Minimum Import Price restrictions for Black Pepper, Areca-nuts and Apples upheld; procedural laying failure not fatal, notifications to be placed befo...
Transaction value between related persons requires market-equivalent pricing; importer must prove declared value mirrors ordinary international trade ...
Classification of exported insecticides under export tariff affirmed; reclassification and related penalties set aside and MEIS scrip jurisdiction rec...
Misclassification between copra and dry coconut: customs recovery and re-valuation quashed for lack of prior licensing-authority invalidation, appeals...
The dominant issue was whether the mandatory prior approval under section 153D was valid, or was granted mechanically without independent application of mind. The forum held that while section 153D does not require detailed reasoning, the approving authority must record at least some indication of independent consideration; here, the approval contained no reasoning and reflected borrowed satisfaction from the AO, defeating the statutory safeguard. Consequently, assessments founded on such void approval were treated as non est in law, and the assessee's appeal was allowed. - ITAT
The dominant issue was whether the mandatory prior approval under section 153D was valid, or was granted mechanically without independent application of mind. The forum held that while section 153D does not require detailed reasoning, the approving authority must record at least some indication of independent consideration; here, the approval contained no reasoning and reflected borrowed satisfaction from the AO, defeating the statutory safeguard. Consequently, assessments founded on such void approval were treated as non est in law, and the assessee's appeal was allowed. - ITAT
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