Allowed

Alpana Modi v. Union of India and Others

Punjab & Haryana HC24 Sept 2024CWP/24645/2024

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Writ petition challenging reassessment notices issued by the Jurisdictional Assessing Officer without the mandatory faceless assessment procedure. Court allowed the petition, applying mutatis mutandis its earlier decision in Jasjit Singh, and set aside the Section 148A and 148 notices and consequential proceedings.

What the court decided

AI extract

Alpana Modi Vs Union of India and Others — Income Tax | Punjab & Haryana HC (2024)

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CWP-24645-2024 - 1 -

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

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123

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CWP-24645-2024 Decided on : 24.09.2024

Alpana Modi

. . . Petitioner(s)

Versus

Union of India and others

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. . . Respondent(s)

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CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJEEV PRAKASH SHARMA HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY VASHISTH

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PRESENT: Mr. Prateek Gupta, Advocate for the petitioner(s).

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Mr. Saurabh Kapoor, Sr. Standing Counsel for the respondents – revenue.

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SANJEEV PRAKASH SHARMA, J. (Oral)

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Notice of motion.

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Mr. Saurabh Kapoor, Sr. Standing Counsel, accepts notice for the respondents – revenue.

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Both the counsel are ad idem that the issue involved in the present petition stands finally examined and concluded by this Court in CWP No.21509 of 2023 titled as Jasjit Singh vs. Union of India and others , decided on 29.07.2024 , and by the Coordinate Bench in CWP No.15745 of 2024 titled as Jatinder Singh Bhangu vs. Union of India and others , decided on 19.07.2024 . This Court in Jasjit Singh (supra) held as under:

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“16. We are in agreement with the view taken by the Coordinate Bench and hold that such circular or instructions by the Board could not have been issued to override statutory provisions or to make them otiose or obsolete. Legislative enactments having

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JAWALA RAM 2024.09.25 18:17 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document

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CWP-24645-2024

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financial implications are required to be followed strictly and mandatorily. By exercising the powers contained in Sections 119 and 120 of the Act, 1961 as well as Section 144B (7 & 8), the authorities cannot be allowed to usurp the legal provisions to their own satisfaction and convenience causing hardship to the assessees. It also leaves confusion in the minds of the taxpayers. In the opinion of this Court, instructions and circulars can be issued only for the purpose of supplementing the statutory provisions and for their implementation.

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In view of the aforesaid discussion, there is no occasion to distinguish or take a different view as suggested by the learned counsel for the revenue from what has already been held by the Coordinate Bench.

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Keeping in view the law laid down by the Coordinate Bench (supra), notices issued by the JAO under Section 148 of the Act, 1961 and the proceedings initiated thereafter without conducting the faceless assessment as envisaged under Section 144B of the Act, 1961, have been found to be contrary to the provisions of the Act, 1961 and accordingly notices dated 28.02.2023, 16.03.2023, 20.03.2024 and 30.03.2023 and order dated 30.03.2023, are set aside for want of jurisdiction.

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The respondents-revenue would be, however, at liberty to follow the procedure as laid down under the Act, 1961 and proceed accordingly, if so advised.

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All the writ petitions are allowed. The interim order passed by the Court shall stand merged with the present order.”

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JAWALA RAM 2024.09.25 18:17 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document

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CWP-24645-2024 - 3 -

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Keeping in view above, we allow this Writ Petition in the aforesaid terms. The observations and order passed above shall apply mutatis mutandis to the present case. Accordingly, notice issued by the Jurisdictional Assessing Officer u/s 148A(b) dated 27.03.2024, order issued u/s 148A(d) dated 16.04.2024 and notice issued u/s 148 dated 16.04.2024, as well as consequential proceedings are set aside.

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