Gtc Industries Ltd. Vs. Assistant Commissioner of - Court Judgment

SooperKanoon Citationsooperkanoon.com/67604
CourtIncome Tax Appellate Tribunal ITAT Mumbai
Decided OnFeb-28-1995
JudgeP Goradia, M Chaturvedi
Reported in(1998)65ITD380(Mum.)
AppellantGtc Industries Ltd.
RespondentAssistant Commissioner of
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1. this appeal by the assessee is directed against the order of the commissioner of income-tax (appeals), central-iv, bombay and pertains to the assessment year 1985-86.2. the assessment was completed under section 143(3), read with section 145(2) of the income-tax act, 1961. the accounting year of the assessee ended on 30-6-1984. the assessee is a company in which public are substantially interested. the assessee-company is following the mercantile system of accounting. it filed its return of income for the relevant year of assessment on 28-6-1985, reflecting therein income of rs. 3,84,14,220. the assessing officer made an addition of rs. 26,20,51,000 in the total income of the assessee under the head "premium on sale of cigarettes". the assessing officer deducted the amount of.....
Judgment:
1. This appeal by the assessee is directed against the order of the Commissioner of Income-tax (Appeals), Central-IV, Bombay and pertains to the assessment year 1985-86.

2. The assessment was completed under Section 143(3), read with Section 145(2) of the Income-tax Act, 1961. The accounting year of the assessee ended on 30-6-1984. The assessee is a company in which public are substantially interested. The assessee-company is following the mercantile system of accounting. It filed its return of income for the relevant year of assessment on 28-6-1985, reflecting therein income of Rs. 3,84,14,220. The Assessing Officer made an addition of Rs. 26,20,51,000 in the total income of the assessee under the head "Premium on sale of cigarettes". The Assessing Officer deducted the amount of commission and trading income alleged to be reintroduced by means of hawala entries and advertisement expenses alleged to be used out of secret bank accounts. The assessee being aggrieved of the assessment order, preferred appeal there against before the CIT(Appeals). The claim of the assessee was rejected by the CIT(Appeals). The assessee Preferred appeal against that order before the Tribunal. The validity of the order was assailed, inter alia, on the ground of natural justice. The assessee disputed the additions on merits also.

3. At the outset, both the parties requested that the first decision be rendered on the preliminary issue concerning the observance of the principles of natural justice while framing the order of assessment. On merits, it was requested that the case may be heard after the deliverance of decision on the preliminary issue. The appeal was, therefore, heard apropos the grounds concerning the canons of natural justice.

The assessee is engaged in the business of manufacturing of cigarettes. The factories are situated at Bombay and Baroda. Tobacco processing units are at Guntur and Hyderabad. It. also gels the cigarettes manufactured through a number of jobs working units. Its popular brands are sold under the trade names, Panama, Blue Bird, A-1, Golden Lion, Style, Taj Mahal, etc.

The selling arrangement of the cigarettes is through the Wholesale Buyers (hereinafter referred to as "WB"). The sale net work includes wholesale, dealers, semi-wholesale dealers and voluntary retailers.

The company deliver the goods to the WBs.

In the month of September 1982, the office of the assessee-company along with t he off ice of several WBs were searched by t he Anti Evasion Wing of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (Central Excise). Another search took place by the said Anti Evasion Wing in January, 1986. The material gathered by the DRI in the course of search was passed on to the Income-tax Department.

5. Taking the clue from the Excise Authorities the Assessing Officer investigated the matter. The outcome of the investigation according to the assessee is based on the following four factors :- (i) The assessee collected clandestine and unaccounted premium on the lower price brands of the cigarettes; (iii) the assessee-company spent large amount for advertising its products. The amount so spent was alleged to be used out of deposits in the secret bank account; (iv) such amounts withdrawn from these bank accounts alleged to be re-introduced in the assessee's account by means of havala entries and reflected as commission and trading income which according to the revenue represents bogus entries.

6. The assessee is a leading manufacturer of cigarettes. To ascertain the profits from the tobacco business, Assessing Officer analysed the assessee's financial results by scrutinizing the Profit & Loss Account.

The following facts emerged :Profit before tax Rs. 3,75,54,059Less : Other income included in the above :Interest from others 15,68,79,801Commission and Other charges 6,01,99,307Profit in trading of goods other thancigarettes 2,17,96,516Supervision and technical know-how fees 46,36,348 ------------Loss from sale of cigarettes (Not excluding ------------various other miscellaneous incomes) (-) Rs. 20,59,57,913 ------------ 7. The above said analysis thus germinated the seed of suspicion in the mind of the Assessing Officer. He, therefore, proceeded further to find out the truth. The results were again viewed from a different angle, it came out that the invoice price of the cigarettes as reflected by the assessee in its record was less than the manufacturing cost.. The element of excise duty was included while working the manufacturing cost. The working as done by the Assessing Officer is reproduced here as under :-statement of accounts) Rs. 1,52,80,40,371Materials cost 22,49,29,508Difference(-) Rs. 1,60,41,53,844 ------------------ 8. The result of the enquiry was considered in the light of the materials gathered by the Excise Authorities also. The impact of excise duty on the trade was studied. Upto 28-2-1983, the basis of charge of excise duty on cigarettes was ad valorem. In 1982, the rate of excise duty was approximately 33 per cent of the assessable value. In 1983 budget the duty on cigarettes was converted to specific rates in a graded scale according to slabs, which were relatable to the maximum price required to be printed on the retail packs in compliance with Weights and Measures (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 1977. Progression in duty burden was sought to be maintained by adopting telescopic rate structure. For every entries of five paise in the maximum retail price of 10 cigarettes printed on the pack, there was a corresponding increase in the effective duty rate. The Assessing Officer reflected the relationship between printed prices and duty at selected points under this tax structure in the following chart : Relationship between printed price and duty in relation to the tax structure prior to September, 1985-----------------------------------------------------------------Printed Excise Realisation Percent- Percent-Maximum duty by the age of age ofRetail (Rs. per manufacturer Col. (2) Col. (2)price 1,000) and traders divided divided(Rs. per (Rs. 1,000) by Col.

by Col. (I)1,000) (3)-------------- ---------------------------------------------------50 35 15 233 7075 55.75 19.25 290 74100 74.50 25.50 292 74150 112.00 38.00 295 75200 149.50 50.50 296 75260 194.50 65.50 297 75310 232.00 78.00 297 75360 270.00 90.00 300 75460 346.00 114.00 304 75510 384.00 126.00 305 75610 464.00 146.00 318 76810 624.00 186.00 336 77910 701.00 206.00 342 77-----------------------------------------------------------------Maximum Retail price per 1000 cigarettes Excise dutyUpto Rs. 60 Rs. 42Rs. 61 to Rs. 170 Rs. 125Rs. 171 to Rs. 300 Rs. 225Rs. 501 to Rs. 550 Rs. 400Rs. 551 and above.

Rs. 600 w.e.f. 1-3-1987, the basis of charge of excise duty has been shifted to the length of the cigarettes, whether filter or non-filter cigarettes.

9. The Assessing Officer studied the system in the light of the material available. He did investigation of his own. It was observed by him that in reality the law was defined. The power to enforce the act vested with the State Government. In the absence of adequate machinery, malpractices prevalent in trading could not be controlled. To support this view point, reliance was placed on the following observation of the technical Study Group of Central Excise Tariff, 1985 : The motivation was provided by the heavy incidence of duty which worked out to between 70 per cent & 77 per cent of the retail price and from 230 per cent to 340 per cent on the assessable...aforesaid provisions could invite penal action, but only against the petty retailer who in situations where the sale price to him itself was at a price equal to or higher than the printed price leaving him no or inadequate margin, would be virtually helpless and the wholesaler or the manufacturer who may have been privy to, or an abettor in, such infringement and indirectly its ultimate beneficiary would not get touched under this law.

10. It was alleged that the Assessee-company devised clever contrivances to cause generation of premium on the sale of cigarettes.

The word clever contrivances" was borrowed from the report of Technical Study Group of Central Excise Tariff, 1985.

Such contrivances were alleged to be used to cause additional generation of premium by exploiting the market situation. The WB/dealers were found to be privy to such transaction. The contrivance was catalysed. It was cognized under the nomenclature "Twin Branding System". The modus operandi of this system was described as under : (i) To begin with, an existing brand having an established market price was replaced on the sly by what was, on paper, a new brand having a lesser price but having the same generic name the former.

The two brands, however, had identical packet designs and colour scheme of the packet. Only a suffix like 'special', 'premium', 'regular', etc. was added to the original brand name. No announcement was made regarding the reduction in prices. The brands continued to be advertised by their generic names. The smoking population was left totally unaware about the launch of the so-called new brand or the reduction in its price. They being habituated to paying a particular price for their brand continued to pay the same. Also they identified the brands by the common names by which they were being sold in the streets like 'Panama' for Panama Plain cigarettes comprising of Panama Virginia Special and Panama Special Virginia categories; 'Panama Filter' for Panama Filter, Panama Filter Special and Panama Filter Premium categories, 'Panama Filter Kings' for Panama Filter Kings, Panama Filter Kings Special and Panama Filter Kings Premium categories, 'Blue Bird' for Blue Bird, Blue Bird Regular, Blue Bird Standard; 'Taj Mahal' for Taj Mahal, Taj Mahal Special and Taj Mahal Regular; 'A-1 Filter' for A-1 Filter, A-1 Filter Premium and A-1 Filter Standard etc. This phenomenon of twin branding was started during the period 1981-82 when e.g. Panama Virginia having ex-factory price of Rs. 85.11 per m. and retail price or Re. 1 per packet of 10 cigarettes was replaced by Panama Virginia Special having ex-factory price of Rs. 60.87 and a retail price of 0.75 per packet of 10 cigarettes and panama Filter Kings having an ex-factory price of 173.46 per m. and retail price of Rs. 1.85 per packet of 10 cigarettes was replaced first by Panama Filter Kings Special having ex-factory price of Rs. 121.43 per m. and retail price of Rs. 1.45 per packet of 10 cigarettes and retail price of 1.45 per packet of 10 cigarettes and then by Panama Filter Kings Premium having an ex-factory price of Rs. 94.16 per m and a retail price of Rs. 1.10 per packet of 10 cigarettes.

11. It was observed by the Assessing Officer that the twin brands were introduced with some purpose. Packets were of identical designs and colour scheme. The change in the brand nomenclature was subtle. It was not easily detectable. The Assessing Officer reproduced the photographs of packets in the order of assessment. There is a famous Chinese saying that a picture is equivalent to thousand words. We are also reminded of the well known dictum of law "Res IPSA Loquitur" (the things speaks for itself). We, therefore, reproduce the pictures along with the observation of the Assessing Officer as given in the order (pages 119,120,121 and 122), vide Annexure.

12. Delving deep into the design of the "Twin Brand Theory" the Assessing Officer found that with the change in regard to the basis of the charge of excise duty [with effect from 1-3-1983], the prices of all existing brands were required to be revised upwards, e.g. the price of Panama Virginia Special had to be revised upwards from an ex-factory price of Rs. 60.87 and a printed price of 0.75 to an ex-factory price of Rs. 102 and a printed price of Rs. 1.25. No premium was charged from the trade for the sale of Panama plain cigarettes marketed to them under the brand name "Panama Virgina Special' during the period commencing from 1-3-1983. However, the moment the revised prices were accepted by the trade and the consumers, the assessee marketed "Panama" plain cigarrettes under another brand name "Panama Special "Virginia".

The only difference between the "Panama Virginia Special" and "Panama Special Virginia" was the subtle interpolation of the words Virginia Special" printed in every fine print in the reverse of the packets by the words "Special Virginia".

This new brand bore an ex-factory price of Rs. 88 and a printed price of Re. 1. It quickly replaced the higher priced brand "Panama Virginia Special" which continued to be marketed simultaneously throughout the subsequent period (upto 1-9-1985) but with a dwindled volume. Actually what was done is that the two brands which were identified by the trade and consumers alike only as one brand viz. "Panama" plain cigarettes, were sold by the "Will"s of the assessee at the same price namely that of the higher priced brand ie., "Panama Virginia Special", but at different invoice rates. The differential price in the case of Panama Special Virginia was collected by the WBs in cash. The same, modus operandi, was repeated with regard to almost all other brands marketed by the assessee, e.g. in the case of "Panama Filter Kings", the price of the existing brand, "Panama Filter Kings Premium" was jacked up from an ex-factory price of Rs. 94.16 per m. and printed price of Rs. 1.10 to an ex-factory price of Rs. 163 and a printed price of Rs. 1.85, but soon thereafter, a lower priced twin "Panama Filter Kings Special:" was introduced in the market with an ex-factory price of Rs. 145 per m and a printed price of Rs. 1.65 (later revised to Rs. 90 and Rs. 1.05 w.e.f. 7-8-1993. Both brands were sold to the trade as one brand and one price, the lower priced brand entailing premium on it.

13. Whenever on a future date, the assessee sought to increase its realisation on sale of a brand, the same was invariably done at the cost of Central Excise revenue. Here another sub-brand having a different permutation or combination of suffixes like 'Premium', 'Special', 'Standard', 'Regular', etc. to the generic name of a brand introduced at an even lower printed price, but was once again available to the consumer at the price of a higher priced brand bearing the same generic name, which was being marketed simultaneously, or else which after having set a standard for the market price of the brand of that generic name was withdrawn. Example may be given here of the withdrawal of "Panama Special Virginia" (ex-factory price of Rs. 88 per m. and a printed price of Re. 1.00) by "Panama Virginia" (ex-factory price of Rs. 72 per m. and a printed price of Rs. 80) w.e.f. June 1984.

14. Briefly, while making the addition on account of 'premium on sale of cigarettes', Assessing Officer considered the following facts : (i) assessee-company is a leading manufacturer of cigarettes in the country, from the scrutiny of the financial results it appears that the assessee sustained loss on the sale of cigarettes; (ii) the invoice price of cigarettes is lower than the direct manufacturing cost; (iii) the high incidence of excise duty - the basis of charging of excise duty was the printed price of cigarettes, it was therefore, convenient for the assessee to under invoice the product; (iv) the assessee adopted a "dubious market strategy" by introducing the "Twin Branding System.

15. The aforesaid factors were alleged to be the bedrock for making addition. In order to fortify the foundation, the Assessing Officer relied on various documents, evidence and material. It was concluded that the twin branding system was contrivance, which was used for the generation of clandestine premium. This premium was charged by WBs.

Material of the nature that on-money on sale of the assessee's products was charged, was gathered from various sources. Assessing Officer also relied on the finding given in the assessment year 1984-85. -The material collected by the Central Excise Authorities was also viewed and considered, this include - 1. Statement of Shri P. Pandian, Sales Manager of M/s. Shivani Trading Co. P. Ltd., WB of the assessee at Trivandrum; 2. Statement of Shri P.O. Mani, Proprietor of P.S. Mani, WB of the assessee at Quilon; 3. Statement of Ashakinwasti, Managing Partner of M/s. Karpasam Traders, Trivandrum; 4. Statement of Shri Cbandramohan, Managing Partner of K.K. Viswanathan, WB of the assessee at Ernakulam; 5. Statement of E.P. Jacab, alias Georgekutty, Partner, M.C. and Emcees Stores, Kottayam; 6. Statement of Shri Ashok Goenka, Officer Incharge, M/s. Durga Trading Co., WB of the assessee at Thirunelvally; 7. Statement of Navrathanmal Tahleswaran, Manager, Casino Business P. Ltd., Madurai; 8. Statement of Dancichan, Director, M/s. Nellai Marketing Pvt.

Ltd., Sivakashi; 9. Statement of Shri H. Farookh, Local Field Officer of GTC, Sivakashi.

These statements were recorded simultaneously at different places during the course of search proceedings by the Central Excise Authorities on 21-1-1986.

16. The assessee denied the charges. Sale was explained to be through WBs only on principal to principal basis. Once the goods sold out, assessee had no interest in it. A bleak Awareness was admitted as to the charge of premium. It was attributed to the greed of the retailers.

The charging of premium by WBs was said to be not within the knowledge of the assessee. It was stated that the assessee was monitoring advertisement and other expenses incurred by WBs for the sake of negotiating the consideration.

17. Apropos, the package designs and blended formula, it was stated that the twin brands got approved by the Central Excise Authorities.

The blend specifications of the twin brand were different. The chemical analyses reports obtained by the assessee from Etta Laboratories Pvt.

Ltd. for Panama Virginia and Panama Virginia Special and Panama Special Virginia was relied upon.

The Assessing Officer did'nt accept: this report because the samples for testing were given by the assessee. These were not drawn by the Central Excise Authorities.

Apropos the twin brand theory, it was contended before the Assessing Officer that smokers are very choosy about the brand and they know the difference. The word 'Twin Brand' according to the learned counsel was a misnomer. Actually the brands were different. Not the same brand.

Besides on well known consumer1 products charge of premium is a universal phenomena. Manufacturer cannot be held responsible for that.

18. In order to buttress the existence of the twin branding theory, Assessing Officer relied, inter alia, on the following facts : (a) the reduction of price of newly introduced one was never announced, (b) the brand was always been advertised by general particulars, viz.

(ii) Panama - mondy selection Gold Medal winning good to the last puf; Accordingly, it was concluded that the distinction of brands on the basis of specific names like Special, Premium, etc. was only an eye wash for evasion of taxes.

Assessing Officer conducted enquiry. He received information from Excise Authorities. Affairs of the assessee-company were looked into and investigated on the basis of available informations. The position of the connected parties were brought on record. Taking the compendious view of the overall situation, the Assessing Officer considered the following facts; also to justify the generation of premium : (i) The 'basis of charge' of excise duty on cigarettes during the relevant period - provided motivation to the manufacturer and the trade to sell the products above the printed price to increase their realisation in a competitive market; (ii) the products actually sold in the market above the printed price and various 'clever contrevances' were devised by the manufacturer to general additional amounts of such premium; (iii) the premium so generated were collected by the WBs of the assessee; (iv) the WBs in turn remitted the premium in the form of demand drafts in fictitious names to Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi, etc. These demand drafts were negotiated either through Bank accounts standing in the same names as that of the payees or discounted elsewhere; (v) The question now arise for whose benefit these drafts were remitted; whether for the benefit of the assessee or for the benefit of the WBs. It is pertinent to note that the demand drafts were remitted by different unrelated and unconnected WBs. These were negotiated through the same accounts; (vi) The advertisement expenses incurred through the secret accounts clearly revealed that these were incurred on behalf of the assessee; (vii) The donation to Methodist Church out of transfer of funds from account of H.K. Patel revealed that the same was made by the assessee; (viii) The donation given by Shri Sanjay Dalmia, President-cum-Director General of the company to the 'Festival of India Committee' out of transfer of accounts from Associates also support the view that the 'secret accounts' belongs to the assessee.

(ix) The address of the account of Moonlight Finances given to Punjab & Sind Bank, Scindia House Branch, New Delhi, which is B-72, Himalaya House, 7th Floor, 23, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi (C.A. No. 787) which is the specific office address of Mr. Umesh Khaitan, Sitting Director of GTC, once again establishes the nexus of the assessee.

(x) The bogus commission receipts and profit on trading of goods other than cigarettes and tobacco shown by the assessee reveals that the assessee had access to large sums of unaccounted money which was brought to it books, in the guise of income.

19. On the conspectus of these facts and considering the totality of circumstances, Assessing Officer held that the assessee was the beneficiary of the remittances of the drafts by its WBs. The concept of principal to principal basis for sale of goods or the operation of the bank accounts by persons outside the employment of the company were just legal facades used by the assessee to mask its clandestine operations. The assessee was thus the ultimate beneficiary of the premium generated on the 'twin branding principle', Assessing Officer on that basis made addition in its income. As in the preceding assessment year, a deduction of 10 per cent of the total generation was being left untaxed as the share of WBs, who were privy to such clandestine operations. Thus the clandestine premium on the sale of cigarettes amounting to Rs. 26,20,51,000 was added to the income of the assessee for the relevant year of assessment.

20. The case was heard at length. On 4th July, 1994, Shri Salve, appeared on behalf of the assessee. The case was argued on 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 12th and 13th July, 1994 by Shri Salve. He argued the case for the assessment year 1984-85. On 13-7-1994, Shri Desai appearing for the revenue desired to file paper book Nos. 8 & 9 containing assessment order for the assessment year 1985-86 together with certain evidence.

Initially, Mr. Salve objected. It was pointed out by 'Shri Desai that the finding given in 1985-86 is very much relevant for deciding the issues. Mr. Salve suggested that the appeal for the assessment year 1985-86 be heard together. After discussion we decided to hear the appeals for all the three years i.e., assessment years 1984-85 to 1986-87 together. Hence, directions were rendered to fix all the appeals together. Later on it was decided by the Bench that appeal for the assessment year 1986-87 is to be delinked. As Mr. Salve wanted to continue submissions after the study of case reports for all the three years, the case was adjourned to 17-8-1994.

On 16-8-1994, the assessee made a prayer for adjournment, the case was adjourned. Again on 19-9-1994, the assessee's counsel had made a request for adjournment in the Court. The hearing was adjourned. On 5-10-1994, Sri Ganeshan, learned advocate for the assessee appeared before us. A copy of the High Court order dated 5-9-1994 in Writ Petition under Excise Act was placed before the Bench. High Court directed the Excise Authorities to allow cross-examination of three persons. The assessee wanted cross-examination of these persons in Income-tax proceedings also, the case was adjourned to 21-10-1994. Both the parties desired discussion.

On 21-10-1994, Mr. Irani, Authorised Representative for the assessee appeared before the Tribunal.

Mr. Desai on behalf of the revenue fairly stated that in view of High Court order dated 5-9-1994, it would be proper to hear the parties on preliminary issue. Though, on query, he stated that the revenue had enough material in possession to prove revenue's case even if evidence as collected from three persons as mentioned in High Court order dated 5-9-1994 is ignored. The case was adjourned to 21-11-1994. It was heard on that day and it continued on 22nd November, 1994. It further continued on 29th and 30th November, 1st December, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th December, again from 12th to 15th December, 19th, 21st and 22nd December, 1994. The arguments were concluded by both the parties.

Finally the case was argued by Shri S.E. Dastur, Shri S. Ganeshan and Shri F.V. Irani. The revenue was represented by Sri R.C. Desai, Sri R.H. Toprani and Sri Rajkumar Lachhiramka. On 6-1-1995 written arguments were filed on behalf of the assessee. The revenue also filed written arguments. In view of the same the case was again fixed.

Finally the hearing was concluded on 30-1-1995.

21. The learned counsel for the assessee vehemently argued that the additions made by the Assessing Officer to the appellant's assessable income in respect of alleged clandestine premium on sale of cigarettes are in gross breach of the principles of natural justice as they are based on : (a) Statement of witnesses, copies of which were not even given to the Appellant prior to the passing of the assessment order; (b) In fact some of the statements relied upon by the department have not been furnished even as of now; (c) Statements of witnesses which were not offered for cross-examination though asked for by the Appellant; (d) Materials which were not intimated to the appellant prior to passing of the assessment order but copiously used in support of the conclusion reached in the order. In fact, some of these materials have not been communicated to the appellant till this date.

It was submitted that none of these tainted materials can at all be relied upon by the Respondents.

22. Sri Dastur submitted the statement of witnesses and other material used by the Assessing Officer to reach conclusion and finding adverse to the assessee, should be disclosed to the appellant and the witnesses should be offered for cross-examination. Reliance was placed on the ratio of the following decisions :Surajmal Mohta and Co. v. A.V. Viswanath Sastri [1954] 26 ITR 1 (SC).State of Kerala v. K.T. Shaduli Grocery Dealer AIR (3) Kishinchand Chellaram v. CIT [1980] 125 ITR 713/4 Taxman 29 (SC).

(4) Dr. Rash Lai Yadav v. State of Bihar JT [1994] 7 (SC) 62 at 71-73.

(6) Mahendra Electricah Ltd v. Union of India 1986 (26) ELT 882 (Bom.) 23. Our attention was also invited on the judgment of Justice Pendse in the assessee's own case. The minutes of the order is reproduced here as under: In the High Court of judicature at Bombay ordinary original civil jurisdiction writ petition No. 1805 of 1994.

Mr. Rafiq Dada with Mr. J.J. Bhatt I/B M/s. Federal and Rashmi Kant for the Petitioners.

2. Ordered that the adjudicating authority viz. Respondent No. 3 shall not rely or upon or take into account for passing the adjudication order the statements of any witness who is not tendered for cross-examination by the Petitioners.

24. Shri Dastur also invited our attention on the letter dated 14-12-1994 and 5-1-1994 addressed to the Commissioner of Income-tax (Appeals). These letters are at pages 126-158 and 162-207 of the Paper Book hereinafter referred to as "PB" bearing No. 12.

It was submitted that the assessee made a request for cross-examination of all the witnesses. The assessee also asked for the disclosure of all the materials, which may be relied upon against him. It was further submitted that the said letter should be read along with the appellant's subsequent letter dated 5-1-1994 (A-12, pages 162-207) and the general request for disclosure and cross-examination contained in the letter dated 16-2-1988 (A-13, pp. 97-99) addressed to the Assessing Officer. It is not correct to say that the assessee did not complied with certain notices and letters issued to it by the Income-tax Department. On this ground cross-examination of witnesses and disclosure of materials cannot be denied. Sri Dastur said that the proceedings were effectively started by the Assessing Officer only in December 1987 (as per record these were started in March 1987) and most of the notices were issued in January/February 1988.

25. According to Sri Dastur the Assessing Officer denied cross-examination to the assessee only on the ground that the "conclusions have been arrived at mainly on the basis of documentary evidence and the fact of remittance of demand drafts in fictitious names by WBs of the assessee" and that "secondary support is being taken from the statement of witnesses". It was argued that reasons given by the Assessing Officer have no substance. The Assessing Officer's concept of documentary evidence is misconceived and is directly contrary to the judgment of the Supreme Court in Shaduli's case.

26. The learned counsel stated that the CIT(Appeals) justified non-grant of cross-examination on entirely different grounds, which were never raised or applied or even contemplated by the Assessing Officer-' (a) that the relevant facts were fully established in assessment year 1.984-85; (b) that the matter stands concluded by the ITAT order for the assessment year 1984-85; (c) that the appellant made the request at the eleventh hour and only as a device for gaining time.

It. is significant to note that the CIT(Appeals) nowhere sought to justify the non-grant of cross-examination on the ground that the assessee allegedly did not comply with certain letters or notices. Even before the Tribunal, it was contended on behalf of the revenue that more extensive material was gathered in the course of proceedings for the assessment year 1985-86 and in fact the revenue intends to rely on the same for the assessment year 1984-85. The assessee did not ask for cross-examination at the eleventh hour.The purpose was not to gain time. The assessee by letter dated 16-2-1988 (A-13, pp. 97-99) addressed to the Assessing Officer requested for cross-examination of all witnesses. In this connection, our attention was invited on the ratio of the Hon'ble Bombay High Court in Vasanji Ghela 's case (supra), wherein it was held that if a demand for cross-examination is made on the original stage of the proceeding, the demand can thereafter be revised upon at all subsequent stages. This is also in line with the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of CWT v. Vimlaben Vadilal Mehta [1984] 145 ITR 11/[1983] 5 Taxman 20 wherein the Apex Court has held that the appellant proceedings constitutes continuation of the assessment proceeding. The Assessing Officer has specifically stated in the order that the assessee had asked for cross-examination of all witnesses, but that he had not granted the same on the ground that "secondary support was being taken from their statements". Even with regard to Alok Dhandhania, the Assessing Officer granted the right of cross-examination only to Ashish Trading without issuing notice to them and without even giving them a copy of Dhandhania's statement and merely permitted the assessee to put certain questions afterwards.

These restrictions rendered the entire exercise meaningless. Ashish Trading had no interest whatsoever in the cross-examination of Alok Dhandhania, as no addition was being made to their assessment and it was the assessee who was sought to be made liable on account of Dhandhania's statement.

27. Proper opportunity aspect was stated to be provided in order to ensure that a just decision be given on the dispute in hand. It relates to the correctness and fairness of the decision-making process. It does not depend on the view taken by the authority on the merits of the case. A litigant is entitled to natural justice even if the authority is of the view that the litigant has no case at all. For this proposition reliance was placed on the decision of the Apex Court rendered in the case of S.L. Kapoor v. Jagmohan [1984] 4 SCC 379,392, we reproduce the portion read before us from the said judgment: 'It may be that there are some who would decry the importance which the courts attach to the observance of the rules of natural justice.

When something is obvious, they may say, 'why force everybody to go through the tiresome waste of time involved in framing charges and giving an opportunity to be heard? The result is obvious from the start. Those who take this view do not, I think, do themselves justice. As everybody who has anything to do with the law, well knows, the path of the law is strewn with examples of open and shut cases which, somehow, were not; of unanswerable charges which, in the event, were completely answered; of inexplicable conduct which was fully explained; of fixed and unalterable determinations that, by discussion, suffered a change. Nor are those with any knowledge of human nature who pause to think for a moment likely to underestimate the feelings of resentment of those who find that a decision against them has been made without their being afforded any opportunity to influence the course of events.

In our view the principles of natural justice know of no exclusionary rule dependent on whether it would have made any difference if natural justice had been observed. The non-observance of natural justice is itself prejudice to any man and proof of prejudice independently of proof of denial of natural justice is unnecessary.

On the basis of the abovesaid observation it was argued that opportunity cannot be denied on the allegation that the assessee did not fully comply with the certain letters/notices issued to it or that the assessee has not rebutted the allegations made against it. Natural justice is not a privilege or benefit which is conferred on deserving or to obtain which, certain preconditions have to be fulfilled. Rather, it is an obligation which the authority imposes on itself in the interest of a fair and proper decision.

28. The correct principles and legal position regarding natural justice in a quasi-judicial assessment proceedings were summarised by Sri Dastur as under: (a) The assessee has a right to know and rebut all material relied upon by the revenue against the assessee; (b) If the material consists only of circumstances as opposed to the say of persons, this should be disclosed to the assessee so that he can rebut the same; (c) If the material consists of the say of persons, which may be in the form of statements or letters, the assessee has a right to cross-examine the persons concerned.

The principles of law of evidence recognise a distinction only between circumstantial evidence and the statement of witnesses. The former is described as indirect and the letter as direct evidence. The Tribunal in the assessment year 1984-85 considered this distinction. There is no distinction within the sphere of statements of witnesses between direct and indirect witnesses. All witnesses who deposed to relevant facts and whose statements are relied upon by the revenue have to be offered for cross-examination. The Apex Court in the case of K.T. Shaduli Grocery Dealer (supra) made it clear that cross-examination has to be afforded were the statement/materials relied upon form an integral part of the materials on the basis of which the order by the taxing authorities has been passed.

29. Coming to the judgment of Bombay High Court (see para-23) given in the assessee's own case by Justice Pendse, the learned counsel submitted that this judgment directly covers the present case. It is important to note that the judgment - 30. It was further stated that revenue cannot rely on certain statements or materials to bolster or strengthen its case against the assessee and seek to contend at the same time that the statements or materials only indirectly support the department's case and the assessee has no right to cross-examination or inspection. No principle of law and not a solitary judicial decision supports the approach of the revenue. The correct and settled rule is that if a statement or material is an integral part of the case of the department or is relied upon to draw an adverse inference, cross-examination of the person making the statement must be given. The department cannot rely on a statement or material and at the same time seek to deny cross-examination on the ground that the statement is relied upon indirectly or for support or that the department also relies on some other documents or material. In so far as oral evidence is concerned, the aforementioned decisions and in particular, the judgment in K. T.Shaduli Grocery Dealers' case (supra), make it dear-that if it is an integral part of the department's case, natural justice requires that cross-examination, if asked for, must be granted. The revenue should make up its mind, if it is of the opinion that it can make good its case against the appellant by relying on materials other than statement of persons, then, it should base its case only on such materials and not rely on the statements of any witnesses. However, it is reiterated that the appellant should be afforded an opportunity to deal with and rebut such materials. It was further submitted that a letter written by a person and relied against the assessee stands on the same footing as a statement made by the person, from the point of view of allowing cross-examination. In K.T. Shaduli Grocery Dealer's case (supra), cross-examination was allowed of the dealers when their accounts were relied upon by the S.T. Department, though they had not made any statements as such.

31. Learned counsel further stated that reliance on the Tribunal order for the assessment year 1984-85 cannot be placed for the following reasons : (a) The extent of disclosure and compliance with natural justice required in a particular proceeding is not a point of law. It is basically and essentially a matter of fact depending on the extent and nature of the material relied upon by the authority in the proceeding. One has tp consider the proceedings and materials for the relevant year of assessment on their own.

(b) The Income-tax Department's own case is that the assessment order for the assessment year 1985-86 is based on further investigations and additional materials as compared to assessment year 1985-86.

(c) The very fact that the department seeks to rely on the materials and evidence relied upon in the order for the assessment year 1985-86 in the hearing of the appeal for the assessment year 1984-85 speaks for itself. If the factual position and the record were the same in these two assessment years, then there would be no need to consider the record of the assessment year 1985-86 for deciding the appeal for the assessment year 1984-85. Further, the department should then agree to; (i) the appeal for the assessment year 1984-85 being decided on the record for that assessment only; (ii) the decision for the assessment year 1984-85 is concluding and covering subsequent years as well; (iii) in the said order of the Tribunal paras 1 to 50 show that the Tribunal considered payments made to certain alleged fictitious accounts and withdrawals therefrom for meeting of expenses allegedly by GTC and alleged collection of premium, the Tribunal did not consider the case of the department, as in the present appeals, which is built, inter alia, on statements of Bank Managers concerned payments into these accounts and operations of these accounts, the Tribunal found upon examination of persons who spoke about the generation of premium and payments from these accounts; (iv) in the assessment year 1984-85, the department did not make out any case against the assessee, on the basis of commission, trading income or interest income. In the assessment year 1985-86, this is the important limb of the department's case against the GTC, in fact the rejection of assessee's books of account by the Assessing Officer in the relevant assessment, year is based on this factor.

32. Sri Dastur submitted that even as per the test laid down by the Tribunal for the assessment year 1984-85, the assessee is entitled to the cross-examination. He referred the letter to the CIT(Appeals) dated 3-8-1992 (A-4, pp. 84-87) and the letters of the CIT(Appeals) dated 14-12-1993, 5-1-1994 (at pp. 126 to 158 and pages 162 to 207 of A-12).

In para-61 of the Tribunal order (A-1 p. 324), it was laid down, that in respect of material from which an inference has been drawn against the assessee, he is entitled to cross-examination. Further, the Tribunal also decided that the assessee is entitled to cross-examination in respect of material which incriminate the assessee. The materials and statements referred to in the said lists are relied upon by the revenue to incriminate the assessee.

Consequently, the assessee is entitled to cross-examination. Apropos the alleged "havala transactions", the letters written and the statements given by the third parties, to the effect that the appellant was not involved in the transactions, directly affect the appellant.

Similarly, the statements of persons who were allegedly instrumental in collection of premium are the very basis of the caseof the department.

Haji Umer and Chitalangis, who deposed the collection of premium were directed by the Tribunal to be offered for cross-examination. The statement/materials of bank managers and employees of wholesale buyers, to the effect that the drafts were purchased by them and bank accounts were operated by persons, having a nexus with GTC's wholesale buyers directly affect the appellant. Therefore, the witness mentioned in the statement filed before the Tribunal in the letter dated 3-8-1992 (pp.

74 to 87-A-4) and 14-12-1993, 23-12-1993 and 5-1-1994 addressed to the CIT(Appeals) pp. 126 to 158, 159 to 161 and pp. 162 to 207 of A-12, should be allowed to be cross-examined and all the materials allegedly gathered and relied upon in the assessment order need to be disclosed before passing the orders.

33. Without prejudice to the above, that it was prayed that in case the view is taken as per the decision of the Tribunal for the assessment year 1984-85, that the assessee is not entitled to cross-examination, ad hoc genus ornne, the matter should be tested on the touchstone of the ratio laid down by the Courts in several decisions relied upon.

These decisions were not available before the Tribunal for the assessment year 1984-85.

34. Sri Dastur pointed out those cases where an absolute right of cross-examination cannot be claimed by the subject: (a) where the statement of the witness relates to general trade opinions on some general matters concerning the trade or industry as a whole and does not concern the assessee specifically. Manindra Nath Chatterjee v. CCE [1977] Tax LR 175.

(b) where it is known that giving cross-examination would expose the witness to a danger to life or limb (as in the case of Rajendra Medical College); (c) where it should not be granted for the reason that the sources of information would otherwise cease to exist as in the case of Satellite Engg. Ltd. v. Union of India [1983] EIT 2177 Bom.

(d) where the cross-examination asked for is meaningless, as for example, where the assessee does not dispute the fact deposed to by the witness (as in Kishanlal Agarwal v. Collector of Land Customs AIR 1967 Cal. 80; (e) where the assessee had not asked for cross-examination as in the case of Mr. M.K. Thomas v. State of Kerala [1977] 40 STC 278 (Ker.) (FB) (f) where the department accepts the correctness of the assessee's contention.

35. The normal principle is that ordinary cross-examination has to be granted when asked for. These exceptions-prove the normal rule. If the department seeks to rely on any of these exceptions, the burden is squarely on the department to establish the existence of any of them.

It was contended that the authorities relied upon by the department, in respect of cross-examination, were rendered entirely on their own peculiar facts and are clearly distinguishable. None of the authorities cited on behalf of the department can possibly be considered as diluting the ratio of Shaduli, K. Chellaram, Vassanji Ghela and Mahendra Electricals.

36. Next, the assessment was assailed by alleging BIAS against he Assessing Officer. It was contended that justice should not only be done but should be seen to have been done. This inculcate the idea of fair hearing and a fair adjudication. Let there be no apprehension in the mind of the affected party that the adjudicating authority did not treat him fairly and had a bias against him. It was contended that even if there is a reasonable apprehension of bias in the mind of the assessee, the order is to be set aside. It is not necessary to prove the actual bias on the part of the adjudicating officer. Learned counsel relied on the following precedents.Institute of Chartered Accountants of India v. L.K. Ratna [1987] 164 ITR 1/28 Taxman 654 at pp. 14-15.

37. On 4-12-1994, Sri Dastur produced before us a chart. The chart was alleged to have been prepared on the basis of chronology of relevant dates in order to demonstrate patent bias and mala fides on the part of the Assessing Officer. A perusal of the said chart reveals that the first show-cause notice was issued on 23-2-1988. On 14-3-1988, the case was attended, some requisition was made and the case adjourned to 18-3-1988. On that day, the GTC's advocate attended the office of the ITO and handed over a notice to the Inward Clerk of the ITO's office informing the ITO that assessee is moving before the High Court.

(i) the contents of the news report of November 1987 and March 1988.

The conduct of the Assessing Officer in declining to disclose material and permit cross-examination.

(ii) the conduct of the Assessing Officer-allowing cross of examination only of Alok Dhandania and that too in convoluted and restricted manner so that in effect it is rendered meaningless.

(iii) commencement of dictation of assessment order without even waiting for the assessee to reply to the show cause dated 14-3-1988.

(iv) passing of assessment order at 9.30 A.M. on 21-3-1988 and posting the same by insured and registered post notwithstanding the notice served on him by the appellant's advocate regarding High Court suit.

These facts according to Sri Dastur are objective factors which created reasonable apprehension of bias in the mind of any reasonable person.

39. Our attention was also invited on the letter dated 17th March, 1988 (A-13, pp. 46 to 48). This letter reads as under : 1. Since a few months' prior to November 1987, when a false report was published in newspapers implicating us in a purported bank account, purported to be yours, the attitude towards our company is absolutely changed. You have been giving us short notices. You have been demanding information at a short notice. Sometimes you send oral instructions calling upon us to produce records immediately.

You have been seeking reference to show-cause notice without giving use enough time to prepare etc., etc. We have in fact informed you time and again that you appear to be biased against us for which we are extremely sorry.

2. On 14th March, 1988 our representative, Mr. Kamdar attended your office with our replies and for personal hearing when he attended your office, instead of hearing him, you handed over another show-cause notice dated 14-3-1988 listing a number of queries to be replied before 18th March, 1988. On 16-3-1988, in the morning, we learnt that you refused to meet our representative. We also learned that you were busy dictating orders in our matter. We, therefore, had to forward our letter dated 16-3-1988 in the evening. It appears that you are bent on framing orders against us without hearing us.

We have, therefore, to place on record and request you not to pass any orders against us since. We have been given a right to send a reply to your notices of 14-3-1988 on or before 18th March, 1988, 18th March is a holiday in Bombay, 19th March, is a Saturday and 20th March is Sunday and therefore, the earliest we could give a reply will be 21st March, 1988. After giving a reply, we would like to be heard on 22nd March, 1988 and thereafter.

We also desire to obtain clarification about our request for transfer of our assessment to any other ITO. We hope that in the interest of justice and fair play the hearing will be given as requested.

40. Learned counsel submitted that the area of compliance, with the rules and principles of natural justice, is so wide that there is no alternative except to set aside the assessment orders and remand the matter to the Assessing Officer so that the assessment could be completed, de novo, in compliance with the canons of natural justice.

It was stated that apart from numerous witnesses whose statements were relied upon by the revenue there is also considerable material which must be disclosed to the assessee and which on disclosure could lead to the need for further cross-examination of witnesses. It was, therefore, submitted that this is not a case where a remand report can be called for by the Tribunal or where the matter can be sent to the CIT(Appeals) or where the Tribunal itself can record evidence and offer cross-examination.

41. Shri R.C. Desai, learned standing counsel for the revenue appeared along with Shri R.H. Topparani. The relevant documents and papers were filed. First Sri Desai dealt with the point apropos the existence of 'BIAS'. Our attention was invited on the news item in the Times of India dated 21-11-1987 (A-13, p. 22). This is reproduced here as under : An Income-tax Officer probing corporate tax evasion in finding himself in trouble.

Someone is alleged to have forged his signature, opened a bank account in his name and deposited Rs. 9 lakhs. The pay-in-slips were promptly supplied to a Member of Parliament who complained to the Union Finance Minister. The episode came to light last week.

Mr. Gautarn Kar, the ITO in the Central Wing, lives in Bhandup. The two companies exclusively under his charge are Golden Tobacco Company and Godfrey Philips (India) Ltd. Following a complaint that the ITO has been holding huge deposits, the Minister, Mr. N.D. Tiwari, forwarded the matter to the Central Board of Direct Taxes. The vigilance wing of the CBDT began its investigation showed that someone sought to implicate the officer in a trumped-up case.

The pay-in-slips showed that the account was being operated at the Bhandup Branch of the Union Bank of India. The account was in the name of one Gautarn (Gangeshwar) Kar. The account opening form, introductory signature and specimen signature were examined, since the opening of the account on September 21, 1987, Rs. 9 lakhs have been deposited in cash on different occasions and the amount has also been withdrawn.

The signature of Mr. Kar has been forged, according to the investigating team. Bank officials said that the real Mr. Kar was not the one who opened and operated the account, but it was a middle-aged dhoti clad man.

The man who introduced the account-holder said he signed in a blank form as requested by a friend who was a cigarette distributor of Bhandup.

The distributor in his statement said the dhoti-clad man was introduced to him by a wholesale buyer of GTC cigarettes. The dhoti-clad man is yet to be traced.

Meanwhile the vigilance department has found that the officer was not guilty and sent a report accordingly to the CBDT. But income-tax sources say that only a police inquiry will help catch the persons behind this scheme to frame Mr. Kar.

They say that the MP hailing from Uttar Pradesh who brought the, bank pay-in-slips should now identify the complaint. A request has been made to the MP to reveal the identity of the person who supplied the slips. Further action has awaited from Delhi.

Mr. Kar had, after thorough investigation of the GTC affairs, established tax evasion of Rs. 20 crores for the assessment year 1984-85. About 70 bogus accounts were opened to receive the premium sent by GTC dealers back to the manufacturers, according to the income-tax department, but GTC disowned these accounts.

Colleagues of Mr. Kar fear that his life also could be threatened and several attempts had been made to remove him from the post. But, Mr. Kar, with a good service record, continues his investigation into the affairs of the company.

42. Shri Desai referred to the assessee's denial in the News item of "Times of India" dated 27-11-1987 (A-13, pp. 25-26). This is reproduced as under Sir - Our attention has been drawn to your news item (November 22/23) in which a reference is purported to have been made by your correspondent to a statement attributed to a cigarette distributor of GTC Industries Limited saying that he was introduced to a dhoti-clad individual by a person purported to be a wholesale buyer of GTC for opening an account in a bank in the name of an Income-tax Officer having exclusive assessment jurisdiction over GTC and Godfrey Philips India Limited.

The item has also made a reference to alleged tax evasion by GTC Industries Limited in respect of the assessment year-1984-85.

Neither your correspondent nor anybody from your editorial desk cared to get in touch with us to cross-check the correctness or otherwise of these serious allegations against our company.

We state that the items casts aspersions on and implicates GTC in the reported incident and is totally devoid of any truth and is designed to malign and defame our company.

We reiterate that our company has nothing to do in any manner with the alleged opening or operation of any bank account in the name of the Income-tax Officer earlier mentioned in the item.

Further to reference in the item to the income-tax assessment of our company for the assessment year 1984-85 is clearly motivated to defame and malign the company as the said assessment is subjudice and the presumption made, including that of our company having undisclosed bank accounts - are wholly without any foundation of truth and factual evidence. As you are aware high patched tax assessments and arbitrary additions are a common phenomenon and such assessments have to be rectified by taking recourse to the process of law.

The oblique insinuation in the item - that our company had a hand in fixing-up an Income-tax Officer - this to say the least, utterly false mischievous and malicious. We believe in the rule of law and there is no question whatsoever of any threat having been given or caused to be given by anyone in our company to any officer or persons. We categorically state that the allegations made in the item in so far as they are meant to implicate our company in the incident referred to in it are entirely false and clearly meant to cause prejudice against us in the minds of Government officials as also the appellate authorities and to defame us in the eyes of the public at large.

43. Shri Desai pointed out that besides the assessee-company and one other cigarette manufacturing company, certain WBs of assessee were also assessed by Sri Gautam Kar, (ITP). It is not known who is at the root of opening the alleged bank account. The opening of account is a fact. This fact was investigated. It was made abundantly clear that attempt was made to tarnish the reputation of Shri Gautam Kar. But at no point of time Sri Kar made any allegation against the assessee. From this newspaper report, it cannot be concluded that Sri Kar developed bias against the assessee. The news report was not given by Sri Kar. It was not at. the behest of the department. How it has come to the newspaper is best known to the press only. According to Sri Desai, the assessee's contention, apropos the bias in without any merit. It is merely based on bare allegation without any iota of evidence even to suggest that there was reasonable ground for assuming possibility of bias. Shri Desai referred to the subsequent conduct of the assessee and stressed that had there been the slightest possibility of bias, the assessee would have immediately asked for transfer of the case and would not have allowed the proceedings to continue without any contention of bias being raised. In this connection following documents were produced before us : (i) Letter dated 19-12-1987 (R-10, p. 147) wherein the assessee stated as under : We wish to bring to your notice the fact that the show-cause notice F. No. V/PI/15-6/86/B-II, dated 4-4-1986 forms part of adjudicating proceedings which are sub-judice and our parting with the copy is likely to cause prejudice to our hearing before the various authorities. As such kindly do not insist on us to provide you the copy of the above show-cause notice.

The ITO, Central Circle-I" X, Range-II, Old CGO Bldg., Annexure, M.K. Road, Bombay-400 020.

Kindly refer to your show cause letter No. CC-IX/Show Cause/87-88 dated 12-2-1988 received by us in the late hours of 15-1-1988. The material furnished in the aforesaid letter is directly connected with the material furnished in your previous show-cause letters No. CC-IX/87-88 dated 9-12-1987 and CC-IX/87-88 dated 30-12-1987 to which we have already furnished a reply asking for certain vital information, clarifications and requesting you to furnish us separate show-cause notice for each year. In absence of any reply from your end it is not possible for us to proceed further in examining the material furnished by you and preparing just and proper reply for the same. We would request you to expedite your reply....

This letter was addressed to CIT, Central-I. Assessee made a request to transfer the file from Sri Gautarn Kar to another ITO. Sri Desai submitted that copy of the said letter was not endorsed to the ITO, therefore he has no knowledge at all about the letter to the CIT about the transfer of the file. The assessee made allegation against the ITO in its letter dated 17-3-1988 (A-13, p. 46).

44. Mr. Desai submitted that Mr. Gautam Kar spontaneously replied that letter denying any bias in his mind. It was submitted that whatever Sri Kar did was in the execution of his official duty. He had absolutely no bias against the assessee. In the assessment order also at page A-4 Sri Gautam Kar has stated as under : ...All that the undersigned would like to clarify is that the assessee has written a letter marked 'Strictly Confidential' dated 17-3-1988. The allegations made by the assessee about the conduct of the undersigned in the said letter is not correct. The investigation history and various other related issues in this case is being diarised separately in the form of an office note and kept in a sealed cover marked 'Y' and is being appended to the office copy of the assessment order. This is for the review of the appellate authorities. Further the undersigned apprehends sinister motives on the part of the assessee in the letter marked 'Strictly Confidential' dated 17-3-1988. the undersigned understands that the Central Excise authorities at Baroda have already issued show-cause notice to the assessee for evasion of a few hundred crores of rupees during the period under review. Since crores of rupees of revenue by way of income-tax is also involved, the undersigned is of the opinion that in public interest, the assessment order for this and the succeeding year for which assessment proceedings have been taken up simultaneously should be passed expeditiously.

45. Shri Desai also invited our attention on the letter dated 23-3-1988 to CIT (A-13, p. 74). Our attention was also invited on the report appeared in the Times of India dated 23-3-1988. This reads as under : Hours before the Bombay High Court restrained the assessment of income of the Golden Tobacco Company (GTC) by an Income-tax Officer (ITO), the Officer concerned completed the assessment here yesterday and held that the company had concealed income of about Rs. 52 crores in two years.

The dramatic developments in the case resemble the proverbial tale of the hare and the tortoise.

The proceedings between the Income-tax Department and the GTC regarding assessments for the years 1985-86 and 1986-87 began a year ago and the ITO sought a reply from the company on some pending issues.

The company sent a letter on March 17 seeking extension of time till March 21 as March 18 was a state holiday. Also the company has been pressing for the transfer of the case from the ITO concerned Mr.

Gautam Kar, The ITO, having not received the reply on the stipulated time, continued his assessment, completed the order in the morning of March 21 and posted it to the assessee.

The same day, in the afternoon the GTC apparently unaware of the developments in the Income-tax Department, filed a writ petition in the High Court seeking to restrain the ITO from processing the assessment of the company. Mr. Justice G.H. Guttal, passed an order restraining the ITO from processing the assessment of the petitioner-company.

The company in the writ petition alleged that the officer was "prejudiced and biased" against the company and "no justice can be expected from him". The company wrote to the Commissioner to transfer the case from him to another ITO, but the Commissioner did not reply. Because of the "rigid stand" taken by the ITO and because of his "animosity", he should be restrained from processing the assessment files of the company, it was stated.

The company also quoted the reported instance of a bogus bank account opened in the name of the ITO concerned by someone to malign his reputation. The report hinted that one of the aggrieved assessees could have set a trap for the ITO. The GTC had strongly denied it alleged involvement in the episode.

The GTC also denied its links with the alleged bogus accounts detected by the Income-tax Department.

The same Officer had passed an order against the GTC for the year 1984-85 establishing undisclosed income of Rs. 33 crores. The company earned about Rs. 23 crores by way of premium and about Rs. 10 crores by suppressing production, he held. The company has challenged this order before the Appellate Commissioner.

The company had earlier filed writ petitions challenging the ITO's order of imposing a penalty of 150 per cent on this disputed amount of income.

On February 23, another writ petition was filed by the company accusing the department of illegally withholding income-tax refund of Rs. 78 lakhs due for the earlier years. The department filed an affidavit saying that the company had agreed to adjust the refund towards the fresh tax dues and there was no illegality of withholding the refund.

A spokesman for the department said though the company served notice yesterday, the matter was not on the Board and the Government counsel was unaware of the petition. The order was passed ex-parte.

46. Sri Desai contended that there is absolutely no material on record to impute bias against the ITO. The assessee contended on the baseless assumption that there was reasonable apprehension in its mind about the fairness of the administrative justice. One cannot imagine things which do not exist and then make it a foundation for its apprehension. Sri Desai vehemently contended that if it is left to litigant to imagine bias in the mind of the judge without any proof and if he complains of apprehension about the fairness of justice, it would be impossible for a judge to render justice. In that eventuality, a judge who is not favourable will be termed as a biased judge.

47. Coming to the suit proceedings vide advocates note dated 18-3-1988, Sri Desai submitted that Assessing Officer was not legally bound to take cognisance of suit proposed to be filed by the assessee, as the same was barred by Section 293 of the Income-tax Act, 1961. The section reads as under : Section 293. No suit shall be brought in any civil court to set aside or modify any proceeding taken or order made under this Act and no prosecution, suit, or other proceedings, shall lie against the Government or any Officer of the Government for anything in good faith done or intended to be done under this Act.

48. Reliance was placed on the ratio laid down in Sukhdev Chand Asstt.

CIT v. Kashmir Singh Bhullar [1984] 150 ITR 578/[1985] 20 Taxman 436 (Punj. and Har.). Notice was said to be riddled with infirmities. No suit number was mentioned on the same. Assessee did not comply the provisions of Section 81 of the Civil Procedure Code. Mandatory leave of the Court as required by Section 80(2) of CPC was not obtained.

Defendant No. 2 (Union of India) was not served with the required notice. It was, therefore, submitted that mere lodging of the suit papers in the office of the High Court is not sufficient to initiate suit proceedings. There was no evidence that the suit proceedings were initiated before 9.30 A.M. on 21-3-1988. It could not be presumed before hand that Court will dispense with the requirement of notice as required under Section 80(2) of the CPC. It was assumed that Court would not issue even ad-interim stay order without complying with the mandate of Section 80(2) to first serve Notice of Defendants. ITO could not have anticipated that the Court would issue ad-interim injunction ignoring mandatory provision in Section 80(2) of the CPC without first issuing notice to Defendants. ITO was concerned with time barring assessment. He was very much concerned with the interest of revenue. He did thorough investigation over a period of two years in the matter.

The matter was about to be barred by limitation on 31-3-1988. According to Sri Desai, the ground apropos bias was not tenable before the Hon'ble High Court that is how the assessee withdrawn the suit.

49. Coming to the aspect of haste in making assessment, Sri Desai argued that it was not unusual for the Government Officer to put the time of making the order on the order itself. It was explained that in the instant case ITO had to take the most elementary precaution of not only mentioning the date as normally done, but also to indicate the time to avoid any possibility of any charge for having flouted the High Court's order.

50. Sri Desai distinguished the case laws relied upon by the counsel for the assessee. He placed reliance on the following precedents : (i) Duncan Agro Industries Ltd. v. Union of India 1989 (39) ELT 211 (Delhi) It was vehemently argued that there was absolutely no ground whatsoever either on facts or in law for alleging bias on the part of the ITO and the assessee's contention in this regard was baseless and untenable.

51. Apropos, the applicability of the dictum 'Audi Altarm Paltram', Shri Desai submitted that right of cross-examination does not come within the ambit of the rules concerning the natural justice. This right depends upon the facts and circumstances of each case. Shri Desai distinguished the cases relied upon by Sri Dastur on this aspect and submitted that there is no force in the contention that ratio of the decision cited supra, support the view that right of cross-examination is part of natural justice. Sri Desai relied on the following precedents :State of Gujarat v. Mohanlal Jitamalji Porwal [1987] (29) ELT 483 (SC)Union of India v. Tulsiram Palel AIR 52. In regard to the applicability of Justice Pendse's order dated 5-9-1994 in Excise matter, writ petition No. 1805 of 1994 Sri Desai submitted that it did not set out facts of the case, question arising in the case, reasons for the decision and it did not satisfy the tests laid down by the Apex Court in the case of Arun Mahadeorao Damka v.Addl. Inspector General of Police AIR 1986 SC 1497, laying down the need for stating reasons in the orders in Writ Petitions. He further relied on CIT v. Smt. Minal Rameshchandra [1987] 167 ITR 507/30 Taxman 282 (Guj.) and submitted that the order of Justice Pendse does not lay down ratio or principle which is of binding nature and of universal application as a precedent. Facts were not stated in the order. The distinction between the judgment in rem and judgment in personem was made. According to Sri Desai the order dated 5-9-1994 was made in regard to the facts stated in the concerned writ petition. It comes under the category judgment: in personem. Therefore, the ratio of the said order cannot be applied in the present case. As such, it is not binding. To support this contention Sri Desai relied on the following precedents.

1. CIT v. Sun Engg. Works (P.) Ltd. [1992] 198 ITR 297/64 Taxman 442 (SC) 2. Oberoi Hotels (India) (P.) Ltd. v. CBDT [1982] 135 ITR 257/[1981] 7 Taxman 344 (Delhi) 53. Our attention was further invited on the prescriptions of Section 142(3). This section reads as under : The assessee shall, except where the assessment is made under Section 144, be given an opportunity of being heard in respect of any material gathered on the basis of any enquiry under Sub-section (2) or any audit under Sub-section (2A) and proposed to be utilised for the purpose of the assessment." It was submitted that the section does not provide for cross-examination. Had it been the intention of Legislature to provide for cross-examination in all cases, it would have expressly stated so in this provision and would not have used the words "an opportunity of being heard.

Without prejudice to the above, Sri Desai submitted on facts that the Tribunal is required to follow its decision rendered for the assessment year 1984-85. For this, Sri Desai relied on the decision rendered in the case of S.P. Gramphone Co. v. ITAT [1986] 160 ITR 417 (Punj. and Har.) and M.K. Mohammad Kunhi v. CIT [1973] 92 ITR 341 (Ker.) It was stated that the assessee was evading cross-examination of its WBs. In reply to CIT(Appeals)'s notice dated 3rd March, 1992 (A-IV, p.

1 to 8), the assessee selected only 2 WBs out of 100 WBs for cross-examination. The first one from Bombay (Uma Maheshwari) was not traceable. The other Tobaccowalla of Lucknow, had dissolved its firm and was not having books of account for the relevant periods. The assessee merely made a show of comply with the said notice.

Shri Desai also referred to the ITO's notice dated 18-3-1987 (R-ll, p.

23) to show that the assessee did not file affidavits which it had agreed to file in support of its claim that no premium was being generated or charged on sale of cigarettes. Sri Desai also invited our attention on assessee's letter dated 3/6th August, 1992 addressed to the CIT(Appeals) (A-4, p. 74-86).

Further, since it has all along been the case of the assessee that the cigarettes manufactured by it were sold at a premium as alleged and further that no part of such premium ever came back to the assessee, the assessee would like to adduce evidence both oral and documentary in support of its defence before your goodself.

It was submitted with reference to' that letter that Assessing Officer, has given reasonable opportunity to the assessee of being heard. Sri Desai also referred and read out ITO's summons and assessee's replies (R-6, p. 279-281) ITO's letter regarding excise notice (R. 10, p. 148) assessee's reply (R-12 p. 533).

54. Our attention was invited on the prescription of Section 101, 103 and 106 of the Evidence Act. It was submitted that the law has costed initial onus on the assessee and the assessee failed to discharge its burden. It was submitted that all the evidence and material relating to other income and sale of other goods were within the special knowledge of the assessee, the onus to produce the same as per Section 106 was upon the assessee which it had failed to discharge. Sri Desai relied on the decision of Rampyari Devi Sarogi v. CIT [1968] 67 ITR 84 (SC).

55. Coming to the request for cross-examination made by the assessee, Sri Desai submitted as under : (i) No witness has alleged the generation and receipt by the assessee on the sale of its cigarettes to its WBs. Therefore, request for cross examination is not relevant; (ii) No witness has alleged the ownership of the Bank accounts with the assessee. Therefore, no purpose will be served by allowing the assessee to cross-examine the witnesses; (iii) No witness has made any statement in support of the ITO's presumption that the transaction in which the assessee-company received commission were not genuine transaction but were havala transactions. Hence, no purpose will be served by allowing cross examination. Sri Desai emphasised that demand for cross examination had been made in respect of commission income and not other incomes for rendering services etc.

56. Regarding statements/letters of various persons referred to in the statements filed Sri Desai submitted that they were not primary evidence but were "supporting statements/evidence" and were not directly against the assessee.

Sri Desai raised the fundamental issue as to whether the assessee could claim right of cross examination in respect of witnesses whom it should have produced in proof of other receipts of income merely because ITO examined them to satisfy himself. The assessee cannot take advantage of its deliberate omission to examine them. In fact, the assessee should have examined them as its witnesses.

57. Sri Desai read out the statements of Sri V. Sunder and of Damji D.Haria (who did not cross examine V. Sunder). Sri Desai also dealt with each of the items given in the list. He read out the statements/letters of Pawan Bhartya, Ramchandra Bhambhid Mittal, Sunil Bubna and Mukesh Agarwal, which were part of assessment proceedings for the assessment year 1984-85.

58. Sri Desai explained that it was not possible for the revenue to trace credits for drafts to Bank Accounts because of several factors, such as them was considerable time gap between the date of purchase of drafts and their deposit, there were accounts in the same name in different branches or banks, the drafts were often discounted and were deposited in bunches. Referring to the list filed by the assessee concerning the violation of principles of natural justice, Sri Desai invited our attention (c) ITO's notice dated 16-2-1988 (A-12 p. 18, 26) in regard to income from re-distribution of liquor.

Sri Desai also invited our attention on letter dated 12-1-1988, given by the ITO (para-11 of A-12 p. 28). The said letter is reproduced here as under : '11. In ground No. 18 of your grounds of appeal before CIT(Appeals), Central-I, Bombay, for Assessment year 1984-85, you had mentioned : The learned ITO failed to appreciate that the assessee-company's activities were under the constant control of the Central Excise Authorities and that such Central Excise Authorities, even after making extensive searches on the assessee-company in 1982 and 1986, had accepted its production figures and had not made any allegations whatsoever that the assessee-company was earning premium on the sale of its products.' The facts mentioned in this ground of appeal are incorrect to the extent that you were already in receipt of show-cause notice issued by various Collectors of Central Excise for charging premium on sale of your different brands of cigarettes. The receipt of show-cause notices has since been confirmed by you though you have refused to give a copy of the same to the undersigned on grounds that the same will prejudice your adjudication proceedings. I would like to utilise any findings made independently by the Central Excise authorities with regard to charging of premium and/or suppression of production against you if the material is relevant for any assessment year for which assessment is pending.

59. On 5-12-1994 and again on 30-12-1994, the counsel for the assessee filed the list of statement/information/material for the first time and all material relied upon but not furnished, witnesses not offered for cross-examination. Sri Desai objected the revision of lists. Sri Desai pointed out that the list finally given on 30-12-1994 does not bear even the signature of the competent person. Even the written submissions are signed by some person without any designation. Whether he is authorised to sign. From the scribbles it is difficult to find out even the name of the signatory.

60. Sri Desai dealt with Sr. Nos. 1 to 4 of item-A regarding the alleged hawala income of the said list as given on 5-12-1994 and pointed out that all items regarding bank accounts and premium arising from the assessment year 1984-85 were considered by the Tribunal and no cross-examination was allowed. Sri Desai strongly refuted the assessee's contention that cross examination of Shri Alok Dhandhania was not allowed though the ITO, held that he would allow Dhandhania's cross-examination. Apropos the same Sri Desai referred to ITO's letter dated 25-2-1988 (R-10 p. 92) whereby the ITO fixed 3-3-1988 as the date for cross examination of Dhandhania. Neither the assessee nor Ashish Trading Co. appeared on 3-3-1988 though Mr. Dhandhania was present, in response to ITO's summons. ITO on his own accord, provided a second opportunity to the assessee by fixing date for cross examination on 10-3-1988, by his letter (R-10 p. 93) Even o.n that date neither assessee nor Ashish Trading Co. appeared for cross-examining Mr.

Dhandania, who had appeared before the ITO. It was only on the following date that the assessee raised untenable objection that ITO had not issued notice to Ashish Trading Co. to remain present for cross-examination of Mr. Dhandhania. It was pointed out by Sri Desai that assessee claimed that Ashish Trading Co. was its pucca adatiya and all the transactions of purchase and sales were carried by Ashish Trading Co. in its own name. It was submitted that in these circumstances, it was possible on the part of assessee to enforce the presence of Ashish Trading Co. for the conduct of cross-examination of Mr. Dhandhania on his behalf. ITO was under no obligation to call upon Ashish Trading Co. in these circumstances.

61. Sri Desai vehemently contended that principles of natural justice cannot be used to the advantage of person who wants to defeat the very purpose of justice. The principles of natural justice cannot be used to prolong litigation and to gain advantage by dragging the matter. It contemplates the procedural fairness. Assessee was non-cooperative. He did not supply the informations required. He evaded all informations under one or other excuse or pretext. Intention was to gain time.

According to Sri Desai ITO acted in consonance with the canons of law.

There is no flaw in the order. There is no violation of the principles of natural justice.

62. We have heard the rival submissions in the light of the material placed before us and the precedents relied upon. The essential characteristic of what is often called "Natural Justice" is put by Romans in two maxims - This may be put in two words "Impartiality" and "Fairness". Natural justice shot into prominence for the first time through the decision given by Lord Coke in Dr. Bonham's case (1610) 8 Co. Rep. 107. Henry VIII had granted to the Royal College of Physicians, the power to license persons to practise medicine in London. Amount the powers granted was the power to fine and imprison any one who practiced medicine without obtaining permission of the Royal College. The fine levied by the College was to be shared equally between the King and the College. Thomas Bonham, who was a Doctor of Medicine of Cambridge University, ignored the Royal College of Physicians and set up practice in London without taking the required certificate from the College. Dr.

Bonham fined by the College and was imprisoned. A suit for false imprisonment was filed by him. Chief Justice Coke gave judgment in favour of Dr. Bonham and stated : The Censors (of the Royal College) cannot be judges, ministers and parties; Judges to give sentence or judgment, ministers to make summons and parties to have the moiety of the forfeiture; and one cannot be judge an attorney for any of the parties.

63. This case did not propound for the first time the principles of natural justice. It only limelighted a principle of Roman Law which is embodied in the dictum: Nemo Index in Causa Sua. This rule was accepted under the common law also. Thus though this rule judicially noted by Lord Coke in 1610, the second rule of natural justice i.e., Audi Alteram Partem had to wait for judicial notice till 1723. One Dr.

Bentley was served with an originating process from the University of Cambridge. He not only ignored the process but went even to the extent of suggesting that the Vice-Chancellor acted like a fool. Without hearing Mr. Bentley in his defence the University straightaway deprived him of his degrees. Thereupon, Dr. Bentley sought redress in the Court of Justice. The Court of Kings Bench declared the action of the University a nullity on the ground that they had failed to give Dr.

Bentley an opportunity of appearing before the University and presenting his case. The principle of Audi Alteram Partem was enunciated with religious refinement by Fortescue, J. in these terms: The laws of God and man both give the party an opportunity to make his defence if he has any. I remember, to have heard it observed by very learned man upon such an occasion, that even God himself did not pass sentence upon Adem, before he was called upon to make his defence. Adam (says God) where art thou? Has thou not eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou should not eat? And the same question was put to Eve also. (R.V. The Chancellor, Master and Scholars of the University of Cambridge 1723-IS Lr. 557).

64. The twin principles that constitute the rules of natural justice received particular attention from judges for the purpose of exercising their supervisory jurisdiction.

Lord Hewart, C.J. in 1924 stretched Bias into a tight rope when he said in R.V. Susex Justice, ex parte McCarthy [1924] 1 K.B. 256 : A long line of cases shows that it is not merely of some importance but is of fundamental importance that justice should not only be done, but should manifestly and undoubtedly be seen to be done.

"Audi Alteram Partem", contemplates that notice of the case to be met and opportunity to explain the same be given. This rule is universally respected. Duty to offer a fair hearing is duty lying upon everyone who decides some thing in exercise of legal power. Rule of natural justice cannot be sacrificed at the altar of administrative convenience or celerity; Convenience and justice as Lord Atkin felicitiously put it -are often not on speaking terms. It is said that the rules of natural justice are written by the fingers of the nature upon the heart of a man. A judge of the Supreme Court of the United States of America, said "Procedural fairness and regularity are indisputable essence of liberty...substantive laws can be endured if they are fairly and impartially applied". He went on to say "that it might be preferable to live under Russian Laws applied by common law procedures" than under the common law, enforced by the Russian procedures. Another Judge observed : The history of liberty is largely been the history of observance of procedural safeguards.

(iii) the judge should have no bias i.e., pecuniary bias, or personal bias; and (iv) the decision given must be reasoned one and therefore, the decision must be proceeded by a speaking order, which enumerates the reason for coming to a particular conclusion. The "American Due Process of Law" postulates: - (a) notice, (b) opportunity to be heard; (c) an impartial tribunal; and (d) an orderly course of procedure.

66. The concept of 'natural justice' is comprised of many colours and shades and many forms and shapes, it is easy to proclaim, but very difficult to define. No doubt, it is true that the concept of natural justice is not very clear and, therefore, it is not possible to define it; yet the principles of natural justice are universally accepted and enforced. As against criticism of vagueness of concept of natural) justice, Lord Reid in the historic decision of Ridge v. Baldwin 1964 AC 40 observed :- In the modern times opinions have sometimes been expressed to the effect that natural justice is so vague as to be practically meaningless. But I would regard these as tainted by the perennial fallacy that because something cannot be cut and dried or nicely weighed or measured, therefore, it does not exist....

67. We now proceed to decide the is$ue apropos the existence of: BIAS as alleged by the assessee against Shri Oautam Kar (ITO). The first maxim of natural justice "Nemo Judex in Causa Sua "is based on three principles : (ii) justice should not only be done but manifestly and undoubtedly be seen to be done; (iii) judges, like Ceasor's wife should be above suspicion and, therefore, anything which tends or may be regarded as tending to cause such a person to decide a case otherwise than on evidence must be held to be biased.

The word 'bias' as a noun is derived from the French word 'bias' meaning oblique as opposed to straight. The English term 'bias' has reference to the game of bowls wherein it means the weight on one side of a bowl, which gives it a tendency to diverge from straight line when running. Hence, the word has come to mean prejudice; show of favour or disfavour; antagonism; spite; hostility; prepossession that sways the mind. As a verb it means to influence; to prejudice; to prepossess (often unduly).

68. The 'BIAS' which will violate the principles of natural justice may be of three types: It is well settled that as regards pecuniary interest, the least pecuniary interest in the subject-matter of the litigation will disqualify any person from acting as a judge. At the outset, it was made clear that the assessee had absolutely no allegation in regard to the pecuniary bias.

The personal bias may be due to pre-dialectal or personal relationships to one of the parties. Here the judge may be a relative, friend or business associate of a party or he may be personally hostile as a result of an event occurring either or before or during the course of trial.

Official bias, may arise when the judge has a general interest in the subject- matter. In the instant case only personal bias was alleged against the ITO.69. We have heard Shri Gautam Kar also against whom the bias was alleged. It was stated by him that he had absolutely no personal bias against the assessee. He only discharged his duty in conformity with the canons of law.

70. Sri Dastur adumbrated the existence of BIAS on the basis of the following facts: (ii) sequence of events leading to the passing of the assessment order go to show that the ITO had bias against the assessee; (iii) conduct of the ITO in declining to disclose material and prayer of cross-examination reflects bias; (iv) the conduct of the ITO in allowing cross-examination only to Alok Dhandhania and that too in a restricted manner shows bias; (v) commencement of dictation of assessment order without being waiting for the assessee to reply for the show-cause notice dated 14-3-1988; (vi) passing of the assessment order at 9.30 A.M. on 21-3-1988 and posting the same by insured and registered post notwithstanding the fact that the notice was served on him by the appellant's advocate-regarding High Court suit; (vii) the contents of the news report of March 1988 showing that the Assessing Officer went to the press.

71. Sri Dastur placed strong reliance on the decisions rendered by the Apex Court in the case of L.K. Ratna (supra) and Manak Lal's case (supra). According to Sri Dastur, these decisions laid down the general proposition that reasonable apprehension of the existence of bias, vitiates order. The bias need not arise only because the adjudicating authority had previously participated in the proceedings. In the case of L.K. Ratna (supra), the Apex Court observed thus : (at p. 14) - The nature of the function discharged by the Council in rendering its finding is quasi-judicial and we are reminded of the observations of this court as far back as Manak Lal v. Dr. Premchand [1957] SCR 575 at pp. 580 and 581; AIR 1957 SC 5 at page 429 : It is well settled that every member of a Tribunal that is called upon to try issues in judicial or quasi-judicial proceedings must be able to act judicially; and it is of the essence of judicial decisions and judicial administration that judges should be able to act impartially, objectively and without any bias. In such cases the test is not whether in fact a bias has affected the judgment; the test always is and must be whether a litigant could reasonably apprehend that a bias attributable to a member of the Tribunal might have operated against him in the final decision of the Tribunal. It is in this sense that it is often said that justice must not only be done but must also appear to be done.

72. Contextually, it would be apt to consider the facts on the basis of which the abovesaid observation was made by the Supreme Court. We find that the facts as given in the case are - Manak Lal's case (supra).

The Bar Council Tribunal appointed to make enquiry into the alleged misconduct of the appellant who was an advocate of the Rajasthan High Court, consisted of three members with one 'C as its Chairman.

C had filed his Vakalat on behalf of the opposite parties in proceedings under Section 145, Criminal P.C. on 23-8-1952 and had in fact argued the case on that date. The appellant had acted as a pleader for applicants in Section 145 proceedings out of which the misconduct proceedings arose.

73. Reading the facts of the case, we find that the observation : "justice should not only be done but should be seen to have been done", was made contextually. It is important that no room be left for causing any doubt or suspicion, while discharging the judicial functions.

Judges like Ceasor's wife should be above suspicion. If son of a judge appears before him to plead a case as an advocate, it is not always necessary that the judge will bestow favour to him. A judge of integrity will remain impartial. But the mere proximity of relationship may create doubt in the minds of the people. They may think that the scale of justice tilted because of the closeness or kinship; and the case was decided not on the basis of case law but face law. In the background of like situation the Apex Court laid down, that a reasonable apprehension of existence of bias vitiates an order. It is important that assessee must have sufficient grounds to conceive such apprehension. He cannot put such a grave charge in a light manner.

We now come to the various aspects dealt with at the time of hearing concerning the apprehension of bias. First we come ot the news item in the Times of India dated 21-11-1987. This is reproduced at para 41 of the order. This news item was given by Sri S. Kumar. He is not connected with the assessee. The news item describes that someone opened a bank account in the name of Sri Gautam Kar and deposited Rs. 9 lakhs. Complaint was made with the Minister Shri N.D. Tiwari, against the Officer. Investigation made against Officer revealed that Sri Gautam Kar was innocent. The signature of Sri Kar was forged by some dhoti clad man. It is not known who did this mischief. ITO did not make any allegation against the assessee. The matter left to be investigated by the due procedure of law.

Sri Desai relied on the case of Duncan Agro Industries Ltd (supra) wherein it was held that mere possibility of bias is not enough to disqualify Director (Audit) to function as adjudicating Officer - strong probability required for disqualification when institutional bias alleged. This judgment was rendered in the context of reward scheme.

Ordinarily an authority is disqualified from adjudicating whenever circumstance points to a real likelihood that he will have a bias, by which is meant an operative prejudice whether conscious or unconscious in relation to a party or issue before him.

But in case of the nature before me for upholding an abstract principle of law the Court will not allow such a plea to be raised at the instance of a party against whom large scale evasion of public revenue is alleged. If in such a case a party is granted relief on this score that would shake the public confidence in the judicial process of this country.

74. In regard to the news item appeared in the Times of India dated 23-3-1988 (vide para-45), Sri Dastur alleged that facts in question were within the knowledge of the ITO. He has gone to the extent of saying that Assessing Officer himself went to the press to tell this news. We find absolutely no merit in this contention. There is no material on record to show that the news was given to the press at the behest of the ITO. Press collects information from various sources. It cannot be said that news was parted by Sri Gautam Kar and more so, this reflects bias in his mind. It would be injustice to Sri Gautam Kar, to say, that he was instrumental in bringing out the news. We, therefore, find no merit in this argument of the assessee.

75. We now come to the chronology of relevant dates, which according to Sri Dastur, demonstrate 'patent bias'. It is to be kept in mind that matter was getting time-barred on 31 st day of March, 1988. The Assessing Officer was given exclusive jurisdiction, of the assessment of cigarette manufacturing units, having their registered office at Bombay. Necessary infrastructure was provided to him to enable him to conduct investigation in an organised and systematic manner. The result of investigation we find is reflected in the order also. In this case we find that some problem cropped up in the preceding year, when on the basis of material supplied by the Excise authorities, revenue proceeded investigation against the assessee. For the relevant assessment year, show-cause notice was issued on 23-2-1988.

On 14-3-1988, ITO given the letter to the assessee. (A-13 p. 44). The assessee did not give any reply as to the desired informations. Instead by letter dated 17-3-1988, he alleged 'BIAS' against the ITO, on the basis of newspaper report. We find nothing wrong in asking for the details. These details were asked on the basis of some informations. It was incumbent on the assessee to meet with the requisition. The assessment was completed as it was getting time-barred.

76. In regard to the contention that bias can be apprehended because ITO declined to disclose material and permit cross-examination and allowed cross-examination of Alok Dhandhania in a restricted manner, we are of the opinion that this does not prove the existence of bias.

77. Apropos the cognizance of suit, proposed to be filed by the assessee, our attention was invited on the decision of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in the case of Kashmir Singh Bhullar (supra). In this case it was held that mere allegations of mala fide cannot confer jurisdiction on a court which it otherwise lacks. Section 293 of the Income-tax Act, 1961, specifically bars the jurisdiction of civil courts in proceedings under the Income-tax Act and hence, an allegation of mala fides, on the part of the authorities, will not invest the civil court with jurisdiction to try such a suit.

We have also noted that suit proceedings vide advocate's note dated 18-3-1988, were not initiated in the Court or filed in the Court. No suit number was mentioned on the notice. Provisions of Section 81 of the Civil Procedure was not complied with. Mandatory leave of the Court, as required under Section 82 of the CPC, was not obtained. This could as well turned to be a mere threat for stopping the proceedings.

Since the case was getting time-barred by limitation, ITO with a view to safeguard the interest of revenue proceeded to complete the case.

There is nothing wrong in mentioning the time. This was probably done by way of abundant caution. We find that ITO did not disobey the order of any Court. No malice or bias can be inferred against the ITO on this count. The integrity of the officer was not questioned. He was discharging his duties in the lawful manner. No material was placed before us to show that at any point of time ITO defined the norms of law. Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case and after considering the precedents relied upon, we are of the opinion that the case of the assessee does'nt come within the ken of the maxim: "Nemo Judex in Causa Sua". Appellant failed to prove BIAS against Sri Gautm Kar, ITO. The assessment order is, therefore, not vitiated by BIAS.78. Now we come to the applicability of the judgment of the Bombay High Court rendered by justice Pendse. We have reproduced the copy of the judgment at para 23. Admittedly, the judgment was rendered in the context of Excise Writ Petition No. 1805 of 1994. It transpires from the perusal of the order that it did not set out the facts of the case, question arising in the case, reasons for the decision. The tests laid down by the Apex Court in the case of Arun Mahadeorao Danuka (supra) was not satisfied.

79. The Hon'ble Bombay High Court in the case of Thana Electricity Supply Ltd. (supra) followed the following observation of the Apex Court in MumbaiKamgar Sabha v. AbdulbhaiFaizullabhai AIR 1976 SC 1455 (at pages 1467-1468): It is trite, going by Anglophonic principles, that a ruling of a superior court is binding law. It is not of scriptural sanctity but is of ratio -wise luminosity within the edifice of facts where the judicial lamp plays the legal flame. Beyond those walls and de hors the milieu we cannot impart eternal vernal value of the decision exalting the doctrine of precedents into a prison-house of bigotry, regardless of varying circumstances and myriad developments. Realism dictates that a judgment has to be read, subject to the facts directly presented for consideration and not affecting those matters which may lurk in the record. Whatever be the position of a subordinate court's casual observations, generalisations and subsilentio determinations must be judiciously read by courts of co-ordinate jurisdiction.

A case is a precedent for what it explicitly decides and nothing more. The words used by judges are not to be read as if they are words used in an Act of Parliament. These words are not used after weighing the pros and cons of all conceivable situations that may arise. They constitute ajust the reasoning of the judges in the particular case, tailored to a given set of facts and circumstances.

What is made relevant and binding is only the ratio decidendi and no more. The careful drafting - perhaps with reference to analogous statutes - the multiple reading in the Legislature and the discussions which go behind the making of a statute inject a certain degree of sanctity and definiteness of meaning to the words used by the Legislature. The same cannot be said of a judgment which deals only with the particular fact situation on hand. It will be too much to ascribe and read precise meaning to words in a precedent which the judges who wrote them may not have had in mind at all. Equally, it is not possible to impute an intent to render a decision on a point which was not before them and which they never intended to deal with, even though such an inference may seem to flow logically from the ratio decidendi of the case.

81. In the case of Sun Engg. Works (P.) Ltd. (supra), the Supreme Court has held as under: It is neither desirable nor permissible to pick out a word or a sentence from the judgment of the Supreme Court divorced from the context of the question under consideration and treat it to be the complete law declared by the Court. The judgment must be read as a whole and the observation from the judgment have to be considered in the light of the questions which were before the Court. A decision of the Supreme Court takes its colour from the questions involved in the case in which it is rendered and while applying the decision to a later case, courts must carefully try to ascertain the true principle laid down by the decision.

A precedent is an authority only for what it actually decided and not what may remotely or even logically follow from it.

What the great philosopher said about time and flux can relate to law as well. Scriptural sanctity but is of ratiowise luminosity within the edifice of facts where the judicial lamp plays the legal flame.

It is important to note that the decision of justice Pendse was rendered in the context of Excise laws. Not in the context of Income-tax Act, facts are not discussed in the order. Reasons are not given. It is binding on the Excise authorities. Its scope cannot be elongated so as to include the IT. Authorities also.

"Audi Alterm Partem". While arguing the 'opportunity' aspect, Shri Dastur stated that the principles of natural justice have been was not given to the assessee. To support this the learned counsel relied on precedents. We examine the applicability of the same in the facts of the present case.

The rules of natural justice do require that normally speaking, if the statement of a person is intended to be used as evidence against a party, it must be made available to the party against whom it is intended to be used and such party must be given a fair opportunity to explain the same or comment on it. What would amount to fair opportunity would depend upon the facts and circumstances of each case. If such a party makes a request to be allowed to cross-examine the person, who made the statement, for the purpose of meeting the statement or with a view to commenting thereon, such a request cannot, save in exceptional or special cases, be denied without violating the principles of natural justice.

86. In the case of V.K. Batcha Mohideen v. Joint Commercial Tax Officer [1971] 28 STC 450 (Mad.) the Court held : The principles of natural justice have a very wide and extensive field for action. They enfold within their net the activities of the revenue in problems of taxation as well. They are not circumscribed to civil actions, since their arms can extend even to correct errors committed by taxing authorities in exercise of statutory powers under the taxation laws of the State.

87. Shri Desai in this connection invited our attention on the ratio of T. Devasahaya Nadar v. CIT [1964] 51 ITR 20 (Mad.), wherein it was held: It cannot be laid down as a general proposition of law that the Income-tax Department cannot rely upon any evidence which has not been subjected to cross-examination.

An ITO occupies the position of a quasi-judicial Tribunal and is not bound by the rules of the Evidence Act, but he must act in consonance with natural justice and one such rule is that he should not use any material against an assessee without giving the assessee an opportunity to meet it. He is not bound to divulge the source of his information. There is no denial of natural justice if the ITO refuses to produce an informant for cross-examination though if a witness is examined in the presence of the assessee, the assessee must be allowed to cross-examine him. The range of natural justice is wide and whether or not there has been violation of natural justice would depend on the facts and circumstances of the case.State of Punjab v. Bhagat Ram [1975] 1 SCC 155 (SC), the respondent was dismissed as a result of departmental enquiry and he filed a suit for declaration that his dismissal was illegal on the ground that copies of the statements recorded by the Vigilance Department during preliminary enquiry were not supplied. The dismissal was set aside by the trial Court and the decision was upheld by the Court. Thereafter, the State filed appeal for the certificate. The Apex Court held that: Unless the previous statements of witnesses are supplied the dismissed person will not be able to have an effective and useful cross-examination and therefore, it is unfair to deny the Government servant copies of the earlier statements of witnesses. Synopsis of the statements will not satisfy the requirements of reasonable opportunity to show cause against the action proposed to be taken.

89. In the case of Mohanlal Jitamalji Porwal (supra). It was held as under (at page 488): Ends of justice are not satisfied only when the accused in a criminal case is acquitted. The Community acting through the State "and the Public Prosecutor is also entitled to justice. The cause of the Community deserves equal treatment at the hands of the Court in the discharge of its judicial functions. The Community of the State is not a persona-non-grata whose cause may be treated with disdain.

The entire Community is aggrieved if the economic offenders who ruin the economy of the State are not brought to books. A murder may be committed in the heat of moment upon passions being aroused. An economic offence is committed with cool calculation and deliberate design with an eye on personal profit regardless of the consequence to the Community. A disregard for the interest of the Community can be manifested only at the cost of forfeiting the trust and faith of the Community in the system to administer justice in an even handed manner without fear of criticism from the quarters which view white collar crimes with a permissive eye unmindful of the damage done to the National Economy and National interest.

Ordinarily the principle of natural justice is that no man shall be a Judge in his own cause and that no man should be condemned unheard. This letter doctrine is known as audi alterant partem. It is on this principle that natural justice ensures that both sides should be heard fairly and reasonably. A part of this principle is that if any reliance is- record must be placed on evidence or record against a person then that evidence or record must be placed before him for his information, comment and criticism. That is all that is meant by the doctrine of, audi alterant partem. That no party should be condemned unheard. No natural justice requires that there should be a kind of a formal cross-examination. Formal cross-examination is procedural justice. It is governed by rules of evidence. It is the creation of Courts and not a part of natural justice but of legal and statutory justice. Natural justice certainly includes that any statement of a person before it is accepted against somebody else, that somebody else should have an opportunity of meeting it wheather it (sic), by way of interrogation or by way of comment does not matter. So long as the party charged has a fair and reasonable opportunity to see, comment and criticise the evidence, statement, or record on which the charge is being made against him, the demands and the test of natural justice are satisfied. Cross-examination in that sense is not the technical cross-examination in a Court of law in the witness box.

91. In the case of Satellite Engg. Ltd. (supra). The jurisdictional High Court has held that: It is true that the Department must disclose every information to the petitioner in which the Department intend to rely in the departmental proceedings. If the copies of the letters containing the price offered were handed over to the petitioner with a slip pasted on the name of the intended importer. From this material, it was for the petitioners to establish that the value quoted in these quotations was not the proper value and in case the Department is compelled to give the name or to produce such intending importers for cross-examination in departmental proceedings, it will well-nigh be impossible together any material in future. Therefore, it cannot be said that there was violation of natural justice specially when the name of the exporter sending the quotations was disclosed to the petitioner.

...The complaint of the appellant now is that all the persons from whom enquiries were alleged to have been made by the authorities should have been produced to enable it to cross-examine them.

In our opinion, the principles of natural justice do not require that in matters like this the persons who have been given information should be examined in the presence of the appellant or should be allowed to be cross-examined by them on the statement made before the Custom Authorities. Accordingly, we hold that there is no force in the third contention of the appellant.

There is no force in the second point because we do not read the impugned order as having wrongly placed the burden on the appellant.

What the impugned order does is that it refers to the evidence on the record which militates against the version of the appellant and then states that the appellant had not been able to meet the in ferences arising therefrom. In our opinion, the High Court was right in holding that the burden of proof had shifted on to the appellant after the Custom Authorities had informed appellant of the results of the enquiries and investigations.

93. In the case of Tulsiram Patel (supra). The Apex Court has held that: So far as the 'audi alterant partm' rule is concerned, both in England and in India, it is well-established that where a right to a prior notice and an opportunity to be heard before an order is passed would obstruct the taking of prompt action, such a right can be excluded. This right can also be excluded where the nature of the action to be taken, its object and purpose and the scheme of the relevant statutory provisions warrant its exclusion; nor can the audi alterant partem rule be invoked if importing it would have the effect of paralysing the administrative process or where the need for promptitude or the urgency of taking action so demands.

94. DCW Ltd. 's case (supra), para 11 of the said decision (p. 237) is reproduced here as under : The Supreme Court had an occasion to consider the applicability of the principles of natural justice in a recent case in R.S. Dass v. Union of India AIR 1967 SC 593. The Supreme Court in Chairman, Board of Mining Examination v. Ramjee AIR 'Natural justice is no unruly horse, no lurking land mine, nor a judicial cure all. If fairness is shown by the decision maker to the man proceeded against, the form, features and the fundamentals of such essential processual propriety being conditional by the facts and circumstances of such situation, no breach of natural justice can be complained of. Unnatural expansion of natural justice, without reference to the administrative realities and other factors of a given case, can be exasperating. We can neither be finical nor financial but should be flexible yet firm in this jurisdiction....

95. Sri Desai submitted that the rules of natural justice are not rigid rules, they are flexible and their application depends upbn the setting and background of statutory provision, nature of the right which may be effected and the consequences which may entail its application depends upon the facts and circumstances of each case. It was stressed that natural justice is mistress and not the master of justice. It is used to support the cause of justice. It can never be used to defeat the cause of justice.

Sri Dastur pointed out that the Apex Court in K. T. Shaduli Grocery Dealer's case (supra) made it clear that cross-examination, if asked for, must be granted. In the case of Hira Nath Mishra v. Principal, Rajendra Medical College AIR 1973 SC 1260, the Supreme Court came across with an unusual situation which demanded a highly particular approach. The Court was concerned with the complaints regarding molestation of girl students. In exceptional cases the requirement may be waived. The case of the assessee does not fall in the category of exceptional cases. In the light of cases discussed hereinbefore, it was pleaded that great injustices given to the assessee.

We have perused the decisions cited before us. The judicial climate on this point is thickly clouded with plethora of precedents. This point has created chaos in judicial cosmos. The result is that, as was observed in the case of Kishanlal Agarwalla (supra), "the danger of confusion has become real and natural justice is on the misleading road of sentimental potentiates." The law will never be entirely clear to any judge, just as a beautiful woman is always a bit of mystery to her lover. Were it otherwise each would lose part of her charm. But the wise judge, like the wise lover, will be the master of his true love, although he may not understand her completely and though she is sometimes too difficult for him." -Trial Judge (at page 27) 96. The appellant's basic contention is that the statement of witnesses and materials which are relied upon by the Assessing Officer in the assessment order to reach the conclusions and findings which are adverse to the assessee should be disclosed to the appellant and the witnesses should be offered for cross-examination. Supreme Court in the case of Suraj Mall Mohta and Co. (supra) laid down : the assessee ordinarily has the fullest right to inspect the records and all documents and materials that are 'to be used against him.

Under the provisions of Section 37 of the Indian Income-tax Act the proceedings before the Income-tax Officer are judicial proceedings and all the incidents of such judicial proceedings have to be observed before the result is arrived at. In other words, the assessee would have a right to inspect the record and all relevant documents before he is called upon to lead evidence in rebuttal.

97. In the case of K.T. Shaduli Grocery Dealer (supra), it was held (at p. 1631): ... the usual mode recognized by law for proving fact is by production of evidence and evidence includes oral evidence of witnesses. The opportunity to prove the correctness of completeness of the return would, therefore, necessarily carry with it the right to examine witnesses and that would include equally the right to cross-examine witnesses examined by the Sales-tax Officer. Here in the present case the return filed by the assessee appeared to the STO to be incorrect and incomplete because certain sales appearing in the books of Hazi Usmankutty and other wholesale dealers were not shown in the books of account of the assessee. The STO relied on the evidence furnished by the entries in the books of account of Hazi Usmankutty and other wholesale dealers for the purpose of coming to the conclusion that the return filed by the assessee was incorrect or incomplete. Placed in these circumstances, the assessee could prove the correctness and completeness of his return only by showing that the entries in the books of account of Hazi Usmankutty and other wholesale dealers were false, bogus or manipulated and that the return submitted by the assessee should not be disbelieved on the basis of such entries and this obviously, the assessee could not do, unless he was given an opportunity of cross-examining Hazi Usmankutty and other wholesale dealers with reference to their accounts. Since the evidentiary material procured from or produced by Hazi Usmankutty and other wholesale dealers was sought to be relied upon for showing that the return submitted by the assessee was incorrect and incomplete the assessee was entitled to an opportunity to have Hazi Usmankutty and other wholesale dealers summoned as witnesses for cross-examination. It can hardly be disputed that cross-examination is one of the most efficacious methods of establishing truth and exposing falsehood. Here, it was not disputed on behalf of the revenue that the assessee in both cases applied to the STO for summoning Hazi Usmankutty and other wholesale dealers for cross-examination but his application was turned down by the STO. This act of the STO in refusing to summon Hazi Usmankutty and other wholesale dealers for cross-examination by the assessee clearly constituted infraction of the right conferred on the assessee by the second part of the proviso and that vitiated the orders of assessment made against the assessee.

98. It is pertinent to note that in the case of M.K. Thomas (supra), it was held that the decision in K.T. Shaduli Grocery Dealer's case (supra), cannot be understood as recognising a right of cross-examination as an invariable attribute of the requirements of reasonable opportunity. The Apex Court has stated the rule with sufficient elasticity and amplitude as to make the right depend on the terms of the statute, the nature of the proceedings or of the function exercised, the conduct of the party and the circumstances of the case.

99. "Whether in a particular case the particular party should have the right to cross-examine or not depends upon the facts and circumstances of a particular case. This is so, because the right to cross-examine is not necessarily a part of reasonable opportunity." This view was taken by the Calcutta High Court in the case of Manindra Nath Chatterjee (supra). Thus in a given case the rule of audi alterant partem may impost a requirement that witnesses whose statements are sought to be relied upon by the authority holding the enquiry should be permitted to be cross-examined by the party affected while in some other case it may not.

100. In the case of Kishanchand Chellaram (supra), the Apex Court was concerned with the evidence which was to be used against the assessee.

This was in the form of letter from the Manger of a Bank through which money was remitted. This letter was not shown to the assessee.

Therefore, evidence was held not to be admissible. It was held that opportunity to controvert should be given to the assessee.

The concept of natural justice is not a static one but is an ever expanding concept. In the initial stages it was thought that it had only two elements, namely, (i) no one shall be a judge in his own cause and (it) no one shall be condemned unheard. With the passage of time a third element was introduced, namely of procedural reasonableness because the main objective of the requirement of rule of natural justice is to promote justice and prevent its miscarriage.

102. In the case of Mahendra Eleclricals Ltd. (supra), it was held that: The opportunity to cross-examine the witness who has made adverse report should not be denied, to the opposite party.

103. The concept and contents of natural justice go on changing.

Natural justice is a living organism, advanced from time to time.

Courts are giving new dimensions to the principles of natural justice.

The principles embodied reflect the value of the society accepted for time being. The change is a fact of life. Every living thing takes new shape, new dimension with the flux of time. Hon'ble Supreme Court has observed in 44 STC 61 (sic): It must be remembered that law is not a mausoleum. It is not an antique to be taken down, dusted, admired and put back on the shelf.

It is rather like and old but vigorous tree, having its roots in history yet continuously taking new grafts and putting out new sprout and occasionally dropping dead words. It is essentially a social process, the end product of which is justice and hence, it must keep on growing and developing with changing social concepts and values. Otherwise, there will be estrangement between law and justice and law will cease to have legitimacy.

104. 'No riddle is more difficult to solve, none has more persistently engaged the attention of thoughtful mind', says Allen, than the problem of the natural sense of justice. We have carefully considered the profile of the subject in the light of the latest developments.

Principles of justice prohibit, determination without hearing.

[Terminer sans over] Similarly, hearing without determination [Over sans Terminer] is also interdicted by the finer norms of justice. That all is required is impartial and fair hearing and determination of disputes with utmost promptitude. The question whether or not any rules of natural justice had been contravened, should be decided not under any preconceived notions but in the light of the statutory rules and provisions. The violation or otherwise of any rule of natural justice must be a matter of substance not of mere form. It is important to keep in mind the caveat issued by the Apex Court AIR 1977 SC 965 that unnatural expansion of natural justice, without reference to the administrative realities and other factors of a given case, can be exasperating.

105. In our opinion right to cross-examine the witness who made adverse report, is not an invariable attribute of the requirement of the dictum, 'audi alteram partern'. The principles of natural justice do not require formal cross-examination. Formal cross-examination is a part of procedural justice. It is governed by the rules of evidence and is the creation of Court. It is part of legal and statutory justice and not a part of natural justice, therefore, it cannot be laid down as a general proposition of law that the revenue cannot rely on any evidence which has not been subjected to cross-examination.

However, if a witness has given directly incriminating statement and the addition in the assessment is based solely or mainly on the basis of such statement, in that eventuality it is incumbent on the Assessing Officer to allow cross-examination.

Adverse evidence and material, relied upon in the order, to reach the finality, should be disclosed to the assessee. But this rule is not applicable where the material or evidence used is of Collateral Nature.

106. Adverting to the facts of the present case, we find that the Assessing Officer made addition on account of the clandestine premium alleged to have been received by the assessee on the sale of cigarettes. The factum of the premium collection is mainly based on the edifice of the following facts:- (i) Analysis of the assessee's finance results revealed that the assessee sustained "Loss From Sale of Cigarettes", to the tune of Rs. 20,59,57,913. (see para-6); (ii) Invoice price of the cigarettes as reflected by the assessee in its record was less than the manufacturing cost. (see para-7); (iii) Impact of Excise Duty on the trade and the observation of the Technical Study Group of Central Excise Tariff, 1985. (see paras-8 and 9); 107. It is relevant to see that how the amount of premium was calculated. On what basis it was worked out. We find that the entire calculation [as given on page No. G-22 A, of the assessment order] is based on the ' Twin Branding Principle'. First the difference between the ex-factory price of a particular brand and its high price twin was worked out. Amount so arrived at was multiplied by the volume.

Resultantly came the figure of Rs. 29,11,68,078. Out of that Rs. 2,91,16,807 [10 per cent] got deducted. It was attributed to the share of WB's who were privy to such clandestine operations. Finally a sum of Rs. [29,11,68,078 - 2,91,16,807] = Rs. 26,20,51, 271 rounded off to Rs. 26,20,51,000 added in the total income.

108. To support the addition on account of premium recourse was made to the Pricing and Marketing Policies, adopted by the assessee and other incidental details. Modus operandi was examined. It was found that- (i) Large amount was remitted by different unrelated and unconnected WB's, in the form of demand drafts, in fictitious names to Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi, etc. and these demand drafts were encashed either through bank account standing in the same name as that of the payees or else were discounted.

(ii) The advertisement expenses of the assessee-company were incurred through these secret bank accounts.

(iii) Assessee-company donated the funds out of these secret bank accounts, viz., donation to Methodist Church out of transfer of funds from the a/c. of H.K. Patel (in assessment year 1984-85) and donation to the Festival of India Committee out of transfer of funds from the a/c. of Shree Associated [current A/c. No. 1724 in Indian Overseas Bank, Bandra West]. This amount was given at the behest of Sri Sanjay Dalmia, President-cum-Director-General of the Company.

(iv) One of such bank a/c. was in the name of Moonlight Finance.

This was with the Punjab & Sind Bank, Scindia House Branch, New Delhi. The account holder given the following address : This was also the office address of Mr. Umesh Khaitan, Sitting Director of the assessee-company.

(v) Amounts in the shape of commissions, profits on sale of goods other than cigarettes, technical and supervision charges, etc., were re-introduced in the assessee's a/c. by means of havala entries.

In view of the above, Assessing Officer concluded that assessee-company had nexus with the secret Bank a/c's. Thus he supported the 'premium theory' with reference to the abovesaid facts. Out of the total amount of addition on account of premium, Assessing Officer deducted, inter alia, the following: trading and supervision charges Rs. 8,66,32,171(ii) Advertisement expenses outside books Rs. 2,60,00,000 109. The material gathered by the DRI in the course of search which was passed on the Income-tax Department given the clue. Assessing Officer made independent investigation. The analysis of the financial results revealed that the assessee sustained loss from the sale of cigarettes to the tune of Rs. 20,59,57,973. Besides the invoice price of the cigarettes as reflected in the records was less than the manufacturing cost. These facts were examined with reference to the observation of the Technical Study Group of Central Excise Tariff, 1985. The impact of the Excise Duty on the trade was considered. The outcome of the enquiry indicated that the premium was generated by the use of the 'Twin Branding System'. The basis of addition was the difference between the ex-factory price of a particular brand and its high price twin.

There was no addition on account of alleged bogus income shown from commissions, trading and supervision charges. Similarly advertisement expenses found outside the books were not considered for the purpose of addition. These amounts were considered for the purpose of deduction from the so-called clandestine commission.

In short, the case of the revenue is, that the assessee-company by using twin branding system, collected clandestine premium on the sale of cigarettes. This commission was collected through the WB's. It was kept in the secret bank accounts. It was utilised for meeting the expenditure, viz., advertisement, donation, etc. Some amount was re-introduced in the assessee's account by means of havala entries and reflected as commission and trading income.

110. From the aforesaid discussion, it is clear, that addition was not made merely on the basis of findings given apropos the secret bank account's, disbursement made out of such account's or on the strength of havala entries, by which the bogus commission and trading income said to have been reintroduced in the books of the assessee. These aspects are only secondary, subordinate and were used to buttress the main matter connected with the amount of addition.

The violation or otherwise of any rule of natural justice must be a matter of substance not of mere form. Natural justice should always be used for the furtherance of the cause of justice. The palladium of justice requires, that law suits be not protracted, otherwise treat oppression might be done under the colour and pretence of law [interest republica ut sit finis litum] These loafty principles which are harbinger of justice cannot be used for dragging the justice in the labyrinth. We have already indicated that adverse evidence and material, relied upon in the order, to reach the finality should be disclosed to the assessee. But this rule is not applicable where the material or evidence used is of collateral nature. Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, we are of the opinion that there was no denial of the principles of natural justice.

111. In the result, the preliminary issue connected with the applicability of the principles of natural justice stands adjudicated against the assessee. On merits the appeal shall be heard in normal course.

1. This appeal by the assessee is directed against the order of the Commissioner of Income-tax (Appeals), Central-IV, Bombay and pertains to the assessment year 1984-85.

2. At the outset, both the parties requested that first the decision be rendered on the preliminary issue concerning the observance of the principles of natural justice while framing the order of assessment. On merits, it was requested that the case may be heard after the deliverance of decision on the preliminary issue. The appeal was, therefore, heard apropos the grounds concerning the canons of natural justice.

3. We have heard the rival submissions in the light of the materials placed before us and the precedent relied upon. It was stated that principles of natural justice were violated inasmuch as, cross-examination of three persons, viz. (i) Pandian, (ii) Sanchaiti and (iii) GEQD was not allowed.

4. We have examined the facts. We have discussed in detail the principles in our order for the assessment year 1985-86. Having regard to the precedent available on the point, we have taken a view that adverse evidence and material, relied upon in the order, to reach the finality should be disclosed to the assessee. But this rule is not applicable where the material or evidence used is of collateral nature.

We have also taken a view that right to cross-examine the witness, who made adverse reports is not an invariable attribute of the requirement of the dictum, 'audi alterant partem'.

5. Considering the totality of facts, we find that the statement of Pandian and Sanchaiti and also the report of GEQD are only the secondary and subordinate material which were used to buttress the main matter connected with the amount of addition. For the reasons discussed in the order for the assessment ye,ar 1985-86, we hold that there was no denial of the principles of natural justice.

6. In the result, the preliminary issue connected with the applicability of the principles of natural justice stands adjudicated against the assessee. On merits the appeal shall be heard in normal course.