Section 74 does not permit a single show-cause notice to club...

Section 74 does not permit a single show-cause notice to club multiple financial years, because limitation is linked to each relevant financial year and a consolidated notice would unlawfully extend the five-year period for earlier years. The impugned notice and consequential order were therefore treated as de hors the statute and without jurisdiction. The alternative-remedy rule was also held to be only a self-imposed restraint: where the defect is ex facie jurisdictional and apparent on the record, writ relief remains maintainable despite an available statutory appeal.

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