Refund claim - petitioner had not filed returns either u/s...

Refund claim - petitioner had not filed returns either u/s 139(1) or within the extended period u/s 139 (4) - Since the law mandates a particular thing to be done in a particular manner, it was incumbent on the part of the second respondent or the Jurisdictional Assessing Officer ought to have issued a notice under Section 148 to determine the tax liability of the petitioner. As this was not done, case deserves to be remitted back to the second respondent to first finalize the assessment of the petitioner for the assessment year 2011-12 within a period of three months from the date of receipt of copy of this order. Failure to issue a notice under Section 148 of the IT Act, 1961, cannot be to the prejudice of the petitioner, if ultimately it is found that petitioner was entitled to a refund. However, liberty is given to penalise the petitioner for failure to file returns in time and for levy of interest if any. - HC

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