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

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CWP/19729/2025HC Punjab & HaryanaPHHC01108591202516 July 2025Author: MRS. JUSTICE LISA GILL,MRS. JUSTICE MEENAKSHI I. MEHTA3 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 judgments in Jatinder Singh Bhangu's case and Jasjit Singh's case. The reasoning, as per the cited judgments, is that Section 151A of the Act, 1961, and the notification dated March 29, 2022, clearly indicate that the scheme of faceless assessment is applicable from the stage of show cause notice under Section 148. Clause 3(b) of the notification explicitly states its applicability to notices under Section 148. The Court noted that assessment proceedings commence with the issuance of a show cause notice, and allowing jurisdictional assessing officers to issue such notices would defeat the object of faceless assessment. While circulars and instructions from the Board are binding on authorities, courts are not bound by them. The mandate of Section 144B and 151A, read with the notification, is lucid, and statutory provisions cannot be overridden by office memorandums or other instructions. The operative direction was to grant liberty to the revenue to follow the procedure laid down under the Act, 1961, and proceed accordingly if so advised.

What were the facts?

The petitioner, Simran Jeet Kaur Chhabra, challenged a notice dated March 28, 2024, issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, and a consequential assessment order dated March 29, 2025, for Assessment Year 2020-2021. The challenge was based on the contention that the issuing authority lacked jurisdiction due to a CBDT circular dated March 29, 2022, which purportedly grants exclusive power to the National Faceless Centre (NFAC) to issue such notices. The respondents are the Income Tax Officer Ward 1(4) Faridabad and others. The matter was heard by the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh.

What were the issues?

1. Whether the notice dated March 28, 2024, issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, and the consequential assessment order dated March 29, 2025, are invalid on the grounds that the issuing authority lacked jurisdiction, in view of the CBDT circular dated March 29, 2022, which vests exclusive power in the National Faceless Centre (NFAC) to issue such notices? (Question of law and fact, concerning Section 148 and Section 151A of the Act, 1961). Assessee's contention: The issuing authority had no jurisdiction to issue the notice under Section 148 of the Act, 1961, as per the CBDT circular dated March 29, 2022, which mandates that the National Faceless Centre (NFAC) has exclusive power for such issuances. The petitioner relies on judgments of a Co-ordinate Bench 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 contention: The revenue's counsel 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-19729-2025

174

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA

AT CHANDIGARH

CWP-19729-2025

Date of Decision: July 16, 2025

SIMRAN JEET KAUR CHHABRA

.....Petitioner

Versus

INCOME TAX OFFICER WARD 1(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 28.03.2024 issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (for short ‘Act 1961”) and all consequential proceedings including assessment order dated 29.03.2025 for the Assessment year 2020-2021, 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 and all consequential proceedings 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 RITU SHARMA 2025.07.22 17:49 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

2

CWP-19729-2025 India and others, passed in CWP No. 15745-2024 and connected matter, 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 2025.07.22 17:49 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

3

CWP-19729-2025

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 2025.07.22 17:49 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

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