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2021 (12) TMI 826 - HC - Income TaxValidity of reopening of assessment u/s 147 - Eligible reasons to believe - no sanction as contemplated under Section 151 - HELD THAT:- On bare perusal of the reasons it is quite evident that the reasons are based on totally erroneous and in correct facts and without non application of mind. The fact is the return of income for A.Y. 2012-13 filed by petitioner on 24th September, 2012 has been assessed under Section 143(3) of the Act and the Assessment Order dated 31st March, 2015 has been passed - AO has proceeded on erroneous factual basis that the return of income was only processed under Section 143(1) - this displays total non application of mind. In fact, petitioner’s allegations that Respondent No.1 has sought to re-open the assessment on incorrect factual position that the return of income was only processed under Section 143(1) of the Act has not even been denied in the affidavit in reply which is filed by the same Assessing Officer. In paragraph no.2 of the affidavit in reply which is in response to paragraph no.1 and 2 of the petition, Respondent No.1 simply says that these are factual in nature and the notice under Section 148 dated 26th March, 2019 and the order disposing the objections and the notice dated 22nd October, 2019 are issued in pursuance of the objective of completing reassessment in accordance with the procedures laid down. On this ground alone, the notice dated 26th March, 2019 has to be set aside. One wonders whether the sanctioning authority under Section 151 also would have even applied his mind because the reasons recorded as noted above itself displays non application of mind by the Assessing Officer. Therefore, either no sanction as contemplated under Section 151 of the Act has been obtained or the same was granted mechanically without application of mind to the facts because if only the Assessing Officer had placed the entire file before the sanctioning authority he would have pointed out the error in the reasons for re-opening. - Decided in favour of assessee.
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