“There is no legal basis to assume, that to recognize the gift to be genuine, there should be any blood relationship, or any close relationship, between the donor and the donee

Rajasthan High Court in the case of CIT v. Padam Singh Chouhan [2009] 315 ITR 433 for the proposition that:— “There is no legal basis to assume, that to recognize the gift to be genuine, there should be any blood relationship, or any close relationship, between the donor and the donee. He further submitted that instances are not rare, when even strangers make gifts, out of very many considerations, including arising out of love, affection and sentiments.

Assuming that another view was possible, that itself would be no ground to interfere with the order of the CIT(A) by ITAT unless it is shown that the appreciation of evidence by the CIT(A) was either perverse or untenable

While reversing the order of the CIT(A) the Tribunal is duty bound to examine and discuss the reasons given by the CIT(A) to hold one way or the other and then to dispel those reasons. If the Tribunal fails to make such an exercise the judgment will suffer from serious infirmity.[Para 15] Assuming that another view was possible, that itself would be no ground to interfere with the order of the CIT(A) by ITAT unless it is shown that the appreciation of evidence by the CIT(A) was either perverse or untenable and that in holding in favour of the assessee the CIT(A) either ignored material evidence or that the view taken by him was patently untenable.[Para 17 of Judgement] Prahlad Bhattacharya [2016] 71 taxmann.com 63 (Calcutta) MARCH 4, 2016

A Court of appeal interferes not when the judgment under attack is not right but only when it is shown to be wrong

A Court of appeal interferes not when the judgment under attack is not right but only when it is shown to be wrong. (See Special Land Acquisition Officer, Bangalore v. T. Adinarayan Setty [1959 Supp 1 SCR 404 : AIR 1959 SC 429 : 1959 Cri LJ 526] ;Dattatraya Shankarbhat Ambalgi v. Collector of Sholapur [(1971) 3 SCC 43] and Dollar Company, Madras v.Collector of Madras [(1975) 2 SCC 730] .)

“Reason to believe” cannot be read to mean that the Assessing Officer should have finally established beyond doubt that income chargeable to tax has escaped assessment

Apex Court in ITO v.Lakhmani Mewal Das [1976] 103 ITR 437 held that the expression “reason to believe” cannot be read to mean that the Assessing Officer should have finally established beyond doubt that income chargeable to tax has escaped assessment. It held that the only requirement to reopen an assessment is a reasonable belief on the part of the Assessing Officer issuing the reopening notice that income chargeable to tax has escaped assessment.

Consideration of same material by AO can not result in reassessment

The Court will certainly interfere in 148 matters where the reason to believe that income has escaped assessment, is a clear case of change of opinion i.e. the same material was subject to consideration in regular assessment proceedings or where the reopening is being done only on suspicion and/or to carry out investigation or where the assessment is sought to be reopened after a period of more than four years from the end of the relevant assessment year and there has been no failure on the part of the assessee to truly and fully disclose all material facts necessary for assessment [para 6] Bright Star Syntex (P.) Ltd. [2016] 71 taxmann.com 64 (Bombay)

Purpose of S.147 explained by SC in Phool Chand Bajrang Lal

Supreme Court in Phoolchand Bajranglal v. ITO [1993] 203 ITR 456/69 Taxman 627 – “One of the purposes of Section 147 appears to us to be to ensure that a party cannot get away by willfully making a false or untrue statement at the time of original assessment and when that falsity comes to notice, to turn round and say “you accepted my lie, now your hands are tied and you can do nothing.”

Reversion of lender from loan confirmation forms reasonable belief to initiate action u/s 148

During the regular assessment proceedings leading to the assessment order, the eight lenders referred to in the reasons were a subject matter of examination and then assesse provided evidence in the form of loan confirmation to establish its genuineness. However, during search of one person, he admitted to have given entry only. Thus, it is submitted by the assesse that this is a case of change of opinion. High Court held that the exact nature of the transaction is only privy to the parties to the transaction and when one of the parties to the transaction states that what appears is not factually so, then the Assessing Officer certainly has tangible material to form a reasonable belief that income chargeable to tax has escaped assessment. [para 8] Bright Star Syntex (P.) Ltd. [2016] 71 taxmann.com 64 (Bombay)

Before going into writ raise objections to Notice u/s 148 before AO

Crown Consultants (P.) Ltd. v. CIT [2014] 362 ITR 368/224 Taxman 81 (Mag.)/44 taxmann.com 397 (Bombay High Court) has taken a view that where an objection is not taken before the Assessing officer while responding to the reasons in support of a notice seeking reopen an assessment, then it is not open to assessee to raise such objection for the first time before this (High) Court in writ proceedings under Article 226. The exception of course being if the impugned notice is ex-facie without jurisdiction and no determination of facts are required to establish it is without jurisdiction.