C.—Powers
Power regarding discovery, production of evidence, etc.
37131. (1) The 38[Assessing] Officer, 39[Deputy Commissioner (Appeals)], 40[Joint Commissioner] 41[, Commissioner (Appeals)] 42[, Chief Commissioner or Commissioner
and the Dispute Resolution Panel referred to in clause (a) of
sub-section (15) of section 144C] shall, for the
purposes of this Act, have the same powers as are vested in a court under the
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), when trying a suit in respect of the
following matters, namely :—
(a) discovery and inspection;
(b) enforcing the attendance of any person,
including any officer of a banking company and examining him on oath;
(c) compelling the production of books of account
and other documents; and
(d) issuing commissions.
43[(1A) 44[If the Director General or Director or 45[Joint] Director or Assistant Director 46[or Deputy Director], or the authorised
officer referred to in sub-section (1) of section 132
before he takes action under clauses (i) to (v) of
that sub-section47,] has reason to
suspect that any income has been concealed, or is likely to be concealed, by
any person or class of persons, within his jurisdiction, then, for the purposes
of making any enquiry or investigation relating thereto, it shall be competent
for him to exercise the powers conferred under sub-section (1) on the
income-tax authorities referred to in that sub-section, notwithstanding that no
proceedings with respect to such person or class of persons are pending48 before him or any other income-tax
authority.]
(2) [Omitted by the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment)
Act, 1987, w.e.f. 1-4-1989.]
(3) Subject to any rules made in this behalf, any
authority referred to in sub-section (1) 49[or
sub-section (1A)] may impound and retain in its custody for such period as it
thinks fit any books of account or other documents produced before it in any
proceeding under this Act :
Provided that an 50[Assessing] Officer 49[or an 51[Assistant
Director 52[or Deputy Director]]]
shall not—
(a) impound any books of account or other
documents without recording his reasons for so doing, or
(b) retain in his custody any such books or
documents for a period exceeding fifteen days (exclusive of holidays) without
obtaining the approval of the 53[54[Chief Commissioner or Director General
or Commissioner or Director therefor, as the case may be.]]