Case Law Details
Shri Tehmul B. Sethana Vs DCIT (ITAT Ahmedabad)
It is mandatory to obtain the approval under the provisions of section 151 of the Act from the JCIT for initiating the proceedings under section 147 of the Act which will commence only after recording the reason to believe for the escapement of income. For initiating proceeding under section 147, the AO based on the fresh tangible material available before him requires to record the reasons to believe that income has escaped assessment. Thereafter, the AO before issuing notice under section 148 of the Act for initiation of reopening of the assessment is required to take approval from the higher authority being JCIT/CIT under section 151 of the Act. The learned JCIT/CIT is expected to verify the reason recorded and material available before granting the approval whether such reason recorded is fit for reopening or not. However in the case on hand, we note that the reasons for initiating the proceedings under section 147 of the Act were recorded after obtaining the approval from the JCIT. In other words, the approval from the JCIT was obtained dated 28 September 2017 whereas the reasons were recorded on 30 September 2017. Thus, it becomes evident that the approval has been granted by the ld. JCIT without verifying the reasons recorded by the AO for initiating the proceedings under section 147 of the Act which is contrary to the provisions of law. Hence, we hold that the notice under section 148 of the Act was issued without having valid approval and jurisdiction. Therefore the assessment framed under section 147 r.w.s. 143(3) of the Act in the present facts is not sustainable.
FULL TEXT OF THE ORDER OF ITAT AHMEDABAD
The captioned appeal has been filed at the instance of the Assessee against the order of the Learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)-12, Ahmedabad dated 30/09/2019 arising in the matter of assessment order passed under s. 143(3) r.w.s 147 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (here-in-after referred to as “the Act”) relevant to the Assessment Year 2010-2011.
2. The assessee has raised the following grounds of appeal:
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