was suppression of 20% income for the entire block period. Taking into account that in the hotel there is sale of food items and no suppression of sale in respect of food items was disclosed, CIT (Appeals) held that there was 5% suppression of turnover of liquor for the assessment years 1996-'97 to 2000-'01. For the assessment year 2001-'02 the concealment of income was determined at 7% of the turnover and for the assessment year 2002-'03 upto 20.6.2001 the concealment was estimated at the rate of 15%. Thus the total undisclosed income was determined at Rs.57,93,652/-.
4. The Department and the respondent were I.T.Appeal No.551 of 2009.
-: 4 :- aggrieved of the order of the CIT (Appeals). Both preferred appeals before the Appellate Tribunal, Cochin Bench. The Appellate Tribunal by a common order arrived at a finding that no evidence was disclosed in the search to show that there was suppression of sales for the assessment year 1996-'97 to 2000-'01. Hence the addition sustained by the CIT (Appeals) in respect of those assessment years were deleted. For the assessment years 2001-'02 and 2002-'03 upto 28.6.2001 the Appellate Tribunal directed the Assessing Officer to work out the undisclosed income by taking the profit at 25% on the sale suppression as worked out by the CIT (Appeals)) on Rs.13,77,329/- for the assessment year 2001-2002 and on Rs.8,20,205/- for 2002- 2003. Assailing that order this appeal is preferred.
5. We heard either side. During the search it was revealed that the respondent was not issuing bills for sale of the liquor. But, paper slips were issued to the consumers showing the price. Though a carbon I.T.Appeal No.551 of 2009.
-: 5 :- copy is maintained it didn't contain the price of the articles sold. The Partner of the respondent, who is in-charge of the business, as well as the person in-charge of the accounts had given statements that only 80% of the actual sales out- turn is recorded in the cash book and such practice was followed from the beginning. It was also revealed that in trading and profit and loss account and balance sheet furnished to the Kerala Financial Corporation for the financial years 1998-1999 and 1999-2000 certified by the Chartered Accountant showed much higher amount as gross profit and net profit than that was shown in the return submitted by the respondent during the relevant period. It was further revealed that on 20.3.2001, Intelligence Squad of the Sales Tax Department of the Government of Kerala conducted an inspection and found that the respondent was not maintaining true and correct accounts. The cash balance as per the cash book was Rs.21,31,523/-. On physical verification the cash available was only Rs.34,552/-. I.T.Appeal No.551 of 2009.
-: 6 :- The cash books were also not written up-to-date, but upto 25.6.2001. On the basis of the above materials, the assessing officer had arrived at a finding that the accounts are not properly maintained and that there is concealment of income. That finding was upheld by the first appellate authority as well the second appellate tribunal. This is a finding on facts. The finding of the appellate tribunal on that aspect was not at all challenged by the respondent. In the above circumstance, we find that there is concealment of income and the respondent is liable to be assessed for the block period as contemplated under Chapter XIV B of the Income Tax Act. The dispute is only regarding the mode of assessment.
6. As we mentioned earlier, the assessing officer on the basis of the materials collected during the search concluded that there was 20% suppression of the income. It is on that basis the block assessment was made by him. CIT (Appeals) adopted different rates ie, at the rate of 5% I.T.Appeal No.551 of 2009.
-: 7 :- suppression of turnover during 1996-1997 to 2000-2001, at the rate of 7% for the year 2001-2002 and 15% for the year 2002-2003. The appellate tribunal deleted the addition sustained by the CIT (Appeals) for the years 1996-1997 to 2000-2001 with a reasoning that no evidence was found out as a result of the search and such other materials or information for making assessment during that period. It was also observed by the appellate Tribunal that the statement under Sec.132(4) of the IT Act has very limited application and that the power to interrogate on oath conferred by Sec.132(4) is not for purpose of general investigation but for the limited purpose of seeking explanation or information in respect of the documents, articles or things found during the course of search. However, the appellate Tribunal concurred with the authorities below that there was suppression of sales and found that 25% of the same being the profit alone is liable to be assessed.
I.T.Appeal No.551 of 2009.
-: 8 :-
7. The learned counsel for the respondent canvassing our attention to the decisions reported in C.I.T. v. Dr.M.K.E.Menon (2001 (248) ITR 310), C.I.T. v. Faqir Chand Chaman Lal (2003 (262) ITR 295) and C.I.T. v. Nirmal H.Phopalia (2003 (262) ITR 522) and argued that the order of the appellate tribunal which is now impugned is based upon facts and no question of law is involved and hence not liable to be re-appreciated or interfered with. Relying upon the decision reported in C.I.T. v. President Industries (2002 (258) ITR 654) it was argued that the appellate tribunal was justified in concluding that the concealment of income is only to the extent of the profit of the suppressed sales and that the appellate tribunal was fully justified in limiting the concealment of income at 25% of the suppressed sales. Having gone through the fact of the case in the reported decision and the facts of the case on hand and the nature of dispute involved, we find that the set of facts involved in the decisions referred above have no I.T.Appeal No.551 of 2009.
-: 9 :- similarity with the case on hand and that hence the rulings of the case are not applicable to the case on hand.
8. In the appeal memorandum, the appellant had raised as many as 8 questions of law. Having gone through the questions of law raised and the dispute involved, we find that many of the questions of law raised are relating to the question of facts and that in fact, the following questions of law would arise for consideration in this appeal:
(i) Whether the statement of the partner of the respondent as well as of the employees along with the documents seized would tantamount to evidence under Sec.158BB of the Income Tax Act or whether the statement recorded under Sec.132(4) has only very limited application?
(ii) Whether the evidence found as a result of search or other such materials or information is sufficient enough to conclude that there was concealment of income for the assessment years 1996-1997 to 2000-2001?
(iii) Whether the concealment of income during the search is liable to be taxed as such or 25% or any other turnover thereof as profit I.T.Appeal No.551 of 2009.-: 10 :-
is liable to be taxed; if so at what rate?
(iv) Whether the respondent is liable for surcharge?
Question No.(i): The assessing officer during the search had seized certain sale slips, copy of the same, copy of certain bills and recorded statements of Mathew Cyriac, a partner of the respondent, Santhosh Scaria, an employee in-charge of the bar and others. The assessing officer finalised the block assessment on the basis of the above materials collected. The appellate tribunal had observed that the statements so recorded and the materials collected would not amount to evidence as contemplated under Sec.158BB and that the statement recorded under Sec.132 (4) of the IT Act has only very limited application. What is evidence? We shall examine it first. Evidence is defined in Sec.3 of the Evidence Act as follows:
"Evidence":- "Evidence" means and includes-
(1) all statements which the Court permits or requires to be made before it by witnesses, I.T.Appeal No.551 of 2009.-: 11 :-
in relation to matters of fact under inquiry, such statements are called oral evidence; (2) all documents including electronic records produced for the inspection of the Court, such documents are called documentary evidence."
The 'Court' mentioned above in the definition of evidence would include all persons, except arbitrators, legally authorised to take evidence as defined under Sec.3. In Sec.3, Court is defined as follows:
"Court" - "Court" includes all Judges and Magistrates, and all persons, except arbitrators, legally authorised to take evidence."
A reading of Sec.131 of the IT Act would show that the assessing officer is vested with the same powers as are vested in a court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 in respect of (a) discovery and inspection,(b) enforcing the attendance of any person, including any officer of a banking company and examining him on oath and (c) compelling the production of books of account and other documents. It is I.T.Appeal No.551 of 2009.
-: 12 :- not disputed that the assessing officer recorded the statement of the partner of the respondent as well as the employees in exercise of the powers vested by him under Sec.131 of the IT Act. The documents were also seized in exercise of such powers. In the above circumstance, the statement of the partner and the employees recorded by the assessing officer as well as the documents seized would come within the purview of the evidence under Sec.158BB of the IT Act r/w.Sec.3 of the Evidence Act and Sec.131 of IT Act. Therefore, such evidence would be admissible for the purpose of block assessment.
9. It appears that the tribunal had arrived at a conclusion that the statements recorded by the assessing officer under Sec.132(4) of the IT Act has only very limited application without applying the mind. Explanation to Sec.132(4) of IT Act would make it very clear that the evidence so collected would be relevant for all purposes of any investigation connected with any proceeding under the I.T.Appeal No.551 of 2009.
-: 13 :- IT Act. We find that a reading of Sec.132(4) with explanation would be relevant. Hence we quote the same for easy reference:
"Sec.132(4): The authorised officer may, during the course of the search or seizure, examine on oath any person who is found to be in possession or control of any books of account, documents, money, bullion, jewellery or other valuable article or thing and any statement made by such person during such examination may thereafter be used in evidence in any proceeding under the Indian Income-tax Act, 1922 (11 of 1922), or under this Act.
Explanation:- For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that the examination of any person under this sub- section may be not merely in respect of any books of account, other documents or assets found as a result of the search, but also in respect of all matters relevant for the purposes of any investigation connected with any proceeding under the Indian Income-tax Act, 1911 (11 of 1922), or under this Act." Going by the above provision along with its explanation we find that the statement of the partner and employees recorded and documents collected are relevant and I.T.Appeal No.551 of 2009.
-: 14 :- admissible in respect of all matters for the purpose of any investigation connected with any proceedings under the IT Act. Hence, we are of the opinion that the statements so recorded and documents collected by the assessing officer cannot be brushed aside as done by the appellate Tribunal stating that it is having only very limited application. We answer the question in favour of the appellant.
Question No.(ii): As we mentioned earlier, all authorities below concurrently found that during search under Sec.132 of the IT Act concealment of income was detected. The partner of the respondent as well as Santhosh Scaria, an employee in-charge of the bar had given statement on oath that only 80% of the actual sales are recorded in the cash book. They had given voluntary statements on oath. Their statement is supported by the sale slips, copy of the same and the cash book. The assessing officer had in lucid style elaborated in his assessment order about the materials disclosed during the I.T.Appeal No.551 of 2009.
-: 15 :- search. Basing upon the documents seized and the statement of the partner as well as the employees, the assessing officer arrived a conclusion that the suppression of sale out-turn varies between 20 and 22%. It is on such documentary basis supported by the oral statement, the assessing officer had determined the suppression of sale out-turn at 20%, the minimum rate, of the total turnover. Going by the various provisions under Chapter XIV B, we find that Sec.158B defines block period. Sec.158BA authorise block assessment in the event concealment of income is detected. Sec.158BB and Sec.158BC prescribes the method and procedure for block assessment subject to other provisions. None of the provisions under Chapter XIV B mandates that for making block assessment there shall be evidence regarding the concealment of income for every year in the block period. It cannot be expected that the assessee would retain documents regarding the concealment of income. If documents for every I.T.Appeal No.551 of 2009.
-: 16 :- concealment are insisted to be searched, practically the provision for block assessment would be defeated. We cannot shut our eyes to the legislative intent. Here, what was disclosed that for sale, no bills are issued, but paper slips are issued with the price. Though carbon copy is retained it didn't contain the sale price. Sale slips are destroyed then and there. Cash books are maintained by recording the 80% of the price of liquor at a later date. When such practices are adopted, nobody can expect evidence for every year in a block period. What is possible is only to have a best judgment assessment on the basis of the evidence collected during search. The assessing officer is authorised and empowered to make block assessment in a judicious manner on the basis of the materials disclosed during the search under Sec.132 of the IT Act.
10. No person other than the partner of the respondent had in unambiguous terms stated that 20% of the sales out turn is suppressed and only 80% is recorded in I.T.Appeal No.551 of 2009.
-: 17 :- the account books and it was the practice from the very beginning. So, it is just and appropriate to presume that there was uniform concealment of income in all assessment years during the block period. There is no material on record to show that the concealment of the sales out turn during any of the assessment year in the block period is lesser than the concealment detected under Sec.132 of the IT Act. There is no whisper in the statement given by the partner of the respondent or any of the employees that there was any change of the rate of concealment in any year during the block period. No good reason was given to reject the above mentioned statement of the partner and employees recorded during search. Oral evidence was corroborated by the documentary evidence. So, it is just and appropriate to conclude that the concealment was same in all the years during the block period. Adding to that we find that when it is revealed in a search under Sec.132 of IT Act that the assessee was following a particular method to I.T.Appeal No.551 of 2009.
-: 18 :- conceal the income, it is just and reasonable to presume that the same practice was followed by the assessee throughout all the assessment years in the block period for the purpose of block assessment. Of course, the presumption is rebuttable. In such circumstances, it is for the assessee to establish that the same method of concealment was not followed in the earlier assessment years in the block period or that the method of concealment detected was practiced only from a particular period. Here, regarding that, assessee had not adduced any evidence to rebut the presumption or to come to a contrary finding. On the other hand, in unambiguous terms it was stated by the partner of the respondent, who is in charge of the bar that only 80% of the sales out-turn is recorded in the cash books and that is the practice followed from the beginning of the business. In the light of the above statement it is just and appropriate to presume that what is detected out in search is the practice followed throughout the block period to I.T.Appeal No.551 of 2009.
-: 19 :- conceal the income. The first appellate authority adopted different slabs with good no explanation. We find that there is no material to adopt an assessment in any year during the block period at a lesser rate than that was assessed for the assessment year during which search was conducted. The appellate Tribunal was not justified in arriving a conclusion that there is no evidence regarding concealment of the income for the assessment years 1996-1997 to 2000-2001. The procedure adopted by the first appellate authority in calculating the concealment of income at different rates is also without any supporting materials and against the intention of the legislature expressed in Chapter XIV B of the IT Act. Hence, we answer the question in favour of the appellant and find that the respondent is liable to be assessed during the block period at uniform rate.
Question No.(iii): The assessing officer had made assessment under Sec.158BC, as if the suppressed sale out turn is the income concealed. The first appellate authority I.T.Appeal No.551 of 2009.
-: 20 :- had found that in the hotel run by the respondent, in addition to the liquor sale there is sale of soft drinks, food items, snacks etc. The statement of the partner as well as that of the person in-charge of the bar and the documents seized would reveal that concealment of income was only in respect of the sale out turn of the liquor alone. There is no material disclosed to show that the concealment of sale out turn is also in respect of the other food items ie., snacks, food items, soft drinks etc. In this view of the matter, the assessing officer was not justified in making block assessment at flat rate of 20% of total turnover, because disclosure of the sale out turn at an average rate of 20% is only in respect of liquors. So, it is just and appropriate to have a block assessment only in respect of the liquor sale out turn. We also notice that in addition to liquor consumption people also go to the hotel, though bar attached, for food other than the liquors. There is absolutely no evidence regarding the sale proportion in I.T.Appeal No.551 of 2009.
-: 21 :- respect of the liquors and non liquor items. In the above circumstances, only a guess work with a margin in favour of the assessee alone is possible. Taking into account that there would be business of food other than liquors and there would be customers other than liquor consumers, we find that the share of the liquor sales can be determined at 70% of the total turnover and taking into account that 20% liquor turnover is suppressed, we find that 14% of the total turnover can be determined as the income concealed. The appellate Tribunal has held while retaining assessment for year 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 that undisclosed income should be determined at 25% of sale suppression. The undisputed facts would show that in fact there is no suppression of sale or business. The suppression is only regarding the sale out-turn. For example, when one peg of TC Brandy was sold as per sale slip No.876 dated 28.6.2001 for Rs.27/-, the amount accounted was only Rs.21/-. Therefore, it is evident that income alone was I.T.Appeal No.551 of 2009.
-: 22 :- suppressed and not the sale or business as such. In other words, what was concealed, if not done so, should have been directly added to the net profit. The order of the appellate tribunal as if there is suppression of sale or business and direction to add 25% of the concealment as profit are contrary to the facts disclosed. Neither is there any prudence worked out. Therefore, it is unsustainable. Question answered accordingly.
Question No.(iv). This issue is already ruled by the Apex Court in favour of the revenue in CIT v. Suresh N.Gupta (2008 (297) ITR 322). At para.23, Apex Court held:-
"[w]e hold that even without the proviso to section 113 (inserted vide Finance Act, 2002, with effect from June 1, 2002) the Finance Act 2001, was applicable to block assessment under Chapter XIV-B in relation to the search initiated on January 17, 2001, and accordingly surcharge was leviable on the tax ... ... ... ."
It was further ruled that insertion of proviso to section 113 I.T.Appeal No.551 of 2009.
-: 23 :- is mere clarification. Following the ruling of the Apex Court (supra), we answer this question in favour of the appellant and against the assessee-respondent. The assessee is liable for surcharge. So found.
For the forgoing reasons the appeal is allowed in part. While setting aside the orders in first and second appeal, the assessment order is restored with modification reducing the concealment of income at 14% of the total turnover. The appellant shall revise the block assessment accordingly. There will be no order as to costs.
C.N.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR (Judge) P.S.GOPINATHAN (Judge) kvs/-