VRUSHALI SANJAY SHINDE vs. ITO WARD 3(4), THANE

PDF · subscribers
WP/17574/2024HC BombayHCBM01058078202426 February 2025Bench: HON'BLE SHRI JUSTICE M.S. SONAK,HON'BLE SHRI JUSTICE JITENDRA SHANTILAL JAIN3 pages
AI SummaryPartly Allowed

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court disposed of the petition with specific directions. Regarding prayer (A), concerning AY 2008-09, since the refund had already been granted, the issue of releasing the excess tax did not survive for adjudication. However, the Court directed the Assessing Officer to furnish the break-up of the refund amount of Rs. 72,84,896/- to the petitioner within four weeks from the date of uploading the order, to enable the petitioner to verify the correctness of the refund and interest computation. Concerning prayer (B), for AY 2007-08, the Court acknowledged the petitioner's grievance that no order giving effect to the Tribunal's order dated January 10, 2023, had been passed, despite Section 153(5) of the Act requiring it within three months. The Court directed the respondent to give effect to the Tribunal's order, compute the amount payable or refundable, issue a demand notice if an amount is payable, and grant a refund within four weeks of passing the effect order if an amount is refundable. The AO was directed to pass the effect order within eight weeks from the date of uploading the present order. The petition was disposed of in these terms.

What were the facts?

The petitioner, Vrushali Sanjay Shinde, filed a writ petition before the Bombay High Court seeking directions to the Income Tax Officer (ITO) to release excess tax refund for Assessment Year (AY) 2008-09 along with interest, and to provide details of taxes paid for AY 2007-08, refunding any excess tax paid with interest. The petitioner stated that a refund of Rs. 72,84,896/- was received post-filing for AY 2008-09, but the break-up was not provided. For AY 2007-08, despite a Tribunal order in January 2023, the Assessing Officer had not given effect to it, and the refund of excess tax was pending. The respondents, represented by the ITO, agreed to provide the break-up for AY 2008-09 within four weeks and were unsure about the status of the effect order for AY 2007-08, suggesting directions to the AO.

What were the issues?

1. Whether the Petitioner is entitled to a Writ of Mandamus directing Respondent No.1 to release the excess tax of Rs. 43,96,295/- for AY 2008-09, along with applicable interest under Section 244A/244(1A)? (Question of law and fact, concerning refund processing and interest calculation). 2. Whether the Petitioner is entitled to a Writ of Mandamus directing Respondent No.1 to provide details of taxes paid for AY 2007-08 and refund any excess tax paid with applicable interest under Section 244A/244(1A)? (Question of law and fact, concerning compliance with Tribunal orders and refund processing). Assessee's contentions: - For AY 2008-09, a refund of Rs. 72,84,896/- was received, but the break-up was not provided. - For AY 2007-08, despite a Tribunal order in January 2023, the AO has not given effect to it, leading to a delay in refund of excess tax paid. Revenue's contentions: - The break-up of the refund for AY 2008-09 will be provided within four weeks. - The revenue was unsure if an order giving effect to the Tribunal's order for AY 2007-08 had been passed, but agreed that appropriate directions could be given to the AO.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 244A,Section 244(1A),Section 153(5)

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

ppn 1 15.wp-17574.24.docx IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO.17574 OF 2024 Vrushali Sanjay Shinde .. Petitioner Versus ITO Ward 3(4), Thane & Ors. .. Respondents _______________________________________________________________ Mr. Sankalp Malik a/w Ms. Unnattii Thakkar i/by Mr. Sanket Suhas Bora for the petitioner. Mr. Akhileshwar Sharma a/w Ms. Shradha Worlikar for respondent nos. 1 to 3. _______________________________________________________________

CORAM : M. S. Sonak & Jitendra Jain, JJ.

DATE : 26 February 2025 P.C. (Per Jitendra Jain) :- 1. Rule. Rule is made returnable immediately at the request and with the consent of the learned counsel for the parties. 2. This petition is filed seeking following prayers which read as under :- “A. to issue a Writ of Mandamus or a Writ in the nature of Mandamus or any other appropriate Writ, Order or direction, calling for the records of the Petitioner's case and after going into the legality and propriety thereof, directing Respondent No.1 to release the excess tax of Rs. 43,96,295 For A.Y. 2008-09, along with applicable interest u/s 244A /244(1A). B. to issue a Writ of Mandamus or a Writ in the nature of Mandamus or any other appropriate Writ, Order or direction, calling for the records of the Petitioner's case and after going into the legality and propriety thereof, directing Respondent No.1 to provide the details of taxes paid by the Petitioner for A.Y. 2007-08 and direct that the excess tax paid, if any, may be refunded to the Petitioner along with applicable interest u/s 244A/244(1A).” 3. Insofar as prayer (A) is concerned, learned counsel for the PRACHI PRANESH NANDIWADEKAR Digitally signed by PRACHI PRANESH NANDIWADEKAR Date: 2025.02.27 12:05:19 +0530

ppn 2 15.wp-17574.24.docx petitioner submits that they have already received refund of Rs.72,84,896/- post filing of this petition. However, the break-up of the said amount has not been furnished. Insofar as prayer clause (B) is concerned, although the Tribunals order is of January 2023, till today the officer has not given effect to the said order and consequently, the refund of the excess amount paid for the assessment year 2007-08 is not being denied. 4. Mr. Sharma learned counsel for the respondent submits that insofar as the grievance of giving break-up of Rs. 72,84,896/- for assessment year 2008-09 is concerned, same would be made available to the petitioner within a period of 4 weeks from the date of uploading the present order. With respect to prayer clause (B), Mr. Sharma submits that he is not sure whether order giving effect has been passed or not. However, appropriate directions may be given to the Assessing Officer to pass an order given effect to the Tribunal's order if such an order is not passed. 5. We have heard learned counsel for the petitioner and the respondents. 6. Insofar as substantial prayer clause (A) is concerned, since the refund for assessment year 2008-09 has already been granted, same does not survive for our adjudication. However, we direct the Assessing Officer to furnish the break-up of the refund amount of Rs. 72,84,896/- to the petitioner so as to enable the petitioner to ascertain whether the refund and interest thereon has been correctly computed. 7. With respect to prayer clause (B) is concerned, although Section 153 (5) of the Act requires the Assessing Officer to pass order giving effect within three months from the receipt of the Tribunal's order which in this case is of January 2023, the grievance of the petitioner is justified

ppn 3 15.wp-17574.24.docx since no order giving effect has been passed till today. We therefore, direct respondent to give effect to the Tribunal's order dated 10 January 2023 for assessment year 2007-08 and compute the amount payable by the petitioner or refundable to the petitioner and if the amount is payable then, raise appropriate demand notice on the petitioner. If the amount is refundable then, refund should be granted within a period of four weeks from the date of passing such effect order. The respondent is directed to pass the order giving effect to the Tribunal's order for assessment year 2007-08 within a period of 8 weeks from the date of uploading the present order. 8. The petition is disposed of in above terms. No orders as to cost. (Jitendra Jain, J.)

(M. S. Sonak, J.)

More judgments on Section 244A

All 1,186 judgments and leading authorities on Section 244A →

Recent GST High Court judgments

Search GST case law →