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Archroma International India Private ... vs Deputy Commissioner Of Income Tax ...
2025 Latest Caselaw 6693 Bom

Citation : 2025 Latest Caselaw 6693 Bom
Judgement Date : 10 October, 2025

Bombay High Court

Archroma International India Private ... vs Deputy Commissioner Of Income Tax ... on 10 October, 2025

Author: B. P. Colabawalla
Bench: B. P. Colabawalla
   2025:BHC-OS:18666-DB


                                                                            24.os.wpl.11226.2025 (final 6.10.25).doc



                           IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
       Digitally
       signed by
       VINA
                                     ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION
VINA   ARVIND
ARVIND KHADPE
KHADPE Date:                          WRIT PETITION (L) NO.11226 OF 2025
       2025.10.13
       15:08:28
       +0530




                        Archroma International (India) Private  ..                               Petitioner
                        Limited
                        earlier known as Huntsman International
                        (India)
                        Private Limited
                        Lighthall B Wing, Saki Vihar Road,
                        Andheri East, Mumbai 400072
                        PAN : AAACH149J

                                     Versus

                    1. Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax,
                       Circle 2(1)(1)
                       Room No.561, Aayakar Bhavan,
                       M. K. Road, Churchgate, Mumbai 400020

                    2. Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax,
                       (Transfer Pricing) - 2(2)(1),
                       Room No.561, Aayakar Bhavan,
                       M. K. Road, Churchgate, Mumbai 400020

                    3 Union of India
                      Through the Secretary,
                      Ministry of Finance,
                      Govt. Of India,
                      North Block,
                      New Delhi - 110 001                                           ..          Respondents.


                      Mr. J. D. Mistry, Senior Advocate, with Mr. Paras Savla,
                      Mr. Harsh Shah, Mr. Pratik Poddar, Mr. Rajnandini Shukla,
                      Advocates for the Petitioner.


                                                            Page 1 of 26
                                                         OCTOBER 10, 2025
                    Vina Khadpe,PS




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     Ms. Sushma Nagaraj, with Mr. Abhinav Palsikar, Advocates
     for the Respondents.


                                  CORAM:         B. P. COLABAWALLA &
                                                AMIT S. JAMSANDEKAR, JJ.

Judgment Reserved On : 16th September, 2025

Judgment Pronounced On: 10th October, 2025

JUDGMENT (PER Amit Satyavan Jamsandekar, J ).

1. Rule. Rule made returnable forthwith. The Respondents

waive service. With the consent of the parties, taken up for final

hearing.

2. By the present Petition, filed under Article 226 of the

Constitution of India, 1950, the Petitioner is challenging the

inaction of the Respondents of not giving effect to the directions

dated 19th March 2020 of the Dispute Resolution Panel ("DRP")

and consequently not processing the refund claim of the Petitioner.

The directions were given by the DRP to the 1 st Respondent under

Section 144(C)(5) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 ("the Act").

OCTOBER 10, 2025 Vina Khadpe,PS

24.os.wpl.11226.2025 (final 6.10.25).doc

3. The main issue raised in the petition is the effect of not

completing the assessment within a period of one month from the

end of the month in which the Assessing Officer receives such

directions from the DRP under Section 144(C) (5) of the Act.

According to the Petitioner, if the Assessing Officer fails to

complete the assessment within the time frame as prescribed by

Section 144 (C) (13), the transfer pricing addition ought to be

treated as non est on the ground that it becomes time barred.

4. The facts and circumstances relating to the dispute, which is

the subject matter of the present Petition, are as follows:-

(i) The Petitioner filed its Return of Income for AY 2010-

2011 on 14th October, 2010. In the said Return of

Income, the Petitioner declared its total income as

Rs.78,58,40,928.00. The Petitioner claimed a refund of

Rs.3,32,90,793.00 arising out of (a) tax deducted at

source of Rs.60,49,110.00; and (b) advance tax paid of

Rs. 29,51,10,000.00.

(ii) The Return of Income filed by the Petitioner was

selected for a scrutiny assessment under Section 143(2)

OCTOBER 10, 2025 Vina Khadpe,PS

24.os.wpl.11226.2025 (final 6.10.25).doc

of the Act. The order to that effect was passed on 21 st

September, 2011.

(iii) During the assessment proceedings, a reference was

made to the 2nd Respondent, to determine the Arm's

length price of the international transactions entered

into by the Petitioner. The transfer pricing proceedings

culminated in an order dated 28 th January, 2014, under

Section 92CA(3) of the Act. By the said order, the 2 nd

Respondent proposed a transfer pricing adjustment of

Rs.5,26,86,111.00, which was concerning the

'Corporate Service Charges'.

(iv) On 26th February, 2014, the Petitioner filed a submission

before the 1st Respondent, by which the Petitioner

claimed depreciation on intangibles and challenged the

disallowance made under Section 14(A) of the Act. The

Petitioner further claimed depreciation on goodwill.

(v) Thereafter, on 12th March, 2014, the 1st Respondent

issued a draft assessment order under Section 144 C (1)

of the Act. By the draft assessment order, the 1 st

Respondent computed the total income at

Rs.89,46,03,871/- as against the Return of Income of

OCTOBER 10, 2025 Vina Khadpe,PS

24.os.wpl.11226.2025 (final 6.10.25).doc

Rs.78,58,40,928/-. By the draft assessment order dated

12th March, 2014, the 1st Respondent proposed

additional disallowances to the Petitioner's Return of

Income. By the draft assessment order, the 1 st

Respondent also did not allow a depreciation claim on

goodwill, which was made by the petitioner vide the

letter dated 26th February, 2014.

(vi) The Petitioner, being aggrieved by the draft assessment

order dated 12th March, 2014, filed its objections before

the DRP under Section 144 C (2) of the Act. The

Petitioner also filed additional grounds of

challenge/objections to the draft assessment order

before the DRP.

(vii) On 13th November, 2014, the DRP provided its

directions in accordance with the provisions of Section

144 C (5) of the Act. The DRP, in its directions, allowed

the depreciation on goodwill claimed by the Petitioner.

Further, the DRP directed the Assessing Officer to give

effect to the direction as per the provisions of Section

144 C (13) of the Act.

OCTOBER 10, 2025 Vina Khadpe,PS

24.os.wpl.11226.2025 (final 6.10.25).doc

(viii) Thereafter, the 1st Respondent, on 31st December, 2014,

passed the final assessment order, under Sections 144

(3) read with 144(C) (13) of the Act and determined the

Petitioner's income as Rs.89,46,03,871/-.

(ix) It was the case of the Petitioner that the 1 st Respondent

erred in not following the directions issued by the DRP

on 13th November, 2014, by which the DRP allowed the

depreciation on goodwill. Therefore, the Petitioner, on

18th December, 2015, filed an Appeal before the Mumbai

Bench of Income-Tax Appellate Tribunal, Mumbai, and

challenged the final assessment order dated 31 st

December, 2014, passed by the 1st Respondent.

(x) The Tribunal decided the Appeal filed by the Petitioner

on 18.12.2015. As far as the transfer pricing adjustment

of Rs.5,26,86,111.00 is concerned, the Tribunal

remanded the matter back to the file of the DRP for

fresh adjudication. The remand was following the

precedent adopted in the Petitioner's own case of

earlier Assessment Year i.e. A.Y. 2009 & 2010. The

Tribunal directed the DRP to pass a speaking and

reasoned order after affording a reasonable opportunity

OCTOBER 10, 2025 Vina Khadpe,PS

24.os.wpl.11226.2025 (final 6.10.25).doc

of being heard to the Petitioner. Thus, the petitioner's

ground concerning the erroneous disallowance of the

corporate service charge was treated as allowed by the

tribunal for statistical purposes. Further, the Tribunal

allowed the Petitioner's claim of depreciation on

intangibles. It also allowed the Petitioner's claim for

depreciation on goodwill and directed the 1 st

Respondent to follow the directions of the DRP

regarding the claim. The Tribunal further deleted the

disallowance under Section 14 (A) of the Act and also

allowed payment under Section 43 (B) of the Act. Thus,

the Appeal of the Petitioner was partly allowed.

(xi) The 1st Respondent, being aggrieved by the decision of

the Tribunal dated 18th December, 2015, filed an Appeal

bearing No. Income Tax Appeal No.1619 of 2016 before

this Court. The said Appeal came to be admitted by this

Hon'ble Court on 30th January, 2019.

(xii) Thereafter, the 1st Respondent passed an order on 2 nd

August, 2019, by which the 1 st Respondent gave effect

to the Tribunal's order dated 18 th December, 2015, and

determined the Petitioner's income at

OCTOBER 10, 2025 Vina Khadpe,PS

24.os.wpl.11226.2025 (final 6.10.25).doc

Rs.77,55,27,905.00, and a refund payable as of

Rs.1,81,35,950.00. It is the case of the Petitioner that,

the order passed by the 1st Respondent on 2nd August,

2019, granted relief on all issues which were decided in

favour of the Petitioner. However, the order did not

reduce the taxable income by the transfer pricing

adjustment of Rs. 5,26,86,111.00.

(xiii) In the meanwhile, the DRP issued fresh directions to

the Transfer Pricing Officer ("TPO") on 19 th March,

2020. The DRP issued these directions in the remand

proceedings, which were ordered by the Tribunal on

18th December, 2015, in an Appeal filed by the

Petitioner.

(xiv) The DRP, by its directions dated 19 th March, 2020,

directed the Assessing Officer / TPO to re-examine the

corporate service charges on the lines of its directions

for AY 2014-2015. The operative part of the DRP

directions dated 19th March, 2020, reads as follows:

"3.3Since, the facts of the case are similar in nature, the A.O./T.P.O. is directed to re-examine the corporate service

OCTOBER 10, 2025 Vina Khadpe,PS

24.os.wpl.11226.2025 (final 6.10.25).doc

charges (Rs.5,71,27,337/-) segment-wise on the same lines as above, and allow that part of the same which is found acceptable based on the applicability of arms's length principle. The objections are disposed off accordingly."

(emphasis supplied)

5. In this background, Mr. Mistry, the Learned Senior Counsel

appearing on behalf of the Petitioner, submitted that the 1 st

Respondent was required to pass a final assessment order as

mandated by the provisions of Section 144 (C) (13) of the Act, in

conformity with the directions issued by the DRP on 19 th March,

2020. He further submitted that the requirements of Section 144

(C) (13) is that the final assessment order ought to be passed

within one month from the end of the month in which the 1 st

Respondent receives such directions. Mr. Mistry further submitted

that the 1st Respondent did not follow the mandate of Section 144

(C) (13) and, therefore, the Petitioner, by its letter dated 5 th

August, 2020, requested the 1st Respondent to give effect to the

directions of the DRP passed on 19 th March, 2020. Mr. Mistry

submitted that after the letter dated 5 th August, 2020, the

OCTOBER 10, 2025 Vina Khadpe,PS

24.os.wpl.11226.2025 (final 6.10.25).doc

representative of the Petitioner constantly followed up on the

matter and visited the office of the 1 st Respondent on several

occasions to ascertain the status of the pending proceedings.

6. Mr. Mistry has drawn our attention to the statement made in

paragraph 19 of the petition, where the Petitioner has stated that

during their visits to the office of the 1 st Respondent, the officer

assured the authorised representative of the Petitioner that the

issues concerning the specific assessment year in question would

soon be taken up for consideration. Mr. Mistry also took us

through the dates, which are drawn on the basis of internal

records of the Petitioner, on which the representatives of the

Petitioner visited the office of the 1 st Respondent. According to the

Petitioner, there was no response from the 1 st Respondent.

Therefore, on 12th August, 2024, the Petitioner, by its letter,

requested the 1st Respondent to declare the second round of

proceedings for giving effect to the DRP's directions dated 19 th

March, 2020, as barred by limitation. On 5 th September, 2024, the

Petitioner sent a reminder to the 1 st Respondent once again

requesting that the proceedings that was to be given effect as per

OCTOBER 10, 2025 Vina Khadpe,PS

24.os.wpl.11226.2025 (final 6.10.25).doc

the DRP's directions dated 19 th March, 2020, be declared as

barred by limitation, and that the taxes paid in excess of the

amount payable ought to be refunded to the Petitioner along with

applicable interest. The Petitioner sent similar reminders on 24 th

December, 2024, 16th January, 2025, and 28th February 2025.

7. Mr. Mistry, the Learned Senior Counsel, submitted that

Section 144 (C) (13) of the Act has a strict timeline and the

timeline provided by the provisions of Section 144 (C) (13) of the

Act are mandatory. The 1st Respondent does not have discretion to

deviate from the strict timeline provided by the Section. The 1 st

Respondent ought to complete the assessment, that too in

conformity with the directions of the DRP, within one month from

the end of the month in which such direction is received. He

submitted that, as per the scheme of the Act, the only step which

remains after the DRP gives the directions under section 144 C (5)

of the Act is to give effect to the same within the time limit as

provided by Section 144 C (13) of the Act. Mr. Mistry further

submitted that if this timeline, as provided by the Section, is not

abided by the 1st Respondent, and if the directions of the DRP are

OCTOBER 10, 2025 Vina Khadpe,PS

24.os.wpl.11226.2025 (final 6.10.25).doc

not given effect to by the 1 st Respondent, then the proceedings

ought to be treated as barred by limitation and the consequences

must follow. He submitted that, in the present case, as a

consequence, the Petitioner is entitled to a refund of the excess

taxes paid by the Petitioner.

8. Mr. Mistry, the Learned Senior Counsel, also submitted that

by virtue of the scheme of Section 144(C) and the applicable

provisions of Section 153, the entire proceedings from the

beginning are vitiated.

9. Mr. Mistry also drew our attention to the decisions in Roca

Bathroom Products (P) Ltd. Vs. Dispute Resolution Panel-2,

Bangalore [2021] 127 Taxman.com 332, passed by the learned

Single Judge of the Madras High Court, and Commissioner of

Income Tax Vs. Roca Bathroom Products (P.) Ltd, [2022] 140

Taxman.com 304, passed by the Division Bench of the Madras

High Court, and also decision of this Hon'ble Court in Shelf

Drilling Ron Tappmeyet Ltd. Vs. Assistant Commissioner of

Income Tax (International Taxation), [2023 SCC Online Bom

OCTOBER 10, 2025 Vina Khadpe,PS

24.os.wpl.11226.2025 (final 6.10.25).doc

1589]. He submitted that, in the case of Shelf Drilling Ron

Tappmeyer Ltd., [Bombay], this Hon'ble High Court has

considered both the decisions delivered in Roca Bathroom

Products (P) Ltd. passed by the Single Judge and the Division

Bench of the Madras High Court.

10. Mr. Mistry submitted that the decision of this court in Shelf

Drilling Ron Tappmeyer Ltd. was the subject matter of

challenge before the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Asst.

Commissioner of Income Tax Vs. Shelf Drilling Ron

Tappmeyer Ltd. [SLP/20569 - 20572/2023 dated 8/8/2025].

In that case, the Hon'ble Supreme Court has dealt with the issues

concerning the interpretation of Section 144 (C) and 153 of the

Act and the timelines provided therein. Her Ladyship Justice

Nagarathna J. in her judgment dated 8 th August, 2025 in Shelf

Drilling Ron Tappmeyer Ltd. has framed the issue in the

following words:

"2.2 ...The question which falls for our consideration is on the applicability of Section 153 to a proceeding under Section 144 C of the act namely, whether the period of eleven months as envisaged under Section 144 C of the Act should be over and above the limitation period

OCTOBER 10, 2025 Vina Khadpe,PS

24.os.wpl.11226.2025 (final 6.10.25).doc

prescribed, particularly, under section 153 (1) or (3), as the case may be. In other words, whether the time consumed for concluding the proceeding under section 144 C has to be subsumed within the limitation prescribed under section 153 (1) or (3) or as the case may be."

The Bench of two Hon'ble Judges of the Supreme court have

delivered a split verdict in Shelf Drilling Ron Tappmeyer Ltd.

on the above issue. The larger bench to decide the issues has not

yet been constituted, and therefore, the issue is still pending

before the Hon'ble Supreme Court.

11. Mr Mistry further submitted that all the above-referred

Judgments and the issues which are pending before the Hon'ble

Supreme Court are larger issues about the interpretation of

Sections 144(C) and 153 of the Act and the timelines provided

therein. He submitted that, in the present case, the larger

interpretation of Sections 144(C) and 153 of the Act is not the

subject matter.

12. However, he submitted that his submissions relating to the

larger issue of interpretation of Section 144 C and that of Section

OCTOBER 10, 2025 Vina Khadpe,PS

24.os.wpl.11226.2025 (final 6.10.25).doc

153 of the Act be kept open, and his submissions only on the

mandate of Section 144 (C) (13) of the Act, and more particularly

the timeline given in the Section, be considered for deciding the

present matter.

13. Ms. Nagaraj, appearing on behalf of the Revenue, submitted

that the timelines under Section 144 (C) (13) of the Act would not

be applicable in the facts and circumstances of the present case.

According to the Revenue, if the DRP passes directions in a matter

that was the subject of remand and if the directions are passed in

the second round, then the timelines provided under Section

144(C)(13) of the Act are not applicable. Therefore, according to

the revenue, the 1st Respondent is not bound to complete the

assessment within one month from the end of the month in which

such directions are received. He further submitted that the 1 st

Respondent is in the process of completing the assessment.

According to the revenue, not passing the final assessment order

within the time frame provided by the Section, does not vitiate the

proceedings, and the same cannot be treated as time barred. Ms.

Nagaraj further submitted that the larger issue of interpretation of

OCTOBER 10, 2025 Vina Khadpe,PS

24.os.wpl.11226.2025 (final 6.10.25).doc

Section 144 C and that of Section 153 of the Act relating to the

timelines is pending before the Hon'ble supreme Court in Asst.

Commissioner of Income Tax Vs. Shelf Drilling Ron

Tappmeyer Ltd. [SLP/20569 - 20572/2023 dated 8/8/2025].

Therefore, reliance ought not to be placed on the decisions of this

Court in Shelf Drilling Ron Tappmeyer Ltd. (Supra) or that of

the Madras High Court in Roca Bathroom Products (P) Ltd.

(Supra). In any case, Ms. Nagaraj submitted that the 1 st

Respondent is in the process of completing the assessment as per

the provisions of Section 144 C (13) of the Act.

14. We have considered the above submissions made on behalf of

the Petitioner and the Revenue.

15. There is no dispute about the facts, circumstances, and the

sequence of events and communications addressed by the

Petitioner to the 1st Respondent. Admittedly, directions were given

by the DRP in the second round of proceedings on 19 th March,

2020. The 1st Respondent has received the directions of the DRP,

and there is no dispute even on this aspect.

OCTOBER 10, 2025 Vina Khadpe,PS

24.os.wpl.11226.2025 (final 6.10.25).doc

16. Thus, the core issue revolves around whether the transfer

pricing addition of Rs. 5,26,86,111.00 should be treated as non-est

on the ground that the proceedings to give effect to the DRP's

directions dated 19th March, 2020, are now barred by limitation.

17. As rightly submitted by Mr. Mistry, we are concerned with a

limited issue of Section 144 (C) (13), which is the timeline

provided by the Section and the consequence of not giving effect

to the DRP directions within a period of one month from the end of

the month in which such direction is received. Therefore, we have

not considered any of the above referred judgments of the Learned

Single Judge or the Division bench of the Mardras high Court or

the judgment of this Court in Shelf Drilling (supra) which are

the subject matter of split judgment in Asst. Commissioner of

Income Tax Vs. Shelf Drilling Ron Tappmeyer Ltd.

[SLP/20569 - 20572/2023 dated 8/8/2025]. The issue being

that only of interpretation of section 144 C (13), we have

independently analysed and interpreted the same and kept the

argument of Mr. Mistry on the larger issue of the timelines arising

out of Section 153 and 144 C of the Act and its interpretation

OCTOBER 10, 2025 Vina Khadpe,PS

24.os.wpl.11226.2025 (final 6.10.25).doc

expressly open. Therefore, we have confined our analysis and

findings only to the interpretation of Section 144 (C) (13) of the

Act for the purpose of deciding the present matter.

18. In the scheme of Section 144 C, the procedure begins with

Sub Section (1) of Section 144 C. It requires the Assessing Officer

to forward a draft assessment order to the eligible assessee [as

defined in Section 144 C (15) (b)] in case he proposes to make, on

or after the 1st October, 2009, any variation which is prejudicial to

the interest of such assessee.

Section 144 C (1) reads as follows:

"144 C (1) The Assessing Officer shall, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Act, in the first instance, forward a draft of the proposed order of assessment (hereafter in this section referred to as the draft order) to the eligible assessee if he proposes to make, on or after the 1st day of October, 2009, any variation which is prejudicial to the interest of such assessee."

19. Admittedly, the petitioner being an eligible assessee, the 1 st

Respondent sent a draft assessment order to the Petitioner on 12 th

March, 2014. Once the Assessing officer invokes the provisions of

Section 144 C (1), then the assessee on the receipt of the draft

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24.os.wpl.11226.2025 (final 6.10.25).doc

order has two options under Section 144C(2); i) file his

acceptance of the variations to the Assessing officer; or ii) file his

objections, if any, to such variations either with the DRP or the

Assessing officer.

20. Section 144 C (2) reads as follows:

"144 C (2) On receipt of the draft order, the eligible assessee shall, within thirty days of the receipt by him of the draft order,--

(a) file his acceptance of the variations to the Assessing Officer; or

(b) file his objections, if any, to such variation with,--

(i) the Dispute Resolution Panel; and

(ii) the Assessing Officer."

21. In the present case, the Petitioner filed its objections with the

DRP. Therefore, the provisions of Section 144 C (5) were triggered.

Section 144 C (5) reads as follows:

"144 C (5) The Dispute Resolution Panel shall, in a case where any objection is received under sub- section (2), issue such directions, as it thinks fit, for the guidance of the Assessing Officer to enable him to complete the assessment."

22. Section 144C also mandates a further step which is

required to be taken after the proceedings under Section

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24.os.wpl.11226.2025 (final 6.10.25).doc

144 (C) (5) of the Act are over. That further step is

provided for in Section 144 (C) (13) of the Act, which

reads as follows :-

"144 C (13) Upon receipt of the directions issued under sub-section (5), the Assessing Officer shall, in conformity with the directions, complete, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in section 153 or section 153B, the assessment without providing any further opportunity of being heard to the assessee, within one month from the end of the month in which such direction is received" (emphasis supplied).

23. The requirements of Section 144 C (13) are:

(a) There ought to be directions passed by the DRP as per sub-section (5) of Section 144(C);

(b) The directions passed by the DRP under Section 144 C (5) ought to be received by the Assessing Officer;

(c) It casts a burden on the Assessing officer by the mandatory language of the Section to complete the assessment; And

(d) That the Assessing Officer ought to complete the assessment within one month from the end of the month in which such direction of the DRP is received.

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24.os.wpl.11226.2025 (final 6.10.25).doc

24. The language of Section 144 C (13) is clear, unambiguous

and mandatory. It provides a mechanism for the steps that must

be taken after proceedings under subsection (5) of Section 144(C)

are completed. The mechanism envisaged under the section has a

strict timeline, which cannot be deviated from by the Assessing

Officer. The words used by Section 144 C (13) reads as "the

Assessing Officer shall, in conformity with the directions,

complete, ..., the assessment without providing any further

opportunity of being heard to the assessee,..." (emphasis

supplied). Therefore, the Assessing officer ought to complete the

assessment and that too in conformity with the directions given by

the DRP under sub-section (5) of Section 144(C) of the Act. The

word 'shall' in the Section makes the provision mandatory.

25. Further, the Section also has a non obstante clause, and by

that clause, it excludes the application of Section 153 or 153 B of

the Act from the ambit of limitation provided by Section 144(C)

(13). Thus, for the purpose of compliance of the provisions of

Section 144(C) (13), the provisions of Sections 153 or 153 B are

expressly excluded.

OCTOBER 10, 2025 Vina Khadpe,PS

24.os.wpl.11226.2025 (final 6.10.25).doc

26. Therefore, by clear language of Section 144(C) (13) of the

Act, the 1st Respondent ought to have completed the assessment

order within a period of one month from the end of the month in

which such direction of the DRP is received. We agree with the

submissions of Mr. Mistry that the Assessing Office does not have

any discretion after the DRP issues directions under section 144

(5), and he cannot deviate from the procedure envisaged under the

Section. In the present case, despite repeated reminders, the 1 st

Respondent has not completed the assessment in conformity with

the directions of the DRP, as passed on 19th March 2020.

27. As far as the submission of the Revenue is concerned, that

the provisions of the Act, and in particular Section 144 (C) (13), do

not prescribe a specific time limit for the 1 st Respondent to

complete the assessment within the specified time when the case

is of a remand by the Tribunal is concerned, we are of the view

that the submission is not sustainable in view of the clear and

unambiguous language of Section 144(C)(13) of the Act. If the

submission of the Revenue is accepted, then the entire scheme

and mandate of Section 144(C)(13) of the Act will be made

OCTOBER 10, 2025 Vina Khadpe,PS

24.os.wpl.11226.2025 (final 6.10.25).doc

redundant. The Act does not make any distinction between

ordinary cases and cases on remand. The provisions of Section

144(C)(13) apply equally to both situations.

28. Therefore, 1st Respondent cannot act beyond the mandate of

Section 144 (C) (13) and also contrary to the directions given by

the DRP in sub-section (5) of Section 144 (C) of the Act. The

reason being, Section 144(C)(13) mandates that the 1 st

Respondent ought to complete the assessment in conformity

with the direction of the DRP, that too within the strict timelines.

Further, Section 144 C (10) makes a clear provision that the

directions of the DRP are binding on the Assessing Officer. Section

144 C (10) reads as follows:

"144 C (10) Every direction issued by the Dispute

Resolution panel shall be binding on the Assessing

officer."

29. Further, in the present case, the directions passed by the

DRP on 19th March, 2020, also include the direction to the 1 st

Respondent that the 1st Respondent shall give effect to the

OCTOBER 10, 2025 Vina Khadpe,PS

24.os.wpl.11226.2025 (final 6.10.25).doc

directions of the DRP as per the provisions of Section 144(C)(13)

of the Act.

30. The scheme of the Section clearly provides that the Assessing

Officer is bound by the directions and he has to complete the

assessment within the timelines provided by the Section. The

reason for imposing a strict timeline in the Section is that the

Assessing Officer must follow the directions issued by the DRP,

which are provided for his guidance in completing the assessment.

It is a settled principle of law that, where a statute requires

something to be done in a particular manner, it has to be done in

that manner. The statutory provisions cannot be waived or

deviated from. If the argument of the Revenue is accepted, then

we will have to omit the mandatory provision from Section 144

(13) while reading the Section. Such a route of interpretation is

not permissible. All the words in the statute will have to be read

and given a meaning.

31. Therefore, we reject the submission of the Revenue that in

case of remand proceedings, the timelines provided by Section 144

OCTOBER 10, 2025 Vina Khadpe,PS

24.os.wpl.11226.2025 (final 6.10.25).doc

C (13) are not applicable and the assessment can be completed

beyond the time limits provided by the section.

32. In view thereof, it is clear that the proceedings pending

before the 1st Respondent concerning the transfer pricing addition

of Rs.5,26,86,111.00 are barred by limitation and now outside the

purview of Section 144(C)(13) of the Act. The 1 st Respondents

cannot now invoke the provisions of Section 144 (C) (13) of the Act

and complete the assessment because the time frame mandated by

the Section has already expired. It is accordingly so declared.

33. Consequently, the transfer pricing adjustment of

Rs.5,26,86,111.00 is treated as non est and ordered accordingly.

The 1st Respondent is ordered and directed to recompute the

Petitioner's total income for the AY 2010-2011 by excluding the

transfer pricing adjustment of Rs.5,26,86,111.00. The refund,

along with the statutory interest under Section 244(A) of the Act, if

any, shall be paid to the Petitioner within eight weeks from the

date of uploading of this order on the High Court's Website.

OCTOBER 10, 2025 Vina Khadpe,PS

24.os.wpl.11226.2025 (final 6.10.25).doc

34. Rule is made absolute in the above terms and the Writ

Petition is also disposed of in the terms thereof. However, there

shall be no order as to costs.

35. Though we have disposed of the Writ Petition, we place it on

Board for reporting compliance on 15th December, 2025.

36. This order will be digitally signed by the Private Secretary/

Personal Assistant of this Court. All concerned will act on

production by fax or email of a digitally signed copy of this order.

[AMIT S. JAMSANDEKAR, J.] [B. P. COLABAWALLA, J.]

OCTOBER 10, 2025 Vina Khadpe,PS

 
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