2024 (11) TMI 387
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....sessment year under consideration as the assessment year relevant to the previous year in which search was conducted and consequently passing the assessment order under section 143(3) of the Act instead of section 153C of the Act. 13. On the facts and circumstances of the case, assessment order is otherwise liable to be quashed in the absence of notice being issued under section 153C of the Act. 14. On the facts and circumstances of the case, the assessment proceedings initiated without complying with the provision of section 153C of the Act is bad in law and without jurisdiction and the same is liable to be quashed" 3. We have heard the rival submissions and perused the materials available on record. The assessee is an individual having income from renting of properties, capital gains and interest income from bank. The return of income for the Asst Year 2021-22 was belatedly filed by the assessee on 15.3.22 declaring total income of Rs 89,56,500/-.The return was selected for scrutiny vide issuance of notice u/s 143(2) of the Act on 30.6.2022 which was served electronically on the assessee on the same day. A search and seizure action u/s 132 of the Act was carried out a....
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....essment before the ld CIT(A). The ld CIT(A) had not given any finding with regard to this legal issue raised by the assessee. This appeal is against the order of ld CIT(A) dated 29.1.2024 challenging the confirmation of addition of Rs 1,55,00,000/- made by the ld AO u/s 45 of the Act. 4. We find that the assessee had challenged the validity of assessment framed u/s 143(3) of the Act for the Asst Year 2021-22 before us on a general ground. However, in order to provide more clarity, she has raised the aforesaid additional grounds that since the search material of a third party is being used against her, then the right course of action on the assessee would be in terms of section 153C of the Act as the date of search in the hands of the assessee differs from that of Shri Parveen Kumar Jain. This law is already settled by the decision of Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of CIT vs Jasjit Singh reported in 2023 (10) TMI 572 dated 26.9.2023 in favour of the assessee. The relevant observations of Hon'ble Supreme Court in this regard are as under:- "9. It is evident on a plain interpretation of Section 153C(1) that the Parliamentary intent to enact the proviso was to cater not ....
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....med to be the date of receipt of books of accounts by the jurisdictional AO. The identification of the starting block for the purposes of computation of the six and the ten year period is governed by the First Proviso to Section 153C, which significantly shifts the reference point spoken of in Section 153A(1), while defining the point from which the period of the "relevant assessment year" is to be calculated, to the date of receipt of the books of accounts, documents or assets seized by the jurisdictional AO of the non- searched person. The shift of the relevant date in the case of a non-searched person being regulated by the First Proviso of Section 153C(1) is an issue which is no longer res integra and stands authoritatively settled by virtue of the decisions of this Court in SSP Aviation and RRJ Securities as well as the decision of the Supreme Court in Jasjit Singh. The aforesaid legal position also stood reiterated by the Supreme Court in Vikram Sujitkumar Bhatia. The submission of the respondents, therefore, that the block periods would have to be reckoned with reference to the date of search can neither be countenanced nor accepted. E. The reckoning of the six AYs&....
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....ench of the Tribunal in the case of DSL Properties P. Ltd. (supra) in favour of the assessee accepting the similar contention of the assessee. Similar view has been expressed by the Delhi Bench of the Tribunal in the case of V.K. Fiscal (supra) holding that the date of receiving of the seized documents would become the date of search and six years period would be reckoned from this date. For a ready reference para no. 19, 21, 22 & 23 of the decision of Delhi Bench of the Tribunal in the case of DSL Properties (supra) are being reproduced hereunder: "19. "We have carefully considered the submissions. Proviso to section 153C reads as under: rival "Provided that in case of such other person, the reference to the date of initiation of the search u/s 132 or making of requisition u/s 132A in the second proviso to sub-section (1) off section 153A shall be construed as reference to the date of receiving the books of account or documents or assets seized or requisitioned by the AO having jurisdiction over such other person." 20. The above proviso refers to second proviso to subsection (1) of section 153A. That section 153(1) and its first and second provi....
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.... is the same, he has to first record the satisfaction in the file of the person searched and thereafter, such note alongwith the seized document/books of account is to be placed in the file of such other person. The date on which this exercise is done would be considered as the date of receiving the books of account or document by the AO having jurisdiction over such other person. Though while examining the facts of the assessee's case we have arrived at the conclusion that no such exercise has been properly carried out and, therefore, initiation of proceedings u/s 153C itself is invalid, however, since both the parties have argued the issue of period of limitation also, we deem it proper to adjudicate the same. Since in this case satisfaction is recorded on 21st June, 2010 and notice u/s 153C is also issued on the same date, then only conclusion that can be drawn is that the AO of such other person has taken over the possession of seized document on 21st June, 2010. Accordingly, as per section 153(1), the AO can issue the notice for the previous year in which search is conducted (for the purpose of Section 1530 the document is handed over) and six assessment years preceding su....
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....ion over the other person has to proceed against him and issue notice to that person in order to assess or reassess the income of such other person in the manner contemplated by the provisions of section 153Α. Νοω a question may arise as to the applicability of the second proviso to section 153A in the case of the other person, in order to examine the question of pending proceedings which have to abate. In the case of the searched person, the date with reference to which the proceedings for assessment or reassessment of any assessment year within the period of the six assessment years shall abate, is the date of initiation of the search u/s 132 or the requisition u/s 132A. For instance, in the present case, with reference to the Puri Group of Companies, such date will be 5.1.2009. However, in the case of the other person, which in the present case is the petitioner herein, such date will be the date of receiving the books of account or documents or assets seized or requisition by the AO having jurisdiction over such other person. In the case of the other person, the question of pendency and abatement of the proceedings of assessment or reassessment to the six....
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