SIMRAN JEET KAUR CHHABRA vs. INCOME TAX OFFICER WARD 1(4) FARIDABAD AND OTHERS

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CWP/19632/2025HC Punjab & HaryanaPHHC01107731202516 July 2025Author: MRS. JUSTICE LISA GILL,MRS. JUSTICE MEENAKSHI I. MEHTA3 pages
AI SummaryAllowed

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court allowed the writ petition, disposing of it in terms of the judgments in Jatinder Singh Bhangu's case and Jasjit Singh's case. The Court noted that in these prior cases, the writ petitions were allowed on the same issue, granting liberty to the revenue to follow the procedure laid down under the Act, 1961, and proceed accordingly if so advised. The reasoning in Jatinder Singh Bhangu's case highlighted that Section 151A and Clause 3(b) of the notification dated March 29, 2022, clearly indicate the applicability of the faceless assessment scheme from the stage of the show cause notice under Section 148. The Court emphasized that while circulars and instructions cannot override statutory provisions, the mandate of Section 144B and 151A, read with the relevant notification, was lucid and unambiguous, rendering any contrary office memorandum or instruction invalid. The operative direction was to dispose of the petition in line with the precedent, allowing the revenue to re-initiate proceedings correctly.

What were the facts?

The petitioner, Simran Jeet Kaur Chhabra, challenged a notice dated March 30, 2025, issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, for Assessment Year 2021-2022. The challenge was based on the ground that the issuing authority lacked jurisdiction. The petitioner argued that a CBDT circular dated March 29, 2022, stipulated that the National Faceless Assessment Centre (NFAC) has exclusive power to issue such notices. The respondents, represented by the Income Tax Department, did not dispute this contention. The High Court considered previous judgments from its Co-ordinate Benches on similar issues.

What were the issues?

1. Whether the notice dated March 30, 2025, issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, for Assessment Year 2021-2022, is invalid on the grounds that the issuing authority lacked jurisdiction, contrary to the CBDT circular dated March 29, 2022, which vests exclusive power in the National Faceless Assessment Centre (NFAC) to issue such notices? (Question of law) Assessee's contentions: The petitioner argued that the notice was issued by an authority without jurisdiction, as per the CBDT circular dated March 29, 2022, which mandates that the NFAC has exclusive power to issue notices under Section 148. The petitioner relied on the judgments in Jatinder Singh Bhangu vs. Union of India and others (CWP No. 15745-2024) and Jasjit Singh vs. Union of India and others (CWP No. 21509 of 2023). Revenue's contentions: The revenue did not dispute the petitioner's contentions.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 148,Section 151A,Section 144B

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

1

CWP-19632-2025

154

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA

AT CHANDIGARH

CWP-19632-2025

Date of Decision: July 16, 2025

SIMRAN JEET KAUR CHHABRA

.....Petitioner

Versus

INCOME TAX OFFICER WARD1(4) FARIDABAD AND OTHERS

..... Respondents

CORAM:- HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE LISA GILL

HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE MEENAKSHI I. MEHTA

Present: Mr. Kartik Bansal, Advocate for the petitioner

Mr. Varun Issar and Ms. Pridhi Sandhu, Advocates, for the

respondent/Income Tax Department.

**** LISA GILL, J.

1.

Challenge in the present petition is to notice dated 30.03.2025 issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (for short ‘Act 1961”) and all consequential proceedings for the Assessment year 2021-2022, 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 the issue involved in the present writ petition is covered by judgment passed by a Co-ordinate India and others, passed in CWP No. 15745-2024 and connected matter, RITU SHARMA 2025.07.17 16:44 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

2

CWP-19632-2025 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 read with 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.”

RITU SHARMA 2025.07.17 16:44 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

3

CWP-19632-2025

6.

In view of the 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. 7. All the pending applications, if any, also stand disposed of accordingly. (LISA GILL)

JUDGE

(MEENAKSHI I. MEHTA) July 16, 2025

JUDGE Rts Whether speaking/reasoned: Yes/No Whether reportable: Yes/No

RITU SHARMA 2025.07.17 16:44 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

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