YOGITA ARORA vs. UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS

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CWP/33661/2024HC Punjab & HaryanaPHHC01174847202413 December 2024Bench: MR. JUSTICE SANJEEV PRAKASH SHARMA,MR. JUSTICE SANJAY VASHISTH3 pages
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What did the High Court hold?

The High Court held that circulars or instructions issued by the Board cannot override statutory provisions or render them otiose. Legislative enactments with financial implications must be strictly followed. The court found that authorities, by exercising powers under Sections 119 and 120 of the Act, 1961, as well as Section 144B(7 & 8), cannot usurp legal provisions for their convenience, causing hardship to assessees and confusion. Instructions and circulars can only supplement statutory provisions and aid in their implementation. Consequently, notices issued under Section 148 and proceedings initiated thereafter 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 prescribed procedure if advised. The specific notice dated March 28, 2024, issued under Section 148 and consequential proceedings were set aside.

What were the facts?

The petitioner, Yogita Arora, filed a writ petition before the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh. The petition challenged actions taken by the revenue. Both parties agreed that the issue in the present petition had been decided by the same court in previous cases: CWP No. 21509 of 2023 (Jasjit Singh vs. Union of India and others) decided on July 29, 2024, and CWP No. 15745 of 2024 (Jatinder Singh Bhangu vs. Union of India and others) decided on July 19, 2024. The court was asked to apply the principles laid down in these prior judgments to the present case. The specific actions challenged by the petitioner were a notice dated March 28, 2024, issued by the Jurisdictional Assessing Officer under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, and consequential proceedings.

What were the issues?

1. Whether notices issued by the Jurisdictional Assessing Officer under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, and subsequent proceedings initiated without conducting faceless assessment as envisaged under Section 144B of the Act, are contrary to the provisions of the Act and liable to be set aside for want of jurisdiction. Assessee's Contention: The assessee, by agreeing that the issue was concluded by prior judgments, implicitly argued that the notices and proceedings were invalid. The court's reliance on Jasjit Singh (supra) indicates the assessee's position was that circulars or instructions cannot override statutory provisions and that faceless assessment under Section 144B is mandatory. Revenue's Contention: The revenue, through its counsel accepting notice, did not explicitly record any arguments against the petitioner's position. However, the judgment notes that the revenue's counsel in Jasjit Singh (supra) suggested a distinction or a different view, which was not accepted by the court.

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

CWP-33661-2024 (O&M) Page 1 of 3 113 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CWP-33661-2024 (O&M) Date of Decision: 13.12.2024 YOGITA ARORA . . . . Petitioner Vs. UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS . . . . Respondents **** CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJEEV PRAKASH SHARMA HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY VASHISTH **** Present: Mr. Ishaan Loomba, Advocate, and Ms. Aakriti, Advocate, for the petitioner. **** SANJEEV PRAKASH SHARMA, J.(Oral) 1. Notice of motion. 2. accepts notice on behalf of 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: LAVISHA 2024.12.13 15:19 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment Punjab & Haryana High Court, Chandigarh

CWP-33661-2024 (O&M) Page 2 of 3 “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 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. LAVISHA 2024.12.13 15:19 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment Punjab & Haryana High Court, Chandigarh

CWP-33661-2024 (O&M) Page 3 of 3 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.” 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 dated 28.03.2024 issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 by Jurisdictional Assessing Officer as well as the consequential proceedings are set aside. 5. All pending applications also stand disposed of accordingly.

(SANJEEV PRAKASH SHARMA) JUDGE (SANJAY VASHISTH) JUDGE December 13, 2024 Lavisha 1. Whether speaking/reasoned? Yes/No 2. Whether reportable? Yes/No LAVISHA 2024.12.13 15:19 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment Punjab & Haryana High Court, Chandigarh

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