M/S SARASWATI CRAFTS vs. THE INCOME TAX OFFICER

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CW/1324/2026HC Rajasthan2026:RJ-JD:3583-DB20 January 2026Author: ARUN MONGA, YOGENDRA KUMAR PUROHIT3 pages
AI SummaryRemanded

What did the High Court hold?

The Tribunal, in respectful agreement with the Division Bench of the Rajasthan High Court in Sharda Devi Chhajer and the Bombay High Court in Hexaware Technologies Ltd., held that jurisdiction vests exclusively with the Faceless Assessing Officer. Consequently, as long as these judgments remained in effect, notices issued by the Jurisdictional Assessing Officer were legally unsustainable. The impugned notice dated 27.08.2024 issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, for AY 2021-2022, along with all consequential proceedings, were quashed for lack of jurisdiction. Liberty was granted to the Revenue to initiate proceedings afresh through the Faceless Assessing Officer, subject to compliance with limitation and other legal requirements. The Revenue was also granted liberty to act afresh if the judgments in Hexaware Technologies Ltd. and Sharda Devi Chhajer were reversed, set aside, or materially modified by the Hon'ble Supreme Court. The other grounds raised by the petitioner were not pressed and were kept open.

What were the facts?

The petitioner, M/s Saraswati Crafts, filed a writ petition challenging a notice dated 27.08.2024 issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, for Assessment Year 2021-2022. The notice was issued by the Jurisdictional Assessing Officer. The respondent-Revenue acknowledged that the issue was covered by prior judgments of the Rajasthan High Court in Sharda Devi Chhajer v. Income Tax Officer & Anr. and the Bombay High Court in Hexaware Technologies Ltd. v. Assistant Commissioner of Income-Tax. These judgments held that notices issued by the Jurisdictional Assessing Officer, instead of the Faceless Assessing Officer, are without jurisdiction. The Revenue also informed the court that a Special Leave Petition had been filed against the Hexaware Technologies Ltd. judgment, and notice had been issued by the Supreme Court.

What were the issues?

1. Whether the notice dated 27.08.2024 issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, for Assessment Year 2021-2022, by the Jurisdictional Assessing Officer, is without jurisdiction and legally unsustainable. (Question of law, turning on the interpretation of the Income Tax Act, 1961, and related procedural rules concerning faceless assessment). Assessee's Contention: The assessee implicitly argued that the notice was bad in law as it was issued by the wrong authority, relying on the precedents established in Sharda Devi Chhajer and Hexaware Technologies Ltd. The assessee did not press other grounds at this stage. Revenue's Contention: The Revenue conceded that the controversy was covered by the aforementioned judgments. They requested liberty to revive proceedings if those judgments were set aside or materially modified by the Supreme Court, acknowledging the pending SLP against the Hexaware Technologies Ltd. decision.

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
[2026:RJ-JD:3583-DB] HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN AT JODHPUR D.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 1324/2026 M/s Saraswati Crafts, Through Its Partner Nayan Mehta S/o Rajendra Mehta Age About 30 Years 0 Pal Chopasan Ring Road Chopasani Jodhpur 342008, Rajasthan. Pan- Abbfs2395E ----Petitioner Versus The Income Tax Officer, Ward- 3(1) Jodhpur Having Its Address Ataayakar Bhawan, Paota C Road, Jodhpur ----Respondent For Petitioner(s) : Mr. Harshavardhan Singh Chundawat For Respondent(s) : Mr. KK Bissa HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ARUN MONGA HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE YOGENDRA KUMAR PUROHIT

Order 20/01/2026

1.

The present writ petition is filed against the impugned notice dated 27.08.2024 issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 for the Assessment Year 2021-2022. 2. On a court query, learned counsel for the respondents, at the outset, fairly submits that the controversy in the present writ petition is squarely covered by the judgment of this Court in Sharda Devi Chhajer v. Income Tax Officer & Anr.1, which, in turn has followed the similar prior view taken by the Bombay High Court in Hexaware Technologies Ltd. v. Assistant Commissioner of Income-Tax2, wherein it has been held that 12025 SCC OnLine Raj 3386 22024 SCC OnLine Bom 1249 (Uploaded on 20/01/2026 at 06:45:52 PM) (Downloaded on 28/10/2026 at 12:43:43 AM)

[2026:RJ-JD:3583-DB] (2 of 3) [CW-1324/2026] notices issued by the Jurisdictional Assessing Officer, instead of the Faceless Assessing Officer, are without jurisdiction.

3.

It is further submitted that the Revenue has preferred a Special Leave Petition against the judgment in Hexaware Technologies Ltd. and notice has been issued by the Hon’ble Supreme Court.

4.

Accordingly, learned counsel for the respondent would submit that in case this court is inclined to allow the petition, liberty be granted in favour of the Revenue to revive the proceedings in the event the judgments in Hexaware Technologies Ltd. (supra) and Sharda Devi Chhajer (supra) are set aside or materially modified by the Hon’ble Apex Court. Request seems fair.

5.

We are in respectful agreement with the view taken by Division Bench of this court in Sharda Devi Chhajer (supra) and Hexaware Technologies Ltd. (supra), holding that jurisdiction vests exclusively with the Faceless Assessing Officer. Accordingly, so long the judgments, ibid, continue to hold the field, issuance of notices by the Jurisdictional Assessing Officer is legally unsustainable.

6.

In the premise, keeping all rights and contentions, as raised herein, the impugned notice dated 27.08.2024 issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 for A.Y. 2021-2022, along with all proceedings consequential thereto, are quashed for lack of jurisdiction. (Uploaded on 20/01/2026 at 06:45:52 PM) (Downloaded on 28/10/2026 at 12:43:43 AM)

[2026:RJ-JD:3583-DB] (3 of 3) [CW-1324/2026]

7.

Liberty is, however, granted to the respondents-Revenue to initiate proceedings afresh through the Faceless Assessing Officer, in accordance with law within the prevailing statutory framework, subject to compliance of limitation and other legal requirements.

8.

It is clarified that in the event the judgments in Hexaware Technologies Ltd. (supra) and Sharda Devi Chhajer (supra) are reversed/set aside or materially modified by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, the respondent-Revenue shall be at liberty to act afresh in accordance thereof.

9.

In view of the above, learned counsel for the petitioner states that the other grounds raised herein are not pressed at this stage and be kept open to be urged, if required, at an appropriate later stage.

10.

Accordingly, the writ petition stands disposed of.

11.

Pending application, if any, also stands disposed of. (YOGENDRA KUMAR PUROHIT),J (ARUN MONGA),J 120-raksha/- Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org) (Uploaded on 20/01/2026 at 06:45:52 PM) (Downloaded on 28/10/2026 at 12:43:43 AM)

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