ITAT President Justice P P Bhatt on Tuesday said the tax tribunal has disposed of 7,251 cases during the COVID-19 pandemic period through the virtual hearings across the country.
The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) has set up virtual benches across the country which are extensively for case hearings used during the COVID-19 period, he said.
“During this (COVID-19 pandemic) period, ITAT disposed of 7,251 cases as against the 3,378 new cases filed during the pandemic period. Of course, we have disposed of old cases,” he told reporters here.
The total pendency of ITAT as on November 1 is 83,546, he said.
The tribunal has sanctioned strength of 126 members but currently, there is a vacancy of 46 members, it added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on inaugurate an office-cum-residential complex of ITAT at Cuttack. The complex will have a total built up area of 1,938 sq mtrs.
“With the e-court facility provided in the new building with good connectivity facility, the Cuttack bench will be able to hear and dispose of even appeals pending with other benches in the Kolkata zone, which are presently non-functional such as Ranchi, Patna and Guwahati,” Bhatt said.
He said a new e-filing portal is ready which shall facilitate e-filing of appeals, documents and other applications by the litigants.
“Physical notice boards are being replaced by digital screen displaying constitution of benches, cause list and other information. ITAT has set up virtual benches across the country,” Bhatt added.
