THE PR. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX -1 vs. MR. P PALANISAMY

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ITA/121/2026HC KarnatakaKAHC01048891202623 July 2026Bench: S.G.PANDIT,K.MANMADHA RAO5 pages
AI SummaryDismissed

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court of Karnataka held that it does not have jurisdiction to entertain the appeal. Relying on the Supreme Court's decision in Principal Commissioner of Income-Tax vs. ABC Papers Ltd. [(2022) 141 taxmann.com 332 (SC)], the Court reiterated that appeals against ITAT decisions lie only before the High Court within whose jurisdiction the Assessing Officer who passed the assessment order is situated. This principle applies even if cases are transferred under Section 127 of the Act. In this case, the assessment order was passed by the Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax, Central Circle-3, Coimbatore. Therefore, the Karnataka High Court lacks jurisdiction. The appeal was dismissed as not maintainable, with liberty granted to the Revenue to file the appeal before the appropriate jurisdictional High Court.

What were the facts?

The Revenue (Principal Commissioner of Income Tax - 1 and Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax, Central Circle-3, Coimbatore) filed an appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, before the High Court of Karnataka. The appeal challenged an order dated 09.02.2026 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Chennai Bench, in ITA No. 212/CHNY/2025, pertaining to Assessment Year 2013-14. The respondent is Mr. P Palanisamy, an assessee residing in Bengaluru. The Registry of the High Court raised objections regarding the maintainability of the appeal before it, as the assessment order was passed by an Assessing Officer in Coimbatore and the ITAT order was from Chennai.

What were the issues?

1. Whether the High Court of Karnataka has jurisdiction to hear an appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, when the assessment order was passed by an Assessing Officer situated outside its territorial jurisdiction, and the ITAT order was passed by a bench located elsewhere? (Question of law and fact, concerning Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961). Assessee's Contentions: Not recorded in the judgment. Revenue's Contentions: The appeal was filed considering the assessee's location in Bengaluru and the subsequent centralization of assessment proceedings at Coimbatore following a search. The Revenue argued that the appeal should be maintainable before the Karnataka High Court.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 260A,Section 127

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

HC-KAR IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 23RD DAY OF JULY, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.G.PANDIT AND THE HON'BLE DR. JUSTICE K.MANMADHA RAO INCOME TAX APPEAL NO. 121 OF 2026 BETWEEN:

1.

THE PR. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX -1 5TH FLOOR, BMTC BUILDING 80 FEET ROAD, KORMANGALA BENGALURU-560095.

2.

THE ASST. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX CENTRAL CIRCLE-3, COIMBATORE

PRESENT ADDRESS: THE INCOME TAX OFFICER WARD 1(2)(1), 2ND FLOOR, BMTC BUILDING, 80 FEET ROAD KORAMANGALA BENGALURU-560095. …APPELLANTS (BY SRI. RAVI RAJ Y. V., ADV.)

AND:

MR. P PALANISAMY 390, P P NILAYAM 9TH MAIN, I CROSS HAL II STAGE, INDIRA NAGAR, BENGALURU-560038 PAN NO.ADSPP9150F. …RESPONDENT

Digitally signed by NANJUNDACHARI Location: High Court of Karnataka HC-KAR THIS ITA IS FILED UNDER SECTION 260 A OF THE INCOME TAX ACT, 1961, PRAYING TO ALLOW THE APPEAL AND SET ASIDE THE ORDERS PASSED BY THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL, BENGALURU IN ITA NO.212/CHNY/2025 DATED.09.02.2026 FOR ASSESSMENT YEAR 2013-14 ANNEXURE-A AND CONFIRM THE ORDER OF THE APPELLATE COMMISSIONER CONFIRMING THE ORDER PASSED BY THE ASST. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX, CENTRAL CIRCLE-3, BENGALURU.

THIS APPEAL, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.G.PANDIT AND HON'BLE DR. JUSTICE K.MANMADHA RAO

ORAL JUDGMENT (PER: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.G.PANDIT)

This appeal is filed under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 questioning order dated 09.02.2026 in ITA.No.212/CHNY/2025 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, ‘C’ Bench, Chennai (for short, ‘the Tribunal’).

HC-KAR

2.

On scrutiny of the appeal, the Registry has raised objections with regard to maintainability of ITA before this Court.

3.

Heard learned senior standing counsel Sri.Y.V.Raviraj for appellants/Revenue.

4.

Learned senior standing counsel Sri.Y.V.Raviraj submits that the present appeal was filed taking note of the fact that the assessee is at Bengaluru and further he submits that the assessment has taken place at Coimbatore, since the Centralization has taken place after consequent search.

5.

From the appeal papers, it is seen that the assessment order in respect of the respondent/assessee is passed by the Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax, Central Circle-3, Coimbatore and the ITAT Order is passed by the ‘C’ Bench, Chennai. Therefore, the Registry has HC-KAR rightly raised office objections with regard to maintainability of ITA before this Court.

6.

The Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of Principal Commissioner of Income-Tax vs. ABC Papers Ltd., [(2022) 141 taxmann.com 332 (SC)] while considering the identical situation, at paragraph 33 has held as follows: “33. In conclusion, we hold that appeals against every decision of the ITAT shall lie only before the High Court within whose jurisdiction the Assessing Officer who passed the assessment order is situated. Even if the case or cases of an assessee are transferred in exercise of power under Section 127 of the Act, the High Court within whose jurisdiction the Assessing Officer has passed the order, shall continue to exercise the jurisdiction of appeal. This principles is applicable even if the transfer is under Section 127 for the same assessment year(s).”

The Hon'ble Apex Court in the above decision has made it clear that appeal against every decision of the ITAT shall lie only before the High Court within whose jurisdiction the HC-KAR Assessing Officer who passed the assessment order is situated.

7.

In the instant case, the assessment order is passed by the Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax, Central Circle-3, Coimbatore. Hence, this Court would not get jurisdiction. Accordingly, appeal stands dismissed as not maintainable, with liberty to file appeal before appropriate jurisdictional High Court.

Sd/- (S.G.PANDIT) JUDGE

Sd/- (DR.K.MANMADHA RAO) JUDGE

NC CT:bms List No.: 1 Sl No.: 10

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