CIT vs. IDBI Ltd (Bombay High Court)

(i) The question as framed proceeds on the basis that the Respondent Assessee was aware of the reasons for reassessment. The only basis for the aforesaid submission is the submission made by the Revenue before the Tribunal that the Respondent Assessee is a public sector institution who was aware that search action has been initiated on certain lessees in respect of transactions with IDBI i.e. Assessee. On the basis of the above, it is to be inferred that the reason for reassessment was known to the Respondent Assessee. The supply of reason in support of the notice for reopening of an assessment is a jurisdictional requirement. The reasons recorded form the basis to examine whether the Assessing Officer had at all applied his mind to the facts and had reasons to believe that taxable income has escaped reassessment. It is these reasons, which have to be made available to the Assessee and it could give rise to a challenge to the reopening notice. It is undisputed that the reasons recorded for issuing reopening notice were never communicated to the Respondent Assessee in spite of its repeated requests. Thus, the grievance of the Revenue on the above count is unsustainable.

(ii) An alternative submission is made on behalf of the Revenue that the obligation to supply reasons on the Assessing Officer was consequent to the decision of the Apex Court that GKN Driveshafts (India) Ltd. vs. Income-tax Officer (2003) 259 ITR 19 (SC) rendered in 2003 while, in the present case, the reopening notice is dated 9 December 1996. Thus it submitted at the time when the notice under Section 148 of the Act was issued and the time when assessment was completed, there was no such requirement to furnish to the assessee a copy of the reasons recorded. This submission is not correct. We find that the impugned order relies upon the decision of this Court in Seista Steel Construction (P.) Ltd. [1984] 17 Taxman 122(Bom.) when it is held that in the absence of supply of reasons recorded for issue of reopening notice the assessment order would be without jurisdiction and needs to be quashed. The above view as taken by the Tribunal has also been taken by this Court in CIT vs. Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd. [2012] 21 Taxmann 53 (Bombay) viz. non-supply of reasons recorded to issue a reopening notice would make the order of Assessment passed thereon bad as being without jurisdiction.