LATIYAL HANDICRAFTS PRIVATE LIMITED vs. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX

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CW/23974/2025HC Rajasthan2025:RJ-JD:53333-DB09 December 2025Author: PUSHPENDRA SINGH BHATI, SANJEET PUROHIT3 pages
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What did the High Court hold?

The High Court held that so long as the law declared in Sharda Devi Chhajer and Hexaware Technologies Ltd., which vests jurisdiction with the Faceless Assessing Officer, continues to hold the field, notices issued by the Jurisdictional Assessing Officer are not legally sustainable. Accordingly, the impugned notice dated 30.08.2024 issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, and all consequential proceedings were quashed and set aside for being without jurisdiction. The Court clarified that liberty is reserved for the respondent-Revenue to proceed afresh through the Faceless Assessing Officer, strictly in accordance with law, subject to limitations and legal requirements. Furthermore, liberty was granted to the Revenue to act in accordance with law if the aforementioned judgments are reversed, set aside, or materially modified by the Supreme Court. The petitioner stated that other grounds were not being pressed and would be taken up at an appropriate stage, undertaking to withdraw the appeal already filed.

What were the facts?

The petitioner, Latiyal Handicrafts Private Limited, filed a writ petition challenging a notice dated 30.08.2024 issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, by the Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax, Jodhpur. The respondent-Revenue acknowledged that the issue was covered by previous judgments of the Rajasthan High Court in Sharda Devi Chhajer vs. The Income Tax Officer & Another and the Bombay High Court in Hexaware Technologies Ltd. vs. Assistant Commissioner of Income-Tax, Circle-15(1)(2). These judgments held that notices issued by the Jurisdictional Assessing Officer (JAO) instead of the Faceless Assessing Officer (FAO) are invalid. The Revenue also mentioned that a Special Leave Petition was filed before the Supreme Court against the Hexaware Technologies Ltd. judgment, and notice had been issued.

What were the issues?

1. Whether a notice issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, by the Jurisdictional Assessing Officer (JAO) is invalid, when the law mandates issuance by the Faceless Assessing Officer (FAO)? (Question of law, concerning the validity of notice and jurisdiction under the faceless assessment scheme). Assessee's Contention: The petitioner implicitly relies on the principle that notices must be issued by the correct authority as per the prevailing faceless assessment scheme. Revenue's Contention: The Revenue acknowledges that the prevailing judgments (Sharda Devi Chhajer and Hexaware Technologies Ltd.) hold such notices invalid. However, it seeks liberty to revive proceedings if these judgments are set aside or materially modified by the Supreme Court, given that an SLP has been filed and notice issued in the Hexaware Technologies Ltd. case.

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
[2025:RJ-JD:53333-DB] HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN AT JODHPUR D.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 23974/2025 Latiyal Handicrafts Private Limited, Through Its Director Dev Narayan Ranga, S/o Shri Radhe Shyam Ranga, Aged About 46 Years, Resident Of 57, Jawala Vihar, Near Kothari Hospital, Jodhpur, Rajasthan- 342008. ----Petitioner Versus The Assistant Commissioner Of Income Tax, C-3, Jodhpur, Rajasthan. ----Respondent For Petitioner(s) : Mr. Rajat Arora For Respondent(s) : Mr. KK Bissa HON'BLE DR. JUSTICE PUSHPENDRA SINGH BHATI HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJEET PUROHIT

Order 09/12/2025

1.

Mr. K.K. Bissa, learned counsel appearing for the respondent, at the outset, fairly submits that the controversy involved in the present writ petition is squarely covered by the judgment of this Court in Sharda Devi Chhajer vs. The Income Tax Officer & Another [2025 SCC OnLine Raj 3386], which has followed the judgment of the Bombay High Court in Hexaware Technologies Ltd. vs. Assistant Commissioner of Income-Tax, Circle- 15(1)(2) [2024] 162 taxmann.com 225 (Bom.). It is held therein that notices issued by the Jurisdictional Assessing Officer (JAO), instead of the Faceless Assessing Officer, are invalid.

2.

Learned counsel, however, submits that the respondent is acting under the mandate of the directions issued by the learned ITAT. He further submits that against the judgment in Hexaware (Uploaded on 19/12/2025 at 05:16:55 PM) (Downloaded on 28/10/2026 at 12:34:49 AM)

[2025:RJ-JD:53333-DB] (2 of 3) [CW-23974/2025] Technologies Ltd. (supra), the Revenue has preferred a Special Leave Petition before the Hon’ble Supreme Court and notice has been issued. Learned counsel, therefore, submits that while the prayer of the petitioner may be granted in view of the prevailing legal position, liberty be reserved in favour of the Revenue to revive the proceedings in the event the judgments in Hexaware Technologies Ltd. (supra), Sharda Devi Chhajer (supra) or Shree Cement Limited (supra) are set aside or materially modified by the Hon’ble Apex Court.

3.

This Court finds that so long as the law declared in Sharda Devi Chhajer (supra) and Hexaware Technologies Ltd. (supra) holding that the jurisdiction vests with the Faceless Assessing Officer continues to hold the field, issuance of notices by the Jurisdictional Assessing Officer would not be legally sustainable.

4.

Accordingly, this Court directs that, keeping open all rights and contentions of parties, the impugned notice dated 30.08.2024 (Annexure-3) issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, along with all proceedings consequential thereto, are hereby quashed and set aside, being without jurisdiction.

5.

However, this Court clarifies that liberty is reserved in favour of the respondent-Revenue to proceed afresh through the Faceless Assessing Officer (FAO), strictly in accordance with law and the prevailing statutory framework, subject to limitation and other legal requirements.

6.

It is further made clear that in the event the judgments in Hexaware Technologies Ltd. (supra), Sharda Devi Chhajer (Uploaded on 19/12/2025 at 05:16:55 PM) (Downloaded on 28/10/2026 at 12:34:49 AM)

[2025:RJ-JD:53333-DB] (3 of 3) [CW-23974/2025] (supra) or Shree Cement Limited (supra) are reversed, set aside, or materially modified by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, the respondent-Revenue shall be at liberty to act in accordance with law.

7.

In view of above, counsel for petitioner states that other grounds raised are not being pressed upon and they will be taken at appropriate stage, if required. Further, learned counsel for the petitioner undertakes to apply within two weeks to withdraw the appeal already filed.

8.

Undertaking accepted.

9.

Accordingly, the writ petition stands disposed of. Pending applications, if any, also stand disposed of. (SANJEET PUROHIT),J (DR.PUSHPENDRA SINGH BHATI),J 8-nirmala Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org) (Uploaded on 19/12/2025 at 05:16:55 PM) (Downloaded on 28/10/2026 at 12:34:49 AM)

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