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2016 (11) TMI 1619 - ITAT MUMBAIService of notice by an affixture - mode of service of notice - Curable defect u/s 292BB - validity of assessment - No notice u/s 143(2) issued and served upon the assessee within the stipulated period prescribed in the proviso - wrong assumption of jurisdiction by the AO under section 143(2) - provisions of section 282 of the Act dealing with provisions relating to the service of notice - HELD THAT:- There is nothing to suggest that the assessee was intentionally hiding from the authorities for the purpose of avoiding service or there was any other good reason to conclude that the notice could not be served in an ordinary way. The inaction or delay on the part of the Assessing Officer in issuing notice under section 143(2) of the Act cannot be a ground to straightway effect service by affixture. Thus, in the instant case, the ordinary process not having been exhausted or carried out by the Assessing Officer, he was not justified in directly resorting to service of notice by an affixture merely because he had issued the notice at the last minute i.e. on 29//11/2011 so as to avoid the limitation expiring on 30/11/2001. Under these circumstances, we find ample force in the plea of the assessee on the issue of wrong assumption of jurisdiction by the Assessing Officer by issuing the instant notice under section 143(2) of the Act. Plea raised by the Revenue is that the assessee had appeared before the Assessing Officer on 10/12/2001 and that on that basis it is sought to be canvassed that, in any case, assessee was aware of the notice under section 143(2) of the Act having been served on 29/11/2001 - as per assessee it is wrong on the part of the Revenue to contend that assessee attended before the Assessing Officer on 10/12/2001 in response to the notice issued under section 143(2) of the Act dated 29/11/2001. We find the aforesaid plea of the assessee quite potent and is in fact supported by the material on record. The Ld. Representative for the assessee had referred to a communication dated 10/12/2001 addressed to the Assessing Officer, wherein it has been communicated that the notice was received on 10/12/2001 itself, which ostensibly is the notice dated 6/12/2001 addressed to the Director of the company. Therefore, the aforesaid plea of the Revenue is misplaced and is hereby rejected. Curable defect u/s 292BB - section 292BB, in any case, does not come to the rescue of the Revenue in the present case because it has been introduced by Finance Act, 2008 w.e.f. 01/04/2008 and it would not apply in the instant case. Thus the notice under section 143(2) has not been served within the time and the mode prescribed under the Act and as a consequence, the impugned assessment framed under section 143(3) of the Act is void ab-initio. Accordingly, the assessment order dated 10.11.2003 is liable to be quashed. - Decided in favour of assessee
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