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23. Appeal to the [Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] from orders of [Assessing Officer].

(1) [Subject to the provisions of sub-section (1A), any person,—]

(a)   objecting to the amount of [***] net wealth determined under this Act ; or
(b)   objecting to the amount of wealth-tax determined as payable by him under this Act ; or
(c)   denying his liability to be assessed under this Act ; or
[(d)   objecting to any penalty imposed by the Assessing Officer under section 18 [* * *] ; or]
(e)   objecting to any order of the 1[Assessing Officer] under sub-section (2) of section 20 ; or
(f)   objecting to any penalty imposed by the 1[Assessing Officer] under the provisions of 2[section 221] of the Income-tax Act as applied under section 32 for the purposes of wealth-tax ;3[or]
4[(g)   objecting to any order made by the 5[Assessing Officer] under section 22 treating him as the agent of a person residing outside India ; or
(h)   objecting to any order of the 5[Assessing Officer] under section 35 having the effect of enhancing the assessment or reducing a refund or refusing to allow the claim made by the assessee under the said section ; or]
6[(ha)   objecting to any order of the Valuation Officer under section 35 having the effect of enhancing the valuation of any asset or refusing to allow the claim made by the assessee under the said section ; 7[* * *]
(i)   8[* * *]]

may appeal to the 9[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 10[before the 1st day of June, 2000,] against the assessment or order, as the case may be, in the prescribed form and verified in the prescribed manner.

11[(1A) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), any person,—

(a)   objecting to the amount of net wealth determined under this Act or objecting to the amount of wealth-tax determined as payable by him under this Act or denying his liability to be assessed under this Act, where the net wealth determined on assessment made under section 16 exceeds fifteen lakh rupees ; or
12[(b)   objecting to any penalty imposed under sub-section (1) of section 18 with the previous approval of the Deputy Commissioner as specified in sub-section (3) of that section ; or]
13[(c)   objecting to any assessment or order referred to in clauses (a) to (h) (both inclusive) of sub-section (1), where such assessment or order has been made by the Deputy Commissioner in exercise of the powers or functions conferred on or assigned to him under section 8 or section 11 ; or
(d)   objecting to any penalty imposed by the Deputy Director or the Deputy Commissioner under section 18A ; or]
(e)   objecting to an order made by an 14[Assessing Officer] in the case of such persons or classes of persons as the Board may, having regard to the nature of the cases, the complexities involved and other relevant considerations, direct,

may appeal to the Commissioner (Appeals) 15[before the 1st day of June, 2000,] against the assessment or order, as the case may be, in the prescribed form and verified in the prescribed manner.]

15[(1AA) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), every appeal filed, on or after the 1st day of October, 1998, but before the 1st day of June, 2000, before the Deputy Commissioner (Appeals) and any matter arising out of or connected with such appeal and which is so pending shall stand transferred to the Commissioner (Appeals) and the Commissioner (Appeals) may proceed with such appeal or matter from the stage at which it was on that day.]

16[(1B) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the Board or the Director General or Chief Commissioner or Commissioner, if so authorised by the Board, may, by order in writing, transfer any appeal which is pending before a Deputy Commissioner (Appeals) and any matter arising out of or connected with such appeal and which is so pending, to the Commissioner (Appeals) if the Board or, as the case may be, the Director General, Chief Commissioner or Commissioner (at the request of the appellant or otherwise) is satisfied that it is necessary or expedient so to do having regard to the nature of the case, the complexities involved and other relevant considerations and the Commissioner (Appeals) may proceed with such appeal or matter from the stage at which it was before it was so transferred :

Provided that the appellant may demand that before proceeding further with the appeal or matter, the previous proceeding or any part thereof be re-opened or that he be reheard.]

(2) An appeal shall be presented within thirty days of the receipt of the notice of demand relating to the assessment or penalty objected to, or the date on which any order objected to, is communicated to him, but the 17[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 18[or, as the case may be, the Commissioner (Appeals)] may admit an appeal after the expiration of the period aforesaid if he is satisfied that the appellant had sufficient cause for not presenting the appeal within that period.

19[(2A) Where a return has been filed by an assessee, no appeal under this section shall be admitted unless at the time of filing of the appeal he has paid the tax due on the net wealth returned by him.

20[* * *]

(3) The 21[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 22[or, as the case may be, the Commissioner (Appeals)] shall fix a day and place for the hearing of the appeal and may, from time to time, adjourn the hearing.

23[(3A) If the valuation of any asset is objected to in an appeal under clause (a) of sub-section (1) 22[or of sub-section (1A)], the 21[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 21[or, as the case may be, the Commissioner (Appeals)] shall,—

(a)   in a case where such valuation has been made by a Valuation Officer under section 16A, give such Valuation Officer an opportunity of being heard ;
(b)   in any other case, on a request being made in this behalf by the 24[Assessing Officer], give an opportunity of being heard to any Valuation Officer nominated for the purpose by the24[Assessing Officer].]

(4) The 25[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 26[or, as the case may be, the Commissioner (Appeals)] may—

(a)   at the hearing of an appeal, allow an appellant to go into any ground of appeal not specified in the grounds of appeal;
(b)   before disposing of an appeal, make such further inquiry as he thinks fit or cause further inquiry to be made by the 27[Assessing Officer] 28[or, as the case may be, the Valuation Officer].

(5) In disposing of an appeal, the 25[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 26[or, as the case may be, the Commissioner (Appeals)] may pass such order as he thinks fit which may include an order enhancing the assessment or penalty:

Provided that no order enhancing the assessment or penalty shall be made unless the person affected thereby has been given a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against such enhancement.

29[(5A) In disposing of an appeal, the 25[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 26[or, as the case may be, the Commissioner (Appeals)] may consider and decide any matter arising out of the proceedings in which the order appealed against was passed, notwithstanding that such matter was not raised before the 25[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 26[or, as the case may be, the Commissioner (Appeals)] by the appellant.

(5B) The order of the 25[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 26[or, as the case may be, the Commissioner (Appeals)] disposing of the appeal shall be in writing and shall state the points for determination, the decision thereon and the reasons for the decision.]

(6) A copy of every order passed by the 25[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)] 26[or, as the case may be, the Commissioner (Appeals)] under this section shall be forwarded to the appellant and the 30[Chief Commissioner or Commissioner].