M/S ERICSSON INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED vs. NATIONAL FACELESS ASSESSMENT CENTRE DELHI
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court held that if the respondent (National Faceless Assessment Centre) passed the impugned assessment order and notices without issuing a show cause notice accompanied by the draft assessment order, then the prayer made by the petitioner to challenge these orders needs to be set aside. Consequently, the Court remanded the matter back to the National Faceless Assessment Centre, Delhi. The Centre is directed to issue a show cause notice accompanied by the draft assessment order and, after providing a hearing to the petitioner, pass appropriate orders in accordance with the law. Liberty was granted to the petitioner to file additional submissions during the hearing before the National Faceless Assessment Centre. The petition was disposed of as allowed.
What were the facts?
The petitioner, M/s Ericsson India Private Limited, filed a writ petition before the Delhi High Court challenging the final assessment order dated 31.12.2021 passed under Section 143(3) read with Section 144B of the Income Tax Act, 1961, and notices issued under Sections 156 and 274 read with 270A for Assessment Year 2017-18. The petitioner's sole submission was that the assessment order was passed without issuing a show cause notice accompanied by a draft assessment order. The respondent, National Faceless Assessment Centre, Delhi, in its counter affidavit, stated that due to technical issues and time constraints, a show cause notice was not issued. The review report was received on 30.12.2021, leaving insufficient time for issuing the notice.
What were the issues?
1. Whether the final assessment order and consequential notices passed under Section 143(3) read with Section 144B, and Sections 156 & 274 read with 270A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, for Assessment Year 2017-18 are liable to be quashed for non-issuance of a show cause notice accompanied by a draft assessment order? (Question of law and fact, turning on procedural fairness and Section 144B). Assessee's contention: The assessment order was passed without issuing a show cause notice accompanied by the draft assessment order, which is a mandatory procedural requirement. Revenue's contention: The show cause notice was not issued due to technical issues and time constraints faced during the processing of the return, as indicated in paragraph 6 of the counter affidavit. The review report was received on 27.12.2021, and the review report was received on 30.12.2021, leaving no time for issuing the notice.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
Section 143(3),Section 144B,Section 156,Section 274,Section 270A
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
W.P. (C) 2381/2022 Page 1 of 3
$~18 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
Date of Decision : 05.08.2025
+ W.P.(C) 2381/2022
M/S ERICSSON INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED .....Petitioner
Through: Mr. Paras S. Savla, Adv.
versus
NATIONAL FACELESS ASSESSMENT CENTRE DELHI .....Respondent Through: Mr. Sanjay Kumar, SSC, Ms. Monica Benjamin, JSC, Ms. Easha, JSC Advs.
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE V. KAMESWAR RAO
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VINOD KUMAR
V. KAMESWAR RAO, J. (ORAL)
This petition has been filed with the following prayers: “(a) issue a writ of and / or order and / or directions in the nature of certiorari, mandamus, prohibition or any other appropriate writ, order or direction for quashing the impugned final assessment order dated 31.12.2021 passed under section 143(3) read with section 144B of the Act, and the impugned notices dated 31.12.2021 issued under sections 156 & 274 read with 270A of the Act by the Respondent in the case of the petitioner for assessment year 2017- 18;
(b) issue a writ of and / or order and / or directions in the nature of certiorari, mandamus, prohibition or any other appropriate writ, order by granting ad-interim ex parte stay of operation of the impugned final assessment order dated 31.12.2021 passed under section 143(3) read with section 144B of the Act and the impugned notices dated 31.12.2021 issued under sections 156 & 274 read Signed By:AWANISH CHANDRA MISHRA Signing Date:11.08.2025 17:21:52 Signature Not Verified
W.P. (C) 2381/2022 Page 2 of 3
with 270A of the Act by the Respondent in the case of the petitioner for assessment year 2017 -18; ..”
The only submission made by the learned counsel for the petitioner is that the respondent has passed the impugned assessment order without issuing a show cause notice accompanied by the draft assessment order. 3. Learned counsel for the respondent who has filed the counter affidavit has drawn our attention to Para 6 of the counter affidavit at Page 3 which read as under: “On 27.12.2021, draft assessment order was referred to Review Unit. And on 30.12.2021, review report for the case has been received. Since there is no time left for issuing Show Cause Notice due to the technical issues faced during the processing of return, therefore order is being passed without issuing SCN”
The learned counsel for the respondent states the counter affidavit do highlight the fact that the show-cause-notice was not issued for technical reasons. 5. If that be so, the prayer made in the present petition to the extent of challenging the final assessment order dated 31.12.2021 passed under Section 143(3) read with Section 144B of the Act and the impugned computation sheet, notices issued under Sections 156 and 274 read with 270A of the Act by the respondent in the case of the petitioner for the Assessment Year 2017-18 needs to be set aside. It is ordered accordingly. 6. We remand the matter back to the National Faceless Assessment Centre, Delhi to enable the centre issue a show-cause-notice accompanied by the draft assessment order and by giving a hearing to the petitioner pass appropriate orders in accordance with law. Signed By:AWANISH CHANDRA MISHRA Signing Date:11.08.2025 17:21:52 Signature Not Verified
W.P. (C) 2381/2022 Page 3 of 3
Liberty is granted to the petitioner to file additional submissions at the time of hearing before the National Faceless Assessment Centre, Delhi 8. The petition is disposed of, as allowed.
V. KAMESWAR RAO, J
VINOD KUMAR, J AUGUST 05, 2025 tg
Signed By:AWANISH CHANDRA MISHRA Signing Date:11.08.2025 17:21:52 Signature Not Verified
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