Reopening Tax Assessments Invalid if No New Reasons Provided After Initial Query Answered by AO.

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....Reopening of assessment u/s 147 - Reason to believe - The principle that once a query is raised and answered, the AO would have formed an opinion, notwithstanding the fact that no reasons are recorded in the assessment order. In such circumstances, the reassessment proceedings, if initiated, would be construed as being invalid in law. This principle is founded on the rationale that the assessee has no control over the manner in which the AO chooses to frame the assessment order. One needs to remember that the AO wears two hats, that of an inquisitor and adjudicator. - HC....