SURENDRA KANTILAL VORA vs. INCOME TAX OFFICER WARD -2 PANDHARPUR AND ORS

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WP/7731/2025HC BombayHCBM07023206202528 July 2025Bench: HON'BLE SHRI JUSTICE B.P. COLABAWALLA,HON'BLE SHRI JUSTICE FIRDOSH PHIROZE POONIWALLA3 pages
AI SummaryRemanded

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court held that it was bound to follow the decision of the Division Bench of the Bombay High Court in Hexaware Technologies Ltd. V/S Assistant Commissioner of Income-tax, Circle 15(1)(2) [(2024) 162 taxmann.com 225 (Bombay)], as the present case was fully covered by it. Consequently, the impugned Notice issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, and all consequential proceedings and orders emanating therefrom were set aside. The Court granted liberty to the Revenue to revive the Writ Petition if the Supreme Court were to set aside the Hexaware Technologies Ltd. judgment. If the Supreme Court dismisses the Special Leave Petition challenging the Hexaware judgment, there would be no question of revival. The Court also clarified that if the Petition is revived, it would be decided on its own merits, considering other issues raised by the Petitioner. The Rule was made absolute, and the Writ Petition was disposed of.

What were the facts?

The Petitioner, Surendra K. Vora, filed a Writ Petition challenging a Notice issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The Petitioner argued that the Notice was issued by the Jurisdictional Assessing Officer, whereas the law mandates it to be issued by the Faceless Assessing Officer. This procedural defect, according to the Petitioner, renders the Notice fatal. The Revenue acknowledged that this issue was covered by a Division Bench decision of the Bombay High Court in Hexaware Technologies Ltd. V/S Assistant Commissioner of Income-tax, Circle 15(1)(2), but stated that this decision had been challenged before the Supreme Court. The High Court, having heard the matter finally with the consent of parties, was bound by the Hexaware Technologies Ltd. judgment.

What were the issues?

1. Whether the Notice issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, is invalid and liable to be quashed on the ground that it was issued by the Jurisdictional Assessing Officer instead of the Faceless Assessing Officer, as mandated by law? (Question of law and fact, concerning Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961). Assessee's contention: The Notice is fatally defective as it was issued by the wrong authority (Jurisdictional AO instead of Faceless AO), and this issue is squarely covered by the Bombay High Court's decision in Hexaware Technologies Ltd. V/S Assistant Commissioner of Income-tax, Circle 15(1)(2) [(2024) 162 taxmann.com 225 (Bombay)]. Revenue's contention: While acknowledging the Hexaware Technologies Ltd. judgment, the Revenue stated that the said decision has been challenged before the Hon’ble Supreme Court and is likely to be taken up soon. However, no stay has been granted to the Hexaware Technologies Ltd. judgment.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 148

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO.7731 OF 2025 Surendra K. Vora .. Petitioner. Versus Income Tax Officer Ward 2 Pandharpur & Ors. .. Respondents. Adv. Rutuja Pawar (through V. C. ) with Adv. Hetal Laghave and Adv. Sneha More, for the Petitioner. Adv. Akhileshwar Sharma with Adv. Shradha Worlikar, for the Respondents.

CORAM: B. P. COLABAWALLA & FIRDOSH P. POONIWALLA, JJ. DATE: JULY 28, 2025 P. C. 1. In the above Petition Rule was issued on 17th June 2025 and interim relief was also granted interalia staying the Notice issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Today, though the matter has come up under the caption “for directions”, we have, with the consent of parties, heard it finally. 2. The above Writ Petition interalia challenges the Notice issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 on various grounds. One of the grounds is that the Notice has been issued by the Jurisdictional Assessing Officer when the law mandates that it has to be issued by the Faceless Page 1 of 3 JULY 28, 2025 S.R.JOSHI

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Assessing Officer. This is a fatal defect and therefore the Notice has to be quashed, is the argument of the Petitioner. 3. It is the Petitioners’ contention that this issue is squarely covered by a decision of a Division Bench of this Court in the case of Hexaware Technologies Ltd. V/S Assistant Commissioner of Income-tax, Circle 15(1)(2) [(2024) 162 taxmann.com 225 (Bombay)]. 4. On the other hand, the learned advocate appearing on behalf of the Revenue stated that though it is true that this issue is concluded by the decision in Hexaware Technologies Ltd (supra), the said decision has been challenged before the Hon’ble Supreme Court, and the Hon’ble Supreme Court is likely to take up the matter immediately on re-opening. He has fairly stated that there is no stay to the judgment in Hexaware Technologies Ltd (supra). 5. Considering these facts, we do not propose to keep the matter pending in this Court. Once it is fully covered by the decision in Hexaware Technologies Ltd (supra) we are bound to follow it. 6. We accordingly set aside the impugned Notice issued under Section 148 and all other proceedings/orders emanating therefrom. Page 2 of 3 JULY 28, 2025 S.R.JOSHI

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7.

We however grant liberty to the Revenue to revive the above 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. 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. 8. 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. 9. Rule is accordingly made absolute and the Writ Petition is also disposed of in terms thereof. However, there shall be no order as to costs. 10. This order will be digitally signed by the Private Secretary/ 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.] Page 3 of 3 JULY 28, 2025 S.R.JOSHI

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