S.144B(6) Income Tax Act | If Assessee “Requests” Then Opportunity Of Personal Hearing Is Mandatory, Not Optional: Allahabad High Court
Live LawThe Allahabad High Court has held that opportunity of personal hearing is mandatory under Section 144B and of the Income Tax Act, 1961 when show cause notice is issued regarding why assessment may not be completed as proposed. The bench comprising of Justice Saumitra Dayal Singh and Justice Donadi Ramesh held that “the word "request" used under Section 144B and only imply, where an assessee may furnish his written reply to the show-cause notice but not opt to avail opportunity of personal hearing, it may not be mandatory for the Assessing Officer to grant such opportunity of personal hearing if he intends to accept the explanation furnished. He may pass appropriate ex parte order accepting the explanation furnished by the assessee.” The Court held that based on the reply furnished, if the Assessing Officer forms a tentative opinion to pass an adverse assessment order, then he must necessarily fix a date of personal hearing and communicate the same to the assesee in accordance with the provisions of the Act. The Court held that if the Assessing Officer was accepting the reply furnished by the petitioner, then assessment order may be passed without opportunity of personal hearing.