Fresh Tax Claims Allowed: Tribunal’s Remand Set Aside by High Court

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Case Name

Maruti Insurance Broking Pvt. Ltd. vs. Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax (High Court of Delhi)

ITA 35/2019

Date: 07th April 2021

Key Takeaways

• Appellate authorities can entertain fresh claims: Even if a deduction wasn’t claimed in the original or revised return, the CIT(A) can consider and allow it during appeal.
• Section 80JJAA and prior period expenses: The court clarified the process for claiming these deductions, emphasizing substance over procedural technicalities.
• Goetze (India) Ltd. v. CIT distinguished: The Supreme Court’s decision in Goetze (India) Ltd. restricts the Assessing Officer, not the appellate authorities, from entertaining new claims not made in the return.
• No need for remand if CIT(A) has verified claims: If the CIT(A) has already examined the evidence, the Tribunal should not remand the matter unless there’s a clear deficiency in the examination.
• Section 250(4) and Rule 46A: The CIT(A) has broad powers to call for additional evidence and make inquiries to ensure justice.

Issue

Can the appellate authority (CIT(A)) allow fresh tax deduction claims not made in the original or revised return, and was the Tribunal correct in remanding the matter to the Assessing Officer for further verification?

Facts

• Parties: Maruti Insurance Broking Pvt. Ltd. (assessee) vs. Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax (revenue).
• Business: The assessee is engaged in manufacturing and assembling tractors and components.
• Tax Return: For AY 2007-08, the assessee filed its return but did not claim deductions under Section 80JJAA or for prior period expenses.
• Subsequent Claim: The assessee later submitted a statement to the Assessing Officer (AO) during assessment, claiming these deductions and providing supporting documents, including a Chartered Accountant’s report (Form 10DA).
• AO’s Decision: The AO rejected the claims, stating they were not part of the original or revised return, relying on the Supreme Court’s decision in Goetze (India) Ltd. v. CIT.
• CIT(A) Decision: The CIT(A) allowed the claims after detailed examination.
• Tribunal’s Decision: The Tribunal agreed that fresh claims could be entertained but remanded the matter to the AO for further verification.
• High Court Appeal: The assessee challenged the remand, arguing the CIT(A) had already verified everything.

Arguments

Assessee (Maruti Insurance Broking Pvt. Ltd.)

• The CIT(A) has the power under Section 250(4) to call for further evidence and make inquiries.
• The claims were fully supported by documents and were examined by the CIT(A).
• Rule 46A (regarding additional evidence) did not apply because the CIT(A) requested the evidence, not the assessee.
• The Tribunal’s remand was unnecessary since the CIT(A) had already done the required verification.

Revenue (Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax)

• Section 80JJAA (pre-2017 amendment) required the accountant’s report to be filed with the return, which was not done.
• The AO was correct in rejecting the claims as they were not part of the original or revised return.
• The Tribunal was right to remand the matter for the AO to verify the claims.

Key Legal Precedents

• Goetze (India) Ltd. v. CIT, (2006) 284 ITR 323 (SC): Held that the AO cannot entertain new claims not made in the return, but this restriction does not apply to appellate authorities.
• CIT vs. Aspentech India Pvt. Ltd., ITA No.1233/2011 (Delhi HC): Appellate authorities can entertain and decide fresh claims if they are otherwise allowable in law.
• CIT Vs. Jai Parabolic Springs Ltd. (2008) 306 ITR 42 (Del.): Appellate forums have the power to entertain new claims.
• National Thermal Power Co. Ltd. Vs. CIT (1998) 229 ITR 383 (SC): The Tribunal can consider questions of law arising from facts on record.
• Section 80JJAA of the Income Tax Act: Deals with deductions for employment of new workmen.
• Section 250(4) of the Income Tax Act: Empowers CIT(A) to make further inquiries.
• Rule 46A of the Income Tax Rules, 1962: Governs the production of additional evidence before CIT(A).

Judgement

• Decision: The High Court set aside the Tribunal’s order of remand. The fresh claims made by the assessee, as allowed by the CIT(A), were sustained.
• Reasoning: The CIT(A) had thoroughly examined the claims and supporting evidence. The Tribunal should not have remanded the matter unless there was a clear deficiency in the CIT(A)’s examination, which was not the case here.
• Orders: The appeal was allowed in favor of the assessee. The questions of law were answered in favor of the assessee and against the revenue. The pending application was closed.

FAQs

Q1: Can an assessee make new claims for deductions during assessment if they were not included in the original return?

A: The Assessing Officer cannot entertain such claims, but the appellate authority (CIT(A)) can, provided the claims are otherwise allowable in law.

Q2: What if the CIT(A) has already verified the claims?

A: If the CIT(A) has thoroughly examined the evidence, the Tribunal should not remand the matter for further verification unless there is a clear deficiency in the examination.

Q3: Does the Supreme Court’s decision in Goetze (India) Ltd. v. CIT prevent appellate authorities from considering new claims?

A: No, it only restricts the Assessing Officer. Appellate authorities like CIT(A) and the Tribunal can consider new claims.

Q4: What powers does the CIT(A) have regarding additional evidence?

A: Under Section 250(4) and Rule 46A(4), the CIT(A) can call for additional evidence or make further inquiries to ensure justice is done.

Q5: What was the final outcome for Maruti Insurance Broking Pvt. Ltd.?

A: The High Court ruled in their favor, allowing the fresh claims for deductions as examined and allowed by the CIT(A).

1. With the consent of the learned counsel for the parties, the appeal is

taken up for the final hearing.

2. Admit.

3. The following substantial questions of law are framed for

consideration by this Court:

(i) Whether in the facts and circumstances of the case and law, the

Income Tax Appellate Tribunal [in short 'Tribunal'] misdirected itself in

setting aside the order of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) [in

short "CIT(A)"] granting deduction, under Section 80JJAA of the Act and

qua prior period expenses?

(ii) Whether the Tribunal erred in law in remanding the assessee's claims

to the Assessing Officer (in short "AO") for verification and satisfaction

although that exercise had been carried out by CIT(A) as mandated under

the Act?

Preface:

4. This is an appeal directed against the order of the Tribunal dated

23.07.2018 passed in ITA No.5756/Del/2013 concerning the assessment

year [in short ‘AY’] 2007-2008.

5. Pithily put, the assessee is aggrieved by the impugned order passed by

the Tribunal, for the reason, that the Tribunal has remanded the matter to the

AO to verify the details of the claims placed by the assessee before the

CIT(A) and allow the same, subject to satisfaction. The direction of remand

issued by the Tribunal is accompanied with a further direction that, before

the AO reaches any conclusion, he shall give the assessee an opportunity

hearing and only thereafter, decide the issue, as per the facts obtaining in the

case and, in accordance with the law.

Backdrop:

6. Before we proceed further, what is required to be noticed is the

following broad facts:

6.1 The assessee claims that he is engaged in the business of

manufacturing and assembling tractors and tractor components.

6.2 On 30.10.2007, the assessee filed the return qua AY 2007-2008

wherein it declared its taxable income as Rs.147,83,25,740/-. Concededly,

the assessee while filing its return of income had failed to claim the

deduction both under Section 80JJAA of the Act and qua prior period

expenses. Insofar as the deduction under Section 80JJAA of the Act was

concerned, the amount was pegged at Rs.1,07,33,164/- whereas insofar as

deduction qua prior period expenses was involved, the amount was

quantified at Rs.51,21,024. These deductions were claimed by the assessee

before the AO by way of a statement/communication dated 14.12.2009 filed

with him. This statement, admittedly, was accompanied by a Chartered

Accountant's report in the prescribed form [i.e., Form 10DA]. Furthermore,

the details concerning prior period expenses were also provided by the

assessee.

6.3 The AO, however, declined to entertain the two deductions claimed

by the assessee, i.e., under Section 80JJA of the Act and vis-à-vis prior

period expenses. The AO, thus, assessed the assessee's taxable income at

Rs.148,24,34,100/- vide assessment order dated 29.12.2009. The assessee,

being aggrieved, lodged an appeal with the CIT(A) on 27.01.2010.

6.4. The CIT(A) vide order dated 30.08.2013 allowed the appeal of the

assessee. This time revenue was aggrieved and thus, went up in appeal to

the Tribunal against the order of the CIT(A). The Tribunal vide the

impugned order, as noted above, remanded the matter to the AO.

Pertinently, the Tribunal, while remaining the matter, has observed in

paragraph 17 of the impugned order that the CIT(A) was right in law in

entertaining the fresh claims made by the assessee, in respect of the

aforesaid deductions, i.e., claim under Section 80JJAA of the Act and the

claim concerning prior period expenses.

Submissions of Counsel:

7. Mr. Satyen Sethi, who appears on behalf of the assessee, has, broadly,

advanced the following submissions:

7.1. That the CIT(A) has, in effect, exercised powers under Section 250(4)

of the Act. In other words, according to Mr. Sethi, the CIT (A) was well

within his powers to make further inquiry into the matter, and since, such

inquiry had been made and the two claims in issue had been allowed, there

was no necessity of remanding the matter to the AO for carrying out a fresh

inquiry.

7.2. The observation of the Tribunal that the AO had not been given an

opportunity, to respond to the evidence considered by the CIT(A), was

unnecessary in the facts of the case, as it was the CIT(A) who had called for

the information concerning the fresh claims made by the assessee, and

therefore, the question of giving an opportunity to the AO did not arise

7.3. In other words, the contention was that Rule 46A of the Income Tax

Rules, 1962 [in short 'the Rules'] had no applicability in the instant case. In

sum, the argument was that it was not the assessee who had produced the

additional evidence in support of its claim but it was the CIT(A) who had

directed the production of material, and therefore, the procedure prescribed

under Rule 46A of the Rules was not required to be adhered to. This apart,

Mr. Sethi also relied upon sub-rule 4 of Rule 46A to contend that the said

sub-rule is an exception to the procedure prescribed under sub-rules 1 to 3 of

the said rule and that the said sub-rule empowered the CIT(A), to direct

production of evidence, i.e., documents and witnesses, etc., for disposal of

the appeal.

7.4. In support of his submission that the provision of Section 250(4) of

the Act is distinct from the provisions contained in sub-rules 1 to 3 of Rule

46A of the Rules, Mr. Sethi placed reliance on the judgment of the Bombay

High Court rendered in Smt. Prabhavati S. Shah v. CIT, [1998] 231 ITR 1

(Bombay) as also the judgment of the Orissa High Court rendered in B.L.

Choudhury v. CIT, [1976] 105 ITR 371 (Orissa).

8. On the other hand, Mr. Ajit Sharma, who appears on behalf of the

revenue, relied upon the order of the Tribunal as well as that of the AO. Mr.

Sharma contended that sub-section 2 of Section 80JJAA of the Act, as it

stood before its amendment via Finance Act, 2016 w.e.f. 01.04.2017 (clause

b of sub-section 2 of section 80JJAA), mandated that no deduction could be

claimed in respect of employment of new employees unless the assessee

furnished, along with the return of income, the report of the accountant.

Therefore, the contention advanced was that, since the return had been filed

without the report of the accountant, the Tribunal had, rightly, remanded the

matter to the AO for carrying out the necessary inquiry as to whether or not

the claim under Section 80JJAA was viable. Likewise, in respect of the

claim of deduction qua prior period expenses, Mr. Sharma said all that the

Tribunal had done was, to direct the verification of the claim, in line with

the evidence produced by the assessee before the CIT(A).

Reasons and Analysis:

9. We have heard the learned counsel for the parties and perused the

record. As indicated in the opening, what is not in dispute are the following

facts:

(i) The assessee had not made the claims, under Section 80JJA of the Act

and qua prior period expenses, in the original return.

(ii). The assessee did not move the AO with a revised return for claiming

deductions under Section 80JJAA of the Act and for prior period expenses.

(iii) The assessee for the first time made these claims before the AO by

way of a statement/communication dated 14.12.2009. The said

communication was, concededly, accompanied by the auditor's report

prepared in the prescribed form and also contained details of the prior period

expenses.

(iv) The AO while framing the assessment declined to entertain these

claims on the ground that they did not either form part of the original return

or the revised return. In support of his approach, the AO has placed reliance

on the judgment of the Supreme Court rendered in Goetze (India) Ltd v.

CIT, (2006) 284 ITR 323 (SC).

(v) However, the CIT(A) ruled that the fresh claims made by the assessee

could be entertained, and in this context, relied upon the judgments of

various Courts and Tribunals.

(vi) The CIT(A) thereafter, examined the evidence placed on record by the

assessee concerning both the claims, i.e., deductions claimed under Section

80JJAA of the Act and for prior period expenses. The discussion concerning

these two claims are set out in paragraphs 6.7.2 and 6.7.3 of the CIT(A)'s

order.

(vi) The Tribunal via the impugned order, while sustaining the view taken

by the CIT(A) that a fresh claim could be entertained by it, has remanded the

matter to the AO, as indicated above, for a fresh verification in respect of

both the claims.

10. Given the foregoing, what is required to be noticed is that under

Section 80JJAA of the Act, the assessee claimed a deduction amounting to

Rs.1,07,33,164/- while in respect of the prior period claim, the assessee

claimed a deduction amounting to Rs.51,21,024/-. The CIT(A), however,

allowed the deduction qua prior period expenses, only to the extent of

Rs.25,40,305/-. The remaining amount was disallowed largely on the

ground that expenses had been incurred to the extent of Rs.24,78,391/-

without deduction of withholding tax. There were also certain expenses of a

cumulative value of Rs.1,02,328/- which were disallowed, for the reason

that they did not concern the period in issue, i.e., AY 2007-2008.

11. Therefore, it would be relevant, for the moment, to extract hereafter,

what is it, that was put before the AO along with the

statement/communication dated 14.12.2009:

“1. Claim of deduction under section 80JJAA of Rs.l,07,33,l64/-

- this deduction is claimed on account of employment given to new

workmen. The claim is duly supported with the report issued in

Form 10DA read with Rule 19AB and duly certified by the

chartered accountant. A copy of the report issued under section

80JJAA is also enclosed herewith for your ready reference and

perusal.

2. Claim of expenditure of Rs.5l,21,024/- - These expenditures

are accounted for in the books of account of the subsequent FY

2008-09 (AY 2007-08). A list of all these expenditures, called as

prior period expenses, is enclosed herewith. However all these

expenditure relate to FY 2006-07 i.e. AY 2007-08.

3. Disallowance of expenditure uls 40(a)(ia) of Rs.24,78,391/-

Out of the total prior period expenses of Rs.5121024/- as stated

above, expenditures aggregating to Rs.2478391/- were eligible for

deduction of tax at source. But no tax was deducted at source in

AY 2007-08. As such these expenditure of Rs.24,78,391/- were

disallowed under section 40(a)(ia) on account of non deduction of

tax at source.”

11.1. The AO, while framing the assessment, simply, declined to look at the

material placed before him and in this context made the following

observations:

“8. Rejection of claim of Rs.1,07,33,164/- under section 80JJAA

& Prior Period Exp. of Rs.51,21,024/-.

8.0 During the course of hearing proceedings on 14.12,2009,

the assessee through its AR has submitted a statement of revised

taxable income. Herein, the assessee has claimed deduction under

section 80JJAA of Rs,1,07,33,164/- and prior period exp of

Rs.51,21,024/-.

8.1 The claim of the assessee is not acceptable. Section 139(5)

of the Act, provides that if any person, having furnished a return

under sub-section (1), or in pursuance of a notice is issued under

sub-section (1) of section 142, discovers any omission or any

wrong statement therein, he may furnish a revised return at any

time before the expiry of one year from the end of the relevant

assessment year or before the completion of the assessment,

whichever is earlier.

8.2 In this case, the assessee had the option to submit revise

return incorporating it's claimed by 31.3.2009. Therefore, its

claim submitted vide letter dated 14.12.2009 is not tenable.

Moreover, in view of the decision of Supreme Court in the case of

Goetze (India) Ltd. 284 ITR 323, no claim can be entertained by

the Assessing Officer without having revised return filed by the

assessee.

8.3 Moreover, the assessee has also not substantiated with

documentary evidence that it is eligible for deduction under

section 80JJAA and liability of Rs.51,21,024/- was incurred in this

assessment year. Thus, on merit also the claim of the assessee

fails.

8.4 In view of the above discussion, claim made by the assessee

for deduction under section 80JJAA and prior period expenses is

rejected. The assessee has also not been able to substantiate the

claim of prior period expenditure. Therefore, claim of prior period

expenditure is also fails on merit.”

11.2. On the other hand, the CIT(A), as noticed above, after entertaining the

two new claims, examined the same in great detail as is evident from the

findings of fact returned in paragraphs 6.7.2 and 6.7.3. of the order of

CIT(A). For the sake of convenience, the same are extracted hereafter:

“6.7.2 Regarding the claim under section 80JJAA, the

appellant filed before me, a copy of the audit report in prescribed

form no. 1ODA, which was duly certified by Chartered

Accountant. According to the same, the appellant had employed

new regular workmen numbering 543 over and above the

existing employees numbering 1262. The additional wages paid

to the regular workmen by the appellant amounted to

Rs.3,54,57,213/-. The appellant had claimed 30% of the same in

the current year as per section 80JJAA amounting to Rs.

l,07,33,164/-. Before me, the Ld. Counsel also furnished details

of each such new regular workmen along with their respective

dates of joining service, period of service during the current

year, respective bank accounts in which remuneration was paid

and had thereby given breakup of the allowable additional wages

paid during the year. On examination of the same, I hold that

the claim by the appellant under section 8JJAA was correct,

accordingly, the same is being allowed.

6.7.3 Regarding the other claim made before me relating to

certain expenses classified on the 'prior period expenses'

amounting to Rs.51,21,024/-, I was informed that these expenses

were not claimed in the current year as till finalization of return,

their details were not available. These were later claimed in [

the] subsequent year but added back in that year being 'prior

period expenses' for that year. However, in terms of accounting

norms, these pertained to the current year. I observe that out of

the same, an amount of Rs.24,78,391/- was not allowable, as no

TDS was deducted thereon and hence the claim for same was

already withdrawn by the appellant under section 40(a)(ia).

Regarding the balance amount of Rs.26,42,633/-, the appellant

was asked to furnish the details in respect of each item

embedded in it and to justify as to why liability in respect of the

same may be held to have crystallized during the current year.

On examination of [the] appellant's contention, I find that the

above expenses were booked in the next financial year as part of

an amount of Rs.75,45,049/- under the head 'prior period

expenses, which were added back to the taxable income in that

year. A copy of the statement of income for assessment year

2008-09 was furnished before me in this regard, which shows

that the contention of the appellant is correct. Out of the

aforesaid amount of Rs.75,45,049/-, the appellant had made

[the] impugned claim of Rs.51 ,21,024/- in the current year by

holding that the same pertained to the current year. On careful

examination of the details furnished by the appellant, I find that

majority of the expenses embedded in the amount of

Rs.26,42,633/- were in the nature of travel expenses, etc which

were based on the claim in respect of current year made by the

employees in subsequent years. Since the appellant was not in

receipt of the vouchers raised by the employees at the time of

filling of return of income, while the same pertained to the

current year, the claim of Rs.4,92,825/- in respect of the same, is

accordingly allowed. However, certain bills such as bill for car

MP3Player dated 30.06.2007 of Rs.3,600/-, cost of mobile phone

purchased on 16.08.2007 of Rs.l2,000/- and an amount of

Rs.75,274/- in respect of cost consumption claimed by various

clients of the appellant by raising invoices on 31.08.2007

amounting to Rs.75,274/- cannot be considered to be related to

the current year. Further, Membership Fee and Subscription

(advance) aggregating to Rs.ll,454/- on different dates on

04.07.2007, 14.11.2007 and 19.03.2008 also does not pertain to

the current year, being advance in nature. Subject to the above,

the appellant's claim in respect of expenses, which were not

claimed during the current year while filing the return of income

(but were shown as "prior period expense" in the computation

of income of [the] assessment year 2008-09) amounting to

Rs.25,40,305/- (Rs.26,42,633 1,02,328) is held as allowable in the

current year."

[Emphasis is ours]

12. A perusal of the aforementioned extract would show that the CIT(A)

insofar as the deduction claimed under Section 80JJAA was concerned, not

only had before him the chartered accountant's report in the prescribed form,

i.e., Form 10DA but also examined the details concerning the new regular

workmen, numbering 543, produced before him. In this context, the CIT(A)

examined the details concerning the dates when the said workmen had

joined the services, the period, during which they had worked, relatable to

the AY in issue, as also the details concerning the bank accounts in which

remuneration was remitted.

13. Based on the aforesaid material, the CIT(A) concluded that the

deduction under Section 80JJAA was correctly claimed by the assessee.

13.1. Likewise, insofar as prior period expenses were concerned, as noticed

above, out of a total amount of Rs.51,21,024/- claimed by the assessee, a

sum of Rs.24,78,391/- was not allowed, for the reason, that withholding tax

had not been deducted by the assessee.

13.2. It is pertinent to note that the assessee had disclosed the same in its

statement/communication dated 14.12.2009 placed before the AO. The

other amounts, which did not concern the period in issue, amounting to a

cumulative value of Rs.1,02,328/- was also disallowed.

14. Therefore, to our minds, once the Tribunal accepted the view taken by

the CIT(A) that it could entertain fresh claims; a view which the CIT(A) has

expressed in paragraph 6.6.2 of its order, all that the Tribunal was required

to examine was: as to whether the CIT(A) had, scrupulously, verified the

material placed before it before allowing deductions claimed by the

assessee. The Tribunal, however, instead of examining this aspect of the

matter, observed, and in our view, incorrectly, that because an opportunity

was not given to the AO to examine the material, therefore, the matter

needed to be remanded to the AO for a fresh verification.

15. In our view, unless the Tribunal would have reached to a conclusion

and expressed its clear view, in that respect, as to what was wrong or

missing in the examination made by the CIT(A), a remand was not called

for. We agree with Mr. Seth's contention that the CIT(A) in the exercise of

its powers under Section 250(4) of the Act was entitled to seek production of

documents and/or material to satisfy himself as to whether or not the

deductions claimed were sustainable/viable in law. This was, however, a

case where the details were placed before the AO, who declined to entertain

the claims only on the ground that they did not form part of assessee's

original return and that the assessee had not made a course correction by

filing a revised return.

15.1. This view was based, as noticed above, on the judgment of the

Supreme Court rendered in Goetze (India) Ltd. (Supra). The CIT(A),

squarely, dealt with this and concluded, that a fresh claim could be

entertained. Therefore, the Tribunal, as noticed above, has accepted this

view of the CIT(A) and the revenue has not come up in appeal before us

assailing this conclusion of the Tribunal.

16. In any event, we are of the view that, if a claim is otherwise

sustainable in law, then the appellate authorities are empowered to entertain

the same. This view finds reflection in a judgment of the coordinate bench

of this Court dated 28.11.2011, passed in ITA No.1233/2011, titled CIT vs.

Aspentech India Pvt. Ltd. The relevant observations made by the coordinate

bench of this court, which are apposite, are extracted hereafter:

“5. The ITAT has agreed the reasoning given by the CIT(Appeals)

and has relied upon the decision of this Court in CIT Vs. Jai

Parabolic Springs Ltd. (2008) 306 ITR 42 (Del.). In the said case

Delhi High Court has referred to the powers of the appellate

forum and the decisions of the Supreme Court in National

Thermal Power Co. Ltd. Vs. Commissioner of Income Tax (1998)

229 ITR 383 (SC), Gedore Tools Pvt. Ltd. Vs. Commissioner of

Income Tax (1999) 238 ITR 268, Jute Corporation of India Ltd.

Vs. Commissioner of Income Tax (1991) 187 ITR 688 (SC) and

held that the appellate forum could have entertained and decided

the said aspect. The decision in the case of Goetze (India) Ltd.

(supra) is distinguishable. In the said case the assessee had filed

the return of income for the Assessment Year 1995-96 on

30.11.1995. Thereafter, on 12.01.1998, the assessee wrote a letter

to the Assessing Officer and made a new claim for a deduction,

which was rejected by the Assessing Officer as there is no

provision to amend the return. The Supreme Court further

clarified that the issue raised in Goetze (India) Ltd. (supra) was

limited to the power of assessing authority and did not impinge on

the power of the tribunal as was in the case of National Thermal

Power Ltd. (supra). In the present case also the appellate forum

had entertained the claim made by the respondent-assessee and

allowed the same. There is no dispute that the claim/deduction

towards the expense is otherwise correct and allowable.”

Conclusion:

17. Therefore, in our view, the judgment of the Tribunal deserves to be

set aside. The fresh claims made by the assessee, as allowed by the CIT(A),

will have to be sustained. It is ordered accordingly.

18. The questions of law are answered in the favour of the assessee and

against the revenue.

19. The appeal is disposed of in the aforesaid terms. The pending

application shall stand closed too.