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Issues:
1. Validity of the return furnished by the petitioner under Section 22(2) of the Income Tax Act for the assessment year 1931-32. Detailed Analysis: The case involved an assessment for the year 1931-32 on an association of individuals engaged in the hide merchant business. The Income Tax Officer issued a notice under Section 22(2) of the Income Tax Act requiring the assessee to furnish a return in the prescribed form and verified manner, disclosing total income during the previous year. The return submitted by the assessee contained vague figures with the term "about" against income entries, omitted the period to which the income related, and failed to comply with the requirements of Note 5(a) regarding the mercantile accountancy system. Consequently, the Income Tax Officer deemed the return invalid, leading to an assessment under Section 23(4) of the Act. The assessee's subsequent application under Section 27 challenging the assessment was rejected by both the Income Tax Officer and the Assistant Commissioner, prompting the reference to the High Court. The High Court, in its analysis, emphasized that the flaws in the return, including vague figures, missing details, and non-compliance with accounting system requirements, were not minor errors but substantial deviations affecting the statutory validity of the return. The court applied the standard of whether the assessee could face prosecution under Section 52 of the Income Tax Act for an incorrect return or false verification. Considering the assessee's long history of paying income tax, the court opined that the errors in the return were not inadvertent and could not be excused. Referring to a similar case before the Rangoon High Court, the court reinforced the position that incomplete or inaccurate returns could be treated as no return at all, justifying assessment under Section 23(4). The court concluded that the Income Tax authorities were correct in treating the return as invalid, thereby affirming the decision against the assessee and ordering them to bear the Commissioner's costs. In summary, the High Court's judgment addressed the issue of the validity of the return furnished by the petitioner for the assessment year 1931-32 under Section 22(2) of the Income Tax Act. The court scrutinized the deficiencies in the return, highlighting that the errors were not trivial and rendered the return invalid, leading to a lawful assessment under Section 23(4). By drawing parallels with precedent and emphasizing the significance of accurate and compliant returns, the court upheld the Income Tax authorities' decision, ruling in favor of the Commissioner and directing the assessee to cover the costs.
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