"IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE GOPINATH P. FRIDAY, THE 15TH DAY OF MARCH 2024 / 25TH PHALGUNA, 1945 WP(C) NO. 10598 OF 2024 PETITIONER/S: CHULLOPPILLI HOUSE ULAHANNAN POULOSE, AGED 62 YEARS CHULLOPPILLIL KAKKODAN COLONY, KOTTAKKUNNU, SULTHAN BATHERY, WAYANAD, PIN - 673592 BY ADV S.ARUN RAJ RESPONDENT/S: 1 ADDITIONAL/JOINT/DEPUTY/ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX/INCOME TAX OFFICER, NATIONAL FACELESS ASSESSMENT CENTRE, DELHI INCOME TAX DEPARTMENT, 2ND FLOOR, E- RAMP, JAWAHARLAL NEHRU STADIUM, NEW DELHI, PIN - 110003 2 INCOME TAX OFFICER, WARD-1, KALPETTA INCOME TAX OFFICE, SULTHAN BATHERY ROAD, KALPETTA, WAYANAD, PIN - 673122 3 COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (APPEALS), NATIONAL FACELESS APPEAL CENTRE INCOME TAX DEPARTMENT, 2ND FLOOR, E- RAMP, JAWAHARLAL NEHRU STADIUM, NEW DELHI, PIN - 110003 4 THE PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX, AAYAKAR BHAVAN, NORTH BLOCK, MANANCHIRA, KOZHIKODE, PIN - 673001 WP(C)No.10598 of 2024 2 5 FEDERAL BANK, PULATH BUILDING CHULLIOD ROAD, SULTHAN BATHERY- THALOOR ROAD, SULTHAN BATHERY, WAYANAD, REPRESENTED BY ITS BRANCH MANAGER, PIN - 673592 BY ADVS. G.KEERTHIVAS P.PAULOCHAN ANTONY OTHER PRESENT: P.G. JAYASHANKAR-SC THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 15.03.2024, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: WP(C)No.10598 of 2024 3 J U D G M E N T The petitioner suffered Exts.P1 and P3 orders of assessment for the assessment years 2018-19, and 2020-21 under the Income Tax Act, 1961. The petitioner has preferred Ext.P2 appeal against Ext.P1 order of assessment and Ext.P4 appeal against Ext.P3 order of assessment. The petitioner has also preferred Exts.P6 and P7 stay petitions in Exts.P2 and P4 appeals. 2. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that there may be a direction to the third respondent to consider and pass orders on Exts.P6 and P7 stay applications, after affording an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner. He submits that the garnishee proceedings issued against the banks may be withdrawn, pending consideration of the stay petitions by the third respondent. 3. Heard Sri.P .G.Jayashankar for the Income Tax Department also. WP(C)No.10598 of 2024 4 Having heard the learned counsel for the petitioner, the learned Standing Counsel appearing for the respondent Department and having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case and considering the submission of the learned counsel for the petitioner that the entire income assessed in terms of Exts.P1 and P3 is exempt from taxation under the Income Tax Act, 1961 on account of the same being completely agricultural income, this writ petition will stand disposed of directing the third respondent to consider and pass orders on Exts.P6 and P7 stay petitions, after affording an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner. Any garnishee proceedings issued to the petitioner shall be withdrawn till orders are passed on the stay petitions. Thereafter, the parties shall be governed by the orders to be passed in the stay petitions by the third respondent. The writ petition is disposed of as above. Sd/- GOPINATH P ., JUDGE rkj WP(C)No.10598 of 2024 5 APPENDIX OF WP(C) 10598/2024 PETITIONER EXHIBITS Exhibit P1 A TRUE COPY OF THE ASSESSMENT ORDER DATED 23-4-2021 UNDER SECTION 143(3) R.W.S 144 B OF THE ACT FOR THE AY 2018-19 ALONG WITH THE DEMAND NOTICE ISSUED BY THE 1ST RESPONDENT Exhibit P2 A TRUE COPY OF THE APPEAL FILED BY THE PETITIONER ON 8-11-2021 BEFORE THE 3RD RESPONDENT, COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (APPEALS), NATIONAL FACELESS APPEAL CENTRE, DELHI FOR THE AY 2018-19 Exhibit P3 A TRUE COPY OF THE ASSESSMENT ORDER DATED 22-9-2022 UNDER SECTION 143(3) R.W.S 144 B OF THE ACT FOR THE AY 2020-21 ALONG WITH THE DEMAND NOTICE ISSUED BY THE 1ST RESPONDENT Exhibit P4 A TRUE COPY OF THE APPEAL FILED BY THE PETITIONER ON 31-10-2022 BEFORE THE 3RD RESPONDENT, COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (APPEALS), NATIONAL FACELESS APPEAL CENTRE, DELHI FOR THE AY 2020-21 Exhibit P5 A TRUE COPY OF THE NOTICE DATED 4-3-2024 ISSUED BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT TO THE 5TH RESPONDENT BANK, A COPY OF WHICH FORWARDED TO THE PETITIONER BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT Exhibit P6 A TRUE COPY OF THE STAY PETITION FOR THE AY 2018-19 E-FILED ON 13-3-2024 BEFORE THE 3RD RESPONDENT:- CIT (APPEALS), NATIONAL FACELESS APPEAL CENTRE, DELHI SEEKING STAY OF RECOVERY BASED ON EXHIBIT P-1 ASSESSMENT ORDER WP(C)No.10598 of 2024 6 Exhibit P7 A TRUE COPY OF THE STAY PETITION FOR THE AY 2020-21 E-FILED ON 13-3-2024 BEFORE THE 3RD RESPONDENT:- CIT (APPEALS), NATIONAL FACELESS APPEAL CENTRE, DELHI SEEKING STAY OF RECOVERY BASED ON EXHIBIT P-3 ASSESSMENT ORDER "