L. Hazari Mal Kuthiala v. the Income-Tax Officer, Special Circle, Ambala Cantt.
Case brief
What is this about?
Income-tax; transfer of assessment from ITO B-Ward Patiala to ITO Special Circle Ambala; directory versus mandatory consultation; Central Board of Revenue; Minister-in-Charge; Patiala Income-tax Act of Samvat 2001 ss. 5(5), 5(7A), 34; Indian Income-tax Act, 1922 s. 64; Indian Finance Act, 1950 (26 of 1950) s. 13 repeal in Part B States; transfer of non-pending tax cases; Bidi Supply Co. pending-case ruling; Kapurthala-Pepsu integration; reassessment for account year 1945-46; Art. 226 writ petition dismissed by Punjab High Court (Civil Writ No. 325 of 1955); Civil Appeal No. 135 of 1958 dismissed with costs; Hidayatullah J.; [1961] SCR 892.
What did the court decide?
The provision requiring the Commissioner of Income-tax to consult the Central Board of Revenue (whose place corresponds to the Minister-in-Charge under the Patiala Act) before acting is directory, not mandatory: the failure to consult does not destroy the effectiveness of the Commissioner's order, however wrong administratively, and the assessee cannot question the exercise of the power on the ground of failure to consult.