IVURALI AVADUTHA v. '1 . Assessment Unit

THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE P.SAM KOSHY AND THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NARSING RAO NANDIKONDA W.P.No.9596 OF 2025 ORDER, (per Hon'ble Sri Justice P.Sam Koshy) Heard Ms. Aishwarya Sunil, leamed counsel representing Mr. Thaneeru Chaitanya Kumar, learned counsel for the petitioner and Ms. B.Sapna Reddy, learned Junior Standing Counsel for the Income Tax Department for respondent No.2. Perused the record.

2. This is a writ petition where the proceedings are either challenged to the notices which were issued under Section 148,4. and 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (for short 'the Act') or the assessment orders those have been passed under Section 147 of the Act which have been assailed.

3. This writ petition is being taken up today only on one of the grounds, that the notices issued under Section 148,{ of the Act and the subsequent initiation of proceedings under Section 148 of the Act by the jurisdictional Assessing Officer, whereas in terms of the amendment that was brought to the Income Tax Act by way of Finance Act, 2021 w.e.f., 01.04.2021 onwards, proceedings 2 under Section l48A of the Act as also under Section 148 of the Act ought to have also been issued and proceeded in a faceless manner

4. The contention of the petitioner is that the issuc of proceedings bcing in violation of the Finance Act. 2021 i.e., the impugned notices under Section l48A and Section 148 of the Act not being issued in a faceless manner, have already been dealt with and decided by this Court in the case of KANKANALA RAVINDRA REDDY vs. INCOME-TAX OFFICERT dec:ided on 14.09.2023 u,hereby a batch of writ petitions were allowed and the proceedings initiated under Section 148A as als,t under Section 148 of the Act rvere held to be bad with consequential reliefs on the ground of it being in violation of the provisions of Section l5lA of the Act read with Notification 1812022 dated 29.03.2022. The said judgment passed by this Court has also been subseqrently folkrwed in a large number of writ petitions which were allowed on sirnilar terms. 'l(2023) 156 taxmann.com 178 (Telangana)l .( \ 3

5. Down the line, we find that the same issue has also been decided against the Revenue by various High Courts i'e'' by the Bombay High Court in the case of HEXAWARE TECHNOLOGIES LTD., vs. ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX & OTHERS2' Gauhati High Courl in the case of RAM NARAYAN SAH vs. UNION OF INDIA3' Punjab and Haryana High Court in the case of JATINDER SINGH BANGU vs. UNION OF INDIA4, and Telangana High Court in the case of SRI VENKATARAMANA REDDY PATLOOLA VS. DEPUTY CoMIVIISSIONER OF INCOME TAX5 where the issue was in respect of international taxation' Bombay High Court in the case of ABHIN ANILKUMAR SHAH VS. INCOME TAX OFFICER, INTERNATIONAL TAXATION6 which is again on intemational taxation and central circle, High Court of Himachal Pradesh in the case of GOVIND SINGH vs' INCOME TAX OFFICERT' Gujarat High Court in the case of MANSUKHBHAI ' yzoz+1464 ITR 430 (Bom) 'i}Ozi) 156 taxmann.com 478 (Gauhati)l ^[(2024) 165 taxmann.com I l5 (Punjab & Haryana)] ' 12024) I 67 taxmann.com 4 I 1 (Telangana)l " 12024) 166 taxmann.com 679 (Bombay)l - 'izOzqi 165 taxmann.com 113 (Himachal Pradesh)l ) 4 DATTYABHAI RADADIYA vs. INCOME TAX OFFICER, WARD 3(3X5)8, Jharkand High Court in the case of SHYAM SUNDAR SAW vs. UNION OF INDIAe, Rajasthan Fligh Court in the case of SHARDA DEVI CHHAJER vs. INCOME 'tAX OFFICER & ANOTHBR and batch of writ petitionsro u,hich stood decided on 19.03.2024. Similar views have ;rlso been taken by the Division Bench of Calcutta High Court in the case of GIRDHAR GOPAL DALMIA vs. UNION OF INDIA & ORS (M.A.T 1690 o12023), decided on25.09.2024.

6. Even though the same issue having been decided by a large number of High Courts, we are still confionted witr large hling of identical matters on daily basis ranging between 5 to 10 writ petitions. That upon the instructions being sought fiorn the Department, they have been taking a solitary ground thar. the decision o[ the Bombay High Court in the casc of Hexaware Technologies Ltd., (2 supra) as also the one ryhich has been decided by this Court in the case of Kanakula Ravindra Reddy E2O24SCC online Guj 4012 '2025 SCC Online Jhar287 I o y2oz3 t RJ-JD : 4984-DB l ) (1 supra) has been subjected to challenge in a Special Leave Petition i.e., SLP No.3574 of 2024 before the Hon'ble Supreme Court and the Hon'ble Supreme Court is seized of the matter. In addition, there are about 1200 SLPs also filed arising out ofthe same issue being decided by various High Courts.

7. To a query being put to the leamed counsel for the Revenue, they have categorically accepted the fact that there is no interim order granted by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in any of these matters pending before it. Meanwhile, fresh writ petitions ol identical nature are being piled up before this Bench on daily basis and the pendency is getting increased on matter which otherwise has already been dealt and decided by this very High Court itself

8. On the one hand, even though the order of this Court that was passed as early as on 14.09.2023 and more 16 months have lapsed, till date, we do not find any remedial steps having been taken by the Income Tax Department to take appropriate steps to either hold back issuance of notice under Section l48A and under Section 148 of the Act by the jurisdictional Assessing Officer, rather the authorities concemed in the teeth of series of decisions 'I .= :l by all the major High Courts in India are continuously stiii initiating proceedings under Section 148,4 of ther Act and also initiating proceedings under Section 148 of the Act in contravention to the amendments brought into the Income Tax Act pursuant to the Finance Act,2020 as also the Finance Lct202l.

9. Upon a query being put as to why can't this writ petition be disposed of in the teeth of the decision rendered by rhis Court in the case of Kanakalu Ravindra Reddy (1 supra), Ieanred Standing Counsel for thc Income Tax Deparlrnent contends that those would unnecessarily burden the Income Tax Departlnent where they would be required to file equal number of SLPs before the Hon'ble Supreme Courl and it would be further burdening the exchequer of the Union of India. It was also the contention of the learned Standing Counsel that no prejudice would be caused to the interest ofthe petitioners in case if this writ petition is kept pending till the finalization of the SLPs pending before rhe Hon'ble Supreme Court and the fact that the petitioner is atready enjoying the benefit of interim protection. Nonetheless, on the earlier query of this Court as to why the Income Tax Departmenl hitve not come out with a mechanism to issue appropriate instructions or to take J appropriate steps in ensuring that proqeedingsunder Section 148A of the Act as also the assessment orders under Section 148 of the Act are kept in a hold in the light ofthe decisions dedcided by the various High Courts, it was submitted by the leamed Standing Counsel that the said steps can only be taken at the level ofCBDT as any such steps would have to be taken Pan India and cannot be limited to any of these jurisdictional High Courts.

10. As a result of which, what we are facing is steep increase of litigation day in and day out even though various orders have been passed by this High Court allowing writ petitions on the very same issue. The Income Tax authorities concerned are still even now in 2025 also initiating proceedings in contravention to the provisions of Section l51A of the Act and as a result by now, more than 600 to 700 petitions have been already got piled up before this High Court on an issue which otherwise stands squarely covered by the judgment of this Court in the case of Kanakala Ravindra Reddy (l supra). What is also surprising is the fact that though while altowing the writ petitions in the case of Kanakala Ravindra Reddy (l supra), the Division Bench while reserving the right of the Revenue, has also protected the interest of the petitioners I insofar as the liberty which was granted to th,: I{evenue for initiating fresh proceedings strictly in accordance with the amended provisions of the Act, as amended by the Finance Act, 2020 and the Finance Act,202l. The petitioner assessee wou;d be entitled to challenge or raise the other legal objections if the R;vcnue initiates fresh proceedings. The Department has made no cndeavour in availing the said liberty that was reserved for the Rr:vcnue. On the contrary, they have been still sticking on to the stanrl, which this High Court as well as many other High Courts alr,:aoy held to be

11. It appears that because ofthe aforesaid libertv that this High Court had granted permitting the Revenue for initiating iiesh proceedings as a one-time measure in a faceless manner. the Income Tax Department wants to take advantage of the same by protracting these proceedings which would enable thern to meet the limitation that would otherwise come in the way. Likewise, if the writ petition is kept pending for a considerable long period of time and finally at a later stage if the Hon'ble Supreme Court conlims the decision taken by this High Court as also by the other High Courts in which the SLPs are still pending, the Income Tax s*. 9 Department would get the advantage of the liberty that is otherwise protected in favour of the Revenue for initiation of fresh proceedings from the disposal of these matters at a much later stage which would be advantageous and beneflcial to the Revenue and would be equally disadvantageous and detrimental so far as interest of the assesses are concerned. As a consequence, the Income Tax Department gets an extended period of time for initiation of fresh proceedings

12. The alarming trend of docket explosion in this Court, despite the clear precedent set iD Kanukala Ravindra Reddy (l supra), is a matter of grave concern. The Income Tax Department's persistent initiation of fresh proceedings, disregarding the established judicial pronouncements, has led to an unprecedented surge in litigation with over 600-700 petitions piling up on the same issue. This deliberate approach not only undermines the principle of judicial precedent but also strains the judicial resources unnecessarily. The Department's strategy of awaiting the Supreme Court's decision on pending SLPs while continuing to initiate fresh proceedings appears to be a calculated move to buy time and circumvent limitation periods, rather than adhering to the established legal 10 position. Such conduct raises serious questic,ns about the administrative efficiency and the respect for judicial pronouncements, particularly when this Court has aLready provided a balanced approach by preserving both the Reverrue's rights and assesses rnterests.

13. Another aspect which needs to be considered is that in fact it should have been realized by the Income Tax Deparrment itsel: and should have found out via media in ensuring that proceerlings under Sections 148-,4. and 148 should not have b,:en issued in a faceless manner, at least till the Hon'ble Supreme ( ourt decide the twelve hundred (1200) odd SLPs which it is already seized ofor, at least the Income Tax Department should have firund out some remedial steps to ensure that wherever the authorities intend to initiate proceedings under Sections 148-A and 148, other than in a faceless manner, the proceedings should have been defr:rred without precipitating the matter further intimating |re assessee that they shall initiate appropriate proceedings only after the SLp's are decided by the Hon'ble Supreme Court on the vrry same issue. This again, the Income Tax Department, has not becn zrble to give a convincing reply, except for the fact that such a decision if at all r.&.-: 11 has to be taken, has to be taken for the whole of India, and which otherwise has to be by way ofa policy decision and that too at the level of Central Board of Direct Taxes. Though the leamed Standing Counsel for the Income Tax Department contended that the Delhi High Court dismissed a writ petition of similar nature, on the one hand when the High Court is struggling to reduce its pendency, such notices which are under challenge in this writ petition are forcing the assessee to knock the doors of this High Court resulting in filing of hundreds of new writ petitions which in the long run not only affects the disposal of the writ petitions but also consumes substantial time of the Bench in hearing these matters again and again on daity basis. Admittedly, in spite of the matter before the Hon'ble Supreme Court having been taken on many occasions, the Hon'ble Supreme Court which is seized of the matter has been reluctant in granting any interim protection to the Income Tax Department. Yet, the authorities concemed at the State level are not ready to accept the verdict passed by a majority of High Courts of different States on the same issue; and to make things further worse, the Income Tax Department is showing audacity by issuing notices continuously under Sections 148-4 and 72 148 through the jurisdictional Assessing Officer whereas it ought to have been only in the faceless manner.

14. In the case of BANK OF INDIA vs. ASSIST.,\NT COMMISSIONER, INCOME TAXIr, on an issue, whether it was justifiable on the part of the Income Tax Deparlment in not following an order passed by the adjudicating authority only on the ground that the appeals are pending, the Division Bench of the High Court of Bombay held at paragraph No.25 as under, viz., : "25. Mr. Paridwalla has rightly drawn out attention to the decision of this Court in Commissioner of Income Tax vs. Smt. Godavaridevi Sarafl2 as also the recent decision of the co- ordinate Bench of this Court in Samp Furniture (P) Ltd. v. lTO13 of which one of us (Justice G.S. Kulkarni) was a memcer, wherein the Court categorically observed that the Revenue having not "accepted" the judgment of the High Court would not rnean lhat ti the same is set aside in a manner known to law, it wculd loose its binding force. Referring to the decision of the Supreme Court in Union of lndia vs. Kamlakshi Finance Corporation Ltd.14, the Court observed that the approach of the officials of Revenue of treating decisions being "not acceptable" was criticized by the Supreme Court. ln such decision, following are the relevant observations made by the Supreme Court. '] ttzOZsl 170 taxmann.com 422 (Bombay)l '' [978] I l3 ITR 589 1Bombay.1 " 120241165 taxmann.com 581/300 Taxman 452 (Bombay) 'o ltggZltaxmann.com 16/55 ELT 433 (SC) 13 "6. Sri Reddy is perhaps right in saying that the officers were not actuated by any mala fides in passing the impugned orders. They perhaps genuinely felt that the claim of the assessee was not tenable and that, if it was accepted, the Revenue would suffer. But what Sri Reddy overlooks is that we are not concerned here with the correetness or otherwise of their conclusion or of any factual malafides but with the fact that the officers, in reaching in their conclusion, by-passed two appellate orders in regard to the same issue which were placed before them, one of the Collector (Appeals) and the other of the Tribunal. The High Court has, in our view, rightly criticized this conduct of the Assistant Collectors and the harassment to the assessee caused by the failure of these officers to give effect to the orders of authorities higher to them in the appellate hierarchy lt cannot be too vehemently emphasized that it is of utmost importance that, in disposing of the quasijudicial issues before them, revenue officers are bound by the decisions of the appellate authorities, The order of the Appellte Collector is binding on the Assistant Collectors working within his iurisdiction and lhe order of the Tribunal is binding upon the Assistant Collectors and the Appellate Collectors who function under the jurisdiction of the Tribunal. The principles of judicial discipline require that the orders of the higher appellate authorities should be followed unreservedly by the subordinate authorities. The mere fact that the order of the appellate authority is not "acceptable" to the department - in itself an obiectionable phrase - and is the subject matter of an appeal can furnish no ground for not following it unless its operation has been suspended by a competent court. lf this healthy :14 rule is not followed, the result will only be undue harassment to assesses and chaos in administration of tax laws.

12. We have dealt with this aspect at some Iength, because it has been suggested by thb lc,arned Additional Solicitor General that the observations made by the High Court, have been harsh on the officers. lt is clear that the observations of the High Court, seemingly vehement, and apparenfly unpalatable to the Revenue, are only intended t,l curb a tendency in revenue mafters which, if allowed to become widespread, could result in considerable harassment to the assesses-public without any benefit to the Revenue. We would like to say that 1he department should take these observations n the proper spirit. The observations of the High Court should be kept in mind in future and the utmost regard should be paid by the adjudicating authorities and the appellate authorities to the requirements of jrdicial discipline and lhe need for giving effect to the ,lrders of the higher appellate authorities which are binding on them." I 5. What is \4'orry/ing this Bench more is the fact that an endeavour is being made whole heartedly to ensure not to generate further litigation on issues which have been laid to rest by a large number of High Courts all of whom have taken a consistent stand that the action of the Income Tax Department being violative of the Finance Act,2020 and Finance Act,202l. Now, in order to protect the interest of the Revenue as also that of the assessee, it would be trite at this juncture, if we dispose of the writ petition with an observation/direction that the disposal of the instant writ petition in terms of the judgment rendered by this High Court in the case ol Kankanala Ravindra Redd.y (l supra) shall however be subject to the outcome of the SLPs which were flrled by the Income Tax Department and which is pending consideration before the I{on'bte Supreme Court.

16. In the given facts and circumstances, this Bench is of the considered opinion that unless and until we do not timely dispose of matters which are squarely covered by the decision of this Court and which stands fortified by the decisions of the various other High Courts on the very same issue, the pendency of this High Court would further be burdened which otherwise can be decided and disposed of as a covered matter 11 . So far as the interest of the Revenue is concemed, we are ol the considered opinion that the interest of the Revenue has already been considered and protected, as has been observed in paragraphs / 36,37 ari 38 ofthe order which, ,or ready referenc,:, rs reprod;;ed hereunder

36. For all the aforesaid reasons, the impugned notices issued and the proceedings drawn by the responden! Department is neither tenable, nor sustailable. The notices so issued and the procedure adopted being per se illegal, deserves to be and are accordingly set aside/quashed. As a consequence, all the inpugned orders getting quashed, the consequential orders passed by the respondent-Department pursuant to the notices issued under Section 147 and 148 would also get quashed and it is ordered accordingly. The reason we are quashing the consequential order is on the orinciples that when the initiation of the proceedings itself was procedurally wrong, the subsequent orders irlso gets nullif ied automatically.

37. The preliminary objection raised by the petitioner is sustained and all these writ petitions stands allolr,ed on this very jurisdictional issue. Since the impugned notices and orders are getting quashed on the point of jurisdiction, we are not inclined to proceed further and decrde the other issues raised by the petitioner which stands reserved to be raised and contended in an appropriate proceedings.

38. Since the Hon'ble Supreme Court had, ir the case of Ashish Agarwal, supra, as a one-time measure exercising the powers under Article 142 of the Constitution of lndia, permitted the Revenue to proceed under the substituted provisions, and this Court allowing the petitions only on the procedural flaw, the right 17 conferred on the Revenue would remain reserved to proceed further if they so want from the stage of the order of the Supreme Court in the case of Ashish Agarwal, supra.

18. We would only further like to make observations that since we are inclined to dispose of the instant writ petition, conscious of the fact that the earlier order of this High Court in the case of Kanakala Ravindra Reddy (1 supra) is subjected to challenge before the Hon'ble Supreme Court in SLP No.3574 ol 2024, preferred by the Income Tax Department, we make it clear that allowing of the instant writ petition is subject to outcome of the aforesaid SLP preferred by the Revenue against the decision ofthis High Court in the case of Kanakala Ravindra Reddy (l stpra). This, in other words, would mean that either of the parties, if they so want, may move an appropriate petition seeking revival of this writ petition in the light of the decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Courl in the pending SLP on the very same issue.

19. Accordingly, the instant writ petition stands allowed 1n favour of the assessee so far as the issue of jurisdiction IS concemed. As a consequence, the impugned notice under challenge under Sections 148-A and 148 stands set aside/quashed' 18 The consequential orders, if any, also stand set aside/quashed in similar terms as have been passed by this High Court in the case of Kankanala Ravindra Reddy (l supra). There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, miscellaneous petitions pending, if any, shall stand closed //TRUE COPY// SD/.K.BHAVANI SWAMY ASSISTANT REGISTRAR ( 1, SECTION OFFICER

1. The Assessment Unit, National Faceless Assessment Centre, lnctme Tax Department, Iv'iinistrv of Finance, Roorn". +Oil'i"o Floor, E_Rarnp, ^ Jawahartat Nehru S[adium, Dethi _f iOOOi.'"''-"' 2. The lncome Tax Officer WarO f , SlOOipl"V'fncome Ta>r Office, B_1_22, 1st ^ floor. Subhash Road. Siddipet. i"ra.JJ,* """' '" ' J rhe secretary, Union of lndia. Ministry"of Finance Nonh Block, Ne,w Delhi-1,,0 4. One CC to SRI THANNERU CItAtTANyA KUMAR, Aovocate tOpUCl 5. one CC to SRI GADI PRAVEEru kurven, DEPOi} SOLICIToR GENERAL ^ OF tNDtA Advocate tOpUCj 6 9ls-.c.c to N/s. BoKARo sdprun REDDY (Jr. sc FoR tNCoME TAX) Advocate tOpUCl 7. Two CD Copies' <<r To SA (, I d I l ':'_::\_- . .,,ef^ \ .\ (j. \ 0 rB SEP 20fr i. i., \'. /.- \:''- (:/.,1i .:.:.--/. :. .'.._i. HIGH COURT DATED:2410412025 ORDER WP.No.9596 ot 2025 ALLOWING THE W.P WITHOUT COSTS.