ITAT Quashes Assessment for lack of jurisdiction

The ITAT quashed an assessment completed under Section 143(3) of the Income-tax Act on the ground that the assessment had been framed by an Assessing Officer who lacked pecuniary jurisdiction under CBDT Instruction No. 1/2011 dated 31 January 2011. 

The Tribunal held that jurisdictional defects strike at the root of the assessment and cannot be cured merely because the assessee participated in the proceedings.