Effect of transfer of authorities on pending
proceedings.
39. Whenever in
respect of any proceeding under this Act any wealth-tax authority ceases to
exercise jurisdiction and is succeeded by another who has and exercises such
jurisdiction, the authority so succeeding may continue the proceeding from the
stage at which the proceeding was left by his predecessor:
71[Provided that the assessee concerned may demand
that before the proceeding is so continued the previous proceeding or any part
thereof be reopened or that before any order of assessment is passed against
him, he be reheard.]