LOKESH SACHDEVA vs. ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX CENTRE CIRCLE 28 DELHI & ORS.

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W.P.(C)/252/2025HC DelhiDLHC01000228202522 May 2025Author: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VIBHU BAKHRU,HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE TEJAS KARIA5 pages
AI SummaryAllowed

What did the High Court hold?

The Delhi High Court held that the controversy in the petition is covered by its prior decision in ARN Infrastructures India Ltd. v. Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax Central Circle-28 Delhi & Ors. The Court reiterated that the liberty accorded by the Supreme Court in Abhisar Buildwell to initiate reassessment proceedings, even in cases related to search where no incriminating material was found, was subject to the fulfillment of conditions mentioned in Sections 147/148 of the Act and compliance with the chapter pertaining to reassessment. The Court found the Revenue's contention that the time period stipulated under Section 149 of the Act is not applicable, in the given facts, to be erroneous. The Supreme Court's observations in Abhisar Buildwell were intended to convey that the annulment of search assessments would not deprive the Revenue of its power to reassess, but such action must be in accordance with law and subject to statutory prescriptions, including the limitations under Section 149. Therefore, the impugned notice, which was beyond the period stipulated under Section 149, was set aside. The petition was allowed, and the pending applications were disposed of.

What were the facts?

The petitioner, Lokesh Sachdeva, challenges a notice dated 30.08.2024 issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, for Assessment Year (AY) 2015-16. The petitioner had filed a revised return for AY 2015-16 on 01.10.2015. A search under Section 132 was conducted on 14.10.2020 in the case of Sh. Manoj Kumar Singh and associates. Proceedings under Section 153A were initiated against the petitioner, leading to an assessment order dated 22.03.2022 under Section 153A read with Section 143(3), which included an addition of ₹1,67,69,669/-. The CIT(A) deleted this addition on 31.08.2023, citing the absence of incriminating material and relying on PCIT v. Abhisar Buildwell Pvt. Limited. Subsequently, the Assessing Officer (AO) issued a notice under Section 148A(b) on 06.08.2024, proposing to reopen the assessment for AY 2015-16, invoking Section 150 of the Act and CBDT Instruction No. 1/2023. The petitioner objected, arguing Section 150(1) was inapplicable. The AO rejected the objection and issued the impugned notice under Section 148 on 30.08.2024.

What were the issues?

1. Whether the notice dated 30.08.2024 issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, for AY 2015-16 is beyond the period stipulated under Section 149(1) of the Act, or if it is saved by the non-obstante clause under Section 150 of the Act. Assessee's Contention: The petitioner argues that the impugned notice is clearly beyond the period stipulated under Section 149(1) of the Act. They contend that Section 150(1) of the Act is inapplicable as there was no direction from the Supreme Court to reopen the case, citing the rejection of such a prayer by the Revenue in the PCIT v. Abhisar Buildwell Pvt. Ltd. case. The petitioner asserts that the Supreme Court's observations in Abhisar Buildwell cannot be construed as a carte blanche to override the restrictions in Section 149. Revenue's Contention: The Revenue contends that the impugned notice has been issued within the stipulated time by virtue of the non-obstante clause under Section 150 of the Act. They claim the notice is premised on the 'findings and directions' in the Supreme Court's decision in Principal Commissioner of Income-tax, Central-3 v. Abhisar Buildwell (P.) Ltd. (2024) 2 SCC 433, which they interpret as a direction for issuing such notices in cases related to search or requisition, even if otherwise beyond the time limit. The Revenue construes this decision as constituting a finding or direction for issuing notices under Section 148 in such circumstances.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 148,Section 148A,Section 149,Section 150,Section 153A,Section 143(3),Section 132

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

Cause title — parties, addresses and appearances
W.P.(C) 252/2025 Page 1 of 5 $~38 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 252/2025 & CM APPL. 1191/2025 CM APPL. 1192/2025 LOKESH SACHDEVA .....Petitioner Through: Mr Ved Jain, Mr Nischay Kantoor, Ms Soniya Dodeja, and Mr Sarthak Abrol, Advocates. versus ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX CENTRE CIRCLE 28 DELHI & ORS. .....Respondent Through: Mr Anurag Ojha, SSC, Ms Hemlata Rawat, and Mr V K Saksena, JSCs, Mr Dipak Raj and Mr Shubham Kumar, Advocates for the Revenue. Mr Atul Krishna, SPC for R3. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VIBHU BAKHRU HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE TEJAS KARIA

O R D E R % 22.05.2025

1.

The petitioner has filed the present petition, inter alia, impugning notice dated 30.08.2024 [the impugned notice] issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 [the Act] in respect of assessment years [AY] 2015-16. 2. The petitioner had filed a revised return of income for AY 2015-16 on 1.10.2015, declaring an income of ₹48,34,640/-. On 14.10.2020, a search was conducted under Section 132 of the Act in the case of Sh. Manoj Kumar Singh and its associates.

3.

It is the petitioner’s contention that no incriminating material This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 01/07/2025 at 22:38:53 pertaining to the searched persons was found during the said search thus no further proceedings were warranted.

4.

Subsequently, proceedings under Section 153A of the Act were initiated against the petitioner by issuance of a notice dated 07.06.2021. Pursuant to the said notice, an assessment order dated 22.03.2022 was passed under the Section 153A read with Section 143(3) of the Act. The petitioner contends that the assessment year in question was a completed assessment and, in the absence of any incriminating material found during the course of the search, the addition of ₹1,67,69,669/- made by the Assessing Officer [AO] was without jurisdiction and contrary to settled legal principles.

5.

Aggrieved by the assessment order dated 22.03.2022 passed by the AO, the petitioner preferred an appeal before the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) [CIT(A)]. On 31.08.2023, the CIT(A) deleted the addition made by the AO, by relying on PCIT v. Abhisar Buildwell Pvt. Limited: (2024) 2 SCC 433, that no addition was permissible in the absence of incriminating material, as the year in question was not an abated assessment year.

6.

On 06.08.2024, relying on Section 150 of the Act and CBDT Instruction No. 1/2023, the AO issued a notice under Section 148A(b) of the Act requiring the petitioner to show cause why the assessment for the relevant assessment year [AY 2015-16] should not be reopened under Section 148 of the Act.

7.

In response to the aforesaid notice, the petitioner filed a reply on 13.08.2024, challenging the initiation of the reassessment proceedings. The petitioner claimed that Section 150(1) of the Act is inapplicable, as there was This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 01/07/2025 at 22:38:53 no direction from the Supreme Court to reopen the case, citing the rejection of such a prayer by the Revenue in the PCIT v. Abhisar Buildwell Pvt. Ltd. (supra).

8.

On 30.08.2024, the AO, rejected the petitioner’s reply, and passed an order under Section 148A(d) of the Act, deeming the case fit for reopening and further issued a notice under Section 148 of the Act, asserting that the proceedings were within the limitation period by invoking Section 150 of the Act.

9.

The impugned notice is clearly beyond the period as stipulated under Section 149(1) of the Act. However, it is the Revenue’s case that the impugned notice has been issued within the stipulated time by virtue of the non-obstante clause under Section 150 of the Act. The Revenue claims that the impugned notice is premised on the ‘findings and directions’ as embodied in the decision of the Supreme Court in Principal Commissioner of Income-tax, Central-3 v. Abhisar Buildwell (P.) Ltd.: (2024) 2 SCC 433. In the said decision, the Supreme Court had held that in certain cases, the assessing officer (AO) could exercise its powers under Section 147/148 of the Act, even in cases which are related to a search conducted under Section 132 of the Act or a requisition made under Section 132A of the Act. The Revenue construes the said decision as constituting a finding or a direction for issuing such notices in respect of cases such as that of the assessee’s.

10.

The question whether the decision in the case of Principal Commissioner of Income-tax, Central-3 v. Abhisar Buildwell (P.) Ltd. (supra) constitutes a finding and/or a direction for issuance of notices under Section 148 of the Act in cases, which are otherwise beyond the period as stipulated under Section 149 of the Act is no longer res integra. This Court This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 01/07/2025 at 22:38:53 in the case of ARN Infrastructures India Ltd. v. Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax Central Circle-28 Delhi & Ors.: Neutral Citation No.:2024:DHC:7423-DB had rejected a similar contention. The relevant extract of the said decision is set out below:

“38. It is pertinent to note that a reference to Sections 147 and 148 of the Act in Abhisar Buildwell firstly appears in paragraph 33 of the report and where the Supreme Court observed that in cases where a search does not result in any incriminating material being found, the only remedy that would be available to the Revenue would be to resort to reassessment.

39.

However, the Supreme Court caveated that observation by observing that the initiation of reassessment would be “…..subject to fulfilment of the conditions mentioned in Sections 147/148, as in such a situation, the Revenue cannot be left with no remedy”. This sentiment came to be reiterated with the Supreme Court observing that the power of the Revenue to initiate reassessment must be saved failing which it would be left with no remedy. It was thereafter observed in paragraph 36.4 of the report that insofar as completed or unabated assessments were concerned, they could be reopened by the AO by invocation of Sections 147/148 of the Act, subject to the fulfillment of the conditions “……as envisaged/mentioned under Sections 147/148 of the Act and those powers are saved”.

40.

It thus becomes apparent that the liberty which the Supreme Court accorded and the limited right inhering in the Revenue to initiate reassessment was subject to that power being otherwise compliant with the Chapter pertaining to reassessment as contained in the Act. The observations of the Supreme Court cannot possibly be read or construed as a carte blanche enabling the respondents to This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 01/07/2025 at 22:38:53 overcome and override the restrictions that otherwise appear in Section 149 of the Act. The observations of the Supreme Court in Abhisar Buildwell were thus intended to merely convey that the annulment of the search assessments would not deprive or denude the Revenue of its power to reassess and which independently existed. However, the Supreme Court being mindful of the statutory prescriptions, which otherwise imbue the commencement of reassessment, qualified that observation by providing that such an action would have to be in accordance with law. This note of caution appears at more than one place in that judgment and is apparent from the Supreme Court observing that the power to reassess would be subject to the fulfilment of the conditions mentioned in Sections 147 and 148 of the Act.”

11.

Plainly, the controversy involved in this petition is covered by the decision of this court in ARN Infrastructures India Ltd. v. Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax Cental Circle-28 Delhi & Ors. (supra). The contention that the time period as stipulated under Section 149 of the Act is not applicable, in the given facts, is erroneous and thus rejected.

12.

The petition is, accordingly, allowed and the impugned notice is set aside. The pending applications are also disposed of. VIBHU BAKHRU, J TEJAS KARIA, J MAY 22, 2025 M Click here to check corrigendum, if any This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 01/07/2025 at 22:38:53

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