Natural justice in reassessment: failure to consider assessee replies can vitiate a reassessment order and notice.

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....Non-consideration of the assessee's replies before issuing a reassessment notice can vitiate the order where the statute requires those explanations to be examined before forming a view on escaped income. The text notes that the impugned order dealt only partially with the materials filed and did not analyse the commercial rationale or the specific explanations offered, so the formation of belief lacked a sustainable basis. The order and consequential notice were quashed, and the matter was remitted for fresh consideration after granting an opportunity of hearing and passing a reasoned order.....