144. Power to call for information.-

The Deputy Commissioner, the Inspecting Additional Commissioner, the Commissioner, or any other officer authorised in this behalf by the Commissioner or the Central Board of Revenue, may, by notice in writing, require-

(a)   any assessee to furnish within such time as may be specified in such notice a statement showing the names and addresses of all persons to whom he has paid in any income year rent, interest, commission, fee, royalty or brokerage, or any annuity amounting to not less than four hundred rupees together with particulars of all such payments or remuneration in the nature of valuable consideration, under whatever nomenclature;

(b)   any dealer, broker or agent or any person concerned in the management of a Stock or Commodity Exchange to furnish, within such time as may be specified in such notice, a statement showing the names and addresses of all persons to or from whom he, or the Exchange, has paid or received in any income year any sum amounting to not less than five thousand rupees in the aggregate, in connection with the transfer of assets, together with particulars of all such payments and receipts;

(c)   any person, including a banking company, to furnish such information or such statement or accounts as may be specified in such notice:

Provided that no such notice shall be issued to any banking company as respects any client, except with the prior approval of the Commissioner in the case of Deputy Commissioner, or the Central Board of Revenue or any other income-tax authority authorised by it in this behalf in the case of the other officer.