The assessing officer made an addition u/s 41(1) on the grounds...

The assessing officer made an addition u/s 41(1) on the grounds that the assessee had ceased trading liabilities, even though the assessee did not respond to notices/summons issued u/ss 133(6)/131. The assessee contended that no remission or cessation of liabilities had occurred and no benefit was received, hence the liability cannot be considered income. The ITAT, relying on the Rajasthan High Court's decision in CIT vs. Narendra Mohan Mathur, held that the onus is on the assessing officer to conclusively prove that the liabilities ceased to exist or the assessee obtained any amount/benefit concerning such liabilities. As the assessing officer failed to discharge this onus, the ITAT directed deletion of the addition made u/s 41(1).