Scope of AO to reopen an assessment on the basis of intimation u/s 143(1) is much wider that scope of reopening on the basis of 143(3) because no opinion is formed by accepting return u/s 143(1) without scrutiny. This is in sum and substance held by the Supreme Court in the case Rajesh Jhaveri Stock Brokers P. Ltd. And Zuari Estate Development and Investment Company . However, even in the case of assessment previously framed without scrutiny which is sought to be reopened by issuance of notice under section 148 of the Act, the principle requirement that the Assessing Officer has reason to believe that the income chargeable to tax had escaped assessment would still survive. Of course, this formation of belief by the Assessing Officer must be prima facie and at the stage when the Court is testing validity of such a notice; it would not be necessary for the Assessing Officer to conclusively establish that the income chargeable to tax had escaped assessment. [Para 7] Prakriya Pharmacem [2016] 66 taxmann.com 149 (Gujarat) JANUARY 18, 2016