PIONEER INDEPENDENT TRUST vs. PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX - 2

1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 18TH DAY OF APRIL 2022 PRESENT THE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE ALOK ARADHE AND THE HON’BLE MR.JUSTICE S. VISHWAJITH SHETTY W.P. No.12668 OF 2021 (T-IT) BETWEEN: PIONEER INDEPENDENT TRUST NO.134, NEXT TO WIPRO CORPORATE OFFICE SARJAPURA ROAD, BANGALORE - 560035 REPRESENTED BY ITS TRUSTEE L AND T FINANCE LIMITED (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO L AND T INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCE COMPANY LTD.) THROUGH ITS DIVISIONAL LEGAL MANAGER MR. FAYAZ AHAMED M A.

... PETITIONER (BY MR. S. GANESH, SR. COUNSEL FOR MR. SANDEEP HUILGOL, ADV.,) AND: 1. PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX - 2 BANGALORE, BMTC BUILDING 80 FEET ROAD, 6TH BLOCK NEAR KHB GAMES VILLAGE KORAMANGALA, BENGALURU – 560095. 2. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX CIRCLE 4(1) (1), BANGALORE BMTC BUILDING, 80 FEET ROAD 6TH BLOCK, NEAR KHB GAMESH VILLAGE

2 KORAMANGALA, BENGALURU – 560095. 3. CENTRAL BOARD OF DIRECT TAXES DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE MINISTRY OF FINANCE UNION OF INDIA NORTH BLOCK, NEW DELHI - 110002 REPRESENTED HEREIN BY ITS CHAIRPERSON.

... RESPONDENTS (BY MR. K.V. ARAVIND A/W MR. DILIP M, ADV.) - - - THIS W.P. IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO QUASH THE IMPUGNED NOTICE DATED 30.06.2021 ISSUED BY THE R2 U/S 148 OF THE INCOME TAX ACT, 1961 ANNEXURE-A. DECLARE THAT IN THE EVENT IT IS BEING HELD THAT THE IMPUGNED NOTIFICATIONS DATED 31.03.2021 AND 27.04.2021 RESPECTIVELY ANNEXURE-B AND B1 ISSUED BY THE R3 ENABLE THE RESPONDENTS AND THE REVENUE AUTHORITIES TO DISPENSE WITH THE REQUIREMENT TO COMPLY WITH THE CONDITIONS PRECEDENT THAT ARE SET OUT IN SECTION 148A OF THE INCOME-TAX ACT, 1961 BEFORE ISSUING ANY NOTICE U/S 148 OF THE INCOME-TAX ACT, 1961 THE SAID NOTIFICATIONS ARE ULTRA VIRES THE PROVISIONS OF THE INCOME-TAX ACT, 1961 AND THE PROVISIONS OF THE TAXATION AND OTHER LAWS RELAXATION AND AMENDMENT OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS) ACT, 2020 AND THUS BAD IN LAW. QUASH THE IMPUGNED CIRCULAR DATED 03.08.2012 ISSUED BY THE R3 ANNEXURE-E & ETC. THIS W.P. COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ALOK ARADHE J., MADE THE FOLLOWING: ORDER The petitioner in this writ petition has sought quashment of explanation below Clause (A) in the

3 notification bearing No.20/2021 F.NO.370142/35/2020-TPL dated 31.03.2021 and notification No.38/2021/F.No.370142/35/2020-TPL dated 27.04.2021 issued by Central Board of Direct Taxes, as ultra vires the provisions of Income Tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as ‘1961 Act’ for short) and the provisions of Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation and Amendment of Certain Provisions) Act, 2020 (hereinafter referred to as ‘2020 Act’ for short). The petitioner has also prayed for relief that extension of time limit by the 2020 Act does not apply to notices issued under erstwhile Section 148 of the 1961 Act, after 01.04.2021. The petitioner also seeks a writ of certiorari for quashing the notices dated 30.06.2021 issued under Section 148 of the 1961 Act for the Assessment year 2016-17. 2. We have heard the learned counsel at length. For the reasons assigned by us in the

4 judgment dated 19.04.2022 passed in W.P.No.22348/2021 and for the reasons assigned by division bench of High Court of Allahabad in ASHOK KUAR AGARWAL VS. UNION OF INDIA’, Rajasthan High Court in ‘BPIP INFRA (P.) LTD. VS. INCOME TAX OFFICER, WARD 4(1), JAIPUR, Delhi High Court decision in MON MOHAN KOHLI VS. ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX & ANR. And decision of Bombay High Court in TATA COMMUNICATIONS TRANSFORMATION SERVICES LIMITED, VS. ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX 14(1) AND OTHERS, W.P.NO.1334/2021 the explanation below Clause (A) in the notification bearing No.20/2021 F.NO.370142/35/2020-TPL dated 31.03.2021 and notification No.38/2021 F.No.370142/35/2020-TPL dated 27.04.2021 issued by Central Board of Direct Taxes is hereby declared as ultra vires the provisions

5 of Income Tax Act, 1961 and the provisions of Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation and Amendment of Certain Provisions) Act, 2020. The impugned notice dated 30.06.2021 issued under Section 148 of the Act is quashed. 3. However, it will be open to the Assessing Officer concerned to initiate fresh re-assessment proceeding in accordance with relevant provisions of the 1961 Act as amended by Finance Act, 2021 after strictly complying with the provisions of the Act. In the result, the writ petition is disposed of. Sd/- JUDGE Sd/- JUDGE SS