ABHISHEK SHARMA vs. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX AND OTHERS

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CWP/37261/2025HC Punjab & HaryanaPHHC01201554202512 December 2025Author: MRS. JUSTICE LISA GILL,MR. JUSTICE PARMOD GOYAL3 pages
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What did the High Court hold?

The High Court disposed of the writ petition in terms of the judgments in Jatinder Singh Bhangu vs. Union of India and Jasjit Singh vs. Union of India. In Jatinder Singh Bhangu’s case, the co-ordinate bench had held that the scheme of faceless assessment, applicable from the stage of show cause notice under Section 148, is evident from Section 151A and the notification dated 29.03.2022. The Court noted that the object of faceless assessment would be defeated if a jurisdictional Assessing Officer issued the notice. It was further observed that while circulars and instructions are binding on authorities, courts are not bound by them, and statutory provisions, such as Section 144B and 151A read with the notification, are lucid and unambiguous, overriding any office memorandum or departmental instructions. The petitions were allowed with liberty to the revenue to follow the prescribed procedure if so advised. Consequently, the present writ petition was disposed of on the same basis, and all pending applications were also disposed of.

What were the facts?

The petitioner, Abhishek Sharma, challenged a notice dated 08.03.2025 issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, for Assessment Year 2023-2024. The challenge was based on the ground that the issuing authority lacked jurisdiction, citing a CBDT circular dated 29.03.2022 which purportedly vests exclusive power to issue such notices with the National Faceless Assessment Centre (NFAC). The petitioner argued that this issue was covered by previous judgments of a co-ordinate bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in Jatinder Singh Bhangu vs. Union of India and Jasjit Singh vs. Union of India. The respondents, the Income Tax Officer and others, did not dispute that the issue was covered by these prior decisions.

What were the issues?

1. Whether the notice dated 08.03.2025, issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, for Assessment Year 2023-2024, is invalid on the grounds that the issuing authority lacked jurisdiction in light of CBDT circular dated 29.03.2022, which allegedly grants exclusive power to the National Faceless Assessment Centre (NFAC) to issue such notices? Assessee's Contentions: The petitioner argued that the issuing authority had no jurisdiction to issue the Section 148 notice, relying on the CBDT circular dated 29.03.2022. The petitioner further contended that this issue was squarely covered by the judgments of a co-ordinate bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in Jatinder Singh Bhangu vs. Union of India and Jasjit Singh vs. Union of India, which allowed similar writ petitions. Revenue's Contentions: The revenue, through its counsel, did not dispute that the issue involved in the present writ petition 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-37261 of 2025 (O&M)

-1-

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

CWP-37261 of 2025 (O&M)

Date of Decision: 12.12.2025 Abhishek Sharma

..... Petitioner

Versus

Income Tax Officer and others

..... Respondents

CORAM:- HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE LISA GILL

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PARMOD GOYAL

Present: Mr. Rohit Kaura, Advocate

for the petitioner.

Mr. Varun Issar, Sr. Standing Counsel

Ms. Pridhi Sandhu, Jr. Standing Counsel

for respondents-Income Tax Department.

**** LISA GILL, J.

1.

Challenge in the present petition is to notice dated 08.03.2025, issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (for short ‘Act 1961’), for the Assessment Year 2023-2024 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 SANJAY KHAN 2025.12.16 13:23 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh

CWP-37261 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 SANJAY KHAN 2025.12.16 13:23 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh

CWP-37261 of 2025 (O&M)

-3- mandate of Section 144B, 151A readwith notification 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

(PARMOD GOYAL) 12.12.2025

JUDGE s.khan Whether speaking/reasoned: Yes/No Whether reportable: Yes/No SANJAY KHAN 2025.12.16 13:23 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh

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