Ito Co Circle 13 (2), vs Assessee on 18 August, 2009
any justification for claiming deduction under section 80-HHC without reducing the amount
of deduction 80IB claimed and allowed. The assessing officer had raised a general query
relating to the claim of deductions under these sections and assessee had also given the reply
in a casual manner. Therefore, the allowance of deduction under section 80-HHC on the gross
eligible profits without reducing the amount of deduction 80IB in our considered opinion is
without proper examination of the claim and application of mind on the part of assessing
officer. Our view is supported by the decision of Hon'ble Bombay High Court in the case of
Yuvraj v Union of India and another 315 ITR 84. In this case the assessee received a
consideration of Rs 12 lakhs on the sale of right to purchase an open plot in Pune and
disclosed it as income for the assessment year 1996-97. The Assistant Commissioner
assessed the income and passed order u/s 143(3) of the Income-tax Act, 1961. The Deputy
Commissioner issued a notice u/s 154 stating that the long term gain on sale of right to
purchase an open plot was to be treated as casual income and brought to tax at forty per cent.
The Deputy Commissioner passed an order in 2000 stating that he had reason to believe that
income of the petitioner had escaped assessment within the meaning of section 147 and
proposed to reassess the income for assessment year 1996-97. On a writ petition it has been
held that the value of the land had not been determined nor the issue relating to whether the
income was to be treated as capital gain or casual income been addressed by the assessing
officer. He did not apply his mind and failed to record good and proper reasons for passing
the order u/s 143(3). On facts, it was not a mere change of opinion in recording reasons for
issuing notice u/s 148 by the Assessing Officer. Therefore, the assessing officer was justified
in issuing the notice u/s 148 of the Act.