SALESFORCE.COM SINGAPORE PTE. LIMITED vs. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX, CIRCLE 3(1)(2), INTERNATIONAL TAXATION, NEW DELHI & ORS.

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W.P.(C)/1887/2025HC DelhiDLHC01007153202514 February 2025Author: HON'BLE CHIEF JUSTICE DEVENDRA KUMAR UPADHYAYA,HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE TUSHAR RAO GEDELA5 pages
AI SummaryPartly Allowed

What did the High Court hold?

The Delhi High Court took on record the statements made by the learned counsel for the revenue. The revenue assured that the order under Section 244A(1A) of the Act in respect of AY 2017-18 has been passed and similar orders would be passed in respect of other AYs within a period of two weeks from the date of the order. Furthermore, the revenue stated that refunds would be made in respect of AY 2018-19 and 2021-22 within the same two-week period. Based on these assurances, the applications filed by the petitioner were disposed of. The court did not explicitly decide on the merits of the claims but relied on the statements of the parties for resolution. The ratio decidendi is that when the revenue makes specific assurances regarding compliance with statutory provisions and court directions within a stipulated timeframe, the court may dispose of the matter based on those assurances.

What were the facts?

The petitioner, Salesforce.com Singapore Pte Limited, filed two writ petitions (W.P.(C) 1913/2025 and W.P.(C) 1887/2025) before the Delhi High Court seeking directions to the Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax to grant refunds along with interest under Section 244A(1) and 244A(1A) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, for various assessment years (AYs). The initial writ petitions were disposed of on February 14, 2025, with directions to the revenue to decide the refund claims expeditiously. Subsequently, the petitioner filed further applications seeking compliance with the earlier court orders and disposal of pending rectification applications. The dispute pertains to AYs 2017-18, 2018-19, 2020-21, and 2021-22.

What were the issues?

1. Whether the respondents have complied with the directions of this Hon'ble Court vide orders dated 14.02.2025 and 25.07.2025 by granting refunds for AY 2018-19 and 2021-22 with appropriate interest till the date of grant of refund under sections 244A(1) and 244A(1A) of the Act, and by granting appropriate interest till the date of grant of refund under sections 244A(1) and 244A(1A) of the Act for AY 2018-19 and AY 2020-21, in a time-bound manner? 2. Whether the Respondent No.1/JAO has disposed of the pending rectification applications dated 19.06.2025 for AY 2018-19 and AY 2020-21, and application dated 01.09.2025 for AY 2021-22? 3. Whether the respondents have complied with the directions of this Hon'ble Court vide orders dated 14.02.2025 and 25.07.2025 by granting appropriate interest till the date of grant of refund under sections 244A(1) and 244A(1A) of the Act, due to the Petitioner for AY 2017-18, in a time-bound manner? 4. Whether the Respondent No.1/JAO has disposed of the pending rectification application dated 09.06.2025 for AY 2017-18? Assessee's Contention: The petitioner contended that while orders granting effect to the ITAT orders have been passed for AYs 2017-18, 2018-19, 2020-21, and 2021-22, and interest under Section 244A(1) has been granted, the benefit of Section 244A(1A) has not been granted in all years. The petitioner sought directions for compliance and disposal of pending rectification applications. Revenue's Contention: The revenue stated that the order under Section 244A(1A) for AY 2017-18 has been passed and similar orders would be passed for other AYs within two weeks. They also assured that refunds for AY 2018-19 and 2021-22 would be made within the same timeframe.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 244A(1),Section 244A(1A)

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

Heard together (2 matters)

W.P.(C) 1913/2025
W.P.(C) 1887/2025

Read from the judgment's own cause title. This page is filed under one of them.

Cause title — parties, addresses and appearances
W.P.(C) 1913/2025 & W.P.(C) 1887/2025 Page 1 of 5 $~1 & 69 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI (1) + W.P.(C) 1913/2025 SALESFORCE.COM SINGAPORE PTE LIMITED .....Petitioner versus THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX, CIRCLE 3(1)(2), INTERNATIONAL TAXATION, NEW DELHI & ORS. .....Respondents (69) + W.P.(C) 1887/2025 SALESFORCE.COM SINGAPORE PTE LIMITED .....Petitioner versus THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX, CIRCLE 3(1)(2), INTERNATIONAL TAXATION, NEW DELHI & ORS. .....Respondents Present: Mr Vishal Kalra, Mr Anil Kumar, Advocates for the applicant/petitioner. Mr Siddhartha Sinha, SSC and Ms Easha Gurung JSC for the respondents/Revenue. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE V. KAMESWAR RAO HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VINOD KUMAR

O R D E R %

04.12.

2025 CM APPL. 75476/2025(direction) in W.P.(C) 1913/2025; CM APPL. 76486/2025(direction) in W.P.(C) 1887/2025

1.

W.P.(C) 1913/2025 was disposed of by the Court on 14.02.2025 in 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 09/12/2025 at 12:07:15

W.P.(C) 1913/2025 & W.P.(C) 1887/2025 the following manner:- “1. Heard the learned counsel for the parties.

2.

By instituting the proceedings of this writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, the petitioner has made a prayer seeking direction to the respondents to grant the refund along with appropriate interest as per the provisions contained in Section 244A(1) and 244A(1A) of Income Tax Act pertaining to the Assessment Years 2018-19, 2020-21 and 2021-22. 3. It has been contended by learned counsel for the petitioner that the appeal was decided by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal on 17.05.2024, against which no further steps have been taken by the department of Revenue to challenge the same.

4.

Accordingly, having regard to the aforesaid facts, we dispose of this writ petition along with pending application with the direction to the appropriate authority of the respondent to take a decision on the prayer of the petitioner for refund along with the applicable interest accrued thereon, with due expedition, within a period of two months from the date the certified copy of the order is produced before the authority concerned.”

2.

Whereas, W.P.(C) 1887/2025 was disposed of by the Court on 14.02.2025 in the following manner:- “1. Heard the learned counsel for the parties.

2.

By instituting the proceedings of this writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, the petitioner has made a prayer seeking direction to the respondents to grant the refund along with appropriate interest as per the provisions contained in Section 244A(1) and 244A(1A) of Income Tax Act pertaining to the Assessment Year 2017-18. 3. It has been contended by learned counsel for the petitioner that the appeal was decided by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal on 30.08.2022, against which 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 09/12/2025 at 12:07:15

W.P.(C) 1913/2025 & W.P.(C) 1887/2025 no further steps have been taken by the department of Revenue to challenge the same.

4.

Accordingly, having regard to the aforesaid facts, we dispose of this writ petition along with pending application with the direction to the appropriate authority of the respondent to take a decision on the prayer of the petitioner for refund along with the applicable interest accrued thereon, with due expedition, within a period of two months from the date the certified copy of the order is produced before the authority concerned.”

3.

Earlier, the petitioner moved CM APPL. 44575/2025 CM APPL. 44582/2025 and CM APPL. 44639/2025 in W.P.(C) 1913/2025 and CM APPL. 44550/2025 in W.P.(C) 1887/2025, which were disposed of vide order dated 25.07.2025. 4. Again, the petitioner moves CM APPL. 75476/2025 and CM APPL. 76486/2025 in W.P.(C) 1913/2025 and W.P.(C) 1887/2025 respectively with the following prayers:- CM APPL. 75476/2025 “(a) Direct the Respondents to comply with the directions passed by this Hon’ble Court vide orders dated 14.02.2025 and 25.07.2025 by granting refunds for AY 2018-19 and 2021-22 with appropriate interest till the date of grant of refund under sections 244A(1) and 244A(1A) of the Act, and by granting appropriate interest till the date of grant of refund under sections 244A(1) and 244A(1A) of the Act for AY 2018-19 and AY 2020-21, in a time bound manner; (b) Direct the Respondent No.1/JAO to dispose of the pending rectification applications dated 19.06.2025 (filed on 23.06.2025) for Assessment Year 2018-19 and Assessment Year 2020-21, and application dated 01.09.2025 (filed on 08.09.2025) filed by the Petitioner for Assessment Year 2021-22; and 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 09/12/2025 at 12:07:15

W.P.(C) 1913/2025 & W.P.(C) 1887/2025 (c) Pass such other order or orders as this Hon’ble Court may deem fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case.

CM APPL. 76486/2025

“(a) Direct the Respondents to comply with the directions passed by this Hon’ble Court vide orders dated 14.02.2025 and 25.07.2025 by granting appropriate interest till the date of grant of refund under sections 244A(1) and 244A(1A) of the Act, due to the Petitioner for AY 2017-18, in a time bound manner; (b) Direct the Respondent No.1/JAO to dispose of the pending rectification application dated 09.06.2025 (filed on 13.06.2025) (Annexure A – 10) for Assessment Year 2017-18; and (c) Pass such other order or orders as this Hon’ble Court may deem fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case.”

5.

Mr. Vishal Kalra, learned counsel appearing for the applicant states that an order granting effect of the order of Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) in respect of the Assessment Year (AY) 2017-18, 2018-19, 2020-21 and 2021-22 have been passed by the respondent and the interest has been granted under Section 244A(1) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (the Act), but benefit of Section 244A(1A) of the Act has not been granted in all the years.

6.

Mr. Siddhartha Sinha, learned SSC states that the order under Section 244A(1A) of the Act in respect of AY 2017-18 has been passed. He also states that similar orders shall also be passed in other AYs and the follow up action shall be taken within a period of two weeks from today. He also states that refund shall be made in respect of AY 2018-19 and 2021-22 within the same time period. 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 09/12/2025 at 12:07:15

W.P.(C) 1913/2025 & W.P.(C) 1887/2025 7. Taking the above statements on record, these applications stand disposed of.

V. KAMESWAR RAO, J

VINOD KUMAR, J DECEMBER 04, 2025 M

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 09/12/2025 at 12:07:15

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