HARI MULCHAND BHATIA AY 2021 22 vs. Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax Central Circle I Thane
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court disposed of the Writ Petition by directing the Petitioner to pursue its pending appeal before the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) against both the Notice issued under Section 148 and the Assessment Order. The Court explicitly kept open all contentions challenging the impugned Notice and Assessment Order, including those raised in the Writ Petition, for agitation before the CIT (Appeals). Furthermore, the Court ordered that the impugned Assessment Order shall not be acted upon until the appeal before the CIT (Appeals) is decided. The Court clarified that all contentions of all parties are expressly kept open to be decided by the CIT (Appeals) on its own merits and in accordance with law. No decision was made on the merits of the case.
What were the facts?
The Petitioner, Hari Mulchand Bhatia, filed a Writ Petition before the Bombay High Court challenging a Notice dated 14.09.2023 issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, and an Assessment Order dated 28.02.2025. The assessment year in question is 2021-22. The Petitioner sought to quash these orders and prevent the Revenue from proceeding further with re-assessment. The Petitioner's counsel informed the Court that an appeal against the Assessment Order had already been filed before the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) and was pending. The Revenue's counsel did not dispute this fact.
What were the issues?
1. Whether the High Court should entertain a Writ Petition challenging a Notice under Section 148 and an Assessment Order when an appeal against the Assessment Order is pending before the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)? Assessee's Contention: The Petitioner relied on the decision of this Court in Shantilal Prabhudas & Co. vs. Income-tax Officer [2025] 175 taxmann.com 303 (Bombay) to argue that in similar circumstances, the Court directed parties to pursue their pending appeals and kept contentions open, while preventing action on the impugned assessment order until the appeal was decided. Revenue's Contention: The Revenue's counsel did not dispute the pendency of the appeal before the CIT (Appeals) and the position of law as presented by the Petitioner.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
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Cause title — parties, addresses and appearances
well as the impugned Assessment Order.
(b) All contentions challenging the impugned Notice and the Assessment Order, on all grounds available to the Petitioner, including the ones raised in the present Writ Petition, are kept open to be agitated before the CIT Appeals. (c) Until the Appeal before CIT Appeals is decided, the impugned Assessment Order shall not be acted upon.
It is once again clarified that all contentions of all parties are expressly kept open to be agitated before the CIT Appeals and which shall be decided by the CIT Appeals on its own merits and in accordance with law.
The Writ Petition is disposed of in the aforesaid terms. However, there shall be no order as to costs. MARCH 25, 2026 Mohite
8 wp3760-26.doc
This order will be Personal Assistant of this Court. All concerned will act on production by fax or email of a digitally signed copy of this order. [FIRDOSH P. POONIWALLA, J.] [B. P. COLABAWALLA, J.] MARCH 25, 2026 Mohite
More judgments on Section 148
- ACIT Central Bilaspur, Bilaspur vs Arun Kumar Agrawal, SaktiITSSA 26/RPR/2025[2018-19]Status: Disposed21 Oct 2026AY 2018-19
- Vinod Agrawal, Kawardha vs Assisstant Commissioner of Income Tax…ITA 666/RPR/2026[2019-20]Status: Heard21 Oct 2026AY 2019-20
- Sar Business Tradelink Private Limited… vs Income Tax Officer, Ward - 1(2), RaipurITA 599/RPR/2026[2014-15]Status: Heard21 Oct 2026AY 2014-15
- Neo Incorporation, Rajkot vs DCIT Circle- 1(2), RajkotITA 471/RJT/2026[2012-2013]Status: Disposed21 Oct 2026AY 2012-2013
- Adj Agri International LLP, Rajkot vs The Income Tax Officer, Ward-1(1)(1), RajkotITA 1198/RJT/2026[2018-19]Status: Disposed21 Oct 2026AY 2018-19
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