Mechanical ‘Rubber-Stamp’ Approval under Section 153D Vitiates Entire Search Assessment: Bombay High Court

In a significant ruling, the Bombay High Court criticised the Income Tax Department for issuing approvals under Section 153D of the Income Tax Act, 1961 in a mechanical and rushed manner. The Court, led by Justice Advait M. Sethna and Justice M. S. Sonak, upheld the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT)’s decision which had quashed several assessments due to the absence of genuine application of mind. Discrepancies in Approval Process…