AO must Forward Draft Assessment to assessee u/s 144 C of Income Tax Act if he proposes to make any

The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) has ruled that an Assessing Officer (AO) must forward a draft assessment order to the assessee under Section 144C of the Income Tax Act if they propose to make any variation in the income tax return (ITR). This procedure is crucial to ensure that the assessee has an opportunity to contest the proposed changes before the final assessment is made. The decision emphasizes the need for adherence to statutory requirements, safeguarding the assessee’s rights to a fair assessment process.