Congress to Challenge Delhi High Court Order in Supreme Court Over Outstanding Tax
New Delhi, 13th March. The Congress party is set to challenge a recent Delhi High Court ruling allowing a tribunal to recover outstanding taxes totaling over ₹100 crore from the party, according to insider sources.
The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) directed the Congress to settle its dues on March 8, prompting the party to appeal to the high court for relief.
However, a bench comprising Justices Yashwant Varma and Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav of the Delhi High Court declined to intervene, affirming the ITAT’s decision. The tribunal had issued a notice to the Congress on February 13, demanding payment of outstanding taxes for the financial year 2018-19, assessing income exceeding ₹199 crore.
During the ITAT hearing, the Congress’s legal representative urged the high court to provide some protection, expressing concerns about the party’s financial management if left unaided. In response, the tax department’s counsel informed the court that the original tax demand amounted to ₹102 crore, which accrued to ₹135.06 crore with added interest. To date, ₹65.94 crore has been recovered, as per information shared by the tax department, reported by news agency PTI.
The Congress has decried the tax tribunal’s decision to freeze its funds as an “attack on democracy,” particularly considering the timing, just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
With the matter escalating to the Supreme Court, the legal battle over the outstanding tax dues is expected to intensify in the coming days.
