North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited And Another. v. CIT (2019) 416 ITR 205 / 182 DTR 233/ 310 CTR 856(Meghalaya) (HC)

S.147: Reassessment-After the expiry of four years- Failure to disclose material facts – Reassessment notice is held to be valid- Disputed questions of facts — Alternative remedy of appeal – Notice of reassessment is held to be valid .[ S.148 , 151 , Art .226 ]

Dismissing the petition the Court held that , the conditions to be satisfied for reopening assessment for the assessment year 2009-10, in terms of section 147 , i. e., reason to believe that the income chargeable to tax had escaped assessment, non-disclosure of material facts fully and truly by the assessee were apparent. The assertion and denial by the parties in this behalf gave rise to disputed questions of fact. Notice under section 148 of the Act had been issued after sanction under section 151 of the Act. At this stage there was no breach or non-compliance with sections 147 , 148 and 151 . It gave rise to a factual dispute. There was no jurisdictional error, or lack of jurisdiction forthcoming at this stage. Against reopening of assessment for the assessment year 2009-10, statutory efficacious remedies under the Act were available which could not be allowed to be sidelined, and hence exercise of jurisdiction under article 226 of the Constitution in the background of the factual disputes was not warranted so as to interfere with the proceedings initiated. ( AY. 2009 -10)