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2013 (8) TMI 707 - HC - Income TaxWaiver of interest u/s 215 of the Income Tax Act – Up to 12.01.1987, and, in fact, up to 09.06.1987 the assessing officer did nothing. It is only on 09.06.1987 which is much beyond one year after 13.01.1986 that the assessing officer issued the notice under section 143(2) of the said Act. Therefore, within the period of one year with effect from 13.01.1986, no delay could be attributable to the petitioner - Held that:- Relying upon the principle of law laid down in J.K. Synthetics Ltd v. CIT [2003 (10) TMI 34 - DELHI High Court], it is held if delay is not attributable to the assessee, interest can not be charged on them. In the facts of the present case we find that after the issuance of the notice under section 143(2) the assessment has been completed within a little over eight months. Therefore, had the assessing officer been diligent enough and issued the notice under section 143(2) immediately or shortly after 13.01.1986, when the petitioner filed the first revised return, the assessment could have been completed by 12.01.1987 i.e., within one year. It is obvious that under the provisions, the assessing officer is granted a normal period of one year to complete the assessment and, if he does so, there can be no waiver of interest during that period. However, if the assessing officer is not diligent enough and does not complete the assessment within the said period of one year, any interest liability for the period beyond that one year cannot be foisted on the assessee unless the delay in not completing the assessment within the period of one year is clearly attributable to the assessee. In the present case, the period of one year which is available to the assessing officer for completing the assessment ended on 12.01.1987. For the delay beyond that date, there has to be waiver of interest unless part of that delay is attributable to the assessee. Here, the delay from 18.01.1988 to 18.02.1988 is clearly attributable to the assessee as it chose to file the second revised return on 18.01.1988. - There shall be waiver of interest under section 215 of the said Act in favour of the petitioner for the period 12.01.1987 to 18.01.1988. - Decided partly in favor of assessee.
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