Denial of Hearing in Faceless Assessment invalidates proceedings; reopen, allow filing of reply and provide hearing before fresh adjudication.

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....Petition challenges validity of an assessment completed under faceless assessment where the taxpayer was prevented by the portal from filing a reply and from obtaining a personal hearing; an online grievance remained unredressed. The court found these procedural deprivations breached the principles of natural justice, declined to consider the substantive merits, and held the assessment and consequential demand invalid for want of opportunity to be heard. The operative effect directs reopening of assessment proceedings, permitting filing of the reply and affording an opportunity of hearing before any fresh orders are passed.....