DEEPAK PRAKASH RANI vs. ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX CIRCLE 1 AND OTHERS

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WP/5196/2025HC BombayHCBM03014866202530 January 2026Author: HON'BLE SHRI JUSTICE ARUN R. PEDNEKER,HON'BLE JUSTICE VAISHALI PATIL-JADHAV3 pages
AI SummaryRemanded

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court held that the Jurisdictional Assessing Officer (JAO) does not have the jurisdiction to issue a notice under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, after the faceless reassessment scheme was promulgated on March 29, 2022. This decision was based on the consistent view of the Bombay High Court, as established in the case of Hexaware Technologies Ltd. Vs. Assistant Commissioner of Income-tax Circle 15(1)(2). The Court found that, following this precedent, notices under Section 148 could only be issued by the Faceless Assessing Officer (FAO) after the specified date. Consequently, the impugned notice issued by the JAO and all consequential proceedings were set aside. The Court granted liberty to the Revenue to revive the writ petition if the decision in Hexaware Technologies Ltd. is set aside by the Supreme Court, with the petition to be decided on its merits if revived. The operative direction was to set aside the notice and proceedings, with a conditional liberty to revive.

What were the facts?

The petitioner, Deepak Prakash Rani, challenged a notice issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, by the Jurisdictional Assessing Officer (JAO). The petition was filed in the High Court at Bombay, Bench at Aurangabad. The core of the challenge revolved around the jurisdiction of the JAO to issue such a notice after the promulgation of the faceless reassessment scheme on March 29, 2022. The Revenue contended that both the JAO and the Faceless Assessing Officer (FAO) have concurrent jurisdiction, citing a Delhi High Court decision. However, the Bombay High Court had consistently held, following its own precedent in Hexaware Technologies Ltd. Vs. Assistant Commissioner of Income-tax Circle 15(1)(2), that only the FAO has jurisdiction to issue Section 148 notices post-March 29, 2022.

What were the issues?

1. Whether the Jurisdictional Assessing Officer (JAO) has the jurisdiction to issue a notice under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, after the promulgation of the faceless reassessment scheme on March 29, 2022? (Question of law, turning on the interpretation of the faceless assessment scheme and Section 148 of the IT Act). Assessee's Contention: The JAO lacks jurisdiction to issue a Section 148 notice post-March 29, 2022, relying on the Bombay High Court's decision in Hexaware Technologies Ltd. Vs. Assistant Commissioner of Income-tax Circle 15(1)(2). Revenue's Contention: Both the JAO and the Faceless Assessing Officer (FAO) possess concurrent jurisdiction to issue Section 148 notices, citing the Delhi High Court's decision in T.K.S. Builders Pvt. Ltd., GDR Finance and Leasing Private Limited Vs. Income Tax Officer.

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
IN THE JUDICATURE OF HIGH COURT AT BOMBAY BENCH AT AURANGABAD 957 WRIT PETITION NO. 5196 OF 2025 Deepak Prakash Rani VERSUS Assistant Commissioner Of Income Tax Circle 1 And Others ... Advocate for the Petitioner : Ms. Pawar Rutuja N. And Laghave Hetal And More Sneha Shah Saiyami Advocate for Respondents No.1 and 2 : Ms. Kalpalata Bharaswadkar Patil Advocate for Respondents No.3 and 4 : Mr. Alok Sharma ... CORAM : ARUN R. PEDNEKER AND VAISHALI PATIL-JADHAV, JJ. Dated : January 30, 2026 PER COURT : 1. By this petition, the petitioner challenges the impugned notice under section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 issued by the Jurisdictional Assessing Officer (JAO). 2. This Court has consistently relied upon the decision of the Division Bench of this Court in the case of Hexaware Technologies Ltd. Vs. Assistant Commissioner of Income-tax Circle 15(1)(2)(2024) 162 taxmann.com 225 (Bombay) and has held that the Jurisdictional Assessing Officer (JAO) has no jurisdiction to issue notice under section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 after the faceless reassessment scheme being promulgated on 29th March 2022 and relying upon the judgment of Hexaware Technologies Ltd. (supra) this court has allowed writ petitions in large number. Accordingly, we also propose to pass the similar order. 3. The learned counsel appearing for respondents/Income Tax Page 1 of 3 2026:BHC-AUG:4345-DB 957 WP 5196-2025 Department has relied upon the decision of Delhi High Court in the case of T.K.S. Builders Pvt. Ltd., GDR Finance and Leasing Private Limited Vs. Income Tax Officer dated 28.10.2024 in WP (C) 1968/2023 and other connected matters and submits that the Delhi High Court has held that JAO as well as Faceless Assessing Officer (FAO) both would have concurrent jurisdiction to issue notice under section 148. 4. However, considering that this court by relying upon the judgment of this Court in the case of Hexaware Technologies Ltd. (supra) has consistently held that notice under section 148 of Income Tax Act could only be issued by FAO and not by JAO after 29.3.2022, we proceed to pass

the following order.

5.

We accordingly set aside the impugned notice issued under section 148 of the Income Tax Act and all other proceedings/orders emanating therefrom.

6.

We however grant liberty to the Revenue to revive this writ petition in the event the decision in Hexaware Technologies Ltd (Supra) is set aside by the Hon’ble Supreme Court on this issue. We make it clear that it will not be necessary for the Revenue to file a separate Interim application to seek a revival of this petition and the same can be done simply by moving a praecipe before this Court. In the event the above petition stands revived, 957 WP 5196-2025 there will be a stay to the implementation and operation of the impugned notice issued under section 148 until further orders. It is needless to clarify that if the Hon’ble Supreme Court dismisses the SLP challenging the decision in Hexaware Technologies Ltd (supra), there would be no question of any revival.

7.

We also make it clear that once the petition is revived and restored, the same would have to be decided on its own merits, considering that several other issues are also raised challenging the notice issued under section 148. 8. Writ petition is disposed of in the above terms. ( VAISHALI PATIL-JADHAV, J. ) ( ARUN R. PEDNEKER, J. ) vj gawade/-.

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