SABKA BUILDWELL PRIVATE LIMITED,DELHI vs. ITO, WARD-22(1), DELHI

At the very outset, the ld. counsel for the assessee submitted that the assessee was issued notice u/s 148 of the Act for the year under consideration on 31.03.2021 under the unamended provisions of the Act, However, the same was actually signed, served and issued on 09.04.2021, i.e., after the amendment vide Finance Act 2021. 4. The ld. counsel for the assessee submitted the copy of the notice issued u/s 148 of the Act and contended that the screenshot of properties of the digital signature affixed on such notice clearly depict the date of signing as 09.04.2021 and the screenshot of the income tax portal showing the date of service of such notice as 09.04.2021 has been submitted.

The ld. counsel for the assessee relied upon the judgement of Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in the case of Deepak Steel and Power Ltd. vs.

The assessee thus prays that the notice issued u/s 148 of the Act on 09.04.2021, i.e., after 31.03.2021, under the unamended provisions of the Act be quashed and the entire proceedings in such respect be dropped for the same being bad at law as covered by the aforementioned judgement of Hon'ble Supreme Court of India.

Per contra, the ld. DR relied on the orders of the authorities below.

We have heard the rival submissions and have perused the relevant material on record. We find that the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Deepak Steel and Power Ltd [supra], referring to para 19(f) of the ITA No. 5758/DEL/2024 [A.Y. 2015-16] decision of UOI v Rajeev Bansal 2024 SCC OnLine SC 2693(2024), has held as under: “19. (f) The Revenue concedes that for the assessment year 2015- 2016, all notices issued on or after April 1, 2021 will have to be dropped as they will not fall for completion during the period prescribed under the Taxation and other Laws (Relaxation and Amendment of Certain Provisions) Act, 2020.” 5. As the revenue made a concession in the aforesaid decision that is for the assessment year 2015-2016, all notices issued on or after 1st April, 2021 will have to be dropped as they would not fall for completion during the period prescribed under the taxation and other laws (Relaxation and Amendment of certain Provisions Act, 2020). Nothing further is required to be adjudicated in this matter as the notices so far as the present litigation is concerned is dated 25.6.2021.” 9. The fact of the instant case shows that though the notice u/s 148 is dated 31.03.2021, the notice was issued on 09.04.2021 which is evident from the digital signature affixed to the notice. The notice u/s 148 was actually signed, issued and served on 09.04.2021 i.e., after the amendment vide Finance Act, 2021, which shows that the notice was issued beyond the prescribed time of 31.03.2021. The hon’ble Supreme Court in Deepak Steel and Power Ltd (supra) mandates that all notices issued on or after 01.04.2021 will have to be dropped as they will not be ITA No. 5758/DEL/2024 [A.Y. 2015-16] covered under TOLA. In view of the same, we are of the considered opinion that in the facts of the instant case, the assumption of juri iction by the AO is invalid and deserves to be quashed. Moreover, this issue is squarely covered in favour of the assessee by the decision of the Hon'ble Apex Court [supra]. Ground 1 is allowed.

As the appeal is decided on the issue of assumption of juri iction, no adjudication on ground 2, 3 and 4 is being expressed. 11. In the result, the appeal of the assessee in ITA No. 5758/DEL/2024 is allowed. The order is pronounced in the open court on 19.08.2025. [MADHUMITA ROY]