CHARANJIT BAJWA ALIAS CHARANJIT KAUR BAJWA vs. INCOME TAX OFFICER AND OTHERS

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CWP/24636/2024HC Punjab & HaryanaPHHC01128190202424 September 2024Bench: MR. JUSTICE SANJEEV PRAKASH SHARMA,MR. JUSTICE SANJAY VASHISTH3 pages
AI SummaryAllowed

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court allowed the writ petition, setting aside the notice issued by the Jurisdictional Assessing Officer under Section 148A(b) dated 04.03.2024, the order issued under Section 148A(d) dated 23.03.2024, and the notice issued under Section 148 dated 23.03.2024, along with consequential proceedings. The court relied on its previous decisions in Jasjit Singh vs. Union of India and Jatinder Singh Bhangu vs. Union of India. The reasoning was that circulars or instructions issued by the Board cannot override statutory provisions or render them otiose. Financial implications of legislative enactments must be followed strictly. Authorities cannot usurp legal provisions for their convenience, causing hardship. Instructions and circulars can only supplement statutory provisions. Therefore, notices issued without conducting faceless assessment as envisaged under Section 144B were found to be contrary to the Act and set aside for want of jurisdiction. The revenue was granted liberty to follow the procedure laid down under the Act if so advised. The operative direction was to set aside the impugned notices and order.

What were the facts?

The petitioner, Charanjit Bajwa @ Charanjit Kaur Bajwa, filed a writ petition before the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh challenging certain notices and orders issued by the Income Tax Officer and others. The revenue accepted notice. Both parties agreed that the issue was concluded by prior judgments of the same court in CWP No.21509 of 2023 (Jasjit Singh vs. Union of India) decided on 29.07.2024, and CWP No.15745 of 2024 (Jatinder Singh Bhangu vs. Union of India) decided on 19.07.2024. The court noted that the notices issued by the Jurisdictional Assessing Officer under Section 148A(b) dated 04.03.2024, the order under Section 148A(d) dated 23.03.2024, and the notice under Section 148 dated 23.03.2024, along with consequential proceedings, were under challenge.

What were the issues?

1. Whether notices issued by the Jurisdictional Assessing Officer under Section 148A(b) and Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, and the consequential order under Section 148A(d), are valid when the assessment proceedings were not conducted as envisaged under Section 144B of the Act, 1961? (Question of law and mixed fact and law, concerning Sections 144B, 148A, and 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961). Assessee's contention: The assessee, through counsel, argued that the issue was covered by prior judgments of the High Court, which held that notices and proceedings initiated without conducting faceless assessment as envisaged under Section 144B are contrary to the Act and liable to be set aside. Revenue's contention: The revenue, through Sr. Standing Counsel, accepted notice and agreed that the issue stood finally examined and concluded by prior judgments of the High Court, implying agreement with the assessee's position based on those precedents.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 119,Section 120,Section 144B,Section 148,Section 148A

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

CWP-24636-2024 - 1 - IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH 118 CWP-24636-2024

Decided on : 24.09.2024 Charanjit Bajwa @ Charanjit Kaur Bajwa . . . Petitioner(s) Versus Income Tax Officer and others . . . Respondent(s) CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJEEV PRAKASH SHARMA HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY VASHISTH PRESENT: Mr. Nikhil Goyal, Advocate for the petitioner(s). Ms. Urvashi Dhugga, Sr. Standing Counsel for the respondents – revenue. **** SANJEEV PRAKASH SHARMA

, J. (Oral) 1. Notice of motion. 2. Ms. Urvashi Dhugga, Sr. Standing Counsel, accepts notice for the respondents – revenue. 3. Both the counsel are ad idem that the issue involved in the present petition stands finally examined and concluded by this Court in CWP No.21509 of 2023 titled as Jasjit Singh vs. Union of India and others, decided on 29.07.2024, and by the Coordinate Bench in CWP No.15745 of 2024 titled as Jatinder Singh Bhangu vs. Union of India and others, decided on 19.07.2024. This Court in Jasjit Singh (supra) held as under: “16. We are in agreement with the view taken by the Coordinate Bench and hold that such circular or instructions by the Board could not have been issued to override statutory provisions or to make them otiose or obsolete. Legislative enactments having JAWALA RAM 2024.09.25 18:17 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document

CWP-24636-2024 - 2 - financial implications are required to be followed strictly and mandatorily. By exercising the powers contained in Sections 119 and 120 of the Act, 1961 as well as Section 144B (7 & 8), the authorities cannot be allowed to usurp the legal provisions to their own satisfaction and convenience causing hardship to the assessees. It also leaves confusion in the minds of the taxpayers. In the opinion of this Court, instructions and circulars can be issued only for the purpose of supplementing the statutory provisions and for their implementation. 17. In view of the aforesaid discussion, there is no occasion to distinguish or take a different view as suggested by the learned counsel for the revenue from what has already been held by the Coordinate Bench. 18. Keeping in view the law laid down by the Coordinate Bench (supra), notices issued by the JAO under Section 148 of the Act, 1961 and the proceedings initiated thereafter without conducting the faceless assessment as envisaged under Section 144B of the Act, 1961, have been found to be contrary to the provisions of the Act, 1961 and accordingly notices dated 28.02.2023, 16.03.2023, 20.03.2024 and 30.03.2023 and order dated 30.03.2023, are set aside for want of jurisdiction. 19. The respondents-revenue would be, however, at liberty to follow the procedure as laid down under the Act, 1961 and proceed accordingly, if so advised. 20. All the writ petitions are allowed. The interim order passed by the Court shall stand merged with the present order.” JAWALA RAM 2024.09.25 18:17 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document

CWP-24636-2024 - 3 - 4. Keeping in view above, we allow this Writ Petition in the aforesaid terms. The observations and order passed above shall apply mutatis mutandis to the present case. Accordingly, notice issued by the Jurisdictional Assessing Officer u/s 148A(b) dated 04.03.2024, order issued u/s 148A(d) dated 23.03.2024 and notice issued u/s 148 dated 23.03.2024, as well as consequential proceedings are set aside. 5. All pending applications also stand disposed of accordingly. (SANJEEV PRAKASH SHARMA) JUDGE (SANJAY VASHISTH) JUDGE September 24, 2024 J.Ram Whether speaking/reasoned: Yes/No Whether Reportable: Yes/No JAWALA RAM 2024.09.25 18:17 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document

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