Best judgment assessment
144. If any person—
(a) fails to make the return required by any notice given under sub-section (2) of section 139 and has not made a return or a revised return under sub-section (4) or sub-section (5) of that section, or
(b) fails to comply with all the terms of a notice issued under sub-section (1) of section 142, or
(c) having made a return, fails to comply with all the terms of a notice issued under sub-section (2) of section 143,
the Income-tax Officer, after taking into account all relevant material which the Income-tax Officer has gathered, shall make the assessment of the total income or loss to the best of his judgment and determine the sum payable by the assessee or refundable to the assessee on the basis of such assessment.
[As amended by the Finance Act, 1962]