Case Law Details
Shri Abhishek Acharya Vs ITO (ITAT Mumbai)
The issue under consideration is whether the assessment order passed without serving of the notice u/s 143(2) on correct address as mentioned in ITR is considered as Valid order?
ITAT states that, the undisputed facts are that the notice under section 143(2) was not served on the assessee as is apparent from the reply of the AO in response to the RTI application dated 05.10.2018, ITAT observe from the perusal of the said application that the notice has not been served on the assessee. In our opinion, the non service of notice is factual and serous defects in the framing of the assessment and renders the assessment proceedings as well as the consequent assessment order as null and void. The ld CIT(A) instead of finding the truth chose to dismiss the appeal even without verifying the facts from assessment records. In the present case before us the AO admitted to have not served the notice under section 143(2) on the assessee and in such a scenario we are left with no option except to quash the assessment order. Where the notice under section 143(2) has not been served at the correct address then the assessment proceedings concluded on the basis of invalid notice is void. Hence, since no notice under section 143(2) was ever issued by the Department, therefore, the assessment proceedings sans service of notice under section 143(2) of the Act are invalid and accordingly quashed.
FULL TEXT OF THE ITAT JUDGEMENT
The present appeal has been preferred by the assessee against the order dated 21.08.2018 of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) [hereinafter referred to as the CIT(A)] relevant to assessment year 2002-03.
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