VEERASWAMII J.

These are petitions filed by the Commissioner of Income-tax, Madras, Central, Madras, under section 66(2) of the Income-tax Act. 1922. The respondent was an assessee on the file of the Income-tax Officer, Trivandrum. He was assessed to income-tax for the years 1951-52 to 1956-57 by orders made by that officer in February, 1955, for the first three years, in April of that year for the fourth year, in February, 1956, for the fifth year and in November of that year for the last year. The assessment orders were reopened by the Income-tax Officer which resulted in an order dated December 31, 1962. Proceedings for levy of penalty were also started by that officer which were referred by him to the Inspecting Assistant Commissioner, Central Range, Madras, under section 274(2) of the Income-tax Act, 1961. On October 1, 1964, the Inspecting Assistant Commissioner levied a penalty for each of the years, but his orders on appeals bled by the assessee were set aside by the Tribunal. The Tribunal declined at the instance of the Commissioner to make a reference to this court on the view that the questions involved were factual and they were concluded by the findings of the Tribunal With regard to that view of the Tribunal, we find that it may not be possible to agree. In one sense the questions were no doubt factual. But in another sense it is possible to regard the mas involving law. What is argued for the Commissioner is that the assessee having admitted a further income for each of the years which was added to the original assessment, on that admission itself it should follow that he had concealed income. On the other hand, for the assessee the submission isthat there was no such admission, but in order to purchase peace from the revenue the assessee had agreed to the addition of the income and that, in any case, there was but an element attracting estimate which did not necessarily mean there had been concealment and that it was in these circumstances the Tribunal found that the question was factual and that in any case he was entitled to the benefit of doubt. Obviously, to our minds the soundness of the conclusion arrived at by the Tribunal cannot be said to be purely a question of fact. In our opinion, it is a mixed question of law and fact. On that view, we would have been prepared to call for a reference from the TribunalBut on behalf of the assessee, a point of jurisdiction is raised, which, in our opinion, appears to be one of substance. On May 4, 1964, there was a notification of the Central Board of Direct Taxes which created the charge of the Commissioner of Income-tax (Central), Madras, (Board's Notification No. 25-F. No. 55/67/64-I.T). On May 15, 1964, the charge of the Commissioner of Income-tax (Central), Madras, was actually created. There was another notification by the Central Board of Direct Taxes dated September 28, 1964, which attached the Income-tax Officer, Central Circle, Trichur, to the Commissioner of Income-tax (Central), Madras (Board's Notification No. 69-F. No 55/172/64-I.T.). This notification was given effect to on and from October 1, 1964. It meant that the Inspecting Assistant Commissioner Central Range, Madras, assumed jurisdiction over the Income-tax Officer, Central Circle, Trichur. It is in that capacity the Inspecting Assistant Commissioner made the order we referred to, which is dated December 19, 1964. The present petitions were filed on January 5, 1967. Subequently, it appears the Central Board has, on July 17, 1967, retransferred the jurisdiction over the case to the Income-tax Officer, Companies Circle, Trivandrum. What is argued before us is that in the light of these facts it is the Kerala High Court that will have jurisdiction under section 66(2) and not this court

We have heard argument on this question on both sides. We have been referred to certain provisions of the Income-tax Act, which, we may say, are of no assistance in deciding the question before us. They deal