Section 238 of the Income Tax Act

Income-tax Act, 2025: s.432

Section 238 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 corresponds to section 432 (Person entitled to claim refund in certain special cases) of the Income-tax Act, 2025.

Read section 432 of the 2025 Act

Correspondence checked against the ICAI tabular mapping of the two Acts and the BharatTax.co section commentary.

The decision most relied on for Section 238 is Ghanashyam Mishra And Sons. v. Edelweiss Asset Reconstruction (126 Taxmann.com 132), cited in 192 of the 184 judgments on BharatTax that turn on this section.

Leading authorities on Section 238

Ghanashyam Mishra And Sons. v. Edelweiss Asset Reconstruction
126 Taxmann.com 132 · 2021 · Supreme Court
192
citing judgments

Once a resolution plan is approved under Section 31(1) of the IBC, claims not included in the plan are extinguished and cannot be pursued. This applies to statutory dues owed to the government and other authorities.

Krishnaswamy S. Pd v. Union of India
281 ITR 305 · 2006 · Supreme Court
68
citing judgments

The law does not compel individuals to perform impossible actions. The administration of law must consider this general exception in specific cases, acknowledging that it does not intend to compel impossibilities.

Alchemist Asset Reconstruction Co. Ltd. v. Hotel Gaudavan (P.) Ltd.
88 Taxmann.com 202 · 2017 · Supreme Court
54
citing judgments

Arbitration proceedings cannot be initiated or continued after a moratorium under section 14(1)(a) of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC) has come into effect.

Pr. CIT v. Monnet Ispat & Energy Ltd.
107 Taxmann.com 481 · 2019 · Supreme Court
34
citing judgments

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 overrides any other enactment, including the Income Tax Act, when an NCLT has declared a moratorium under Section 14 of the IBC. Proceedings against the assessee are barred during the moratorium.

Ghanashyam Mishra & Sons (P.) Ltd. v. Edelweis Asset Reconstruction Co. Ltd.
9 SCC 657 · 2021 · Reported
33
citing judgments

All claims, including statutory dues, that predate the approval of a resolution plan under the IBC stand extinguished by operation of law. No proceedings can be initiated or continued for such claims if they are not part of the approved plan.

New Delhi Municipal Council v. Minosha India Ltd.
138 Taxmann.com 73 · 2022 · Supreme Court
28
citing judgments

The moratorium period under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, will be excluded when calculating the limitation period for proceedings involving a corporate debtor. The Assessing Officer can seek re-institution of an appeal if the resolution process concludes.

Murli Industries Limited v. ACIT
441 ITR 8 · 2022 · High Court
22
citing judgments

Income tax proceedings initiated against a corporate debtor under section 148 for assessment years prior to the approval of a resolution plan under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) are invalid, as the IBC aims to provide certainty by extinguishing all claims not part of the resolution plan.

236 ITR 832 (Guj) (para 21) Snowcem India Ltd. v. Deputy CIT
313 ITR 170 · 2009 · High Court
21
citing judgments

Reopening assessment proceedings under Section 147 is permissible within four years, even if full and true particulars were provided during the original assessment, provided the Assessing Officer forms a prima facie opinion of underassessment or escapement of income.

Mrs. Jai Rajkumar v. Stanbic Bank Ghana Ltd.
101 Taxmann.com 329 · 2019 · High Court
19
citing judgments

Appeals filed by an assessee without permission from the NCLT or a letter of authority from the Interim Resolution Professional are not maintainable.

Palogix Infrastructure (P.) Ltd. v. Asstt. CIT
135 Taxmann.com 73 · 2022 · ITAT
15
citing judgments

Appeals filed by a corporate debtor before the Tribunal are dismissed as infructuous when proceedings cannot continue against the corporate debtor after an NCLT order, due to the moratorium period under the IBC Code.

Judgments on Section 238

Aban Offshore Limited, Chennai vs. DCIT, Chennai

In the result, the appeal of the assessee in ITA

ITA 1381/CHNY/2025[2017-18]Status: DisposedITAT Chennai16 Dec 2025AY 2017-18

Bench: Hon’Ble Shri Inturi Rama Rao & Before Hon’Ble Shri Manu Kumar Giriआयकर अपील सं./Ita No.1380 & 1381/Chny/2025 Assessment Years: 2013-14 & 2017-18 Aban Offshore Limited, Deputy Commissioner Of Income No.113, Janpriya Crest, Tax, Pantheon Road, Egmore, Corporate Circle-1(1), Chennai- 600 008. Chennai. [Pan: Aaaca3012H] (प्रत्यर्थी/Respondent) (अपीलार्थी/Appellant) अपीलार्थी की ओर से/ Assessee By : Ms.Vinitha, Advocate प्रत्यर्थी की ओर से /Revenue By : Mr.Arv Sreenivasan, Cit सुनवाई की तारीख/Date Of Hearing : 11.12.2025 घोषणा की तारीख /Date Of Pronouncement : 16.12.2025 आदेश / O R D E R Per Bench : These Appeals Filed By The Assessee-Company Directed Against The Orders Of The Assistant Commissioner Of Income Tax, Corporate Circle-1(1), Chennai Passed U/S 143(3) R.W.S. 254 Of The Income Tax Act-1961 Dated 30.03.2025 & 31.03.2025 For The Assessment Years 2013-14 & 2017-18 Respectively. 2. Since The Identical Facts & Common Issues Are Involved In All The Above Captioned Two Appeals Of The Assessee, We Proceed To Dispose Of The Same By This Common Order.

For Appellant: Ms.Vinitha, AdvocateFor Respondent: Mr.ARV Sreenivasan, CIT
Section 13Section 143(3)Section 31Section 7

Aban Offshore Limited, Chennai vs. DCIT, Chennai

In the result, the appeal of the assessee in ITA

ITA 1380/CHNY/2025[2013-14]Status: DisposedITAT Chennai16 Dec 2025AY 2013-14

Bench: Hon’Ble Shri Inturi Rama Rao & Before Hon’Ble Shri Manu Kumar Giriआयकर अपील सं./Ita No.1380 & 1381/Chny/2025 Assessment Years: 2013-14 & 2017-18 Aban Offshore Limited, Deputy Commissioner Of Income No.113, Janpriya Crest, Tax, Pantheon Road, Egmore, Corporate Circle-1(1), Chennai- 600 008. Chennai. [Pan: Aaaca3012H] (प्रत्यर्थी/Respondent) (अपीलार्थी/Appellant) अपीलार्थी की ओर से/ Assessee By : Ms.Vinitha, Advocate प्रत्यर्थी की ओर से /Revenue By : Mr.Arv Sreenivasan, Cit सुनवाई की तारीख/Date Of Hearing : 11.12.2025 घोषणा की तारीख /Date Of Pronouncement : 16.12.2025 आदेश / O R D E R Per Bench : These Appeals Filed By The Assessee-Company Directed Against The Orders Of The Assistant Commissioner Of Income Tax, Corporate Circle-1(1), Chennai Passed U/S 143(3) R.W.S. 254 Of The Income Tax Act-1961 Dated 30.03.2025 & 31.03.2025 For The Assessment Years 2013-14 & 2017-18 Respectively. 2. Since The Identical Facts & Common Issues Are Involved In All The Above Captioned Two Appeals Of The Assessee, We Proceed To Dispose Of The Same By This Common Order.

For Appellant: Ms.Vinitha, AdvocateFor Respondent: Mr.ARV Sreenivasan, CIT
Section 13Section 143(3)Section 31Section 7