M/S BHANU INFRABUILD PVT LTD vs. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX CENTRAL CIRCLE I AND OTHERS

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CWP/15781/2025HC Punjab & HaryanaPHHC01087924202528 May 2025Bench: MRS. JUSTICE LISA GILL,MRS. JUSTICE SUDEEPTI SHARMA2 pages
AI SummaryRemanded

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court noted that a co-ordinate bench of the same court had previously allowed writ petitions on the same issue in the cases of Jatinder Singh Bhangu and Jasjit Singh, granting liberty to the revenue to follow the prescribed procedure if advised. In the present case, since an appeal was pending before the Appellate Authority, the High Court disposed of the writ petition with a direction to the Appellate Authority to decide the petitioner's appeal in terms of the aforementioned judgments. The court did not decide the validity of the Section 148 notice on merits but directed the pending appeal to be decided in line with prior judicial pronouncements on the jurisdictional issue concerning the NFAC's exclusive power.

What were the facts?

The petitioner, M/s Bhanu Infrabuild Pvt. Ltd., challenged a notice dated March 30, 2023, issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, for Assessment Year 2015-2016. The petitioner argued that the issuing authority lacked jurisdiction due to a CBDT circular dated March 29, 2022, which vested exclusive power to issue such notices with the National Faceless Assessment Centre (NFAC). The petitioner also stated that an appeal was pending before the Appellate Authority. The revenue did not dispute the petitioner's contentions. The High Court perused the records and considered the arguments.

What were the issues?

1. Whether the notice dated March 30, 2023, issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, for AY 2015-2016, is invalid due to lack of jurisdiction of the issuing authority, in light of the CBDT circular dated March 29, 2022, which purportedly grants exclusive power to the NFAC to issue such notices? (Question of law) Assessee's Contention: The issuing authority lacked jurisdiction to issue the notice under Section 148 of the Act, 1961, as per the CBDT circular dated March 29, 2022, which states that the NFAC has exclusive power. The petitioner relies on the judgments in Jatinder Singh Bhangu vs. Union of India and Jasjit Singh vs. Union of India. Revenue's Contention: The revenue did not dispute the petitioner's contentions.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 148

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

CWP-15781-2025 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH 176 CWP-15781-2025 (O&M) Date of Decision:-28.05.2025 M/S Bhanu Infrabuild Pvt. Ltd. ....Petitioner Vs. Dy. Commissioner of Income Tax Central Circle I, Gurugram & ors. ...Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE LISA GILL HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE SUDEEPTI SHARMA Present: Mr. Chetan Mittal, Sr. Advocate with Mr. Rishabh Kapoor, Mr. Puneet Aggarwal, Mr. Yuvraj Singh, Mr. Himanshu Gupta, Advocates for the petitioner. Mr. Vaibhav Gupta, Standing counsel for the respondents. *** SUDEEPTI SHARMA, J. 1. Challenge in the present petition is to notice dated 30.03.2023 issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (for short ‘Act 1961”) and all consequential actions, for AY 2015-2016. 2. Learned counsel for the petitioner contends that the issue involved in the present writ petition is covered by the judgment passed by a Co-ordinate Bench of this Court in the cases of Jatinder Singh Bhangu vs. Union of India and others, passed in CWP No. 15745-2024 and connected matter, decided on 19.07.2024 and Jasjit Singh vs. Union of India and others (CWP No. 21509- 2023 and other connected matters), decided on 29.07.2024. Learned counsel for the petitioner has further submitted that the petitioner has preferred an appeal and the same is pending before the Appellate Authority. 3. Learned counsel appearing for Union of India has also not disputed the same. Gaurav Arora 2025.06.06 15:32 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

CWP-15781-2025 2 4. We have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the whole records of the case. 5. The petitioner has challenged the notice dated 30.03.2023 issued under Section 148 of the Act, 1961 and all consequential actions, for AY 2015-2016, on the ground that the Issuing Authority had no jurisdiction to issue the same, in view of the circular/notification dated 29.03.2022 of the CBDT, wherein, it has been specifically enumerated that the NFAC has exclusive power to issue the notice under Section 148 of the Act, 1961. 6. A 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. 7. Since in the present case, the appeal is pending before the Appellate Authority, the writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the Appellate Authority to decide the appeal of the petitioner, in terms of the judgments mentioned above. 8. All the pending applications, if any, also stand disposed of. (LISA GILL)

(SUDEEPTI SHARMA) JUDGE JUDGE 28.05.2025

Gaurav Arora Whether speaking/reasoned : Yes/No Whether reportable : Yes/No Gaurav Arora 2025.06.06 15:32 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

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