2011 (9) TMI 640

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....ibunal („the Tribunal‟ for brevity) on the ground that the requisite approval of Additional Commissioner of Income Tax, which is mandatorily required, was not taken. Income tax return in this case was filed on 26.9.2002 at the loss of Rs. 27.63 lacs. The same was processed under Section 143(1) on 26.2.2003. Thereafter, notice under Section 147 read with Section 148 of the Act for reassessment was issued on 12.3.2009. This was much after the expiry of four years from the end of the relevant assessment year. The basis for issuance of the notice was that the inquiries conducted by Investment Wing of the Department had revealed that Mr. Dipak Gupta was indulging in providing the accommodation entries and he had admitted that he had ....

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....sessment year, unless the Joint Commissioner is satisfied, on the reasons recorded by such Assessing Officer, that it is a fit case for the issue of such notice."   2. As per the aforesaid provision, it is only Joint Commissioner or Additional Commissioner, which can grant the approval. The argument of the assessee before the Tribunal was that the approval was not granted by the Joint Commissioner. Instead, it was taken from the CIT, Delhi-III, New Delhi, who was not competent to approve even when he was a higher Authority inasmuch as Section 151 of the Act specifically mentions Joint Commissioner as the Competent Authority. This contention of the respondent-assessee has been accepted by the Tribunal thereby quashing the assessment pr....

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....proval. Further, no doubt, the file was routed through Additional Commissioner. However, he also, in turn forwarded the same to the Commissioner by giving the following endorsement:   "CIT may kindly accord sanction."   5. It is clear that the Additional CIT did not apply his mind or gave any sanction. Instead, he requested Commissioner to accord the approval. It, thus, cannot be said that it is an irregularity curable under Section 292B of the Act.   6. It is relevant to point out that sub-Section (1) and sub-Section 2 of Section 151 of the Act are two independent provisions. The definition of Joint Commissioner is contained in Section 2(28C) and the definition of Commissioner given in Section 2(16), which are as under: &....

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....hose as defined. It is also established principle of law that if a particular authority has been designated to record his/her satisfaction on any particular issue, then it is that authority alone who should apply his/her independent mind to record his/her satisfaction and further mandatory condition is that the satisfaction recorded should be "independent" and not "borrowed" or "dictated" satisfaction. Law in this regard is now sell-settled. In Sheo Narain Jaiswal & Ors. Vs. ITO, 176 ITR 35 (Pat.), it was held:   "Where the Assessing Officer does not himself exercise his jurisdiction under Section 147 but merely acts at the behest of any superior authority, it must be held that assumption of jurisdiction was bad for non-satisfaction o....