KIRANJEET KAUR vs. INCOME TAX OFFICER ITO WARD 6(1)

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CWP/28855/2024HC Punjab & HaryanaPHHC01143822202423 October 2024Bench: MR. JUSTICE SANJEEV PRAKASH SHARMA,MR. JUSTICE SANJAY VASHISTH3 pages
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What did the High Court hold?

The High Court held that administrative instructions or circulars issued by the Board cannot override statutory provisions or make them otiose. Legislative enactments with financial implications must be followed strictly and mandatorily. The authorities cannot usurp legal provisions to their own satisfaction or convenience, causing hardship and confusion to assessees. Instructions and circulars can only supplement statutory provisions for their implementation. Therefore, notices issued under Section 148 of the Act, 1961, and consequential proceedings, including faceless assessments under Section 144B, were found to be contrary to the provisions of the Act, 1961. Consequently, the notices dated 30.08.2024, and other consequential orders dated 28.02.2023, 16.03.2023, 20.03.2024, and 30.03.2023, were set aside for want of jurisdiction. The Revenue was granted liberty to follow the procedure laid down under the Act, 1961, if advised. All pending applications were also disposed of.

What were the facts?

The petitioner, Kiranjeet Kaur, filed a writ petition (CWP-28855-2024) before the High Court of Punjab and Haryana challenging notices issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, and subsequent proceedings. The Revenue, represented by the Income Tax Officer (ITO) Ward 6(1), Ludhiana, accepted notice. Both parties agreed that the issue had been decided by coordinate benches in similar cases: CWP No. 215 of 2023 (Jasjit Singh vs. Union of India) decided on 29.07.2024, and CWP No. 157 of 2024 (Jatinder Singh Bhangu vs. Union of India) decided on 19.07.2024. The impugned notices were dated 30.08.2024, and other consequential orders were dated 28.02.2023, 16.03.2023, 20.03.2024, and 30.03.2023. The amount in dispute is not explicitly stated.

What were the issues?

1. Whether notices issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, and subsequent proceedings, including faceless assessment under Section 144B, are valid when they are contrary to the provisions of the Act and established legal principles, particularly concerning the overriding effect of statutory provisions over administrative instructions or circulars. Assessee's Contention: The assessee implicitly relies on the decisions of coordinate benches in Jasjit Singh and Jatinder Singh Bhangu, arguing that the notices and proceedings are liable to be set aside for want of jurisdiction and being contrary to law. Revenue's Contention: The Revenue, through its counsel, accepted notice and agreed that the matter was concluded by previous judgments of the High Court. No specific arguments were recorded for the Revenue, other than its acceptance of the prior judicial pronouncements.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 148,Section 144B,Section 119,Section 120

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

CWP-28855-202 147 IN TH KIRANJEET INCOME TA

CORAM: H

H Present: M

SANJEEV P

1.

Notice 2. Mr. Ra respond 3. Both th petition No.215 decided No.157 and oth held as 24 (O&M) Page 1 of 3 HE HIGH COURT OF PUNJA CHANDIGAR

KAUR Vs.

AX OFFICER ITO WARD 6(1), **** HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SAN HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SAN **** Mr. S.K. Mukhi, Advocate for th Mr. Ranvijay Singh, Sr. Standing for the respondents/Revenue. **** RAKASH SHARMA, J.(Oral) of motion. anvijay Singh, Sr. Standing Coun dents/Revenue. he counsel are ad idem that the n stands finally examined and co 509 of 2023 titled as Jasjit Singh d on 29.07.2024, and by the 745 of 2024 titled as Jatinder Sin hers, decided on 19.07.2024. Th under: AB AND HARYANA AT RH CWP-28855-2024 (O&M) Date of Decision: 23.10.2024 . . . . Petitioner LUDHIANA . . . . Respondents NJEEV PRAKASH SHARMA NJAY VASHISTH he petitioner. g Counsel ) nsel accepts notice on behalf of e issue involved in the present oncluded by this Court in CWP h vs. Union of India and others, e Coordinate Bench in CWP ngh Bhangu vs. Union of India his Court in Jasjit Singh (supra)

) 4 r s f t P , P a ) MOHIT GOYAL 2024.10.23 17:22 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

CWP-28855-202 b i o o i m S S a s a t a s i n s w C u i a A p d 3 f 24 (O&M) Page 2 of 3 “16. We are in agreemen by the Coordinate Bench and hol nstructions by the Board could n override statutory provisions or t obsolete. Legislative enactmen mplications are required to be mandatorily. By exercising the Sections 119 and 120 of the A Section 144B (7 & 8), the a allowed to usurp the legal pro satisfaction and convenience ca assessees. It also leaves confusio taxpayers. In the opinion of th and circulars can be issued on supplementing the statutory pro mplementation. 17. In view of the aforesa no occasion to distinguish or ta suggested by the learned counse what has already been held by th 18. Keeping in view the Coordinate Bench (supra), notic under Section 148 of the Act, 196 nitiated thereafter without con assessment as envisaged under Act, 1961, have been found to provisions of the Act, 1961 an dated 28.02.2023, 16.03.202 30.03.2023 and order dated 30. for want of jurisdiction. nt with the view taken ld that such circular or not have been issued to to make them otiose or nts having financial followed strictly and powers contained in Act, 1961 as well as authorities cannot be ovisions to their own ausing hardship to the on in the minds of the his Court, instructions nly for the purpose of ovisions and for their aid discussion, there is ake a different view as el for the revenue from he Coordinate Bench. law laid down by the ces issued by the JAO 61 and the proceedings nducting the faceless r Section 144B of the o be contrary to the d accordingly notices 23, 20.03.2024 and 03.2023, are set aside

MOHIT GOYAL 2024.10.23 17:22 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

CWP-28855-202 a t i w 4. Keepin terms. mutand issued Jurisdic proceed 5. All pen

October 23, 20 Mohit goyal 1. Whethe 2. Whethe 24 (O&M) Page 3 of 3 19. The respondents-reven at liberty to follow the procedur the Act, 1961 and proceed accord 20. All the writ petition nterim order passed by the Cou with the present order.”

ng in view above, we allow this The observations and order pa dis to the present case. Accord under Section 148 of the ctional Assessing Officer as dings are set aside. nding applications also stand disp

(SANJ 024 r speaking/reasoned?

Y r reportable?

Y nue would be, however, re as laid down under dingly, if so advised. ns are allowed. The urt shall stand merged s Writ Petition in the aforesaid assed above shall apply mutatis dingly, notice dated 30.08.2024 Income Tax Act, 1961 by s well as the consequential posed of accordingly. JEEV PRAKASH SHARMA) JUDGE

(SANJAY VASHISTH) JUDGE Yes/No Yes/No

d s 4 y l MOHIT GOYAL 2024.10.23 17:22 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

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