In the case of CIT Vs. Kerala Road Lines Corporation [1986]
162 ITR 669, the Hon'ble Kerala High Court has held that the
burden is on the assessee to support the entries made in his
books of account, and the department has no onus to disprove
until assessee has submitted satisfactory explanation for the
credit entries. Further, it is to mention that, without prejudice to
the above, the onus becomes important only where the material
collected do not indicate a positive inference either way. The
general proposition of law is that the law relating to burden of
proof becomes relevant only where there is no evidence on either
side or such evidence is available equally. However, where facts
are fully investigated, the matter may not have to be decided on
the basis of burden of proof but on established facts.
4. The Ld. 'AR' placed reliance on the decision reported in 45 DTR
(Amritsar) (Trib) 49 (ITO v Indian Road Lines) and CIT v Bhagwati
Steels [2010} 326 ITR 108 (P&H). Ld. 'DR' relied on the order pas sed
by the lower authorities.
7. We have heard the rival submissions and perused the material on record. In this
case, the assessee claimed that it generated Rs.10,05,000/- on sale of gold
jewellery which was not in his possession. The Assessing Officer summoned the
parties who purchased the gold from the assessee. From the sworn statements of
11
I.T.A. No. 316/Coch/2018
the parties, it was seen that these persons had very meager income, it cannot be
said that these persons whose statements were recorded u/s. 131 of the Act having
such income could purchase gold from the assessee. The burden is on the as to
prove the credits with reliable evidence in support of the generation of funds by way
of sale of gold jewellery. Therefore, in the absence of the sources of the parties to
make the said purchase of gold from the assessee, it cannot be said that the
assessee has discharged the onus cast upon him. As held by the Jurisdictional High
Court in the case of CIT vs. Kerala Road Lines Corporation (162 ITR 669), the
burden is on the assessee to support the entries made in the books of accounts,
and the revenue has no onus to disprove, until the assessee has submitted
satisfactory explanation for credit entries. It was held that when, apart from the
entries in the books of the assessee, the only other evidence was the statement by
the assessee himself regarding the alleged credits and alleged creditors in the
statements which showed that they did not have the source to give the amount in
question and there was no supporting evidence towards the same.