CHOUHAN BUILDERS INDIA HOUSING DEVELPMENT P. LTD,MUMBAI vs. ITO 9(2)(4), MUMBAI

At the outset, the learned Counsel for the assessee drew our attention to revise grounds of appeal and in the revised grounds of appeal, the assessee has raised the first issue of reopening which read as under:-

On the facts and circumstances of the case, the reopening is done beyond period of four years and has been done on the basis of alleged statements / documents found in the course of search of third party tinder section 132 of the Act. Hence, the provisions of section 147 read with section 148 of the Act are not applicable. Hence reopening of assessment for search related matter is bad in law and liable to be quashed as the correct provision should have been section 153C and not provision of section 147 or 148 of the Act.

2. Without prejudice to above, alleged sanction obtained by the AO is not in accordance with the law as neither in the notice reference was mentioned nor was mentioned in the recorded reasons and also the alleged sanction was mechanical and without application of mind by the sanctioning authority, as the issue of notice and date of sanction as referred in the disposal of objection

In regard to merits, the learned counsel for the assessee drew our attention to ground Nos. 2 and 3 which read as under:

The learned Counsel for the assessee took us through the order of CIT(A) and the adjudication done in Para 4.2 and 4.3. He referred to Para 4.2 and stated that the CIT(A) has not at all adjudicated the issue of reopening and there is no speaking order. On this issue he has not adjudicated whether, this being a search case, the assessment should have been done under section 153C of the Act or under the provisions of section 147 read with section 143(3) of the Act.

Even on merits the learned Counsel for the assessee stated that the CIT(A) in Para 4.3 not at all passed speaking order and he simply confirmed the Assessing Officer’s findings and that also in a very cursory manner.

When these facts were confronted to the learned Sr. DR, Smt. Shreekala Pardeshi, she could not support the order of the CIT(A) or defend the order of the CIT(A).

After hearing both the sides and as conceded by both the sides, the matter needs re-adjudication at the level of the CIT(A) afresh. Needless to say that the CIT(A) will adjudicate all the jurisdiction issue first and thereafter on merits. Further, needless to say the CIT(A) will pass a speaking order on the issues after providing reasonable opportunity of being heard to the assessee. Hence, we