The Income Tax Settlement Commission (ITSC) has sent the grim information that Shri S.D. Jha, the Vice-Chairman of ITsC Delhi, has been tested COVID-19 Positive. Since ITsC and the ITAT Delhi Benches are sharing office premises at the Lok Nayak Bhawan, New Delhi on day to day basis, the ITAT Delhi Benches has taken preventive measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 and closed down the office at Lok Nayak Bhawan for the next two working days i.e. 4th & 5th June, 2020. All cases listed for virtual hearing on 4th & 5th June 2020 before ITAT Delhi are adjourned sine-die and the next date of hearing will be announced in due course

Hon’ble Justice (R) Pradeep P. Bhatt, the President of the ITAT, has announced that an e-filing portal will soon be launched. The ld. President has pointed out that E-Filing is a norm and a standard expectation of the stakeholders today, and in line with the e-Governance policy of the Government of India. He has also stated that the facility of E-filing shall enable an economical and seamless filing of appeals and applications by the parties before the Tribunal. This initiative shall be of immense use to taxpayers, tax consultants and other stakeholders

At a video conference, Justice P. P. Bhatt lauded the Vivad-se-Vishwas scheme. He urged the stakeholders, more particularly, the tax practitioners, to take the task further in a mission mode, so that the system that is choked with the avoidable litigation could be relieved for concentrating on more meritorious issues, which have a bearing on the tax policies affecting the taxpayers on a large scale

Justice P. P. Bhatt, the Hon’ble President of the ITAT, has issued an Office Order dated 30th March 2020 on the subject of filing of appeals and cross-objections before all Benches of the ITAT

Justice Pradeep P. Bhatt, the Hon’ble President of the ITAT, has issued a letter dated 30th March 2020 stating that all officers and staff of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal have contributed to the PM Cares Fund. The Hon’ble President has requested other stakeholders to also contribute generously to the PM CARES Fund, the donations to which are entitled to the benefit of section 80G of the Income-tax Act, 1961

The Hon’ble President of the ITAT has issued a directive dated 20th March 2020 stating inter alia that the filing of appeals etc before all Benches of the ITAT may be postponed up to 01.04.2020 and that corresponding delay will qualify for condonation. The ITAT Mumbai has issued two directives stating inter alia that arrangements have been made to hear extremely urgent matters via Skype, WhatsApp etc

The Hon’ble President of the ITAT has issued an Office Order dated 16th March 2020 in which directions have been issued, at all India level, with regard to the functioning of the Benches and the grant of adjournments in the wake of spread of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

According to an order dated 4th February 2020 issued by Justice P. P. Bhatt, the Hon’ble President of the ITAT, 33 Members are stated to be attending the National Seminar at the National Judicial Academy, Bhopal. The implied consequence of this is that several Benches of the ITAT may not function, or may function in multiple shifts, during the period that the Members are on tour

Hon’ble Income tax Appellate Tribunal in the case of Cleared Secured Services Pvt. Ltd. vs. Dy CIT SA No. 337/Mum/2019 in ITA No. 7302/Mum/2018 dated January 20, 2020 where an application for extension of stay of demand application is pending, and the department conducted the survey and attached the bank accounts, though the matter was heard and decision was awaited, the Hon’ble Tribunal heard the matter in the afternoon and same day passed the order restraining the revenue from further action. The Tribunal strongly condemned the revenue’s undue haste in recovering the demand