HARI MULCHAND BHATIA AY 2017 18 vs. Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax Central Circle 1 Thane

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WP/3757/2026HC BombayHCBM01014047202625 March 2026Author: HON'BLE SHRI JUSTICE B.P. COLABAWALLA,HON'BLE SHRI JUSTICE FIRDOSH PHIROZE POONIWALLA4 pages
AI SummaryRemanded

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 CIT Appeals against both the impugned Notice issued under Section 148 and the impugned Assessment Order. The Court explicitly kept open all contentions challenging the Notice and the Assessment Order, including those raised in the Writ Petition, to be agitated 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 agitated before the CIT Appeals, which shall decide them on their own merits and in accordance with law. No issue was expressly left undecided, as the Court deferred the decision on merits to the appellate authority.

What were the facts?

The Petitioner, Hari Mulchand Bhatia, filed a Writ Petition before the Bombay High Court challenging a Notice dated 20.03.2024 issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, and an Assessment Order dated 12.03.2025. These actions were taken by the Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax, Central Circle – 1, Thane, for Assessment Year 2017-18. The Petitioner sought to quash and set aside these impugned actions and to prohibit the respondents from proceeding further. During the proceedings, 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) ('CIT Appeals') and was pending.

What were the issues?

1. Whether the High Court should entertain a Writ Petition challenging a Section 148 notice and an Assessment Order when an Appeal against the Assessment Order is already pending before the CIT Appeals, and if so, what directions should be issued? (Question of law and procedure). The Petitioner argued that the High Court should provide relief by quashing the impugned notice and assessment order, or at least stay further proceedings. The Petitioner relied on the Bombay High Court's decision in Shantilal Prabhudas & Co. vs. Income-tax Officer, which directed parties to pursue their pending appeals and kept contentions open. The Revenue did not dispute the pendency of the Appeal before the CIT Appeals.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 148

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

Cause title — parties, addresses and appearances
5 wp3757-26.doc IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO.3757 OF 2026 Hari Mulchand Bhatia …Petitioner Versus Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax Central Circle – 1, Thane & Ors. …Respondents Mr. Sham V. Walve a/w Mr.Sameer Dalal a/w Mr.Bhavik Chheda a/w Mr.Tarang Mehta, Advocates for the Petitioner. Mr.Ashok Kotangle a/w Mr.Unnayan G.Dhale a/w Mr.Suresh Kabra a/w Mr.Pravin Parghane, Advocates for the Respondents. CORAM: B. P. COLABAWALLA & FIRDOSH P. POONIWALLA, JJ. DATE: MARCH 25, 2026 P. C. 1. The above Writ Petition relates to A.Y. 2017 – 18 and is filed seeking the following reliefs: “a) Issue a Writ of Certiorari or Writ in the nature of Certiorari or any other appropriate Writ, Order or Direction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India calling for all records of the Petitioner’s case and after going into the legality and propriety thereof, to quash and set aside the Impugned Notice dated 20.03.2024 issued u/s 148 of the Act (Ex. C) and the Assessment Order dated 12.03.2025 (Ex. M); b) Issue a Writ of Prohibition or any other appropriate Writ, Order, Direction in nature of Prohibition under Article 226 of the Page 1 of 4 MARCH 25, 2026 Mohite TRUSHA TUSHAR MOHITE Digitally signed by TRUSHA TUSHAR MOHITE Date: 2026.03.26 16:58:29 +0530 5 wp3757-26.doc Constitution of India ordering the Respondents herein to permanently refrain from giving effect to and/or proceeding further by way of re-assessment or otherwise in any manner in respect of the Impugned Notice dated 20.03.2024 issued u/s 148 of the Act (Ex. C) and the Assessment Order dated 12.03.2025 (Ex. M) and any consequential action thereof;” 2. Mr. Walve, the learned counsel for the Petitioner, fairly pointed out that the Petitioner has filed an Appeal challenging the impugned Assessment Order, which is pending before the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) (‘CIT Appeals’). He relies on the decision of this Court in Shantilal Prabhudas & Co. vs. Income-tax Officer [2025] 175 taxmann.com 303 (Bombay) wherein under similar circumstances, this Court had directed the parties to pursue its Appeal already filed against the impugned Assessment Order and expressly kept open all contentions while observing that, until the Appeal is decided, the impugned Assessment Order would not be acted upon. 3. Mr. Kotangle, the learned counsel for the Respondents, does not dispute the said position and the fact that the Appeal is yet to be decided. 4. Since, it is fairly conceded at the bar that the Appeal is pending, we dispose the above Petition by passing the following order: - Page 2 of 4 MARCH 25, 2026 Mohite 5 wp3757-26.doc (a) The Petitioner shall pursue its Appeal already filed before the CIT Appeals against the impugned Notice issued under Section 148, as

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.

5.

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.

6.

The Writ Petition is disposed of in the aforesaid terms. However, there shall be no order as to costs. MARCH 25, 2026 Mohite

5 wp3757-26.doc

7.

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

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