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Even if section 201 do not prescribe any limitation period, proceedings must be completed within a reasonable period 

Our attention has also been invited to two judgments of the Honourable Delhi High Court which are on the same principle and as to whether in the absence of any time limit the proceedings under Sections 201 and 201(1A) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 could be initiated at any  time. In following it’s earlier judgment in the case of  Commissioner of  Income Tax v/s NHK Japan Broadcasting Corporation reported in  (2008)  305  ITR  137  (Delhi),  the  Delhi  High  Court  upheld  the  view  of  the  Tribunal and dismissed the Revenue’s Appeal [Commissioner of Income Tax  v/s   Hutchison   Essar   Telecome   Ltd.  reported   in  (2010)  323   ITR   230  (Delhi)]. Once same provisions are invoked in the present case, then, the Honourable Delhi High Court, with respect, rightly concluded that though  Section  201  does  not  prescribe  any  limitation  period  for  the  Assessee being declared as an Assessee in Default yet the Revenue will have to exercise the powers in that regard within a reasonable time. In  such circumstances we are of the view that the Tribunal’s order in this case does not suffer from any error of law apparent on the face of record  or perversity warranting our interference in appellate jurisdiction. 

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