The government is bound to follow the rules and standards they themselves had set, and the respondent is entitled to seek pre-deposit of only 20% of the disputed demand during the pendency of the appeal, as per the office memorandum dated 29th February, 2016.

JUDGMENT

Manmohan, J.:-- (Oral)

The hearing has been done by way of video conferencing.

1. Present writ petitions have been filed seeking refund of the Income Tax (including interest) adjusted in excess of 20% of the disputed tax demand arising in the case of the Petitioner for the assessment years 2016-17 and 2017-18 against the refunds due for the Assessments Years 2018-19 and 2019-20 along with the applicable interest. Petitioner also seeks direction to the respondent to dispose of the application dated 10th July, 2020 filed by the Petitioner under Section 154 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 [for short ‘the Act’] seeking rectification of the assessment order dated 17thJune, 2020 for the Assessment Year 2016-17.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioner states that under Section 220(6) of the Act, the Assessing Officer has been conferred with the power to grant stay on recovery of outstanding tax demand subject to fulfillment of appropriate conditions. He states that in order to provide guidance and lay down principles regarding stay of demand, the Central Board of Direct Taxes has issued various Circulars/ Notification from time to time including Office Memorandums dated 29 th February, 2016 and 31st July, 2017, prescribing that in cases where an assessee challenges the additions/ disallowances made in the assessment order by way of an appeal before the first appellate authority, i.e., CIT(A), and during pendency thereof deposits 20% of the total disputed outstanding tax demand, the assessing officer is empowered to grant stay of recovery of the balance outstanding demand.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that upon payment/ recovery of the standard rate of 20% of the disputed outstanding tax demand, the assessing officer is mandated to grant stay on recovery of the balance disputed outstanding tax demand till disposal of first appeal of the assessee, unless the case of the assessee falls in the category discussed in paragraph (B) of the Office Memorandum dated 29thFebruary, 2016.

4. He states that the Income Tax Department in violation of the Office Memorandums dated 29 th February, 2016 and 31stJuly, 2017, recovered the disputed outstanding tax demand in excess of 20% by way of adjustment of refunds due for assessment years 2018-19 and 2019-20. He states that the while 20% of the disputed amount for the Assessment Year 2016-17 was Rs. 10,50,36,036/- the respondent adjusted the entire tax demand of Rs. 54,20,04,981/- excluding the interest under Section 220(2) of the Act. He also states that while 20% of the disputed amount for the Assessment Year 2017-18 was Rs. 48,54,63,006/- the respondent recovered Rs. 54,99,73,789/-.

5. Learned counsel for the petitioner relies on the judgment dated 03 rd August, 2021 passed by this Court in Eko India Financial Services Pvt Ltd vs. ACIT, WP(C) No.5819/2021 wherein under  similar circumstances the Respondents were directed to refund the amounts collected in excess of 20% of the disputed outstanding taxes to the Petitioner therein.

6. Issue notice.

7. Mr. Sunil Agarwal, learned counsel for the Revenue accepts notice. He states that he has not been able to receive instructions.

8. On perusal of the paper book, this Court finds that the issue raised in the present writ petitions is no longer res integra. This Court in Eko India Financial Services Pvt Ltd. (supra) has in a similar facts held as under:-

“….10.Having heard learned counsel for the parties, this Court is of the view that the Government is bound to follow the rules and standards they themselves had set on pain of their action being invalidated. [See: Amarjit Singh Ahluwalia vs. State of Punjab & Ors. 1975 (3) SCR 82 and Ramana Dayaram Shetty vs. International Airport Authority of India & Ors. 1979 SCR (3) 1014].

11.This Court is also of the view that the office memorandum dated 29th February, 2016 read with office memorandum dated 25th August, 2017 stipulate that the Assessing Officer shall normally grant stay of demand till disposal o