R.K. Upadhyaya vs Shanabhai P. Patel

This is an appeal by the Revenue by special leave and is directed against the judgment of the Gujarat High Court dated August 20, 1973 in a writ petition. The High Court quashed the notice for reassessment issued u/s 147(b) of the income tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Act') for the assessment year 1965-66. Inspite of service of notice, the assessee respondent has not appeared.

The High Court has quashed the notice by accepting the assessee's contention that the action of the income tax Officer was barred by limitation prescribed by the Act. There is no dispute that the notice in this case u/s 147(b) of the Act was issued by registered post on March 31, 1970, and was received by the assessee on April 3, 1970. To the facts of the case, Section 147(b) of the Act applies. The two relevant provisions are in Sections 148 and 149 of the Act which provide:

148(1)-Before making the assessment, reassessment or recomputation u/s 147, the income tax Officer shall serve on the assessee a notice containing all or any of the requirements which may be included in a notice under Sub-section (2) of Section 139; and the provisions of this Act shall, so far as may be, apply accordingly as if the notice were a notice issued under that sub-section.

(2) ...

149(1) -No notice u/s 148 shall be issued,

(a) ...

(b) In cases falling under Clause (b) of Section 147, at any time after the expiry of four years from the end of the relevant assessment year.

(2) The provisions of Sub-section (1) as to the issue of notice shall be subject to the provisions of Section 151.

The High Court relied upon the decision of this Court in the case of Banarasi Devi Vs. Income Tax Officer, Calcutta, where the validity of a notice u/s 34(1) of the income tax, Act, 1922 and the scope of Section 4 of the income tax (Amendment) Act of 1959 by which Sub-section (4) was introduced into Section 34 were considered. this Court indicated, keeping the provisions of Section 34 in view, that there was really no distinction between "issue" and "service of notice". Section 34, Sub-section (1) as far as relevant provided thus:

34(1) If-

(a) ...

(b) ...he may in cases falling under Clause (a) at any time within 8 years and in cases falling under Clause (b) at any time within four years at the end of that year, serve on the assessee,...and may proceed to assess or reassess such income....

Section 34, conferred jurisdiction on the income tax Officer to reopen an assessment subject to service of notice within the prescribed period. Therefore, service of notice within limitation was the foundation of jurisdiction. The same view has been taken by this Court in J.P. Jani, Income Tax Officer, Circle IV, Ward G, Ahmedabad and Another Vs. Induprasad Devshanker Bhatt, as also in COMMISSIONER OF Income Tax, BOMBAY CITY I Vs. ROBERT J. SAS AND OTHERS. S. SEETHAI ACHI : INTERVENER., . The High Court in our opinion went wrong in relying upon the ratio of Banarasi Devi Vs. Income Tax Officer, Calcutta, in disposing of the case in hand. The scheme of the 1961 Act so far as notice for reassessment is concerned is quite different. What used to be contained in Section 34 of the 1922 Act has been spread out into three sections, being Sections 147, 148 and 149 in the 1961 Act. A clear distinction has been made out between 'issue of notice' and 'service of notice' under the 1961 Act. Section 149 prescribe the period of limitation. It categorically prescribes that no notice u/s 149 shall be issued after the prescribed limitation has lapsed. Section 148(1) provides for service of notice as a condition precedent to making the order of assessment. Once a notice is issued within the period of limitations, jurisdiction becomes vested in the income tax Officer to proceed to reassess. The mandate of Section 148(1) is that reassessment shall not be made until there has been service. The requirement of issue of notice is satisfied when a notice is actually issued. In this case, admittedly, the notice was issued within the prescribed period of limitation as March 31, 1970, was the last day of that period. Service under the new Act is not a condition precedent to conferment of jurisdiction in the income tax Officer to deal with the matter but it is a condition precedent to making of the order of assessment. The High Court in our opinion lost sight of the distinction and under a wrong basis felt bound by the judgment in Banarasi Devi Vs. Income Tax Officer, Calcutta, . As the income tax Officer had issued notice within limitations, the appeal is allowed and the order of the High Court is vacated. The income tax Officer shall now proceed to complete the assessment after complying with the requirements of law. Since there has been no appearance on behalf of the respondents, we make no orders for costs.