Section 144C requires a draft assessment order before a final...

Section 144C requires a draft assessment order before a final reassessment order imposes a prejudicial variation on a non-resident eligible assessee. Following the amendment to the definition of eligible assessee, non-residents other than companies are expressly covered. The draft procedure allows the assessee to accept the variation or seek directions from the Dispute Resolution Panel. Direct issuance of a final reassessment order without a draft order deprives the assessee of that statutory remedy. Such non-compliance is a jurisdictional defect rather than a curable procedural irregularity, rendering the final reassessment order invalid.