VINEET JAIN vs. INCOME TAX OFFICER AND OTHERS

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CWP/37879/2025HC Punjab & HaryanaPHHC01205528202523 December 2025Author: MRS. JUSTICE LISA GILL,MR. JUSTICE VIRINDER AGGARWAL3 pages
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What did the High Court hold?

The High Court allowed the writ petition, disposing of it in terms of the decisions in Jatinder Singh Bhangu vs. Union of India and Jasjit Singh vs. Union of India. In those cited cases, the Court had held that the scheme of faceless assessment, applicable from the stage of show cause notice under Section 148/148A, was evident from Section 151A and Clause 3(b) of the notification dated 29.03.2022. The Court reasoned that the object of faceless assessment would be defeated if a jurisdictional Assessing Officer issued the show cause notice. While circulars and instructions from the Board are binding on authorities, courts are not bound by them. The mandate of Section 144B, 151A read with the notification dated 29.03.2022 was found to be lucid, and statutory provisions could not be overridden by office memorandums or other instructions. The revenue was granted liberty to follow the procedure laid down under the Act, 1961, and proceed accordingly, if so advised.

What were the facts?

The petitioner, Vineet Jain, challenged a notice dated 30.03.2025 issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, for Assessment Year 2022-2023. The challenge was based on the ground that the issuing authority lacked jurisdiction due to a CBDT circular dated 29.03.2022, which allegedly vested exclusive power to issue such notices in the National Faceless Assessment Centre (NFAC). The petitioner relied on previous judgments by a Co-ordinate Bench of the same High Court in similar matters. The respondents, the Income Tax Department, did not dispute that the issue was covered by these prior decisions.

What were the issues?

1. Whether the notice dated 30.03.2025, issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, for Assessment Year 2022-2023, is without jurisdiction, considering the CBDT circular dated 29.03.2022 which purportedly grants exclusive power to the National Faceless Assessment Centre (NFAC) to issue such notices. Assessee's contention: The issuing authority lacked jurisdiction to issue the notice under Section 148 of the Act, 1961, as per the CBDT circular dated 29.03.2022, which mandates that the NFAC has exclusive power. The petitioner relied on the judgments in Jatinder Singh Bhangu vs. Union of India and Jasjit Singh vs. Union of India. Revenue's contention: The revenue did not dispute that the issue was covered in favour of the petitioner by the aforementioned judgments.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 148,Section 151A,Section 144B

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

CWP-37879 of 2025 (O&M)

-1-

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

CWP-37879 of 2025 (O&M)

Date of Decision: 23.12.2025

Vineet Jain

..... Petitioner

Versus

Income Tax Officer and others

..... Respondents

CORAM:- HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE LISA GILL

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VIRINDER AGGARWAL

Present: Mr. Vishav Bharti Gupta, Advocate

for the petitioner.

Mr. Ranvijay Singh, Sr. Standing Counsel

Ms. Nikita Garg, Jr. Standing Counsel

for respondents-Income Tax Department.

**** LISA GILL, J.

1.

Challenge in the present petition is to notice dated 30.03.2025, passed under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (for short ‘Act 1961’), notice for the Assessment Year 2022-2023 and all subsequent proceedings on the ground that Issuing Authority had no juri iction to issue the same, in view of circular/notification dated 29.03.2022 of the CBDT, wherein, it has been specifically enumerated that National Faceless Assessment Centre (NFAC) has exclusive power to issue notice under Section 148 of the Act, 1961. 2. Learned counsel for petitioner contends that issue involved in the present writ petition is covered by judgment passed by a Co-ordinate 2025.12.24 12:36 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh

CWP-37879 of 2025 (O&M)

-2- India and others, passed in CWP No. 15745-2024 and connected matter, (CWP No. 21509-2023 and other connected matters), decided on 29.07.2024. 3. It is submitted that Co-ordinate Bench of this Court in Jatinder Singh Bhangu’s case (supra) and Jasjit Singh’s case (supra), allowed the writ petitions on the same issue, as raised in the present writ petition, by granting liberty to the revenue to follow the procedure as laid down under the Act, 1961 and proceed accordingly, if so advised. Relevant portion of decision dated 19.07.2024 in Jatinder Singh Bhangu’s case (supra) reads as under:- “15. From the perusal of Section 151A, it is quite evident that scheme of faceless assessment is applicable from the stage of show cause notice under Section 148 as well as 148A. Clause 3(b) of notification dated 29.03.2022 issued under Section 151A clearly provides that scheme would be applicable to notice under Section 148. Even otherwise, it is a settled proposition of law that assessment proceedings commence from the stage of issuance of show cause notice. The object of introduction of faceless assessment would be defeated if show cause notice under Section 148 is issued by Juri ictional Assessing Officer. The respondents are heavily placing reliance upon office memorandum and letter issued by departmental authorities. It is axiomatic in tax jurisprudence that circulars, instructions and letters issued by Board or any other authority cannot override statutory provisions. The circulars are binding upon authorities and Courts are not bound by circulars. The mandate of Section 144B, 151A readwith notification SANJAY KHAN 2025.12.24 12:36 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh

CWP-37879 of 2025 (O&M)

-3- dated 29.03.2022 issued thereunder is quite lucid. There is no ambiguity in the language of statutory provisions, thus, office memorandum or any other instruction issued by Board or any other authority cannot be relied upon.”

4.

Learned counsel appearing for the respondent does not dispute that issue involved is covered in favour of petitioner in view of abovesaid decisions.

5.

Keeping in view the facts and circumstances as above, present writ petition is disposed of, in terms of Jatinder Singh Bhangu’s case (supra), decided on 19.07.2024 and Jasjit Singh’s case (supra), decided on 29.07.2024. 6. All the pending applications, if any, also stand disposed of accordingly.

(LISA GILL)

JUDGE

(VIRINDER AGGARWAL) 23.12.2025

JUDGE s.khan Whether speaking/reasoned: Yes/No Whether reportable: Yes/No SANJAY KHAN 2025.12.24 12:36 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh

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