Case Law Details
Atma Ram Saria Vs ACIT (Delhi High Court)
The Supreme Court in GKN Driveshafts (India) Ltd. vs. Income Tax Officer and Ors., (2003) 1 SCC 72 has held that when a notice under Section 148 of the Act is issued, the proper course of action for the noticee is to file a return and if he so desires, to seek reasons for issuing notices. The Assessing Officer is bound to furnish reasons within a reasonable time. On receipt of reasons, the noticee is entitled to file objections to issuance of notice and the Assessing Officer is bound to dispose of the same by passing a speaking order.
In the present case, from the documents on record, it is apparent that the petitioner-assessee had filed his return of income for the Assessment Year 2013-14 on 27th April, 2021. However, the reasons for reassessment were supplied to the petitioner-assessee for the first time as late as 26th March, 2022. Thereafter even when the petitioner-assessee had filed his objections, the same were not disposed of prior to passing of the impugned assessment order.
Keeping in view the aforesaid, it is apparent that the impugned assessment order has been passed contrary to the procedure stipulated by the Supreme Court in GKN Driveshafts (India) Ltd. (supra).
Accordingly, the impugned assessment order, demand notice and penalty notice all dated 30th March, 2022, are set aside.
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