¹[16A.  Reference to Valuation Officer.— (1)  For the purpose of making an assessment (including an assessment in respect of any assessment year commencing before the date of coming into force of this section) under this Act, ²[where under the provisions of section 7 read with the rules made under this Act, or, as the case may be, the rules in Schedule III, the market value of any asset is to be taken into account in such assessment,] the ³ [Assessing Officer] may refer the valuation of any asset to a Valuation Officer—

   (a)  in a case where the value of the asset as returned is in accordance with the estimate made by a registered valuer, if the ³[Assessing Officer] is of opinion that the value so returned is less than its fair market value ;

   (b)  in any other case, if the ³[Assessing Officer] is of opinion—

   (i)  that the fair market value of the asset exceeds the value of the asset as returned by more than such percentage of the value of the asset as returned or by more than such amount as may be prescribed in this behalf; or

   (ii)  that having regard to the nature of the asset and other relevant circumstances, it is necessary so to do.

   (2)  For the purpose of estimating the value of any asset in pursuance of a reference under sub-section (1), the Valuation Officer may serve on the assessee a notice requiring him to produce or cause to be produced on a date specified in the notice such accounts, records or other documents as the Valuation Officer may require.

   (3)  Where the Valuation Officer is of opinion that the value of the asset has been correctly declared in the return made by the assessee under section 14 or section 15, he shall pass an order in writing to that effect and send a copy of his order to the ³[Assessing Officer] and to the assessee.

   (4)  Where the Valuation Officer is of opinion that the value of the asset is higher than the value declared in the return made by the assessee under section 14 or, section 15, or where the asset is not disclosed or the value of the asset is not declared in such return or where no such return has been made, the Valuation Officer shall serve a notice on the assessee intimating the value which he proposes to estimate and giving the assessee an opportunity to state, on a date to be specified in the notice, his objections either in person or in writing before the Valuation Officer and to produce or cause to be produced on that date such evidence as the assessee may rely in support of his objections.

   (5)  On the date specified in the notice under sub-section (4), or as soon thereafter as may be, after hearing such evidence as the assessee may produce and after considering such evidence as the Valuation Officer may require on any specified points and after taking into account all relevant material which he has gathered, the Valuation Officer shall, by order in writing, estimate the value of the asset and send a copy of his order to the ⁴[Assessing Officer] and to the assessee.

   (6)  On receipt of the order under sub-section (3) or sub-section (5) from the Valuation Officer, the ⁴[Assessing Officer] shall, so far as the valuation of the asset in question is concerned, proceed to complete the assessment in conformity with the estimate of the Valuation Officer.]