IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN AT JODHPUR
AKIL ABDUL HAMID KURESHI, MADAN GOPAL VYAS, JJ.
Shri Pal Raj Lodha And Sons Huf, Through Authorized Signatory/karta Mr. Shri Pal Lodha and Sons - Appellant
Versus
Union of India and Ors. - Respondent
D.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 1753/2022
Decided on : 03-02-2022
Finance Act, 2021- Section 148A,149 and 149(1) - Relaxation Act, 2020 – Section 3(1) - Re-assessment for assessment year - Tax escaping assessment - Petitioner has challenged notice of re-assessment for assessment year 2013-14, which notice was issued - Learned counsel for petitioner pointed out that the issues involved in petition are squarely covered by recent judgment of Division Bench in case of Sudesh Taneja v. Income Tax officer and others, in which the Division Bench in identical circumstances quashed impugned notices of re-assessment - In this context court have perused the provisions of reassessment contained in Finance Act, 2021 - Court have noticed earlier major departure that the new scheme of reassessment has made under these provisions - Time limits for issuing notice for reassessment have been changed - Concept of income chargeable to tax escaping assessment on account of failure on the part of assessee to disclose truly or fully all material facts is no longer relevant- Whether the case is fit for issuing notice under Section 148 – Held, In this context court have perused the provisions of reassessment contained in Finance Act, 2021 – Court have noticed earlier the major departure that the new scheme of reassessment has made under these provisions - Time limits for issuing notice for reassessment have been changed - Concept of income chargeable to tax escaping assessment on account of failure on the part of the assessee to disclose truly or fully all material facts is no longer relevant - As noted, two Division Benches of Allahabad and Delhi High Courts have taken similar view - As noted earlier court are conscious that Single Judge of Chhattisgarh High Court in Palak Khatuja (supra) has taken a different view - View of the High Court was that impugned notices were valid since by virtue of notifications application of Section 148 which was originally existing before amendment was deferred – Court are unable to persuade ourselves to accept this analysis of situation - In court understanding by virtue of notifications issued by CBDT substitution of reassessment provisions framed under Finance Act, 2021 were not deferred nor could they have been deferred - Date of such amendments coming into effect remained - In the result court find that the notices impugned in the respective petitions are invalid and bad in law - Same are quashed and set aside - Petition is disposed of accordingly.
JUDGMENT :
1. The petitioner has challenged the notice of re-assessment for the assessment year 2013-14, which notice was issued on 06.04.2021. Learned counsel for the petitioner pointed out that the issues involved in the petition are squarely covered by the recent judgment of the Division Bench dated 27.01.2022 in the case of Sudesh Taneja v. Income Tax officer and others [D.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 969/2022], in which the Division Bench in identical circumstances quashed the impugned notices of re-assessment making following observations:-
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