M/s. Mahalaxmi Motors Limited, V. Dy. Commissioner of Incom Tax,

WP/21625/2005

AI Insights

The case involves M/s. Mahalaxmi Motors Limited, represented by its Managing Director, Sri Mahendra C. Mehta, who filed a writ petition against the Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax, Circle 2(1), Hyderabad. The petitioner challenged the proceedings dated 16-12-2002 issued by the 1st respondent, which levied a surcharge on the income tax determined by the Income Tax Settlement Commission for the block period from 01-04-1985 to 13-12-1995. The Settlement Commission had previously settled the tax liability, and the petitioner argued that the 1st respondent lacked the jurisdiction to alter this settlement by imposing a surcharge. The court agreed with the petitioner, stating that the 1st respondent could not incorporate the surcharge through an amendment under Section 154 of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

• Counselvise Citation: [2005] 140 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 727733 (HC-ANDHRA_PRADESH)
• Appeal Type: Others
• Pronouncement Date: 15-11-2005
• Assessment Year: misc
• Laws Referred To: Income Tax Act, 1961
• Result in Favour of: Others
• Court: HIGH COURT
• Keywords: Block assessment; Income Tax; Settlement commission; Surcharge; Writ of Mandamus
• Section: 154; 226

Judgement Text

"THE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE B. SUDERSHAN REDDY AND THE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE S. ANANDA REDDY WRIT PETITION No.21625 OF 2005 DATED: 15-11-2005 Between: M/s. Mahalaxmi Motors Limited Rep. by its Managing Director, Sri Mahendra C. Mehta, A-4/2, Chandralok Complex, Sarojini Devi Road, Secunderabad-3. .. Petitioner AND The Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax Circle 2(1), Ayakar Bhavan, Basheerbagh, Hyderabad – 500 001 & another .. Respondents THE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE B. SUDERSHAN REDDY AND THE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE S. ANANDA REDDY WRIT PETITION No.21625 OF 2005 ORDER: (Per Hon’ble Mr. Justice S. Ananda Reddy) This writ petition is filed by the petitioner invoking the extraordinary jurisdiction of this Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issue of Writ of Mandamus declaring the proceedings issued by the 1st respondent-Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax, Circle 2(1), Hyderabad, dated 16-12-2002, levying surcharge as illegal and without jurisdiction and sought for setting aside the impugned proceedings. The writ petitioner is a company. It was an assessee before the 1st respondent. The premises of the petitioner was subjected to search and seizure, as a result of which block assessment was framed for the block period 01-04-1985 to 13- 12-1995 under the provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (for short ‘the Act’). While so, the petitioner approached the Income Tax Settlement Commission seeking settlement of the dispute between it and the Income Tax Department and the said application was entertained by the Settlement Commission and finally an order was passed by the Settlement Commission on 11-02-2002 for the above referred block period and the said order passed by the Settlement Commission resulted in ascertaining tax liability of Rs.81,91,620/-, which is evident from the annexure enclosed to the order of the Settlement Commission. Subsequent to the said order of the Settlement Commission, the 1st respondent issued a proceeding demanding the amount of tax payable by the petitioner as ascertained by the Settlement Commission. However, subsequently, the impugned proceedings, dated 16-12-2002, was issued amending the original proceedings by including surcharge @ 15% on the income tax, as determined by the Settlement Commission. The said proceedings of the 1st respondent is impugned in the present writ petition. According to the learned counsel, the 1st respondent has no jurisdiction to amend or alter the order of the Settlement Commission, which has ascertained or determined the tax liability on settlement of the claims between the petitioner and the Department. Therefore, the levy of surcharge is without jurisdiction and sought to set aside the same. A counter is filed on behalf of the Department disputing the contentions of the petitioner. We have heard both sides at length, though it is not necessary for the purpose of determining the jurisdiction of the 1st respondent. The 1st respondent cannot incorporate the demand with reference to surcharge by way of amendment of the proceedings resorting to Section 154 of the Act. On consideration of the material on record including the order passed by the Settlement Commission as well as the provisions of the Act, we are of the opinion that the 1st respondent has no power or jurisdiction to levy surcharge which was not part of the liability as determined by the Settlement Commission. On that simple ground, we set aside the impugned order to the extent of levying surcharge on the income tax liability of the petitioner. The Writ Petition is accordingly allowed to the extent indicated above. No order as to costs. __________________________ B. SUDERSHAN REDDY, J Date:15-11-2005 __________________________ S. ANANDA REDDY, J PV "