Dhanuka Agritech Ltd., Delhi vs Acit, Circle-2, New Delhi on 24 March, 2023
6. The above observations are squarely applicable to the interpretation of Section
251(1)(a) of the Act. The declaration of law is clear that the power of the
Appellate Assistant Commissioner is co- terminus with that of the Income Tax
Officer, if that be so, there appears to be no reason as to why the appellate
9 ITA No. 826/Del/2023
Dhanuka Laboratories Ltd. Vs. ACIT
authority cannot modify the assessment order on an additional ground even if not
raised before the Income Tax Officer. No exception could be taken to this view as
the Act does not place any restriction or limitation on the exercise of appellate
power. Even otherwise an Appellate Authority while hearing appeal against the
order of a subordinate authority has all the powers which the original authority
may have in deciding the question before it subject to the restrictions or limitations
if any prescribed by the statutory provisions. In the absence of any statutory
provision the Appellate Authority is vested with all the plenary powers which the
subordinate authority may have in the matter. There appears to be no good
reason and none was placed before us to justify curtailment of the power of the
Appellate Assistant Commissioner in entertaining an additional ground raised by
the assessee in seeking modification of the order of assessment passed by the
Income Tax Officer." [emphasis supplied]
(B) It is clear, therefore, that an assessee is entitled to raise not merely additional legal
submissions before the appellate authorities, but is also entitled to raise additional
claims before them. The appellate authorities have the discretion whether or not to
permit such ITXA3908 additional claims to be raised. It cannot, however, be said that
they have no jurisdiction to consider the same. They have the jurisdiction to entertain
the new claim. That they may choose not to exercise their jurisdiction in a given case is
another matter. The exercise of discretion is entirely different from the existence of
jurisdiction.