IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
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ITA 289/2013
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ARUN KUMAR GOENKA ..... Appellant
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Through: Mr Pankaj Bhatia, Advocate
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.
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versus
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INCOME TAX OFFICER ..... Respondent
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Through: Mr Sanjeev Sabharwal, Advocate
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CORAM:
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HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE BADAR DURREZ AHMED
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HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VIBHU BAKHRU
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O R D E R
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31.05.2013
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CM No. 9194/2013
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Exemption is allowed subject to all just exceptions.
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ITA No. 289/2013 and CM No. 9193/2013
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This appeal preferred by the assessee is directed against the order
dated 16.01.2013 by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, New Delhi in ITA
No. 2925/Del/2011 relating to the assessment year 1996-97. The issue
relates to cash payments aggregating ` 6,90,119/- which had been made by
the assessee for purchase of scrap from Hindustan Wire Ltd and cash
payments to transporter companies towards freight to the extent of
` 21,16,408/-. Certain other cash payments were also made to the extent
of ` 10,210/-. The Assessing Officer had disallowed 20% of the above
amounts by invoking the provisions of Section 40A(3) of the Income-tax
Act, 1961 read with Rule 6DD(j) of the Income-tax Rules, 1962. The
Tribunal was deciding the case in the second round. On the earlier
round, the Tribunal had remanded the matter to the Assessing Officer for
examining as to whether exceptional circumstances had existed in order to
justify the payments of the said amounts in cash. The Assessing Officer
in the second round also held against the assessee and so did to the
Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals). These findings were confirmed by
the Tribunal. The Tribunal noted that the Commissioner of Income Tax
(Appeals) had concluded that no exceptional or unavoidable circumstances
existed so as to justify the payments made in cash. Hindustan Wire Ltd
had bank accounts at Faridabad and the assessee / appellant also had
regular business with the transporter companies.
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The Tribunal after hearing counsel for the parties concluded as
under:-
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?We have heard both the sides on this issue. In the first round of the
appeal the Hon?ble ITAT set aside the matter back to the file of the AO
to examine afresh whether exceptional circumstances as provided in Rule
6DD were in existence or not. The person to whom the payments were made
were known to the assessee and were having regular transactions on
earlier occasions also and the payments were being made by cheques to
them. In view of these facts we are unable to agree with the contention
of the assessee that the payments have been made in the exceptional
circumstances. The assessee cannot create an exceptional circumstances
by stating that there was a demand in the market and the quality of scrap
was superior. Such statements cannot be considered as an exceptional
circumstances when the person with whom the transaction was done were
well known to the assessee and were having regular transactions on
earlier occasions. The ration laid down in the case-laws relied upon by
the assessee are of no help to the assessee. Genuineness of transaction
and bonafide of the transaction is not taken out of the sweep of the
section. The exceptional circumstances has been provided in Rule 6DD for
exemption from the requirement of payment by cross-cheque or cross bank
draft. No exceptional circumstances were in existence. Therefore in our
considered view there is no merit in the appeal of the assess.?
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We find that the above conclusions are on facts and no substantial
question of law arises for our consideration. The appeal is dismissed.
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BADAR DURREZ AHMED, J
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VIBHU BAKHRU, J
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MAY 31, 2013
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SU
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$ 4
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