In Brief
In this income tax appeal, the Supreme Court addressed whether the High Court could condone a 14-day delay in filing an appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The High Court had initially refused, stating it lacked such power. The Supreme Court held that High Courts possess inherent jurisdiction to condone procedural delays, even before statutory amendment expressly granted this power. The Court declined to address prospective/retrospective application of the later amendment and instead exercised its supervisory authority to remit the matter to the High Court for decision on merits.
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