Allowed

Kaithal Solvent Private Limited v. Income Tax Officer and Others

Punjab & Haryana HC10 Sept 2026CWP/21266/2024

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The High Court allowed the Writ Petition invoking the precedent set in Jasjit Singh holding that notices issued under s. 148 without a faceless assessment under s. 144B are void. Consequently, the order, notice, and consequent proceedings u/s 148A(d) issued without following the mandatory faceless procedure were set aside.

What did the court decide?

Order dated 26.03.2024 u/s 148A(d), notice u/s 148 dated 26.03.2024 and consequent proceedings set aside; pending applications disposed of.

Kaithal Solvent Private Limited Vs Income… — Writ and Judicial Review | Punjab & Haryana HC (2026)

¶1

CWP-21266-2024 (O&M)

Page 1 of 3

(THROUGH VC)

146

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

¶6

CWP-21266-2024 (O&M) Date of Decision: 29.08.2024

¶7

KAITHAL S O LVENT PRIVATE LIMITED

¶8

. . . . Petitione r

¶9

Vs.

¶10

INCOME T A X OFFICER AND OTHERS

¶11

. . . . Respondent s

¶12

****

¶13

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

¶14

¶15

Present: M r. B.M. Monga, Advocate wit h M r. Rohit Kaura, Advocate f or the petitioner.

¶16

M s. Gauri Neo Rampal Opal, Sr. Standing Counsel f or the respondents.

¶17

¶18

SANJEEV PRAKASH SHARMA, J.(Oral)

¶19

Notice of motion.

¶20

Ms. G a uri Neo Rampal Opal, Sr. Sta n ding Counsel accepts notice o n behalf o f respondents/Revenue.

¶21

Both t h e counsel are ad idem that th e issue involved in the presen t petitio n stands finally adjudicated in v iew of the judgment passed b y this C o urt in CWP No.21509 of 2023 titled as Jasjit Singh vs. Union of India and others , decided on 29.07. 2 024, wherein this Court held a s under:

¶22

MOHIT GOYAL 2024.08.29 17:13 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

¶23

CWP-21266-2024 (O&M)

¶24

Page 2 of 3

¶25

“16. We are in agreeme n t with the view taken b y the Coordinate Bench and ho l d that such circular or instructions by the Board could n ot have been issued to o verride statutory provisions or t o make them otiose or o bsolete. Legislative enactment s having financial be f ollowed strictly and mandato r ily. By exercising the p owers contained Sections 119 and 120 of the Act, 1 961 as well as Section 144B ( 7 & 8), the authorities c annot be allowed to usurp the l e gal provisions to their o wn satisfaction and convenien c e causing hardship to t he assessees. It also leaves co nf usion in the minds of t he taxpayers instructions and supplementing the s tatutory provisions and

¶26

17. In view of the afores a id discussion, there is n o occasion to distinguish or t a ke a different view as s uggested by the learned couns e l for the revenue from w hat has already been held by t h e Coordinate Bench. 18. Keeping in view the law laid down by the C oordinate Bench (supra), notices issued by the JAO u nder Section 148 of the Act, 19 6 1 and the proceedings initiated thereafter without co n ducting the faceless a ssessment as envisaged unde r Section 144B of the A ct, 1961, have beesn found t o be contrary to the p rovisions of the Act, 1961 and accordingly notices d ated 28.02.2023, 16.03.20 2 3, 20.03.2024 and 3 0.03.2023 and order dated 30.03.2023, are set aside f or want of jurisdiction.

¶27

19. The respondents-reve n ue would be, however, a t liberty to follow the procedu r e as laid down under t he Act, 1961 and proceed accor d ingly, if so advised.

¶28

MOHIT GOYAL 2024.08.29 17:13 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

¶29

CWP-21266-2024 (O&M)

¶30

Page 3 of 3

¶31

20. All the writ petitio n s are allowed. The interim order passed by the Co u rt shall stand merged w ith the present order.”

¶32

Keepi n g in view above, we allow thi s Writ Petition in the aforesai d terms. The observations and order p a ssed above shall apply mutati s mutan d is to the present case. Accor d ingly, order u/s 148A(d) date d 26.03. 2 024, notice u/s 148 dated 26.03.2024 and consequentia l procee d ings are set aside.