Enquiry powers: specified senior income-tax officers authorised to exercise Assessing Officer powers for statutory enquiries.
Section 256 vests enquiry authority in specifically listed senior officers - Principal Director General/Director General, Principal Director/Director, Principal Chief Commissioner/Chief Commissioner, Principal Commissioner/Commissioner and Joint Commissioner - and grants them Assessing Officer-like powers to make enquiries under the Act, including summons and document requisition, while the clause contains no procedural provisos or territorial limits and therefore relies on other statutory or subordinate provisions for operational safeguards and delegation mechanics.