M/S. SOWPARNIKA PROJECTS vs. THE JOINT COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX

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.7936 OF 2022 (T-IT) BETWEEN: M/S. SOWPARNIKA PROJECTS AND INFRASTRUCTURE PRIVATE LIMITED THE COMPANY INCORPORATED UNDER THE COMPANIES ACT 1956 REPRESENTED BY ITS DIRECTOR SRI. S. SREENIVASAN SON OF SRI. SUBRAMANIAM AGED ABOUT 57 YEARS 750, C BLOCK, 1ST MAIN ROAD AECS LAYOUT, KUNDALAHALLI BENGALURU 560 037.

... PETITIONER (BY MR. A. SHANKAR, SR. COUNSEL FOR MR. S. ANNAMALAI, ADV.,) AND: 1. THE JOINT COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (OSD) CENTRAL CIRCLE 1(3) BENGLAURU CENTRAL REVENUE BUILDING QUEENS ROAD, BENGALURU 560 001. 2. CENTRAL BOARD OF DIRECT TAXES THROUGH THE CHAIRPERSON DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE MINISTRY OF FINANCE

2 NORTH BLOCK NEW DELHI 110001.

... RESPONDENTS (BY MR. K.V. ARAVIND A/W MR. DILIP M, ADVS.,) - - - THIS W.P. IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 & 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF CERTIORARI AND DIRECTION IN THE NATURE OF A WRIT OF CERTIORARI QUASHING THE NOTICE ISSUED UNDER SECTION 1448 OF THE INCOME-TAX ACT, 1961 DATED 15/04/2021 FOR THE ASSESSMENT YEAR 2013-14, VIDE DIN AND NOTICE NO.ITBA/AST/S/148/2021-22/1032427052(1) HEREIN MARKED AS ANNEXURE-A. ISSUE A WRIT OF CERTIORARI AND DIRECTION IN THE NATURE OF A WRIT OF CERTIORARI QUASHING THE NOTICE ISSUED UNDER SECTION 148 OF THE INCOME-TAX ACT, 1961 DATED 15/04/2021 FOR THE ASSESSMENT YEAR 2014-15, VIDE DIN AND NOTICE NO.ITBA/AST/S/148/2021-22/1032427068(1) HEREIN MARKED AS ANNEXURE-B & ETC., THIS W.P. COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN ‘B’ GROUP, 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 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

3 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 15.04.2021 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 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’,

4 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.20/2021370142/35/2020-tl dated 31.03.2021 and notification No.38/2021f. No.370142/35/2020- TPL dated 27.04.2021 issued by Central Board of Direct Taxes is hereby declared as ultra vires the provisions of Income Tax Act, 1961 and the provisions of Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation and Amendment of Certain Provisions) Act, 2020.

5 The impugned notice dated 15.04.2021 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