Instruction regarding adjournments while passing assessment orders. - Income Tax - 521/CBDT

INSTRUCTION NO. 521/CBDT Dated : March 12, 1973 Section(s) Referred: 143(3) Statute: Income - Tax Act, 1961 The Public Accounts Committee in para 3.21 of their 51st Report (1972-73) have taken note of substantial pendency of Category I and II cases and observed: "The Committee, therefore, desire that Government should ..... take effective measures to discourage dilatory tactics on both sides-assessees and the assessing authorities so that bigger assessments may be completed speedily". 2. The Board share the Committee's concern about substantial pendency of important assessments viz. Category I and II Income-tax assessments and the assessments under other direct taxes. It is important that these revenue yielding assessments are handled with maximum possible promptness. A notable contributing factor is adjournments given by the assessing officers on their own or on untenable requests from the assessees. The Board desire that the assessing officers should, unless for compelling reasons, not adjourn such cases on their own and the assessee's request for adjournment in such cases should be weighed by them very carefully and conceded only if the circumstances pleaded are convincingly genuine and unavoidable. The Inspecting Assistant Commissioners when inspecting the Income-tax Officer's work, should specifically look into this aspect and take note of avoidable and unnecessary adjournments. 3. All the officers in your charge may please be advised accordingly.