SMT. NIRMAL KAUR, AMRITSAR V. INCOME TAX OFFICER, WARD 1(2), AMRITSAR

ITA 700/ASR/2017

• Counselvise Citation: [2019] 117 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 1311 (ITAT-AMRITSAR)
• Duration Of Justice: 1 year(s) 6 month(s) 29 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 14-06-2019
• Appeal Filed By: Assessee
• Order Result: Dismissed
• Bench Allotted: SMC
• Next Hearing Date: 19-03-2019
• Assessment Year: 2009-2010
• Appeal Filed On: 15-11-2017
• Result in Favour of: Revenue
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Assessee Lawyers: K R JAIN
• Keywords: Principle of natural justice; Reason to believe; Reassessment proceedings; Borrowed satisfaction; Set aside
• Section: 143(3); 142(1); 133(6); 147; 148

Judgement Text

IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL AMRITSAR BENCH, AMRITSAR (SMC) BEFORE SH. SANJAY ARORA, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER I.T.A. NO. 700/ASR/2017 A SSESSMENT YEAR: 2009-10 NIRMAL KAUR, H. NO. 1966, GALI ARORIAN, HALL BAZAR, AMRITSAR [PAN: AAWPK 8504D] VS. INCOME TAX OFFICER, WARD-1(2), AMRITSAR (APPELLANT) (RESPONDENT) APPELLANT BY : SH. K. R. JAIN (ADV.) RESPONDENT BY: SH. CHARAN DASS (D.R.) DATE OF HEARING: 19.03.2019 DATE OF PRONOUNCEMENT: 14.06.2019 ORDER PER SANJAY ARORA, AM: THIS IS AN APPEAL BY THE ASSESSEE DIRECTED AGAINST THE ORDER BY THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (APPEALS)-1, AMRITSAR (' CIT(A)' FOR SHORT) DATED 08.8.2017, DISMISSING THE ASSESSEES APPEAL CONTEST ING HER ASSESSMENT U/S. 143(3) READ WITH SECTION 147 OF THE INCOME TAX ACT, 1961 ( 'THE ACT' HEREINAFTER) DATED 08.12.2016 FOR THE ASSESSMENT YEAR (AY) 2009-10. 2.1 THE FACTS OF THE CASE IN BRIEF ARE THAT THE ASS ESSEE WAS ISSUED A NOTICE U/S. 148 ON 30.3.2016 ON THE BASIS OF THE ANNUAL INFORMA TION REPORT (AIR) WITH THE REVENUE AS TO THE ASSESSEE HAVING MADE PURCHASE/SAL E TRANSACTION IN SHARES/MUTUAL FUNDS AT RS.2 LACS DURING THE RELEVANT YEAR (PB PG. 7). THE ASSESSEE RESPONDED VIDE LETTER DATED 20.10.2016 (PB PG. 17), STATING THAT T HE RETURN ALREADY FILED (I.E., U/S. ITA NO. 700/ASR/2017 (AY 2009-10) NIRMAL KAUR V. ITO 2 139, ON 30.11.2009) MAY BE CONSIDERED AS IN COMPLIA NCE OF THE NOTICE U/S. 148. AND, FURTHER, THAT SHE HAD NOT MADE ANY INVESTMENT (OF RS.2 LACS) DURING THE RELEVANT YEAR, AS ALLEGED IN THE NOTICE U/S. 142(1) DATED 29.9.2016 (PB PG. 16). INFORMATION U/S. 133(6), CALLED FOR BY THE ASSESSIN G OFFICER (AO) FROM KOTAK MAHINDRA MUTUAL FUND (KMMF), REVEALED THE ASSESSEE TO HAVE PURCHASED 20,000 UNITS OF A MUTUAL FUND SCHEME OF KMMF FOR RS.2 LACS VIDE CHEQUE NO. 148167 DRAWN ON BANK OF INDIA, CITY CENTRE, AMRITSAR (BOI) ON 05.9.2008 (PB PG. 15). THE ASSESSEES BANK ACCOUNT WITH BOI WAS ALSO REQUI SITIONED BY THE AO U/S. 133(6), WHICH REVEALED A CASH DEPOSIT OF RS.2,90,00 0 ON 02.9.2008, WHICH WAS FULLY UTILIZED FOR INVESTING IN KMMF ON 05.9.2008. THE UNITS HAD IN FACT BEEN REALIZED ON 10/12.3.2009 AT RS.3,05,418, REALIZING THUS A PROFIT OF RS.15,418, WITH THE SALE PROCEEDS HAVING BEEN INVESTED IN KMMF AND SHRIRAM MF (PB PG. 5). THE ASSESSEE, ON BEING CONFRONTED WITH THIS INFORMATION , EXPLAINED THE CASH DEPOSIT OF RS.2.90 LACS ON 02.9.2008 (IN BOI) AS OUT OF THE CR EDIT BALANCE OF RS.3,05,915 IN THE SAID ACCOUNT DURING F.Y. 2006-07, I.E., RELEVAN T TO AY 2007-08 (PB PG. 3). THE SAID BALANCE (ON 10.4.2006) HAD IN FACT BEEN WITHDR AWN (AT RS. 3 LACS) BY THE ASSESSEE ON 10.04.2006 ITSELF, SO THAT THE SAME COU LD NOT BE REGARDED AS AVAILABLE WITH HIM AFTER TWO AND A HALF YEARS, I.E., IN SEPTE MBER, 2008. THE SAME WAS ACCORDINGLY DEEMED AS UNEXPLAINED INCOME U/S. 69. T HE BOI ACCOUNT ALSO REVEALED A CASH DEPOSIT OF RS.47,000/- ON 05.7.2008 (I.E., P RIOR TO 02.9.2008), UTILIZED (ALONG WITH BALANCE IN ACCOUNT) FOR MAKING INVESTMENT IN D BD AT RS.1.0 LACS ON THE SAME DATE. THIS CASH DEPOSIT (AT RS. 0.47 LACS) WAS ALSO BROUGHT TO TAX AS UNEXPLAINED CASH DEPOSIT IN BANK ACCOUNT. THE SAME STOOD CONFIR MED IN APPEAL BY THE LD. CIT(A), HOLDING AS UNDER: 6. I HAVE GONE THROUGH THE GROUNDS OF APPEAL, SUBM ISSIONS OF THE APPELLANT AND THE ASSESSMENT ORDER OF THE AO. SINCE THE ASSESSEE IN THE INITIAL REPLY FILED ON 20 .10.2016 HAS DENIED HAVING MADE ANY INVESTMENT OF RS.2,90,000/- IN MUTUAL FUNDS AND HAS ALSO NOT DECLARED THE PROFIT OF ITA NO. 700/ASR/2017 (AY 2009-10) NIRMAL KAUR V. ITO 3 RS.15,418/- ON SALE OF TOTAL INVESTMENT OF RS. 2,90 ,000/- MADE IN MUTUAL FUNDS DURING THE YEAR WHICH WERE SOLD FOR RS.3,05,418/-. SO IT CLEAR LY SHOWS THAT THIS INVESTMENT OF RS.2,90,000/- AND PROFIT EARNED ON THE SAID INVESTM ENT OF RS.15,418/- IS AN UNDISCLOSED INCOME OF THE ASSESSEE AND A WITHDRAWAL OF RS.3 LAK H MADE ON 10.04.2006, I.E., 2 YEARS BEFORE THE SAID INVESTMENT CANNOT BE CONSIDERED AS THE SOURCE OF SAID INVESTMENT AND IS CLEARLY AN AFTER THOUGHT. 2.2 AGGRIEVED, THE ASSESSEE IS IN SECOND APPEAL, RA ISING THE FOLLOWING GROUNDS: 1. THAT THE ORDER OF THE LEARNED INCOME TAX OFFICE R MAKING AN ADDITION OF RS.3,37,000/- AND LIKEWISE LD. CIT(A) CONFIRMING THE SAME IS WRON G, ILLEGAL AND AGAINST FACTS. 2. THAT THE LEARNED CIT(A) HAS NOT APPRECIATED THE SUBMISSIONS MADE, EXPLANATION OFFERED AND PROCEEDED TO MAKE THE ADDITION ARBITRARILY. 3. THAT THE AO HAS NOT APPRECIATED THE FACT THAT CA SH WAS AVAILABLE IN THE EARLIER AND HENCE NO ADDITION COULD BE MADE DURING THE YEAR UNDER ASS ESSMENT. 4. THAT THE NOTICE U/S. 148 IS ILLEGAL, INVALID AND VOID ABNITIO AND THERE WAS NO PROPER SATISFACTION OF MIND BY THE AO WHILE REOPENING THE CASE. THE CASE HAS BEEN REOPENED ON THE BASIS OF BORROWED SATISFACTION WHICH IS NOT PERMISS IBLE UNDER THE LAW. 5. THAT INITIATION OF PROCEEDINGS ARE ILLEGAL AND N O NOTICE U/S. 148 WAS EVER SERVED UPON THE ASSESSEE. 3. WHILE THE FIRST THREE GROUNDS CHALLENGE THE ADDI TION ON MERITS, THE LAST TWO ASSAIL THE VALIDITY OF THE ASSESSMENT PROCEEDINGS I TSELF. THE LEGAL GROUNDS, THEREFORE, SHALL BE TAKEN UP FIRST. THE REASONS REC ORDED ARE STATED TO BE ON BORROWED SATISFACTION; THE WORDS NO PROPER SATISFACTION OF MIND IN GROUND 4, TO BE MEANINGFUL, ARE TO BE READ AS NO PROPER APPLICATIO N OF MIND. NOW, TO BEGIN WITH, IT IS NOT CLEAR AS TO WHOSE SA TISFACTION IS ALLEGED TO HAVE BORROWED BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER (AO) WHILE FORMIN G HIS BELIEF. HE IS IN POSSESSION OF INFORMATION, FROM A RELIABLE SOURCE THE CONCERNED MUTUAL FUND (UNDER AIR), DEFINITE AND SPECIFIC IN NATURE, AND R ELEVANT, I.E., OF THE ASSESSEE HAVING PURCHASED UNITS OF KMMF FOR RS.2 LACS DURING THE RELEVANT YEAR. THE ONLY QUESTION THEREFORE THAT SURVIVES IS WHETHER THE SAI D INVESTMENT BY THE ASSESSEE IS OUT OF EXPLAINED SOURCE OR AN UNDISCLOSED SOURCE. N OTICE U/S. 133(6) WAS ITA NO. 700/ASR/2017 (AY 2009-10) NIRMAL KAUR V. ITO 4 ACCORDINGLY ISSUED TO THE ASSESSEE ON 15.3.2016, SE EKING THE RELEVANT DETAILS, VIZ. THE RELEVANT BANK ACCOUNT; THE SOURCE OF INVESTMENT , AS WELL AS THE COPY OF THE RETURN FOR THE RELEVANT YEAR (PB PG. 8). THE SAME W ENT UNRESPONDED. THE SAID INVESTMENT BEING NOT REFLECTED IN THE RETURN OF INC OME (FOR AY 2008-09), THE AO HAD A REASONABLE BASIS TO INFER OR SUPPOSE THAT THE INVESTMENT WAS MADE OUT OF UNEXPLAINED SOURCE/S. HOW COULD IT BE REGARDED AS A BORROWED SATISFACTION OR AST ARISING OUT OF NON APPLICATION OF MIND ? THE REASON TO BELIEVE HAS TO BE BASED ON THE INFORMATION IN THE POSSESSION OF THE AO AND THE MATERIAL ON RECORD, RESULTING IN A PRIMA FACIE REASON/S TO BELIEVE ESCAPEMENT OF INCOME CHARGEABL E TO TAX FOR THE RELEVANT YEAR FROM ASSESSMENT. THE SUFFICIENCY OF T HE REASONS; THE SATISFACTION BEING IN THE REALM OF THE SUBJECTIVE SATISFACTION O F THE AO (THOUGH BASED ON OBJECTIVE FACTS), CANNOT BE EXAMINED OR CALLED INTO QUESTION (I.E., IN APPELLATE PROCEEDINGS). WHY, EVEN THE ACCURACY OF THE INFORMA TION, I.E., AS LONG AS IT IS FROM A RELIABLE SOURCE, AND RELEVANT, CANNOT BE QUESTION ED AT THAT STAGE, AND ALL THAT IS RELEVANT IS, IF, GIVEN THE TRUTH OF THE INFORMATION , A REQUISITE BELIEF AS TO THE ESCAPEMENT OF INCOME FROM ASSESSMENT COULD BE FORME D BY A REASONABLE PERSON ON THE BASIS OF THE SAID INFORMATION/MATERIAL, I.E., I N THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE. IT WAS CONTENDED THAT THE ASSESSEE DID NOT RE CEIVE THE NOTICE U/S. 133(6), FOR HIM TO HAVE RESPONDED THERETO. BUT, THEN, THAT WOUL D NOT INVALIDATE EITHER THE INFORMATION THAT THE AO HAD OR THE FACT THAT THE SA ID INVESTMENT COULD NOT BE VERIFIED FROM THE ASSESSEES RETURN OF INCOME. IT M AY BE HERE PERTINENT TO STATE THAT THE APEX COURT IN GKN DRIVESHAFTS (INDIA) LTD. V. ITO [2003] 259 ITR 19 (SC) HAS LAID DOWN A PROCEDURE IN THE MATTER; THE ASSESS EE, AFTER COMPLYING WITH THE NOTICE U/S. 148(1), MAY SEEK A COPY OF REASON/S REC ORDED, RAISING, AT HIS OPTION, PRELIMINARY OBJECTION/S THERETO. WHERE SO, THE AO I S BOUND TO DISPOSE THOSE OBJECTIONS PER A SPEAKING ORDER BEFORE PROCEEDING F URTHER IN THE MATTER. THE LD. COUNSEL OF THE ASSESSEE, SH. JAIN, WOULD UPON THIS BEING OBSERVED BY THE BENCH ITA NO. 700/ASR/2017 (AY 2009-10) NIRMAL KAUR V. ITO 5 DURING HEARING, STATE THAT THE ASSESSEE DID RAISE A N OBJECTION (ON 20.10.2016/PB PG. 17), WHICH WAS NOT DISPOSED OF BY THE AO PER A SPEA KING ORDER. THE ASSESSEE, PER THE SAID REPLY, DENIED HAVING BEEN MADE ANY INVESTM ENT IN SHARES OR MUTUAL FUNDS DURING THE YEAR, ENCLOSING ALONG WITH THE COPY OF H IS RETURN AND BANK ACCOUNT. THAT IS, GIVES AN INFORMATION, SEEKING TO SUBSTANTIATE I T, WHICH IS PATENTLY FALSE, EVEN AS FURTHER CONFIRMED BY THE AO FROM KMMF VIDE LETTER D ATED 20.10.2016 (THROUGH ITS REPLY DATED 04.11.2016/PB PG. 15). HOW COULD THE ASSESSEE, THEN, CONTEND THAT HIS OBJECTION HAD NOT BEEN MET, I.E., AS REQUIRED IN TERMS OF THE PROCEDURE PRESCRIBED IN GKN DRIVESHAFTS (INDIA) LTD . (SUPRA)? RATHER, THE SAID DECISION, AS BY ANY OTH ER BY ANY COURT OF LAW, DOES NOT CONTEMPLATE A FALSE S TATEMENT, WHICH IN FACT CANNOT BE REGARDED AS AN OBJECTION, MUCH LESS A VALID OB JECTION. THE RAISING OF THE OBJECTION BY THE ASSESSEE, IF THE LETTER FILED ON 20.10.2016 (PB PG. 17) COULD BE REGARDED AS ONE, IS NOTHING BUT AN ABUSE OF THE PRO CESS OF LAW, TO BE STRONGLY DISCOUNTENANCED, MUCH LESS GIVEN COGNIZANCE TO. THE RE IS UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES NO NEED TO REMIT THE MATTER BACK TO THE FILE OF THE AO WHO HAS STATED ALL THE FACTS IN THE ASSESSMENT ORDER, TO PASS A SPEAKING ORDER, AS IS GENERALLY DIRECTED BY THE TRIBUNAL OR THE HONBLE HIGH COURTS. IN THE PRESENT CASE, IT IS ONLY AFTER THE ASSESSEE DENIED HAVING MADE ANY INVESTMENT IN SHARE S OR MUTUAL FUND, THAT THE AO, IN CONFIRMATION OF THE INFORMATION IN HIS POSSESSIO N, CLARIFIED THE MATTER, SEEKING DIRECT INFORMATION FROM THE CONCERNED MF, I.E., KMM F, WHICH RESPONDED VIDE THEIR LETTER DATED 04/11/2016 (REFER PB PGS. 15-17) . THE WHOLE PURPORT OF THE COMMUNICATION OF THE REASONS RECORDED U/S. 148(2) T O THE ASSSESSEE, AS WELL AS SEEKING TO MEET HIS PRELIMINARY OBJECTIONS, IF ANY, THERETO, AS EXPLAINED PER SEVERAL DECISIONS BY THE HONBLE HIGH COURTS, AS IN CIT V. INDERJEET SEN GUPTA (IN ITA NO. 589 OF 2008, DATED 19/8/2013); B.K. JAGAN & CO. V. CIT [2004] 136 TAXMAN 343 (P&H), IS TO OBSERVE THE PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL JUSTICE. HOW COULD, THEN, IT BE SAID THAT THERE HAS BEEN A TRANSGRESSION THEREOF IN THE INSTANT CASE ? THE PREMISE ITA NO. 700/ASR/2017 (AY 2009-10) NIRMAL KAUR V. ITO 6 AND THE RATIONALE OF THE PROCEDURE LAID DOWN BY THE APEX COURT IS THAT NO PREJUDICE IS CAUSED TO THE ASSESSEE ON ACCOUNT OF INITIATION OF THE PROCEEDINGS, SO THAT THE SAME, WHERE MISCONCEIVED, GETS SETTLED AT THE INITI AL STAGE ITSELF. NO CASE OF VIOLATION OF THE PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL JUSTICE, OR THE PROCEDURE LAID IN GKN DRIVESHAFTS (INDIA) LTD . (SUPRA), IS MADE OUT IN THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANC ES OF THE CASE. THE OBJECTION BY THE ASSESSEE CANNOT, IN FA CT, BE SAID TO BE AN OBJECTION, MUCH LESS ONE CONTEMPLATED PER THE SAID DECISION. T HE ASSESSEE FAILS ON HER GD. 4. 4. THE OTHER LEGAL OBJECTION IS QUA NON SERVICE OF NOTICE U/S. 148, TOWARD WHICH THE ASSESSEE AGAIN REFERS TO HER LETTER FILED ON 20 .10.2016 (PB PG. 17). THE SAID PLEA, AGAIN, IN THE GIVEN FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES O F THE CASE, AND THE LAW IN THE MATTER, ONLY NEEDS TO BE STATED TO BE REJECTED. THE REASON IS SIMPLE. THE OBJECTION, OF NO VALID SERVICE OF NOTICE U/S. 148(1) IS CONTRA DICTED BY THE ASSESSEES COMPLIANCE THERETO, STATING, AND PER THE VERY SAME LETTER (I.E., PER WHICH SHE INDICATES THE NON SERVICE OF NOTICE U/S. 148), THAT THE RETURN ALREADY FILED BE CONSIDERED AS IN COMPLIANCE OF THE NOTICE U/S. 148 (PB PG. 17). NOW HOW COULD AN UN-SERVED NOTICE BE COMPLIED WITH, IMPLYING A KNOWL EDGE OF THE SAID NOTICE? THE ASSESSEE, ON THIS BEING OBSERVED BY THE BENCH DURIN G HEARING, WOULD SUBMIT THAT THE SAID LETTER WAS IN RESPONSE TO THE NOTICE U/S. 142(1), DULY SERVED AND, FURTHER, FILED IN PROTEST. HOW, ONE WONDERS, COULD A RETURN IN RESPONSE TO A NOTICE U/S. 148 BE FILED IN REPLY TO A NOTICE U/S. 142(1)? THAT APA RT, THE BASIC QUESTION OF THE ASSESSEE BEING, AS APPARENT, AWARE OF THE ISSUE OF THE NOTICE U/S. 148(1) TO HER, OBTAINS, INVALIDATING THE PLEA. EVEN IF NOT SERVED, I.E., AS PER THE PRESCRIBED MODE, WHICH THE ASSESSEE HAD IN ANY CASE CONSTRUCTIVE NOT ICE OF THE SAME. WHY, THE ASSESSEE COULD, WHERE NOT IN POSSESSION OF THE SAID NOTICE, REQUEST THE AO TO SUPPLY HER THE SAID NOTICE. NOT TO IMPUTE SUCH BEHA VIOR ON THE PART OF THE ASSESEEE WOULD IMPLY THAT DESPITE BEING AWARE OF PROCEEDINGS IN HER CASE HAVING ITA NO. 700/ASR/2017 (AY 2009-10) NIRMAL KAUR V. ITO 7 COMMENCED (WITH THE ISSUE OF NOTICE U/S. 148(1)), Y ET DOES NOT INTEND TO COMPLY THERETO, DEFEATING HER CASE. IN FACT, TO BE FAIR TO THE ASSESSEE, HER CONDUCT SHOWS OTHERWISE. THE PURPORT OF ANY NOTICE, IT MAY BE APP RECIATED, IS TO PUT THE ASSESSEE- NOTICEE TO NOTICE THAT PROCEEDINGS UNDER A PARTICUL AR SECTION OF THE ACT ARE BEING INITIATED AGAINST HIM. AS REGARDS THE CLAIM OF IT (COMPLIANCE OF NOTICE U/ S. 148(1)) BEING MADE UNDER PROTEST THE SAME IS NOWHERE BORNE OUT BY TH E RECORD. FURTHER, WHAT DOES THE TERM UNDER PROTEST SIGNIFY OR CONVEY, I.E., IN LA W. IF IT IMPLIES THAT THE ASSESSEE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO OBJECT TO THE SAID NOTICE; OR TO THE INITIATION OF THE REASSESSMENT PROCEEDINGS THEREBY, THE SAME IS EVEN OTHERWISE IMP LIED, FOR RESPONDING TO OR OTHERWISE COMPLYING WITH THE NOTICE DOES NOT BY A NY STRETCH OF IMAGINATION, IMPLY OR COULD BE CONSTRUED AS OF THE ASSESSEE HAVI NG ACCEPTED THE VALIDITY OF THE SAID NOTICE OR AS HAVING LOST (OR WAIVED) HIS RIGHT TO OBJECT THERETO (IN LAW). IF, THEREFORE, THAT IS WHAT IS MEANT BY UNDER PROTEST , THE POINT IS WELL TAKEN, THOUGH CARRIES NO PARTICULAR SIGNIFICANCE INASMUCH AS THE ASSESSEE HAS INDEED RAISED A LEGAL OBJECTION (PER GD. 4), TO WHICH NO JURISDICTIONAL O BJECTION STANDS RAISED BY THE REVENUE. IN FACT, THE RIGHT TO RAISE AN OBJECTION/S INURES TO THE ASSESSEE ONLY AFTER COMPLYING WITH THE NOTICE U/S. 148. HOW, THEN, COUL D THE ASSESSEE CLAIM OF HAVING COMPLIED WITH THE NOTICE AND, FURTHER, OF THUS HAVI NG VALIDLY RAISED AN OBJECTION THERETO, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME CLAIM, I.E., LEGALL Y, OF THE SAID NOTICE HAVING NOT BEEN SERVED ON HIM? NO WONDER IT WAS HELD IN ITO V. GURINDER KAUR [2006] 102 ITD 189 (DEL) AND CIT V. C. PALANIAPPAN [2011] 55 DTR 81 (MAD), THAT THE REASSESSMENT PROCEEDINGS COULD NOT BE STRUCK DOWN O N THE BASIS OF THE CLAIM OF NON-RECEIPT OF NOTICE U/S. 148 WHERE THE ASSESSEE H AD COMPLIED WITH THE NOTICE U/S. 148(1). THE RAISING OF THE OBJECTION OF THE SERVICE BY THE ASSESSEE, WHICH HE DOES PER GD. 5, IS THUS ITSELF INVALID. ITA NO. 700/ASR/2017 (AY 2009-10) NIRMAL KAUR V. ITO 8 CONTINUING FURTHER, IT IS NOT ONLY THE ASSESSEES C LAIM OF COMPLYING WITH THE NOTICE U/S. 148(1), AND RAISING A PRELIMINARY OBJEC TION - ALSO RAISED PER PARA 4 OF THE WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS (PB PGS. 10-14), ON THAT BASIS, THAT INVALIDATES HER CHALLENGE TO THE SERVICE OF THE SAID NOTICE. IT IS ALSO THE LEGA L IMBROGLIO THAT SUCH AS CHALLENGE RAISES, TO BE THEREFORE OF NO CONSEQUENCE. SERVICE OF NOTICE IS A MATTER OF PROCEDURE. IT CONVEYS TO THE ASSESSEE THAT PROCEEDI NGS U/S. 147 IN HIS CASE FOR THE RELEVANT YEAR HAVE BEEN INITIATED, REQUIRING HIM TO FILE A RETURN OF INCOME IN RESPONSE THERETO. NO WONDER, THUS, THE TIME LIMITAT ION U/S. 149 FOR COMPLETING THE SAID PROCEEDINGS IS WITH REFERENCE TO THE DATE OF S ERVICE OF THE SAID NOTICE, AND NOT ITS ISSUE, ON THE BASIS OF WHICH (I.E., ITS ISSUE ) THOUGH JURISDICTION TO REASSESS IS ASSUMED (REF: R.K. UPADHYAYA V. SHAMABHAI P. PATEL [1987] 166 ITR 163 (SC); JAI HANUMAN TRADING CO. V. CIT [1977] 110 ITR 36 (P&H)(FB); CIT V. SHEO KUMARI DEVI [1986] 157 ITR 13 (PATNA)(FB)). REFERENCE IN THIS CONTEXT BE ALSO MADE TO THE DECISION IN GROVER NURSING HOME V. ITO [2001] 248 ITR 493 (P&H). HOW COULD PROCEEDINGS COMMENCE WITHOUT THE SERVICE OF THE NOTICE U/S. 148(1), WHICH IS A JURISDICTIONAL NOTICE? WOULD THAT THEREF ORE MEAN THAT THE PROCEEDINGS HAVE NOT YET COMMENCED? THAT IS, WHILE ON THE ONE H AND THE ASSESSEE STATES OF COMPLYING WITH THE SAID NOTICE AND PARTICIPATING IN THE PROCEEDINGS, ON THE OTHER, IT OBJECTS TO THE SERVICE OF THE VERY NOTICE IT CLAIMS TO COMPLY AND OBJECT ITS LEGAL VALIDITY? AS AFORE-NOTED, SERVICE IS NOT AN EMPTY F ORMALITY, ITS FUNCTION IS TO PUT THE ASSESSEE TO NOTICE OF PROCEEDINGS IN HIS CASE H AVING BEEN INITIATED NOTHING MORE AND NOTHING LESS. EVEN IF THEREFORE A PROCEDUR AL IRREGULARITY HAS OCCURRED IN NON-SERVICE OF THE SAID NOTICE, THE MATTER WOULD HA VE GO BACK TO THE STAGE AT WHICH THE IRREGULARITY HAD OCCURRED, I.E., AS PER THE SAI D LAW IN THE MATTER OF LARGER BENCHES (REF: GUDUTHUR BROS. V. ITO [1960] 40 ITR 298 (SC); SUPDT., CENTRAL EXCISE V. PRATAP RAI [1978] 114 ITR 231 (SC)). NO WONDER, THE HONBLE H IGH COURT IN CIT V. JASBIR SINGH [2014] 103 DTR 427 (P&H) DID NOT COUNTENANCE THE ITA NO. 700/ASR/2017 (AY 2009-10) NIRMAL KAUR V. ITO 9 ASSESSEES CLAIM OF NON-SERVICE OF NOTICE U/S. 148. REFERENCE IN THIS CONTEXT MAY ALSO BE DRAWN TO THE DECISION IN CIT V. RAM NARAIN BANSAL [2011] 202 TAXMAN 213 (P&H) IN WHICH THE HONBLE JURISDICTIONAL HIGH COURT, ON THE ASSESSEE CLAIMING NON-SERVICE OF NOTICE U/S. 143(2) QUA PROCEEDINGS VALIDLY INITIATED U/S. 147, RESTORED THE MATTER BACK TO THE FILE OF THE AO FOR THE CAUSING THE SAID SERVICE, SETTING ASIDE THE TRIBUNALS ORDER ANNULLING THE PR OCEEDINGS AND, THUS, THE ASSESSMENT, ON THAT SCORE. SO MUCH SO, IN V.R.A. COTTON MILLS (P.) LTD. V. UNION OF INDIA [2013] 359 ITR 495 (P&H), THE HONBLE JURISDICTIONA L HIGH COURT HAS READ DOWN THE WORDS SERVICE IN PROVISO TO SECTION 143(2) TO MEAN ISSUE, SO AS TO ESCHEW ATTEMPTS BY THE ASSESSEES TO AVOID SERVICE O F NOTICE U/S. 143(2), SO THAT THE SAID SET ASIDE, IS ALSO, IN VIEW OF THE LATTER DECI SION BY THE HONBLE JURISDICTIONAL HIGH COURT, NOT REQUIRED IN VIEW OF NO CLAIM OF ANY PREJUDICE HAVING BEEN CAUSED, AND THE FACT OF THE ASSESSEE HAVING PARTICIPATED IN THE PROCEEDINGS. THERE WAS, IN THAT CASE, AS INDEED IN THE PRESENT CASE, NO CLAIM OF ANY PREJUDICE BEING CAUSED TO THE ASSESSEE ON ACCOUNT OF NON-SERVICE OF NOTICE. T HE ASSESSEE WAS IN FACT SPECIFICALLY QUESTIONED BY THE BENCH DURING HEARING ON THIS, AND NO PREJUDICE COULD BE STATED BY THE LD. COUNSEL, SH. JAIN. THERE IS, I T NEEDS TO BE BORNE IN MIND, NO TIME LIMITATION FOR THE SERVICE OF A NOTICE U/S. 14 8 UNDER THE ACT. THE INSTANT CASE IS, APART FROM THE SAID DECISION, ALSO SQUARELY COV ERED BY THE DECISIONS AFORE-NOTED, CLARIFYING FIRST LEGAL PRINCIPLES. SH. JAIN, UPON B EING AGAIN SPECIFICALLY INQUIRED DURING HEARING IF THE ASSESSSEE, IN THAT CASE, THER EFORE, REQUIRES U/S. 148 TO BE SERVED UPON HER, REPLIED IN THE NEGATIVE. AND WHICH IS ONLY REASONABLE AND LEGALLY VALID COURSE CONSIDERING THAT THE ASSESSEE HAS ALRE ADY PARTICIPATED IN THE PROCEEDINGS, VALIDLY INITIATED BY THE ISSUE OF A NO TICE U/S. 148, AS ALREADY FOUND (WHILE ANSWERING THE ASSESSEES GD. 4). THE MATTER ALSO FINDS EXTENSIVE DELIBERATION IN THE RECENT DECISIONS BY THE TRIBUNAL IN RAKESH GUPTA V. ITO (IN ITA NO. 222/ASR/2016, DATED 31/1/2019) AND ITA NO. 700/ASR/2017 (AY 2009-10) NIRMAL KAUR V. ITO 10 JASPAL SINGH V. ITO (IN ITA NO. 445/ASR/2016, DATED 08/5/2019), DRAWING ON BINDING JUDICIAL PRECEDENTS BY THE APEX COURT AND T HE JURISDICTIONAL HIGH COURT, AS WELL AS THE CLEAR LANGUAGE OF THE RELEVANT PROVISIO NS OF LAW. THE NON-SERVICE OF A NOTICE U/S. 148(1), EVEN WHERE PROVED, IT WAS EXPLA INED IN JASPAL SINGH (SUPRA), DOES NOT CARRY ANY PARTICULAR SIGNIFICANCE INASMUCH AS ALL IT IMPLIES IS THAT THE SAID NOTICE IS UNDISPOSED, AND THE PROCEEDINGS, ACCORDIN GLY, WOULD NECESSARILY REQUIRE BEING RESTORED TO THAT STAGE. THERE IS NO TIME LIMI T FOR THE SERVICE OF NOTICE U/S. 148(1), WHICH IS AGAIN, BY WAY OF PROCEDURE, SEEKIN G TO ENJOIN THE ASSESSEE TO THE PROCEEDINGS INITIATED AGAINST HIM, FOR WHICH REFERE NCE WAS ALSO MADE, APART FROM S. 153(2), TO THE DECISION IN PRAKASH ELECTRIC CO. V. ITO [2008] 118 TTJ 539 (BANG). THE LD. COUNSEL FOR THE ASSESSEE, SH. JAIN, WAS SPE CIFICALLY ASKED DURING HEARING IF THE ASSESSEE WISHED TO OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN HIS C ASE BEFORE THE AO, WHICH HE DENIED, AS WAS INDEED THE CASE IN JASPAL SINGH (SUPRA) AS WELL, WHERE, HOWEVER, DESPITE SO, THE TRIBUNAL RESTORED THE PROCEEDINGS T O THE STAGE OF THE ASSESSING AUTHORITY FINDING THAT, EVEN AS NO PREJUDICE HAD BE EN CAUSED TO THE ASSESSEE, HE HAD, UNLIKE IN THE PRESENT CASE, NOT JOINED THE PRO CEEDINGS BEFORE HIM, ADVERTING TO THE DECISION IN JASBIR SINGH (SUPRA). IN RAKESH GUPTA (SUPRA), THE TRIBUNAL DRAWS ON SEVERAL DECISIONS BY THE APEX COURT QUA THE PURPORT OF A NOTICE, AS WELL AS THE EFFECT OF IMPROPER SERVICE OR NON-SERVICE, AGAIN FI NDING IT TO BE TOWARD OBSERVING THE PRINCIPLE OF NATURAL JUSTICE, EVEN AS THE ASSES SEE IN THE PRESENT CASE HAD CONSTRUCTIVE NOTICE OF THE SAID NOTICE, EVEN OBJECT ING TO THE REASONS RECORDED. REFERENCE, IT IS EMPHASIZED, IS ONCE AGAIN DRAWN TO THE SEVERAL DECISIONS BY THE APEX COURT AND THE HONBLE JURISDICTIONAL HIGH COUR T REFERRED TO HEREINBEFORE. 5. AS REGARDS THE DECISIONS RELIED UPON BY THE ASSE SSEE, IN RAJESH KUMAR DONERIA V. ASSTT. CIT [2005] 94 ITR 345 (AGRA), STATED IN THE WRITTEN SU BMISSIONS DATED 18.07.2017 BEFORE THE LD. CIT(A) (PB PGS. 1-2 ) WOULD THUS BE OF NO ITA NO. 700/ASR/2017 (AY 2009-10) NIRMAL KAUR V. ITO 11 ASSISTANCE TO THE ASSESSEE, I.E., GIVEN THE FACTUAL MATRIX OF THE CASE AND THE LEGAL POSITION AS ELUCIDATED BY THE BINDING JUDICIAL PREC EDENTS. SIMILARLY, THE DECISION IN MICRO SPACEMATRIX SOLUTIONS (P.) LTD. V. ITO (IN ITA NO. 669/DEL/2012) IS WITH REFERENCE TO SERVICE OF NOTICE U/S. 143(2), A JURIS DICTIONAL NOTICE, WHILE JURISDICTION FOR ASSESSMENT U/S. 147 GETS ASSUMED ON THE BASIS O F ISSUE OF NOTICE U/S. 148(1), WHICH THUS HAS BEEN VALIDLY ASSUMED IN THE INSTANT CASE. RATHER, AS AFORE-NOTED, THERE IS NO TIME LIMIT UNDER THE ACT FOR SERVICE OF THE SAID NOTICE AND, FURTHER, THE ASSESSEE HAVING PARTICIPATED IN THE PROCEEDINGS SO THAT THE OBJECTION QUA SERVICE IS EVEN OTHERWISE NOT MAINTAINABLE. THE SAID DECISION WOULD ALSO THUS NOT BE OF ANY ASSISTANCE TO THE ASSESSEE. THE ASSESSEES GD. 5, T HUS, DOES NOT CARRY HER CASE AS REGARDS THE VALIDITY OF THE REASSESSMENT PROCEEDING S ANY FURTHER, WHICH (GD. 5) THEREFORE ALSO DESERVES TO BE AND IS, ACCORDINGLY, DISMISSED. 6. COMING TO THE ASSESSEES CASE ON MERITS, PROJECT ED PER GROUNDS 1-3, THE SAME WERE IN FACT NOT PRESSED DURING HEARING. I SHA LL, HOWEVER, INASMUCH AS THERE IS NO ENDORSEMENT, AS IS USUALLY THE CASE, MARKED BY T HE WORDS NOT PRESSED, ALONGSIDE THE RELEVANT GROUNDS IN THE APPEAL MEMO, THE MERITS THEREOF IS EXAMINED. THE ONLY EXPLANATION ADVANCED BY THE ASSESSEE, I.E. , TOWARD INVESTMENT OF RS.2.90 LACS IN UNITS OF KMMF ON 05.9.2008, IS THE CASH WIT HDRAWAL OF RS.3 LACS FROM HER SAID BANK ACCOUNT WITH BOI ON 10.4.2006. THERE IS N O EXPLANATION AS TO WHY CASH, AND IN SUCH HUGE AMOUNT, WAS WITHDRAWN IN THE FIRST PLACE AND, FURTHER, WHY AND WHERE WAS IT KEPT FOR SO LONG, I.E., FROM APRIL, 20 06 TO SEPTEMBER, 2008. THE SAME, IN FACT, REPRESENTS THE CLOSURE PROCEEDS, PRESUMABL Y OF SOME INVESTMENTS, CREDITED TO HER SAID ACCOUNT ON 10.4.2006 ITSELF. WHY, THERE IS ANOTHER CASH WITHDRAWAL OF RS.2.70 LACS IN THE SAID BANK ACCOUNT SOME TIME LAT ER, I.E., FROM JULY 8 TO 21, 2006. THE ASSESSEE, IT APPEARS, IS A REGULAR INVESTOR/DEA LER, PURCHASING AND SELLING SHARES/UNITS. NO REGULAR BOOKS OF ACCOUNT HAVE BEEN MAINTAINED. THE ASSESSEE DID ITA NO. 700/ASR/2017 (AY 2009-10) NIRMAL KAUR V. ITO 12 EITHER DISCLOSE THE INVESTMENT IN SHARES/UNITS DURI NG THE CURRENT YEAR TO THE REVENUE, NOR RETURN THE PROFIT ON THEIR SALE. THE E XPLANATION ADVANCED IS, BESIDES BEING UN-EVIDENCED, IMPLAUSIBLE AND/OR IMPROBABLE, I.E., GIVEN THE TIME LAG, AND WHOLLY UNTENABLE AND INCONSISTENT WITH THE FACTS AN D CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE. THE SAME HAS, ACCORDINGLY, RIGHTLY BEEN NOT ACCEPTE D BY THE REVENUE. I THEREFORE FIND NO REASON TO INTERFERE, AND DECIDE ACCORDINGLY . 7. IN THE RESULT, THE ASSESSEES APPEAL IS DISMISSE D. ORDER PRONOUNCED IN THE OPEN CO URT ON JUNE 14, 2019 SD/- (SANJAY ARORA) ACCOUNTANT MEMBER DATE: 14.06.2019 /GP/SR. PS. COPY OF THE ORDER FORWARDED TO: (1) THE APPELLANT: NIRMAL KAUR, H. NO. 1966, GA LI ARORIAN, HALL BAZAR,AMRITSAR (2) THE RESPONDENT: INCOME TAX OFFICER, WARD-1( 2), AMRITSAR (3) THE CIT(APPEALS)-1, AMRITSAR (4) THE CIT CONCERNED (5) THE SR. DR, I.T.A.T TRUE COPY BY ORDER