Allowed

Vasu Bhatia v. Income Tax Officer

Punjab & Haryana HC14 Sept 2026CWP/10855/2024

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The two-judge bench quashed a notice and consequential proceedings under the Income-tax Act. Relying on coordinate benches, the court held that assessments conducted without mandated faceless procedures are void for lack of jurisdiction and allowed the writ petition.

What did the court decide?

Notice u/s 148 dated 12.04.2024 and proceedings under s. 148-A(d) dated 10.04.2024 set aside; pending applications disposed of.

Vasu Bhatia Vs Income Tax Officer — Writ and Judicial Review | Punjab & Haryana HC (2026)

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CWP-10855-2024 (O&M) Date of Decision: 31.08.2024

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VASU BHATIA . . . . Petitioner

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Vs.

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INCOME TAX OFFICER

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. . . Respondent

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CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJEEV PRAKASH SHARMA HON’BLE MRS. JUSTICE RITU TAGORE

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Present: Mr. Sunil K. Mukhi, Advocate for the petitioner.

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Mr. Yogesh Putney, Sr. Standing Counsel with Mr. Vaibhav Gupta, Standing Counsel for the respondent/Revenue.

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SANJEEV PRAKASH SHARMA, J.(Oral)

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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 financial implications are required to be

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SMRITI 2024.08.31 14:55 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment

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CWP-10855-2024 (O&M)

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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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17. 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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18. 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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19. 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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20. All the writ petitions are allowed. The interim order passed by the Court shall stand merged with the present order.”

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SMRITI 2024.08.31 14:55 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment

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CWP-10855-2024 (O&M)

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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 148 dated 12.04.2024, under Section 148-A(d) dated 10.04.2024, and consequential proceedings are set aside.

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