M/S AAR ESS INDUSTRIES PRIVATE LIMITED vs. UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS

PDF · subscribers
CWP/30923/2024HC Punjab & HaryanaPHHC01158609202418 November 2024Bench: MR. JUSTICE SANJEEV PRAKASH SHARMA,MR. JUSTICE SANJAY VASHISTH3 pages
AI SummaryAllowed

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court held that notices issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, and all consequential proceedings initiated without conducting the mandatory faceless assessment as envisaged by Section 144B of the Act, were contrary to the provisions of the Act and therefore without jurisdiction. The Court relied on its previous decisions in 'Jasjit Singh vs. Union of India and others' and the coordinate bench's decision in 'Jatinder Singh Bhangu vs. Union of India and others'. The reasoning was that instructions by the Board cannot override statutory provisions, and legislative enactments with financial implications must be followed strictly. The Court emphasized that circulars and instructions can only supplement statutory provisions and aid in their implementation, not usurp legal provisions or cause hardship. Consequently, the notices dated 23.03.2023, 20.03.2024, 30.03.2023, and the order dated 30.03.2023 were set aside for want of jurisdiction. The revenue was granted liberty to follow the procedure laid down under the Act and proceed accordingly, if so advised. All pending applications were also disposed of.

What were the facts?

The petitioner, Ess Kay Industries Pvt. Ltd., filed a writ petition challenging a notice dated 29.08.2024 issued by the Jurisdictional Assessing Officer under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, and subsequent consequential proceedings. The petitioner argued that these proceedings were initiated without conducting the mandatory faceless assessment as envisaged by Section 144B of the Act. The revenue, represented by the Senior Standing Counsel, accepted notice. The High Court noted that similar issues had been decided by its coordinate benches in previous cases, specifically citing 'Jasjit Singh vs. Union of India and others' and 'Jatinder Singh Bhangu vs. Union of India and others'. The court was presented with notices dated 23.03.2023, 20.03.2024, and 30.03.2023, along with an order dated 30.03.2023, which were also part of the challenge.

What were the issues?

1. Whether notices issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, and subsequent proceedings initiated without conducting the mandatory faceless assessment as envisaged by Section 144B of the Act, are valid and have jurisdiction. Assessee's Contention: The assessee contended that the proceedings initiated under Section 148 and subsequent actions were invalid because they bypassed the mandatory faceless assessment procedure mandated by Section 144B of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The assessee relied on the principle that statutory provisions must be followed mandatorily and that instructions or circulars cannot override legislative enactments or make them otiose. Revenue's Contention: The revenue did not present any specific arguments against the assessee's contentions. The learned Senior Standing Counsel accepted notice and acknowledged that the issue had been concluded by this Court in previous judgments.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

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

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

134 IN TH ARR ESS IND

UNION OF IN

CORAM: H

Present: M M

* SANJEEV PR

1.

N 2. M behalf of the r 3. B present petitio No.21509 of decided on 29 2024 titled a decided on 19

C i o o i m S HE HIGH COURT OF PUNJA CHANDIGAR

CWP-3 Date of DUSTRIES PVT. LTD.

V NDIA AND OTHERS HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJ HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJ Ms.Aakriti, Advocate for the peti Mr. Ranvijay Singh, Senior Stand for the respondent-Income Tax D ***** RAKASH SHARMA, J. (Oral) Notice of motion. Mr. Ranvijay Singh, Senior Stan respondents/Income Tax Departm Both the counsel are ad idem on stands finally examined and c f 2023 titled as Jasjit Singh vs 9.07.2024, and by the Coordina as Jatinder Singh Bhangu vs. 9.07.2024. This Court in Jasjit Si “16. We are in agreement with Coordinate Bench and hold t instructions by the Board could n override statutory provisions or t obsolete. Legislative enactmen implications are required to be mandatorily. By exercising the Sections 119 and 120 of the A AB AND HARYANA AT RH 30923-2024 (O&M) f Decision:18.11.2024

..…...Petitioner(s) V/s. …......Respondent(s) NJEEV PRAKASH SHARMA NJAY VASHISTH itioner. ding Counsel, Department. nding Counsel, accepts notice on ment. that the issue involved in the concluded by this Court in CWP s. Union of India and others, ate Bench in CWP No.15745 of . Union of India and others, Singh (supra) held as under: the view taken by the that such circular or not have been issued to to make them otiose or nts having financial e followed strictly and powers contained in Act, 1961 as well as

n e P , f , Suresh Kumar 2024.11.19 11:31 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

CWP-30923 -20

S a s a t a s i 1 o s w 1 C u p f o p d 3 f 1 l A 2 o p

4.

K aforesaid term mutandis to (Annexure P- 024 (O&M) Page 2 of 3

Section 144B (7 & 8), the a allowed to usurp the legal pro satisfaction and convenience ca assessees. It also leaves confusio taxpayers. In the opinion of th and circulars can be issued on supplementing the statutory pro implementation. 17. In view of the aforesaid d occasion to distinguish or take suggested by the learned counse what has already been held by th 18. Keeping in view the law Coordinate Bench (supra), notic under Section 148 of the proceedings initiated thereafter w faceless assessment as envisage of the Act, 1961, have been foun provisions of the Act, 1961 an dated 28.02.2023, 16.03.202 30.03.2023 and order dated 30. for want of jurisdiction. 19. The respondents-revenue w liberty to follow the procedure a Act, 1961 and proceed according 20. All the writ petitions are order passed by the Court shall present order.” Keeping in view above, we a ms. The observations and order p the present case. According -2) issued by the Jurisdictional A authorities cannot be ovisions to their own ausing hardship to the on in the minds of the his Court, instructions nly for the purpose of ovisions and for their discussion, there is no e a different view as el for the revenue from he Coordinate Bench. w laid down by the ces issued by the JAO Act, 1961 and the without conducting the ed under Section 144B d to be contrary to the nd accordingly notices 23, 20.03.2024 and 03.2023, are set aside would be, however, at as laid down under the gly, if so advised. allowed. The interim stand merged with the allow this Writ Petition in the passed above shall apply mutatis gly, notice dated 29.08.2024 Assessing Officer u/s 148 of the e s 4 e Suresh Kumar 2024.11.19 11:31 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

CWP-30923 -20

Income Tax aside. 5. A

November 18 Ess Kay

Whether speak Whether Repor 024 (O&M) Page 3 of 3

Act, 1961 and all consequenti All pending applications also stan [SANJEEV 8, 2024

[SAN

king / reasoned :

Y rtable

Y ial proceedings thereof are set nd disposed of accordingly.

V PRAKASH SHARMA] JUDGE

NJAY VASHISTH] JUDGE Yes / No Yes / No t Suresh Kumar 2024.11.19 11:31 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

More judgments on Section 148

All 35,022 judgments and leading authorities on Section 148 →

Recent GST High Court judgments

Search GST case law →