In the writ petition no. 3581 of 2021, the Bombay High Court has held on December 20, 2021 that:
4.) In the affidavit in reply, the same Mr. Suryavanshi states “as Annexure – 2 is the copy of the approval u/s 151 of the Act ”. There is no annexure – 1 mentioned anywhere. Moreover, in the affidavit filed in the Court, even this annexure is missing. This further displays total non application of mind by this officer.
5.) Mr. Walve tendered a copy of the approval under Section 151 of the said Act which he had in his file where it says “In view of reasons recorded, I am satisfied that it is a fit case to issue notice u/s. 148 ”. This has been signed by PCIT, Mumbai one Anil Kumar. If this PCIT only read the reasons recorded, he would have raised a query how can an entity provide bogus entry to itself. That shows total non application of mind by the said Mr. Anil Kumar as well. We have to also note that in the format for approval under Section 151 of the said Act, one Vijay Kumar Soni, Range 4(3), Mumbai, has recommended grant of approval. That shows non application of mind even by this Vijay Kumar Soni. We wonder whether the officers of respondents ever bother to read the papers before writing the reasons or recommending for approval or while granting approval.
8.) A copy of this order be placed before the Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, Mumbai for information and necessary action. A copy of this order also be sent to Mr. Shailendra Damodar Suryavanshi so that he would be careful in future. A copy of this order be also sent to the Chairman, CBDT, who may perhaps formulate a scheme whereby the officers are trained how to apply their mind and what all points should be kept in mind while recording the reasons. The Chairman, CBDT may also advise the concerned Commissioners not to grant approval under Section 151 of the said Act mechanically but after considering the reasons carefully and scrutinizing the same.
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