M/S TUSHAR ENTERPRISES vs. THE INCOME TAX OFFICER

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CW/1697/2026HC Rajasthan2026:RJ-JD:4637-DB27 January 2026Author: ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE, BALJINDER SINGH SANDHU3 pages
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What did the High Court hold?

The Tribunal held that jurisdiction vests exclusively with the Faceless Assessing Officer. Accordingly, notices issued by the Jurisdictional Assessing Officer are legally unsustainable as long as the judgments in Sharda Devi Chhajer and Hexaware Technologies Ltd. continue to hold the field. The impugned notice dated 30.08.2024 issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, for A.Y. 2016-2017, 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. It was further clarified that if the Supreme Court reverses, sets aside, or materially modifies the judgments in Hexaware Technologies Ltd. and Sharda Devi Chhajer, the Revenue shall be at liberty to act afresh in accordance thereof. The petitioner stated that other grounds raised were not pressed at this stage.

What were the facts?

The petitioner, M/s Tushar Enterprises, filed a writ petition challenging a notice dated 30.08.2024 issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, for Assessment Year 2016-2017. The notice was issued by the Income Tax Officer, Ward -3(1) Jodhpur, who is the jurisdictional assessing officer. The Revenue, represented by its counsel, conceded that the issue was covered by previous 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 a jurisdictional assessing officer, instead of a faceless assessing officer, are without jurisdiction. The Revenue also mentioned that a Special Leave Petition was 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 30.08.2024 issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, for Assessment Year 2016-2017, by the jurisdictional Assessing Officer, is without jurisdiction. Assessee's Contention: The assessee implicitly challenges the jurisdiction of the issuing authority by filing a writ petition against the notice. The judgment indicates the assessee's grounds are not pressed at this stage, but the core issue revolves around the validity of the notice. Revenue's Contention: The Revenue concedes that the controversy is covered by the judgments in Sharda Devi Chhajer and Hexaware Technologies Ltd., which held that notices issued by jurisdictional assessing officers instead of faceless assessing officers are without jurisdiction. The Revenue requests liberty to revive proceedings if these judgments are set aside or modified by the Supreme Court.

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:4637-DB] HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN AT JODHPUR D.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 1697/2026 M/s Tushar Enterprises, Through Its Partner Shikhar Chand Bothra S/o Keshari Chand Bothra Age About 71 Years D- 402Shardha Celebrity Homes, Tejeshwar Nagar,pal Road Jodhpur-342008, Rajasthan. Pan-AAFFT7797L ----Petitioner Versus The Income Tax Officer, Ward -3(1) Jodhpur Having Its Address At Aayakar Bhawan, Paota C Road, Jodhpur. ----Respondent For Petitioner(s) : Mr. Harshwardhan Singh Chundawat For Respondent(s) : Mr. Sunil Bhandari HON'BLE THE ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE MR. SANJEEV PRAKASH SHARMA HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE BALJINDER SINGH SANDHU

Order 27/01/2026

1.

Issue notice.

2.

Mr. Sunil Bhandari, learned counsel for the respondent accepts notice.

3.

The present writ petition is filed against the impugned notice dated 30.08.2024 issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 for Assessment Year 2016-2017. 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, inturn 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 1 2025 SCC OnLine Raj 3386 2 2024 SCC OnLine Bom 1249 (Uploaded on 29/01/2026 at 10:27:14 AM) (Downloaded on 28/10/2026 at 12:43:55 AM)

[2026:RJ-JD:4637-DB] (2 of 3) [CW-1697/2026] notices issued by the Jurisdictional Assessing Officer, instead of the Faceless Assessing Officer, are without jurisdiction.

4.

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.

5.

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.

6.

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.

7.

In the premise, keeping all rights and contentions, as raised herein, the impugned notice dated 30.08.2024 issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 for A.Y. 2016-2017, along with all proceedings consequential thereto, are quashed for lack of jurisdiction.

8.

Liberty is, however, granted to the respondents-Revenue to initiate proceedings afresh through the Faceless Assessing Officer, (Uploaded on 29/01/2026 at 10:27:14 AM) (Downloaded on 28/10/2026 at 12:43:55 AM)

[2026:RJ-JD:4637-DB] (3 of 3) [CW-1697/2026] in accordance with law within the prevailing statutory framework, subject to compliance of limitation and other legal requirements.

9.

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.

10.

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.

11.

Accordingly, the writ petition stands disposed of.

12.

Pending application, if any, also stands disposed of. (BALJINDER SINGH SANDHU),J (SANJEEV PRAKASH SHARMA),ACJ 8-divyaP/- Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org) (Uploaded on 29/01/2026 at 10:27:14 AM) (Downloaded on 28/10/2026 at 12:43:55 AM)

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