TMI Blog1967 (9) TMI 32X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... e under Section 66(1) of the Income-tax Act, 1922. During the pendency of the reference, Sri V. P. Tewari entered appearance as counsel on behalf of the assessee, but thereafter Sri Tewari ceased to practice in this court. Notice was served upon the assessee accordingly, and an opportunity was given to engage another counsel to represent it in the case. The case has now come on for bearing, but t ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... on further examination we find it difficult to accept the position that, where a party at whose instance the reference has been made could have appeared when the case is called on for hearing, but does not do so, the High Court is still obliged to decide the questions of law. A party dissatisfied with the appellate order of the Tribunal on a point of law is entitled to apply for a reference to th ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... imilar reasoning the court declined to answer the question of law. The view taken in that case was followed by the Travancore-Cochin High Court in Commissioner of Income-tax v. Pothen Joseph and Sons. The Madras High Court in Tamarind Products, Vellore v. Commissioner of Income-tax , has held that there is a discretion in the court to decide the question of law if the party, who caused the referen ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... on the view that sub-section (5) of section 66 contemplates a hearing of the case by the High Court that there can be no hearing in the absence of the party who has caused the reference to be made, and therefore the High Court should not decide the question of law. The consideration that no hearing can take place in the absence of such party and that, therefore, the High Court should invariably re ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X
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