ITAT quashes Income Tax Assessment due to Lack of Higher Authority Approval u/s 151 for Reopening Beyond 3 Years

The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) quashed an income tax assessment due to a lack of approval from higher authorities under Section 151 of the Income Tax Act for reopening the assessment beyond three years. In the case, the Assessing Officer had reopened the assessment without obtaining the mandatory approval from a senior official. ITAT found that this procedural lapse invalidated the entire assessment process, leading to the quashing of the reassessment. This decision highlights the importance of following proper procedures in tax assessments.