CIT vs. Shambhubhai Mahadev Ahir (Gujarat High Court – Full Bench)
CBDT’s low tax effect circulars have prospective effect
Clause 11 of
Instruction No. 3/2011 dated 9.2.2011 specifically states that “
this
instruction will apply to appeals filed on or after 9.02.2011. However,
the cases where appeals have been filed before 9.02.2011 will be
governed by the instructions on this subject, operative at the time when
such appeal was filed.” Similarly, clause 11 of
instruction No. 5/2008 dated 15.5.2008 specifically provides that
“
this
instruction will apply to appeals filed on or after 15.05.2008.
However, the cases where appeals have been filed before 15.05.2008 will
be governed by the instructions on this subject, operative at the time
when such appeal was filed”. There is, thus, no ambiguity in the
instructions of either 2011 or 2008 as regards the applicability of
those instructions in respect of the appeals, and, at the same time, it
has also been made clear that if those appeals are not filed after the
given dates mentioned in those instructions, the fate of the appeals
will be governed in accordance with the instructions prevailing on the
date of presentation of such appeals. In view of such clear legislative
intention, we are unable to hold that even if an appeal is filed prior
to 9.02.2011, the same would be barred notwithstanding the fact that at
the time of filing such appeal, the same was not barred by the then
instructions of the CBDT (
Sureshchandra Durgaprasad Khatod reversed,
Vijaya V. Kavekar (Bom),
Madhukar K. Inamdar (Bom) & other judgements dissented from)