Ravinder Kaur V. Union of India and Others

CWP/37346/2025

AI Insights

The case involves Ravinder Kaur, the petitioner, challenging the jurisdiction of the issuing authority over notices and orders related to the assessment year 2020-2021 under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The petitioner argued that the notices were improperly issued, citing a CBDT circular that designated the National Faceless Assessment Centre (NFAC) as the exclusive authority for such actions. The respondents did not dispute the applicability of the cited precedents, which led to the court directing the Appellate Authority to resolve the matter in line with previous similar cases.

• Counselvise Citation: [] 140 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 824299 (HC-CHANDIGARH)
• Appeal Type: Others
• Pronouncement Date: 22-12-2025
• Assessment Year: misc
• Other Referred Cases: Jatinder Singh Bhangu vs. Union of India and others, Jasjit Singh vs. Union of India and others
• Laws Referred To: Income Tax Act, 1961
• Result in Favour of: Others
• Court: HIGH COURT
• Department Lawyers: URVASHI DHUGGA; VIDUL KAPOOR; KAVITA
• Assessee Lawyers: BALJINDER SINGH
• Keywords: Assessment Order; CBDT; Faceless assessment; Jurisdiction; NFAC; Notice
• Section: 148; 151A

Judgement Text

"CWP-37346-2025 -1- 126 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CWP-37346-2025 Date of decision: 22.12.2025 RAVINDER KAUR ...Petitioner VERSUS UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS ...Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE DEEPAK SIBAL HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE YASHVIR SINGH RATHOR Present : Mr. Baljinder Singh, Advocate, for the petitioner. Ms. Urvashi Dhugga, Senior Standing Counsel, Mr. Vidul Kapoor, Junior Standing Counsel and Ms. Kavita, Advocate for the Income Tax Department. ***** DEEPAK SIBAL, J. (Oral) 1. Challenge in the present petition is to notice dated 14.03.2024 issued under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (for short ‘Act 1961’), assessment order dated 31.03.2025, notice of demand dated 31.03.2025 and all consequential proceedings for the Assessment year 2020- 2021, on the ground that Issuing Authority had no jurisdiction to issue the same, in view of circular/notification dated 29.03.2022 of the CBDT, wherein, it has been specifically enumerated that National Faceless Assessment Centre (NFAC) has exclusive power to issue notice under Section 148 of the Act, 1961. 2. Learned counsel for petitioner contends that the issue involved in the present writ petition is covered by judgment passed by a Co-ordinate Bench of this Court in the cases of Jatinder Singh Bhangu vs. Union of India and others, passed in CWP No. 15745-2024 and connected matter, Printed from counselvise.com PRIYANKA THAKUR 2025.12.24 17:17 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CWP-37346-2025 -2- decided on 19.07.2024 and Jasjit Singh vs. Union of India and others (CWP No. 21509 of 2023 and other connected matters), decided on 29.07.2024. Learned counsel for the petitioner has further submitted that petitioner has preferred an appeal and same is pending before Appellate Authority. 3. Learned counsel appearing for respondents has also not disputed the same. 4. We have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the file with their able assistance. 5. A Co-ordinate Bench of this Court in Jatinder Singh Bhangu's case (supra) and Jasjit Singh's case (supra), allowed the writ petitions on the same issue, as raised in the present writ petition, by granting liberty to the revenue to follow the procedure as laid down under the Act, 1961 and proceed accordingly, if so advised. Relevant portion of decision dated 19.07.2024 in Jatinder Singh Bhangu's case (supra) reads as under:- \"15. From the perusal of Section 151A, it is quite evident that scheme of faceless assessment is applicable from the stage of show cause notice under Section 148 as well as 148A. Clause 3(b) of notification dated 29.03.2022 issued under Section 151A clearly provides that scheme would be applicable to notice under Section 148. Even otherwise, it is a settled proposition of law that assessment proceedings commence from the stage of issuance of show cause notice. The object of introduction of faceless assessment would be defeated if show cause notice under Section 148 is issued by Jurisdictional Assessing Officer. The respondents are heavily placing reliance upon office memorandum and letter issued by departmental authorities. It is axiomatic in tax jurisprudence that circulars, instructions and letters issued by Board or any other authority cannot override statutory provisions. The circulars are binding upon authorities and Courts are not bound by circulars. The mandate of Section 144B, 151A read with notification dated 29.03.2022 issued thereunder is quite lucid. There is no ambiguity in the language of statutory provisions, thus, office memorandum or any other instruction issued by Board or any other authority cannot be relied upon.\" Printed from counselvise.com PRIYANKA THAKUR 2025.12.24 17:17 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CWP-37346-2025 -3- 6. As appeal in the present proceedings is pending before the Appellate Authority, this writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the Appellate Authority to decide the same in terms of Jatinder Singh Bhangu's case (supra), decided on 19.07.2024 and Jasjit Singh's case (supra), decided on 29.07.2024. (DEEPAK SIBAL ) JUDGE (YASHVIR SINGH RATHOR) 22.12.2025 JUDGE Priyanka Thakur Whether speaking/reasoned : Yes/No Whether Reportable : Yes/No Printed from counselvise.com PRIYANKA THAKUR 2025.12.24 17:17 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document "