JUDGEMENT
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(1.) HEARD on the question of admission.
held that since the order of assessment was set aside in appeal, interest could not be levied under s. 220(2) and in such
a situation, demand is required to be raised afresh thereafter interest has to be paid. The Tribunal has relied upon the
judgment in Vikrant Tyres Ltd. vs. ITO (2001) 166 CTR (SC) 1 : (2001) 247 ITR 821 (SC) and the decision of Full Bench
of Andhra Pradesh High Court in case of SMS Schloemann Siemag, A.G. vs. Dy. CIT (2001) 169 CTR (AP)(FB) 59 :
(2001) 250 ITR 97 (AP)(FB) and decision of the High Court of Kerala in case of Smt. B. Indira Rani vs. CIT (2004) 186
CTR (Ker) 220 : (2004) 271 ITR 570 (Ker).
3. Ms. Parinitoo Jain, advocate has submitted that once a demand was raised it was incumbent upon the assessee to deposit the amount. The section does not envisage fresh demand to be raised.
4. We have no hesitation to reject the aforesaid submission made by learned counsel for the appellant in view of the decision rendered by the apex Court in Vikrant Tyres Ltd. vs. ITO (supra) in which the apex Court has held while
considering the provisions of ss. 156 and 220 of the IT Act, 1961 that once a refund has been made pursuant to the
appellate order and, thereafter, assessment order has been affirmed again, fresh demand was to be raised, original
demand does not survive. In the instant case also, the order of assessment was set aside. Only the fact that amount
was not deposited initially would not change the effect of setting aside the order of assessment by the CIT(A) in the
appeal. Once the order has been affirmed, again a demand is required to be raised, which is the opinion expressed by
Full Bench of Andhra Pradesh High Court and also by Kerala High Court. The Tribunal has considered the said aspect of
the matter in the impugned order, which reads as under :
"We also find substance in the arguments of the learned Authorised Representative regarding levy of interest under s.
220(2) of the Act on its merits because no interest under s. 220 can be levied during the period for which there was no demand till it gets revived. In this regard, we find support from the decision of Hon'ble Supreme Court in case of Vikrant
Tyres Ltd. vs. ITO (supra) relied upon by the learned Authorised Representative wherein it was held that condition
precedent under s. 220 was that there should be a demand notice and there should be a default in paying the amount so
demanded within the stipulated time in the notice. The Full Bench of Hon'ble Andhra Pradesh High Court in case of SMS
Schlomann Siemag vs. Dy. CIT (supra) was pleased to hold that interest under s. 220(2) could not be charged from the
date of original demand notice wherein appeal from the assessment order was allowed with refund with interest but the
order of CIT(A) was set aside by the Tribunal, thus original demand notice did not survive. Similar view has been
expressed by the Hon'ble Kerala High Court in case of Smt. B. Indira Rani vs. CIT (supra) holding that interest under s.
220(2) is payable from fresh order. We are thus of the view that the AO was not justified in charging interest under s. 220(2) of the Act." 5. In view of the aforesaid reasons, we are not inclined to accept the submission raised by the counsel for the appellant. Accordingly, this appeal being devoid of merits deserves dismissal and the same is hereby dismissed in limine.;
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