M R ORGANISATION vs. INCOME TAX OFFICER

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SCA/16265/2019HC GujaratGJHC24059909201907 January 2021Author: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE J.B.PARDIWALA,HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ILESH J. VORA16 pages
AI SummaryDismissed

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court held that it could not be said that there was a total non-application of mind on the part of the Assessing Officer while recording the reasons for reopening the assessment. The Court found that the AO had applied his mind to the information received from the Investigation Wing and had not merely concluded without verifying the facts. The Court rejected the assessee's submission that the reasons recorded were merely an introduction to the investigation or a sum-up of information received. The Court examined the Assessing Officer's belief to a limited extent to ascertain if there was sufficient or any tangible material for the AO to form a reasonable belief and if there was a 'live link' between the material and the escaped income. The Court concluded that the case was not one where the AO initiated proceedings based on vague or unspecific information without forming his own belief. Therefore, the Court was convinced that it should not interfere in the matter. The writ applications were rejected.

What were the facts?

The assessee, M R Organisation, a partnership firm, filed two Special Civil Applications (SCAs) challenging notices dated March 30, 2019, issued by the Income Tax Officer proposing to reopen assessments for Assessment Year (AY) 2012-13 under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The Revenue believed income chargeable to tax had escaped assessment. The reasons for reopening stated that the assessee booked expenses in the names of various entities and claimed bogus commission expenses. The assessee's objections were disposed of by the Assessing Officer (AO) on July 23, 2019. The assessee argued that the AO lacked valid grounds for reopening, and the reasons provided were insufficient. The High Court considered the material on record and the submissions of both parties.

What were the issues?

1. Whether the notice dated March 30, 2019, issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, for reopening the assessment for AY 2012-13 is valid, considering the reasons recorded by the Assessing Officer. Assessee's Contention: The assessee argued that the reasons provided by the Assessing Officer for reopening were insufficient and lacked tangible material. Specifically, the assessee questioned the basis for concluding that entities were not genuine and that expenses claimed were bogus, asserting that mere allegations without evidence do not constitute valid grounds for reopening. Revenue's Contention: The Revenue contended that the Assessing Officer had 'reasons to believe' that income had escaped assessment based on information received from the Investigation Wing and verification of the assessee's return of income. The Revenue argued that there was a 'live link' between the material and the escaped income, and the sufficiency of reasons is not to be examined at the stage of issuing the notice. The Revenue relied on the Gujarat High Court's decision in the case of A. [The judgment excerpt cuts off here, preventing full identification of the relied-upon case name].

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 148,Section 147,Section 143(3),Section 2(4),Section 143(1),Section 151,Section 133(6)

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

Cause title — parties, addresses and appearances
C/SCA/16265/2019 ORDER IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD R/SPECIAL CIVIL APPLICATION NO.  16265 of 2019 With  R/SPECIAL CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 16266 of 2019 ========================================================== M R ORGANISATION  Versus INCOME TAX OFFICER  ========================================================== Appearance: MR SN DIVATIA(1378) for the Petitioner(s) No. 1 MRS MAUNA M BHATT(174) for the Respondent(s) No. 1 ========================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE J.B.PARDIWALA and HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ILESH J. VORA   Date : 07/01/2021

COMMON ORAL ORDER (PER : HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE J.B.PARDIWALA)

1.

Since   the   subject   matter   of   both   the   writ applications   is   the   same   and   the   assessee   is also the same, those were taken up for hearing analogously   and  are   being   disposed   of  by  this common order.

2.

For   the   sake   of   convenience,   we   treat   the Special   Civil   Application   No.16265   of   2019   as the lead matter.

3.

By   this  writ   application   under   Article   226   of the Constitution of India, the writ applicant – a partnership firm has prayed for the following reliefs: “(a) To issue a writ of certiorari or a writ in the   nature   of   certiorari   or   any  other appropriate   writ,   orders   or   directions quashing and setting aside the impugned notice dated   30.03.2019   [Annex.A] issued   by   the Respondent   proposing   to   reopen   the   completed assessment of the Petitioner for A.Y. 2012­13 and   the   order   of   objection   dt.23­7­2019 (Annexure­B)   as   well   as   the   reassessment order,   if   any   passed   in   consequence   to   the impugned notice. (b) to   call   for   the   records   of   the proceedings, look into them and be pleased to issue   a   writ   of   certiorari   or   any   other appropriate writ, order or direction quashing the impugned  notice  as well as the order of objection dt.23­7­2019 (Annx.­B). (c) Pending the hearing and final disposal of this   petition   to   maintain   status   quo   in   the matter   and   ask   the   Respondent   and   its subordinate  not to take any action or to do anything in furtherance and pursuance of this impugned notice. (d) To allow this Petition with cost.”

4.

The   subject   matter   of   challenge   in   this   writ application   is   the   impugned   notice   dated 30.03.2019 (Annexure A to this writ application) issued   by   the   Income   Tax   Department   under Section   148   of   the   Income   Tax   Act,   1961   (for short   “the   Act,   1961”)   for   re­opening   of   the assessment   for   the   years   2012­2013   as   the authority has reason to believe that the income chargeable for the assessment years 2012­13 has escaped assessment within the meaning of Section 147 of the Act, 1961. The reasons assigned for re­opening of the assessment are as under:

“3. The information has been personally analyzed along with all relevant date/documents. From the information received, it is seen that the assessee has   booked   expenses   in   the   names   of   various entities  such as Sew Commercial  Co. Ltd. Saytam Steel   Industries,   Krishna   Industries,   Krunal Industries   (   to   name   a   few)   etc.   As   per   the information, the assessee has also claimed bogus commission expenses.

4.

On   receipt   of   the   information,   necessary verification/inquiry has been made with the return of   income   filed   by   the   assessee.   ITS   data available on ITBA/ITD for A.Y. 2012­13. It is seen from the profit and loss account forming part of return of income filed by the assessee that the assessee has claimed huge commission expenses of Rs.85,72,637/­

and other

expenses

of Rs.1,15,26,078/­   whereas   the   sundry   creditors reflected in the balance sheet is to the extent of Rs.1,74,17,702/­. These figures disclosed in the profit and loss account and balance sheet buttress the   information   that   the   assessee   has   been inflating its expenses by booking bogus expenses without receiving any actual goods/services.

5.

In view of above findings, I have reasons to believe   that   this   is   a   case   where   income chargeable   to   tas   has   escaped   assessment   by   an amount of more than Rs.1 lakh and it is a fit case for   reopening   the   assessment   as   the   income chargeable to tax has escaped within the meaning of section 147 of the Act.

6.

In this case, a return of income was filed for the yer under consideration, but no scrutiny assessment   u/s.   143(3)   of   the   Act   was   made. Accordingly, in this case, the only requirement to initiate proceedings u/s. 147 is reason to believe which has been recorded above in above paras. It is pertinent to mention here that in this case, the assessee has filed return of income for the year   under   consideration,   but   no   assessment   as stipulated u/s. 2(4) of the Act was made and the return of income was only processed u/s. 143(1) of the   Act.   In   view   of   the   above,   provisions   of clause   (b)   of   explanation   2   to   Section   147   are applicable   to   the   facts   of   this   case   and   the assessment year under consideration is deemed to be   a   case   where   income   chargeable   to   tax   has escaped assessment.

7.

In   this   case,   more   than   four   year   have lapsed fro the end of the assessment year under consideration. Hence, necessary sanction to issue notice   u/s.   148   of   the   Act   has   been   obtained separately   form   the   Principal   Commissioner   of Income Tax­5, Ahmedabad, as per the provisions of Section 151 of the Act.”

5.

It   appears   that   the   writ   applicant   lodged   its objections as under:

“1. On the basis of which material /data you have relied to say that various entities such as Sew Commercial   Co.   Ltd.   Satyam   Steel   Industries, Krishna   Industries,   Krunal   Industries   are   not genuine ?

2.

By merely saying assessee has been inflating its   expenses   by   booking   bogus   expenses   without receiving   any   actual   goods/service   is   not   valid ground for re­opening of case.

3.

How you can you say without any evidence or material   that   assessee   has   claimed   bogus commission expenses or other expenses ?”

6.

The   objections   came   to   be   disposed   of   vide   order dated 23.07.2019 holding as under: “3.1 During the course of inquiries conducted bythe   Investigating   Wing   of   the   Income   Tax Department,   it   was   found   that   the   assessee has booked bogus expenditure in the name of various bogus entities such as Sew Commercial Co.,   Satyam   Steel   Industries,   Krishna Industries,   Krunal   Industries   etc.   From verification   of   return   of   income   also revealed that the assessee has claimed huge commission   and   other   expenses   and   most   of such expenses have shown as sundry creditors in the balance sheet. It was on the basis of such information received and data reflected in   the   return   of   income,   the   Assessing Officer has formed a prima facie satisfaction regarding existence of ‘live link’ in respect of the information received. Therefore, there was   tangible   material   available   with   the Assessing   Officer   to   prima   facie   form   an opinion/belief that the income chargeable to [2017]   249   Taxman   568. At   the   time   of recording   of   reasons   for   reopening   the assessment, the Assessing Officer is expected to form only a prima facie opinion or belief regarding the applicability of the provision in   question.   At   that   stage,   it   was   not necessary   for   AO   to   conclusively   establish that his belief or opinion is correct even on the   merits.   At   the   time   of   recording   the reasons,   the   AO   had   strong   prima   facie opinion that the income chargeable to tax has escaped   assessment.   It   being   a   case   where return   was   accepted   under   section   143(1) without scrutiny, the only requirement to be fulfilled   for   issuing   notice   for   reopening was   that   the   Assessing   Officer   must   have reason to believe that income chargeable to tax had escaped assessment. IN this case, as per   the   information   received,   the   assessee has   booked   bogus   expenditure   in   the   name different parties. In the objections raised, the   assessee   itself   has   not   denied transactions with such entities.

3.

2 In view of the above facts, the AO has rightly formed a prima­facie opinion that the income   chargeable   to   tax   has   escaped assessment after independently verifying all the details of available on record. Thus, it is   on   the   basis   of   tangible   material available with the Assessing Officer, he has formed a prima facie opinion/belief that the income   chargeable   to   tax   has   escaped assessment.   In   the   present   case,   since   the necessary conditions to reopen the assessment have been duly fulfilled, sufficiency of the reasons is not to be gone into at this stage. Reliance   is  placed   on   the   decision   of   Hon. Gujarat High Court in  Aaspas Multimedia Ltd. Vs. DCIT [2017] 249 Taxman 568. 7. The   Revenue   has   filed   affidavit­in­reply   opposing this   writ   application   making   the   following averments: “5.2 with reference to para 3.6 it is submitted that eh same are baseless and contrary to the facts on record. The petitioner has made false apprehensions to justify the writ petition filed by abandoning the statutory remedies available. As can be seen from the documents furnished by the   petitioner   as   part   of   the   petition,   the notice under Section 148 of the Act was issued on   30.03.2019;   the   petitioner   –   assessee   has filed the return of income in response to the notice   on   19.04.2019;   the   reasons   recorded   by the Assessing Officer for reopening the assessee was   provided   on   16.05.2019;   the   petitioner assessee   raised   objections   against   reopening vide   email   received   on   17.06.2019;   the objections raised by the petitioner was disposed on   23.07.2019;   notice   under   section   143(2)   of the Act along with notice under Section 142 (1) of the Act calling for details and information were issued on 14.10.2019. Thus, it can be seen that   there   was   no   undue  haste   on   part   of   the respondent   assessing   Officer   in  finalizing   the assessment   proceedings.   From   the   time   gap between every step in the proceedings, it cannot be said that the Assessing Officer was about to finalize   the   proceedings   without   allowing sufficient opportunity to the petitioner. On the other   hand,  the  petitioner   is   trying   to  avoid the legally initiated proceedings and till date has not furnished the details called for under section   142(1)   of   the   Act.   ON   perusal   of   the annexure to notice under section 142(1) of the Act dated 14.10.2019, it can be seen that the petitioner   assessee   was   not   show­caused   about any   proposed   additions,   but   only   asked   to furnish certain details in connection with the facts disclosed in the return of income, and now the assessee has filed part­submission in this office   on   25.10.2019   through   online   ITBA Portal   /module   vide   letter   undated.   Copy   of notice   under   Section   142(1)   of   the   Act   dated 14.10.2019   along   with   its   annexures   and   reply filed   vide   submission/forwarding   letter   are annexed herewith as Annexure­A & B.

5.

3 With reference to para 4.1 to 4.4, it is submitted   that   the   petitioner   assessee   has alleged that the notice issued under Section 148 of the Act and order disposing of the objections raised   are   patently   illegal,   bad   in   law   and without   jurisdiction.   The   assessee   has   also quoted   various   conditions   required   to   be satisfied   by   the   Assessing   Officer   while reopening   the   assessment   made   u/s.   143   (3)   of the Act. The   allegations   of   the   petitioner   assessee   in these   paras   are   denied.   In   para   4.2,   the petitioner has totally misplaced in referring to various   conditions   which   are   to   be   satisfied while reopening the assessment made u/s. 143 (3) of   the   Act.   It   is   an   admitted   and   undisputed fact   that   the   case   of   the   petitioner   for assessment   year   2012­13   was   not   subjected   to scrutiny assessment under section 31343 (3) of the  Act,   but   the   returned   income   was   accepted u/s.   143(1)of   the   Act   without   scrutiny   of   the claims   made   in   the   return.   Thus,   the   main condition precedent for reopening in the case of the   petitioner   assessee   is   that   the   Assessing Officer   should   have   reason   to   believe   that income chargeable to tax has escaped assessment. Such belief was formed by the Assessing Officer on   the   basis   of   specific   information   received through the Investigating Wing that the assessee had   suppressed   its   taxable   income   by   booking bogus   expenditure   against   different   parties without  receipt  of   any   goods   or  providing   any services. Such information was considered by the Assessing   Officer   vis­a­vis   the   immediate verifiable   source   i.e.   facts   disclosed   by   the petitioner in the return of income and formed a prima facie velied that income chargeable to tax has   escaped   assessment.   Therefore,   tangible material was available with the AO to form an opinion  that   the   income  chargeable   to   tax   has escaped   assessment   for   the   year   under consideration. Thus, the case of petitioner was covered  under   the   provisions   of  Clause   (b)   of Explanation   2   to   Section   147   of   the   Act.   The respondent   rely   on   the   order   dated   23.07.2019 passed for disposing of the objections raised by the assessee at Annexure­C as annexed above. It is pertinent to mention here that in catena of judgments, various courts have held that for the purpose of re­opening all that is required is recording of reasons. The final ascertainment of   the   quantum   or   establishment  of   income   and the source for the escaped income etc. need not be conclusively proved in the reasons recorded. A bona fide act done by the Assessing Officer which has legal sustainability would very much be adequate for re­opening of the assessment. The   petitioner   has   relied   on   judgments   of various   courts.   However,   the   respondent   place reliance on the judgments mentioned in the order dated   23.07.2019   passed   by   the   respondent   for disposing of the objection of the petitioner – satisfaction regarding existence of 'live link' in   respect   of   the   information   received. Therefore, there was tangible material available with the Assessing Officer to prima facie form an opinion/belief that the income chargeable to tax has escaped assessment. It is also pertinent to mention here that either in   the   objections   raised   or   in   the   present petition, the petitioner assessee has not denied booking   of   expenditure   against   the   names mentioned

in the reasons.

The final ascertainment of the quantum or establishment of income   that   escaped   income   etc.   need   not   be conclusively proved in the reasons recorded. It being   a   case   where   return   was   accepted   under section 143 (1) of the Act without scrutiny, the only   requirement   to   be   fulfilled   for   issuing notice   for   reopening   was   that   the   Assessing Officer   must   have   reason   to   believe   that   the income   chargeable   to   tax   had   escaped assessment.”

8.

Mr. S.N.Divatia, the learned counsel appearing for the   writ   applicant   vehemently   submitted   that   the decision to re­open the assessment is merely on a doubt   expressed   by   the   authority   that   the   writ applicant has been suppressing its taxable income by booking   bogus   expenditures   and   by   making   payments against   the   bills   raised   by   different   parties without   the   receipt   of   any   goods   or   services.   He would   submit   that   there   is   no   material   worth   the name to indicate any of such bogus transactions with the entities namely Sew Commercial Co. Ltd., Satyam Steel   Industries,   Krishna   Industries   and   Krunal Industries. He would submit that by merely alleging that   the   writ   applicant   has   been   inflating   its expenditure   by   booking   bogus   expenses   without receiving any actual goods/services is not a valid ground   for   the   re­opening   of   the   assessment.   He of Income Tax­ Circle 3 [SCA/18513/2015, decided on 27.06.2016] and Varshaben Sanatbhai Patel Vs. Income Tax Officer & Anr. [SCA/12873 to 12875/2014, decided on 13.10.2015, reported in (2016) 282 CTR Reports].

9.

On the other hand, Mrs. Mauna M. Bhatt, the learned Sr. Standing Counsel appearing for the Revenue has vehemently opposed this writ application. She would submit that, Section 147 of the Act authorizes and permits the Assessing Officer to assess or reassess the income chargeable to tax, if he has reason to believe   that   income   for   any   assessment   year   has escaped assessment. She would submit that the word “reason”   in   the   phrase   “reason   to   believe”   would mean   the   'cause'   or   'justification'.   If   the Assessing  Officer  has  a cause  or  justification  to know   or   suppose   that   the   income   has   escaped assessment,   it   can   be   said   to   have   “reason   to believe” that an income has escaped assessment. She further submits that, the said expression cannot be read   or   understood   to   mean   that   the   Assessing Officer should have finally ascertained the fact by legal   evidence   or   conclusion.   She   further   submits that   in   the   case   on   hand,   there   was   no   scrutiny assessment under Section 143(3) of the Act and only an intimation under Section 143(1) of the Act was issued. She pointed out that the belief formed by the   Assessing   Officer   is   on   the   basis   of   the specific

information

received

through

the Investigation   Wing.   The   Investigation   Wing   has informed   that   the   assessee   has   suppressed   its taxable   income   by   booking   bogus   expenses   against different  parties  without  receipt  of  any  goods  or providing  any  services.  She  would  argue  that   some tangible materials could be said to be before the Assessing  Officer  in  the  form  an  information   that the income chargeable to tax has escaped assessment for  the  year   under  consideration.  She  would  argue that the case of the writ applicant could be said to be covered under the provisions of the Clause (b) of Explanation 2 to Section 147 of the Act.

10.

In such circumstances referred to above, Mrs. Mauna Bhatt submits that, their being no merits in this writ application, the same may be rejected.

11.

Having heard the learned counsel appearing for the parties   and   having   gone   through   the   materials   on record,   the   only   question   that   falls   for   our consideration   is,   whether   the   decision   to   re­open the assessment for the year under consideration is justified   ?   The   following   principles   of   law   are descernable   from   the   various   decisions   of   the Supreme   Court   and   this   Court   on   the   subject   of reopening of the assessment under Section 147 of the Act, 1961 : “(i) The Court should be guided by the reasons recorded   for   the   reassessment   and   not   by   the reasons   or   explanation   given   by   the   Assessing Officer at a later stage in respect of the notice of reassessment. To put it in other words, having regard to the  entire scheme  and the purpose of the   Act,   the   validity   of   the     assumption   of jurisdiction under Section 147 can be tested  only by reference to the reasons recorded under Section 148(2) of the Act and the Assessing Officer is not authorized to   refer to any other reason even if it can be otherwise inferred or gathered from the records.   The Assessing Officer is   confined to the recorded reasons to support the assumption of jurisdiction.  He cannot  record   only some  of the reasons and keep the others upto his sleeves to be disclosed before the Court if his action is ever challenged in a court of law. (ii) At   the   time   of   the   commencement   of   the reassessment   proceedings,   the   Assessing   Officer has to see whether there is prima facie material, on   the   basis   of   which,   the   department   would   be justified in reopening the case.  The sufficiency or correctness of the material is not  a thing to be considered at that stage. (iii) The   validity   of   the   reopening   of   the assessment   shall   have   to   be   determined   with reference to the reasons recorded for reopening of the assessment. (iv) The basic requirement of law for reopening and   assessment   is   application   of   mind   by   the Assessing Officer, to the materials produced prior to the  reopening   of the assessment,  to conclude that   he   has   reason   to   believe   that   income   has escaped

assessment.

Unless

that basic jurisdictional

requirement

is satisfied­a postmortem   exercise   of   analysing   the   materials produced subsequent to the reopening will not make an inherently defective reassessment order valid. (v) The   crucial   link   between   the   information made  available   to the Assessing  Officer  and the formation of the belief should be present.   The reasons must be self evident, they must speak for themselves. (vi) The   tangible   material   which   forms   the basis   for   the   belief   that   income   has   escaped assessment must be evident from a reading of the reasons.  The entire material need not be set out. To   put   it   in   other   words,     something   therein, which is critical to the formation of the belief must be referred to. Otherwise,  the link would go missing. (vii) The reopening of assessment under Section 147 is a potent power and should not be  lightly exercised. It   certainly   cannot   be   invoked casually or mechanically. (viii) If   the   original   assessment   is   processed under Section 143(1)   of the Act and not Section 143(3) of the Act, the proviso to Section 147 will not apply.  In other words, although the reopening may be after the expiry of four years from the end of the relevant assessment year, yet it would not be   necessary   for   the   Assessing   Officer   to   show that there was any failure   to disclose fully or truly   all   the   material   facts   necessary   for   the assessment. (ix) In   order   to   assume   jurisdiction   under Section 147 where assessment has been made under sub­section (3) of section 143, two conditions are required to be satisfied; (i) The Assessing Officer must have reason to believe   that   the   income   chargeable   to   tax   has escaped assessment; (ii) Such   escapement   occurred   by   reason   of failure  on the part of the assessee either (a) to make a return of income under section 139 or in response   to   the   notice   issued   under   sub­section (1)   of   Section   142   or   Section   148   or   (b)   to disclose   fully  and truly  all  the material  facts necessary for his assessment for that purpose. (x) The   Assessing   Officer,   being   a   quasi judicial   authority   is   expected   to   arrive   at   a subjective   satisfaction   independently   on   an objective criteria. (xi) While the report of the Investigation Wing might   constitute   the   material,   on   the   basis   of which, the Assessing Officer forms the reasons to believe, the   process   of   arriving   at   such satisfaction   should  not be  a  mere repetition   of the   report of the investigation. The reasons to believe   must   demonstrate   some   link   between   the tangible material and the formation of the belief or   the   reason   to   believe   that   the   income   has escaped assessment. (xii) Merely because certain materials which is otherwise   tangible   and   enables   the   Assessing Officer   to   form   a   belief   that   the   income chargeable to tax has escaped assessment, formed part   of   the   original   assessment   record,   per   se would   not     bar   the   Assessing   Officer   from reopening   the   assessment   on   the   basis   of   such material.  The expression “tangible material” does not   mean   the   material   alien   to   the   original record. (xiii) The order, disposing of objections or any counter   affidavit   filed   during   the   writ proceedings before the Court cannot be substituted for the “reasons to believe. (xiv) The   decision   to  reopen   the   assessment   on the basis of the report of the Investigation Wing cannot always be condemned or dubbed as a fishing or   roving   inquiry.     The   expression   “reason   to believe” appearing in Section 147 suggests that if the Income Tax Officer   acts as a reasonable and prudent   man   on   the   basis   of   the   information secured by him that there is a case for reopening, then Section 147 can well be pressed into service and the assessments be reopened.  As a consequence of such reopening, certain other facts may come to light.  There is no ban or any legal embargo under Section   147   for   the   Assessing   Officer   to     take into consideration such facts which come to light either by discovery or by a fuller probe into the matter   and   reassess   the   assessee   in   detail   if circumstances require. (xv) The test of jurisdiction under Section 143 of   the   Act   is   not   the   ultimate   result   of   the inquiry   but   the   test   is   whether   the   income   tax officer entertained a “bona fide” belief upon the definite information presented before him.  Power under   this   section   cannot   be   exercised   on   mere rumours or suspicions. (xvi) The   concept   of   “change   of   opinion”   has been treated as a built in test to check abuse. If there is tangible material showing escapement of income, the same would be sufficient for reopening the assessment. (xvii) It   is   not   necessary   that   the   Income   Tax Officer   should   hold   a   quasi   judicial   inquiry before acting under Section 147. It is enough if he on the  information  received  believes  in good faith   that   the   assesee's   profits   have   escaped assessment or have been assessed at a low rate. However,   nothing   would   preclude   the   Income   Tax Officer from conducting any formal  inquiry under Section 133(6)   of the Act before proceeding for reassessment under Section 147 of the Act. (xviii)   The   “full   and   true”   disclosure   of   the material   facts   would   not   include   that   material, which is to be used for testing the veracity of the particulars mentioned in the return. All such facts   would   be   expected   to   be   elicited   by   the Assessing   Officer   during   the     course   of   the assessment. The disclosure required only reference to those material facts, which if not disclosed, would not allow the Assessing Officer to make the necessary inquiries. (xix) The word “information” in Section 147 means “instruction   or   knowledge   derived   from   the external   source   concerning   the   facts   or particulars or as to the law relating to a matter bearing   on   the   assessment.   An   information anonymous  is information from unknown authorship but nonetheless in a given case, it may constitute information   and   not   less   an   information   though anonymous.  This is now a recognized and accepted source for detection of large scale tax evasion. The   non­disclosure   of   the   source   of   the information,   by   itself,   may   not   reduce   the credibility of the information. There may be good and   substantial   reasons   for   such   anonymous disclosure, but the real thing to be looked into is   the   nature   of   the   information   disclosed, whether it is a mere gossip, suspicion or rumour. If it is none of these, but a discovery of fresh facts or  of new and important matters not present at the time of the assessment, which appears to be credible to an honest and rational mind leading to a scrutiny of facts indicating incorrect allowance of the expense, such disclosure would constitute information   as   contemplated   in   clause   (b)   of Section 147. (xx) The   reasons   recorded   or   the   material available   on   record   must   have   nexus   to   the subjective   opinion   formed   by   the   A.O.   regarding the   escapement   of   the   income   but   then,   while recording the reasons for the belief formed, the A.O.   is   not   required   to   finally   ascertain   the factum   of   escapement   of   the   tax   and   it   is sufficient that the A.O had cause or justification to   know   or   suppose   that   the   income   had   escaped assessment [vide Rajesh Jhaveri Stock Brokers (P.) Ltd.'s case (supra)]. It is also well settled that the sufficiency and adequacy of the reasons which have   led   to   the   formation   of   a   belief   by   the Assessing Officer that the income has escaped the assessment cannot be examined by the court.

12.

Having regard to the materials on record, it cannot be said that there is total non­application of mind on the part of the Assessing Officer while recording the   reasons   for   re­opening   of   the   assessment.   It also cannot be said that his conclusion was merely based on the observations and information received from the Investigation Wing as the Assessing Officer could be said to have applied his mind to the same. The   Assessing   Officer   could   not   be   said   to   have merely concluded without verifying the fact that it is the case of re­opening of the assessment.

13.

We   do   not   find   merit   in   the   submission   of   Mr. Divatia, the learned counsel appearing for the writ applicant that the contents of the reasons recorded by   the   Assessing   Officer   for   re­opening   of   the assessment   is   merely   an   introduction   to   the investigation  conducted  by  the  Investigation  Wing, the sum­up of inquiry of the investigation wing or the information received from the Investigation Wing etc.

14.

We have examined the belief of the Assessing Officer to a limited extent to look into whether there was sufficient   or   any   tangible   materials   available   on the   record   for   the   Assessing   Officer   to   form   the reasonable belief and whether there was 'live link' existing of the material and the income chargeable to tax that escaped assessment. The case on hand is not one, where it can be argued that the Assessing Officer   on   absolutely   vague   or   unspecific information,   initiated   the   proceedings   of   re­ assessment   without   taking   pains   to   form   his   own belief in respect of such materials.

15.

In overall view of the matter, we are convinced that we   should   not   interfere   in   this   matter.   In   the result, present writ application fails and is hereby rejected.

16.

In   view   of   the   above,   connected   writ   application i.e. Special Civil Application No.16266 of 2019 also fails   and   is   hereby   rejected.   Notice   in   both   the writ   applications   stand   discharged.   Ad­interim relief, granted earlier, stand vacated.

(J. B. PARDIWALA, J) (ILESH J. VORA,J) SUCHIT

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