{"id":270366,"date":"2022-07-20T09:00:10","date_gmt":"2022-07-20T03:30:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/?p=270366"},"modified":"2022-07-20T07:30:12","modified_gmt":"2022-07-20T02:00:12","slug":"search-seizure-formation-of-reason-income-tax-act-assessee-administrative-judicial-supreme-court-legal-news-research-updates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2022\/07\/20\/search-seizure-formation-of-reason-income-tax-act-assessee-administrative-judicial-supreme-court-legal-news-research-updates\/","title":{"rendered":"Formation of reasons to believe for search &#038; seizure under Income Tax Act is an administrative function, to be tested by judicial restraint: SC\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Supreme Court: <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The Division Bench of <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Hemant Gupta<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">* and V. Ramasubramanian, JJ., held that non-supply of satisfaction note to the assessee will not make the whole act of search and seizure contrary to Section 132(1) of the Income Tax Act,1961.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Reversing the impugned decision of the Gujarat High Court, the Court held that formation of reasons to believe being an administrative act, the courts have only limited power to determine whether such reasons are whimsical or <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">malafide<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, the sufficiency of the grounds which induced the competent authority to act is not a justiciable issue to be determined by courts.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>Factual Backdrop\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The appellant-assessee had transferred a sum of Rs. 10 crores to M\/s Goan Recreation Clubs Private Ltd. during the financial year 2016-17. He had secured the loan by way of a mortgage of the property situated in North Goa. Thereafter, the assessee became the Director of the Company from 18-05-2016 to 23-06-2016. Later on, Rs. 10 crores were repaid and the mortgage was released on 10-07-2017. In the income-tax return filed by the assessee for that financial year, he had shown an interest income of Rs.42,51,946 which had been taxed as well.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In the above backdrop, the Revenue had started a search and seizure operation against the assessee, suspecting that unaccounted black money was involved in the transaction since the Company stepped into the business of gaming and entertainment and launched a casino in Goa without having any adequate capital. Further, the company had made cash deposits of a total Rs.13,79,10,500 soon after demonetization.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>Grievances of the Assessee\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The assessee challenged the act of authorization for search and seizure before the Gujarat High Court on the ground that it was a fishing enquiry and the conditions precedent as specified in Section 132 of the Act were not satisfied. The assessee contended that he was not supplied with the satisfaction note as required to be disclosed in terms of Explanation to Section 132(1) of the Income Tax Act,1961\u00a0 inserted by the Finance Act, 2017 with retrospective effect i.e., on 01-04-1962.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>Findings of the High Court<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The High Court found that none of the reasons to believe to issue authorization met the requirement of Section 132(1)(a), (b) and (c), hence the warrant of authorization dated 07-08-2018 issued under Section 132 of the Act was quashed. Consequently, all actions taken pursuant to such a warrant of authorization were rendered invalid.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>Whether the Revenue has Reasons to Believe<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The Revenue submitted that it was not expected to disclose to any of the members directly or indirectly involved in the cob-web of financial transactions with the core groups, viz. Sarju Sharma and associated group of companies as any inkling of action were likely to compromise the confidentiality and secrecy of the case.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The Court noted that the detailed satisfaction note showed multiple entries in the account books of Sarju Sharma and others. Further, manner of Sarju Sharma who was either in Siliguri (West Bengal) or in Goa contacting the assessee in Ahmedabad for a loan of Rs.10 crores did not appear to be a normal transaction. Subsequent repayment of mortgage and the interest income reflected in the relevant assessment year appeared to be the steps taken by the assessee to give a colour of genuineness. Therefore, the Court opined that the Revenue had a reason to suspect that such entry was an accommodation entry and the cobweb of entries required to be unravelled including the trail of the money paid by the assessee. The Court observed,<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cThe intention of the Revenue was to un-layer the layering of money which is suspected to be done by the assessee since the accommodation entry is a common modus operandi to bring the unaccounted black money to books for a brief period.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Noting that the Revenue suspected that the investment of Rs.10 crores for a short period was not for earning interest income as the same was repaid in the same assessment year and intended to investigate the fund trail of the money paid by the assessee, the Court opined that such belief was not out of hat or whimsical.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cThe test to consider the justiciability of belief is whether such reasons are totally irrelevant or whimsical. the Court has to examine whether the reason to believe is in good faith; it cannot merely be pretence.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Considering the reasons recorded in the satisfaction note including the investment made by the assessee for a brief period and that investment was alleged to be an accommodation entry, the Court said that it cannot be said to be such which does not satisfy the prerequisite conditions of Section 132(1) of the Act.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">With regard to non-supply of satisfaction notice to the assessee, the Court opined that such a notice would have been sufficient notice of the material against the Company and its group, to defeat the entire attempt to unearth the cobweb of the accounts by the Company and its associates. The Court opined that <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">the Revenue may fail or succeed but that would not be a reason to interfere with the search and seizure operations at the threshold, denying an opportunity to the Revenue to unravel the mystery surrounding the investment made by the assessee.<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Hence, the Court held that the view of the High Court that the authorization to search the premises of the assessee was invalid, could not be sustained.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>Findings and Conclusion\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">With a view to restate and elaborate the principles in exercising the writ jurisdiction in the matter of search and seizure under Section 132 of the Act the Court made the following observations:\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ol style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The formation of opinion and the reasons to believe recorded is not a judicial or quasi-judicial function but administrative in character;\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The information must be in possession of the authorised official on the basis of the material and <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">the opinion must be honest and bona fide. It cannot be merely pretence<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">;\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The authority must have a reasonable belief that the person concerned has omitted or failed to produce books of accounts or other documents; or such person is in possession of any money, bullion, jewellery or other valuable article indicating non-disclosed income;\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The Courts can examine whether the reasons recorded are actuated by <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">mala fides<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> or on a mere pretence and that no extraneous or irrelevant material has been considered;\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The question as to whether such reasons are adequate or not is not a matter for the Court to review in a writ petition. The sufficiency of the grounds which induced the competent authority to act is not a justiciable issue;\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The relevance of the reasons for the formation of the belief is to be tested by the judicial restraint as in administrative action as the Court does not sit as a Court of appeal but merely reviews the manner<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The Court shall not examine the sufficiency or adequacy thereof;<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In terms of the explanation inserted by the Finance Act, 2017 with retrospective effect from 01-04-1962, <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">such reasons to believe as recorded by income tax authorities are not required to be disclosed to any person or any authority or the Appellate Tribunal.<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In view of the above, the Court concluded that the High Court was not justified in setting aside the authorization of search. Consequently, the appeal was allowed and the impugned order was set aside. The Revenue was held to be at liberty to proceed against the assessee in accordance with the law.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559685&quot;:360,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">[Director of Income Tax (Investigation) v. Laljibhai Kanjibhai Mandalia, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink\/uqk742xO\"><b>2022 SCC OnLine SC 872<\/b><\/a>, decided on 13-07-2022]<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559685&quot;:360,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">*Judgment by: Justice Hemant Gupta<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559685&quot;:360,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Appearance by:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">For the Appellant: <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Balbir Singh, Additional Solicitor General\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559685&quot;:360,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">For the Respondent: Datar, Senior Advocate\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559685&quot;:360,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Kamini Sharma, Editorial Assistant has put this report together\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Supreme Court: The Division Bench of Hemant Gupta* and V. Ramasubramanian, JJ., held that non-supply of satisfaction note to the assessee will <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67011,"featured_media":270367,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,9],"tags":[30063,50350,2673,3096,13081,50351,47131,50349,31012],"class_list":["post-270366","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-casebriefs","category-supremecourt","tag-assessment","tag-blackmoney","tag-corruption","tag-Gujarat_High_Court","tag-income-tax-act","tag-reasons-to-believe","tag-search","tag-section-132","tag-seizure"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.4 (Yoast SEO v26.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Formation of reasons to believe for search &amp; seizure under Income Tax Act is an administrative function, to be tested by judicial restraint: SC\u00a0 | SCC Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2022\/07\/20\/search-seizure-formation-of-reason-income-tax-act-assessee-administrative-judicial-supreme-court-legal-news-research-updates\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Formation of reasons to believe for search &amp; seizure under Income Tax Act is an administrative function, to be tested by judicial restraint: SC\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Supreme Court: The Division Bench of Hemant Gupta* and V. 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