S. 249: Appeal-Commissioner (Appeals)-Form of appeal and limitation-Condonation of delay]-Delay of 5 years and 19 days-Reasonable cause-Order of the CIT(A) in not admitting the appeal of the assessee is quashed, and the appeal is restored to the CIT(A) with a direction to decide the appeal on its own merits.[S.250, 254(1)]

S. 154: Rectification of mistake-Mistake apparent from the record-Assessment-Prima facie adjustment under s. 143(1)(a)-Co-Operative society]-Denial as was authorised by Finance Act, 2021 was well within the provisions of law-Adjustment was held to be valid]-Rejection of rectification application was held to be justified. [S.80AC(ii), 80P, 143(1)(a)(v)]

S. 153D: Assessment-Search]-Approval-Departmental Representative produced a sealed envelope stating that he is relying on a “Confidential” document to prove “Application of mind” by the officer.-Each assessment year is different from the other, and the facts/additions made in separate assessment years demand separate application of mind, as is the requirement of S. 153D. Non-application of mind]-The order was quashed and set aside.[S. 132, 153A]

S. 153D: Assessment-Search-Approval-Failure to examine the seized documents-Addl. CIT approved 86 other orders pertaining to different assessees in these three days. The language of all these approvals is identical-The approving authority has granted common approval for all the assessment years in respect of the assessee-while granting the approval, the benefit of presumption under S. 114(e) of the Indian Evidence Act that all official acts are regularly performed is not available to the Revenue. The assessment order was held to be void ab initio, hence quashed. [S.153A, Indian Evidence Act, 1872, S.114(e)]

S. 153A: Assessment]-Search]-Incriminating material]-Balance sheet-Statement recorded-Not incriminating material-Addition was deleted. [S. 132]

S. 153A: Assessment]-Search-Incriminating material-32GB Pen-drive available with the Investigation Wing-Statement taken under section 50 of Prevention of Money Laundering Act by Enforcement Directorate (ED)]-Excel sheets]-No additions could be made in the absence of any incriminating material found during the course of search. [S. 132(4), Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, S.50]

S. 149: Reassessment-Time limit for notice-Period of six years-Original notice under S. 148, which was deemed to be a notice issued under S. 148A(b)-The notice issued under S. 148 on 22nd July, 2022, was barred by limitation.[S. 147, 148, 148A(b)]

S. 149: Reassessment-Time limit for notice-Notice under S. 148 within the TOLA period on 30th June, 2021-Minimum days available as per the fourth proviso to S 149(1) was seven days-last date for issuing notice under s. 148 was 23rd June, 2022-Notice dt. 28th July, 2022, issued under s. 148 in respect of asst. yr. 2013-14 is time-barred.[S. 147, 148]

S. 149: Reassessment-Time limit for notice-Income escaping assessment was certainly more than Rs. one lakh. Notice dt. 31st March, 2021, issued under s. 148 within six years from the end of the asst. yr. 2015-16, falls within the time-limit of the old regime.-Notice through electronic platform on assessee’s email-ID-No illegality or invalidity either in the notice under s. 148 r/w s. 142(1) or at any stage of the assessment proceedings.[S.143(2), 144B,147, 148, 151]

S. 148: Reassessment]-Notice-Notice issued in the name of dissolved firm-No notice has been issued to any of the partners-Non existing entity-Notice issued in the name and address of the non-existing entity is in violation of S. 283(2), and it has no sanctity in the eyes of the law-Assessment order was quashed. [S.144B, 147, 189, 283(2)]