Disposed

The Muvattupuzha Housing Co-Operative Society Ltd. E 299, v. the Income Tax Officer

Kerala HC8 Sept 2023WP(C)/15059/2023

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Three writ petitions filed by Kerala co-operative societies challenging income tax notices and Section 148A orders for Assessment Year 2019-20 were disposed of. The court granted liberty to file returns within one month and direct the assessing authority to examine them expeditiously.

What did the court decide?

Liberty to file returns of income within one month from the date of judgment; assessing authority to examine returns and pass final assessment orders expeditiously.

The Muvattupuzha Housing Co-Operative Society Ltd. E… — Cooperative Societies | Kerala HC (2023)

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM

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PRESENT

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THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE DINESH KUMAR SINGH

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FRIDAY, THE 8^TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2023 / 17TH BHADRA, 1945 WP(C) NO. 15059 OF 2023

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PETITIONER/S:

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THE MUVATTUPUZHA HOUSING CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD E 299, KAVUMPADY, MUVATTUPUZHA P.O, ERNAKULAM, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, PIN - 686661

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BY ADV C.A.JOJO

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RESPONDENT/S:

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1 THE INCOME TAX OFFICER, WARD 1 & TPS, THODUPUZHA, TEMPLE ROAD, THODUPUZHA, IDUKKI, PIN - 685584

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2 THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF COMMISSIONER, C R BUILDING, I S PRESS ROAD, COCHIN, PIN - 682018

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BY ADV CHRISTOPHER ABRAHAM, INCOME TAX DEPARTMENT

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THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 08.09.2023, ALONG WITH WP(C).15154/2023, 15167/2023, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:

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W.P.(C) Nos.15059/2023, 15154/2023, 15167/2023

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM

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PRESENT

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THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE DINESH KUMAR SINGH FRIDAY, THE 8^TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2023 / 17TH BHADRA, 1945

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WP(C) NO. 15154 OF 2023

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PETITIONER/S:

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PUTHENCRUZ GOVT.SERVANT'S CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD, NO. E 153, PUTHENCRUZ P.O, ERNAKULAM, COCHIN -682308, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY

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BY ADV C.A.JOJO

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RESPONDENT/S:

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1 THE INCOME TAX OFFICER, NON CORP WARD 1(1), KOCHI, C. R. BUILDING, I.S PRESS ROAD COCHIN-682018

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2 THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF COMMISSIONER, C R BUILDING, I S PRESS ROAD, ERNAKULAM COCHIN, PIN - 682018

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BY ADV CHRISTOPHER ABRAHAM, INCOME TAX DEPARTMENT

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OTHER PRESENT:

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CHRISTOPHER ABRAHAM-SC

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THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 08.09.2023, ALONG WITH WP(C).15059/2023 AND CONNECTED CASES, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:

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W.P.(C) Nos.15059/2023, 15154/2023, 15167/2023

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM

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PRESENT

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THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE DINESH KUMAR SINGH FRIDAY, THE 8^TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2023 / 17TH BHADRA, 1945

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WP(C) NO. 15167 OF 2023

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PETITIONER/S:

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KOOTHATTUKULAM FARMERS SERVICE CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD, E 45, KOOTHATTUKULAM P.O, ERNAKULAM -PIN-686662 REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGING DIRECTOR.

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BY ADV C.A.JOJO

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RESPONDENT/S:

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1 THE INCOME TAX OFFICER,WARD 1 & TPS, THODUPUZHA, TEMPLE ROAD, THODUPUZHA, IDUKKI, PIN -685584

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2 THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF COMMISSIONER,C R BUILDING, I S PRESS ROAD, ERNAKULAM, COCHIN, PIN – 682018

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BY ADV CHRISTOPHER ABRAHAM, INCOME TAX DEPARTMENT

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THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 08.09.2023, ALONG WITH WP(C).15059/2023 AND CONNECTED CASES, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:

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W.P.(C) Nos.15059/2023, 15154/2023, 15167/2023

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J U D G M E N T

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[WP(C) Nos.15059/2023, 15154/2023, 15167/2023]

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The present writ petitions have been filed impugning the

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notices issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act 1961 and further proceedings taken pursuant to the notices issued for the Assessment Year 2019-20.

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The petitioners are Co-operative Societies

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registered under the provisions of the Kerala Co-operative Societies Act 1969 and Rules made thereunder. The petitioners

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did not file the return of their income for the Assessment Year 2019-20 on the belief that the petitioners' entire income was exempt under Section 80P of the Income Tax Act, and, therefore, they were not required to file the return of their income.

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The assessing authority believes that the petitioners have concealed their income and tried to escape

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the assessment. The petitioners were therefore issued notices

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W.P.(C) Nos.15059/2023, 15154/2023, 15167/2023

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under Section 148A, and after considering their response, the

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orders in Ext.P3 were passed for proceeding against them. In response to the orders passed under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, the petitioners have not filed their return of income.

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After some argument, the learned Counsel for the petitioners submits that these petitions may be disposed of with liberty to the petitioners to file the return of income and take all the pleas which are available to them under the law in respect of their claim for their income being jumped under Section 80P of the Income Tax Act.

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Considering the said submission, the present writ petitions are disposed of with liberty to the petitioners to file returns of their income within a period of one month from today. If the petitioners file their return of income within a period of one month from today, the assessing authority will examine the return in accordance with the law and pass the final assessment orders expeditiously.

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W.P.(C) Nos.15059/2023, 15154/2023, 15167/2023

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With the aforesaid direction, the writ petitions stand

finally disposed of.

Sd/-

DINESH KUMAR SINGH

JUDGE

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W.P.(C) Nos.15059/2023, 15154/2023, 15167/2023

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APPENDIX OF WP(C) 15154/2023

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PETITIONER EXHIBITS

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Exhibit P1	A TRUE COPY OF THE NOTICE U/S 148A(B) DATED 08.02.2023 ISSUED BY THE 1ST RESPONDENT
Exhibit P2	A TRUE COPY OF THE REPLY SUBMITTED TO THE 1ST RESPONDENT DATED 14.02.2023
Exhibit P3	A TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER UNDER CLAUSE (D) OF S.148A DATED 22.03.2023 ISSUED THE 1ST RESPONDENT
Exhibit P4	A TRUE COPY OF THE STATUS QUO ORDER IN WP ( C) 24112 OF 2019 DATED 04.09.2019
Exhibit P5	A TRUE COPY OF THE STAY ORDER IN WP ( C) 4368 OF 2023 DATED 12.04.2023
RESPONDENT EXHIBITS
Exhibit R1(a)	copy of the Supreme Court judgment dated 02.09.2022 in the case of anshul Jain v. Principal Commissioner of Income tax and another [2022] 449 ITR 256 (SC)
Exhibit R1 (b)	Copy of the judgment of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in the case of Anshul Jain v. Principal Commissioner of Income Tax dated 02.06.2022 [2022] 449 ITR 251 (P and H)
Exhibit R1(c)	Copy of the judgment of the Kerala High Court dated 07.12.2022 in W.P. (C) No. 37527 of 2022 in the case of M/s Viswabharathi Medicals v. Income Tax Officer

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W.P.(C) Nos.15059/2023, 15154/2023, 15167/2023

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APPENDIX OF WP(C) 15167/2023

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PETITIONER EXHIBITS

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Exhibit P1 A TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 30.01.2023 ISSUED BY THE 1ST RESPONDENT Exhibit P2 A TRUE COPY OF THE REPLY SUBMITTED TO THE 1ST RESPONDENT DATED 10.02.2023 Exhibit P3 A TRUE COPY OF THE NOTICE U/S 148A(B) DATED 28.02.2023 ISSUED BY THE 1ST RESPONDENT Exhibit P4 THE RELEVANT PAGE OF COPY OF THE AUDITED BALANCE SHEET AND PROFIT AND LOSS STATEMENT OF THE PETITIONER FOR FY 2018-19 DATED 23.09.2019 Exhibit P5 A TRUE COPY OF THE STATUS QUO ORDER IN WP ( C) 24112 OF 2019 DATED 04.09.2019 Exhibit P6 A TRUE COPY OF THE STAY ORDER IN WP ( C) 4368 OF 2023 DATED 12.04.2023 RESPONDENT EXHIBITS Exhibit R1(a) Copy of the Supreme Court judgment dated 02.09.2022 in the case of Anshul Jain v. Principal Commissioner of Income Tax and another [2022] 449 ITR 256 (SC) Exhibit R1 (b) Copy of the judgment of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in the case of Anshul Jain v. Principal Commissioner of Income Tax dated 02.06.2022 [2022] 449 ITR 251 (Pand H) Exhibit R1(c) Copy of the judgment of the Kerala High Court dated 07.12.2022 in W.P.(C). No.37527 of 2022 in the case of m/s Viswabharathi Medicals v. Income Tax Officer Exhibit R1(d) True copy of the order dated 23.03.2023 passed under clause (d) of section 148A of the Income Tax Act. Exhibit R1(e) True copy of notice under section 148 of the Income Tax Act dated 27.03.2023 calling for return of income for Assessment Year 2019-20

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W.P.(C) Nos.15059/2023, 15154/2023, 15167/2023

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APPENDIX OF WP(C) 15059/2023

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PETITIONER EXHIBITS

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Exhibit P1 A TRUE COPY OF THE NOTICE U/S 148A(B) DATED 02.03.2023 ISSUED BY THE 1ST RESPONDENT Exhibit P2 A TRUE COPY OF THE REPLY SUBMITTED TO THE 1ST RESPONDENT DATED 10.02.2023 Exhibit P3 A TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER UNDER CLAUSE (D) OF S.148A DATED 25.03.2023 ISSUED THE 1ST RESPONDENT Exhibit P4 A TRUE COPY OF THE NOTICE U/S S.148 DATED 2703.2023 ISSUED THE 1ST RESPONDENT Exhibit P5 A TRUE COPY OF THE STATUS QUO ORDER IN WP ( C) 24112 OF 2019 DATED 04.09.2019 Exhibit P6 A TRUE COPY OF THE STAY ORDER IN WP ( C) 4368 OF 2023 DATED 12.04.2023 RESPONDENT EXHIBITS Exhibit R1(a) Copy of the Supreme Court decision dated 02.09.2022 in the case of Anshul Jain v Principal Commissioner of Income Tax and Another {2022} 449 ITR 256 (SC) Exhibit R1 (b) Copy of the Judgment of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in the case of Anshul Jain v. Principal Commissioner of Income Tax dated 02.06.2022, [2022] 449 ITR 251 (P and H) Exhibit R1(c) Copy of the Judgment of the Kerala High Court dated 07.12.2022 in W.P.(C) No. 37527 of 2022 in the case of M/s Viswabharathi Medicals v. Income Tax Officer

The Muvattupuzha Housing Co-Operative Society Ltd. E 299, v. the Income Tax Officer

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

The Muvattupuzha Housing Co-Operative Society Ltd. E 299, v. the Income Tax Officer

Case brief

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What did the court decide?

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