Case Law Details
Duggal Estates Pvt. Ltd. Vs ITO (ITAT Delhi)
From the reasons it can be seen that the Assessing Officer was not specific as to on what basis the Assessing Officer has the reason to believe that the income of the assessee to the tune of 1 crore has escaped assessment. In fact, in one para the Assessing Officer is observing the assessee as accommodation entry provider and in next, the assessee is treated as the receiver of the share application money. But the basis for which is not elaborated and there is contradiction in the reasons given by the Assessing Officer. Besides this the Assessing Officer has not disposed off the objections filed by the assessee prior to concluding of the assessment proceedings, but has given a general finding in the Assessment order itself which is not in consonance with the provisions of the Income Tax statute relating to disposal of the objections by the Revenue authorities. In the present case, the Assessing Officer has not taken proper cognizance of the direction of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in case of GKN driveshaft India Ltd versus ITO 259 ITR 19 wherein it has been held that:-
“We see no justifiable reason to interfere with the order under challenge. However, we clarify that when a notice under section 148 of the Income-tax 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 instant case, as the reasons have been disclosed in these proceedings, the Assessing Officer has to dispose of the objections, if filed, by passing a speaking order, before proceeding with the assessment in respect of the abovesaid five assessment years. In so far as the appeals filed against the order of assessment before the Commissioner (Appeals), we direct the appellate authority to dispose of the same, expeditiously.” Thus, the assessment becomes a nullity and does not survive as the Assessing Officer has not passed a speaking order of disposal of the objections filed by the assessee. The assessment also becomes void-ab-intio as the reasons recorded are also not in consonance with the actual escapement of the income of the assessee.
Thus, the assessment order itself is null and void-ab-intio as the reassessment proceedings becomes invalid. In view of this, there is no need of going into the merits of the case. Hence, we are not adjudicating the rest of the grounds. Ground Nos. 1, 4 and 5 are allowed
FULL TEXT OF THE ORDER OF ITAT DELHI
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