Allowed

Dr Sudha Thapar v. Union of India and Others

Punjab & Haryana HC10 Sept 2026CWP/22321/2024

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The High Court allowed the writ petition holding that notices issued without conducting mandatory faceless assessment under Section 144B of the Income-tax Act, 1961 were void. The court followed prior precedents stating statutory provisions cannot be overridden by circulars.

What did the court decide?

Set aside notices issued under Section 148A dated 28.03.2024 and 10.04.2024, notices under Section 148, and consequential proceedings.

Dr Sudha Thapar Vs Union of India and Others — Writ and Judicial Review | Punjab & Haryana HC (2026)

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CWP-22321-2024 (O&M)

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Page 1 of 3

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110

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

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CWP-22321-2024 (O&M) Date of Decision: 05.09.2024

Dr. Sudha Thapar

. . . . Petitione r

Vs.

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: M r. Puneet Kkansal, Advocate f o r the petitioner. M s. Urvash Dhugga, Standing C o unsel and M s. Samdisha Kaur, Advocate f or the respondents/Revenue.

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****

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SANJEEV PRAKASH SHARMA, J.(Oral)

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Notice of motion.

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Ms. U r vashi Dhugga, Sr. Standing Co u nsel accepts notice on behalf o f respon d ents/Revenue.

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Both t h e counsel are ad idem that th e issue involved in the presen t petitio n stands finally examined and c o ncluded by this Court in CWP No.21509 of 2023 titled as Jasjit Singh vs. Union of India and others , decide d on 29.07.2024, and by th e Coordinate Bench in CWP No.15745 of 2024 titled as Jatinder Singh Bhangu vs. Union of India and others , decided on 19.07.2024. T h is Court in Jasjit Singh (supra ) held as under:

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MOHIT GOYAL 2024.09.05 17:23 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

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CWP-22321-2024 (O&M)

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Page 2 of 3

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“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 enactme n ts having financial implications are required to be followed strictly and m andatorily. By exercising the powers contained in S ections 119 and 120 of the A ct, 1961 as well as S ection 144B (7 & 8), the a uthorities cannot be a llowed to usurp the legal pr o visions to their own s atisfaction and convenience c a using hardship to the a ssessees. It also leaves confusi o n in the minds of the t axpayers. In the opinion of t h is Court, instructions a nd circulars can be issued o n ly for the purpose of s upplementing the statutory pr o visions and for their implementation.

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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.

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18. Keeping in view the law laid down by the C oordinate Bench (supra), noti c es 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 been 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.

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MOHIT GOYAL 2024.09.05 17:23 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

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CWP-22321-2024 (O&M)

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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.

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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.”

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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. A c cordingly, notice issued b y Jurisdi c tional Assessing Officer u n der Section 148A(b) date d 28.03. 2 024(P-1), notice dated 10.04. 2 024(P-6) issued under Sectio n 148 a n d the order dated 10.04.2024 ( P-5) under Section 148A(d) a s well as the consequential proceedings a re set aside.