VENKATACHALAM THANGAVELU vs. ITO, WARD 70(1), DELHI
What did the High Court hold?
The Delhi High Court dismissed the preliminary objection regarding territorial jurisdiction. The Court found no substance in the objection, noting that the petitioner's assessing authority was in Delhi when the return for Assessment Year 2012-13 was filed and when the petition was filed. The subsequent change in the assessing authority to Bangalore did not divest the Delhi High Court of its jurisdiction. On the merits, the Court held that while the respondent might have been justified in disallowing the TDS amount if the deductor had not deposited it, the petitioner cannot be blamed for the deductor's failure and should not be deprived of their legitimate right. The Court relied on its previous judgment in Satwant Singh Sanghera (supra). Consequently, the writ petition was allowed. The intimation dated 07.06.2013 was quashed and set aside to the extent of non-grant of TDS credit by Kingfisher Airlines. The consequential demand notice and recovery from the petitioner's refund were declared illegal. The respondent was directed to refund the recovered amount along with applicable interest under Sections 244(1) and 244(1)(A) of the Act of 1961 within three months. The order was confined to the TDS deducted by Kingfisher Airlines.
What were the facts?
The petitioner, Venkatachalam Thangavelu, received an intimation dated 07.06.2013 under Section 143(1) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, raising a demand of Rs. 12,28,508/-. This demand arose because credit for Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) amounting to Rs. 10,34,982/-, deducted by Kingfisher Airlines from the petitioner's salary, was not granted. The petitioner argued that a substantial portion of this demand was recovered by the respondent from the petitioner's refund. The petitioner filed a writ petition challenging the intimation and seeking refund of the recovered amount. A preliminary objection was raised by the respondent regarding the territorial jurisdiction of the Delhi High Court, stating the assessee's assessing authority had shifted to Bangalore.
What were the issues?
1. Whether the Delhi High Court has territorial jurisdiction to entertain the writ petition, considering the petitioner's assessing authority has shifted to Bangalore. 2. Whether the intimation dated 07.06.2013 under Section 143(1) of the Act of 1961, which disallowed credit for TDS deducted by Kingfisher Airlines, is liable to be set aside, and if the petitioner is entitled to a refund of the amount recovered. Assessee's Contentions: The petitioner contended that the issue is covered by the Delhi High Court's judgment in W.P.(C) 13765/2024, Satwant Singh Sanghera v. The Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax & Anr. The petitioner argued that the intimation under Section 143(1) should be set aside, and they are entitled to a refund of the amount recovered from their refund, as they cannot be blamed for the deductor's failure to deposit the TDS. Regarding jurisdiction, the petitioner stated that when the writ petition was filed, their assessing authority was in Delhi, and the subsequent shift to Bangalore should not non-suit them. Revenue's Contentions: The respondent's counsel could not dispute the facts and law presented by the petitioner. However, a preliminary objection was raised regarding the territorial jurisdiction, arguing that the writ petition should have been filed in Bangalore as the assessee's Assessing Authority had shifted there.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
Section 143(1),Section 244(1),Section 244(1)(A)
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
W.P.(C) 538/2026 Page 1 of 3
$~1 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI Date of decision:-20th January, 2026. + W.P.(C) 538/2026 & CM APPL. 2707/2026, CM APPL. 2708/2026
VENKATACHALAM THANGAVELU
.....Petitioner Through: Ms Rano Jain and Mr. Venketesh Chaurasia, Advocates.
versus
ITO, WARD 70(1), DELHI
.....Respondent Through: Mr. Sunil Agarwal, SSC with Ms. Priya Sarkar, JSC.
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE DINESH MEHTA
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VINOD KUMAR J U D G M E N T DINESH MEHTA, J. (ORAL) 1. Learned counsel for the petitioner contended that by way of intimation dated 07.06.2013 under Section 143(1) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Act of 1961’), a demand of Rs.12,28,508/- was raised against the petitioner because the credit of TDS which Kingfisher Airlines had deducted from the salary of the petitioner amounting to Rs.10,34,982/- was not given. 2. It is contended that the issue involved in the present writ petition is squarely covered by a judgment dated 01.10.2024 of this Court rendered in W.P.(C) 13765/2024 Satwant Singh Sanghera v. The Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax & Anr.. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner further asserted that the respondent has recovered the substantial amount of said demand from the amount of Digitally Signed By:NAVEEN KUMAR Signing Date:21.01.2026 15:23:17 Signature Not Verified
W.P.(C) 538/2026 Page 2 of 3
refund which became due to the petitioner. Learned counsel submitted that in the facts of the present case, not only the intimation/order that has been passed under Section 143(1) dated 07.06.2013 of the Act, of 1961 is liable to be set aside but the petitioner is also entitled for the refund of the amount which stands recovered from the petitioner. 4. Mr. Agarwal, learned Senior Standing Counsel for the respondent was not in a position to dispute the position of facts and law as stated by learned counsel for the petitioner. He however submitted that the jurisdiction of filing the writ petition is at Bangalore and not in Delhi, because the assessee’s Assessing Authority has not shifted to Bangalore. 5. In response to the preliminary objection, which Mr. Agarwal, learned Senior Standing Counsel has raised, learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that when the petitioner filed a writ petition on 08.01.2026, he was resident and assessee in Delhi. However, later, pursuant to the request of the petitioner, who has recently moved to Bangalore, his assessing officer has changed to Bangalore. 6. Heard learned counsel for the parties. 7. So far as preliminary objection raised by Mr. Agarwal is concerned, we do not find any substance in the same, because when the assessee had filed return for the Assessment Year (2012-13), admittedly, the petitioner's assessing authority was at Delhi. 8. That apart the day when the petition came to be filed, the Assessing Authority of the petitioner was at Delhi. Merely because subsequently, it has changed to Bangalore, he cannot be non-suited on the ground of territorial jurisdiction. 9. Adverting to the merit of the case, we are of the view that the Digitally Signed By:NAVEEN KUMAR Signing Date:21.01.2026 15:23:17 Signature Not Verified
W.P.(C) 538/2026 Page 3 of 3
respondent could perhaps been justified in disallowing the amount of TDS which was collected by Kingfisher Airlines from the petitioner's salary, as the same was not deposited by said deductor but the petitioner cannot be blamed for that and deprived of his legitimate right, as has been held by this Court in its judgment Satwant Singh Sanghera (supra). 10. We therefore allow the writ petition and quash and set aside the intimation dated 07.06.2013 to the extent it relates to the non-grant of credit of Tax Deducted at Source by the Kingfisher Airlines. The consequential demand notice and the recovery made from petitioner’s refund is also declared illegal. The respondent is directed to refund the amount recovered from the petitioner along with applicable interest under Section 244(1) and 244(1) (A) of the Act of 1961, within a period of three months from today. It shall be required of the respondent to ensure that the applicable amount is paid to the petitioner. 11. Needless to observe that our order shall confine to the amount which has been deducted by the Kingfisher Airlines and in case there is any other demand raised by the Assessing Officer, the same shall not be effected. 12. The instant petition, alongwith pending applications, stands disposed of in the aforesaid terms.
DINESH MEHTA (JUDGE)
VINOD KUMAR (JUDGE) JANUARY 20, 2026/MR Digitally Signed By:NAVEEN KUMAR Signing Date:21.01.2026 15:23:17 Signature Not Verified
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