[Cites 1, Cited by 0]
Bombay High Court
Raju Namdeo Kekan vs Income Tax Officer Ward 14 (1) Pune And ... on 13 January, 2026
Author: B. P. Colabawalla
Bench: B. P. Colabawalla
2026:BHC-AS:1689-DB
11-WP(ST)-898-2026.doc
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
WRIT PETITION (ST) NO. 898 OF 2026
Raju Namdeo Kekan .. Petitioner
Versus
Income Tax Officer;
Ward 14(1), Pune and Ors. .. Respondents
Adv. Venkatesh Shinde, for the Petitioner.
Adv. Akhileshwar Sharma, for the Respondents-Revenue.
CORAM: B. P. COLABAWALLA &
FIRDOSH P. POONIWALLA, JJ.
DATE: JANUARY 13, 2026
P. C.
1. Rule. Respondents waive service. With the consent of the
parties, Rule made returnable forthwith and heard finally.
2. The above Writ Petition interalia challenges the Notice issued
under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 on various grounds. One of
the grounds is that the Notice has been issued by the Jurisdictional Assessing
Officer when the law mandates that it has to be issued by the Faceless
Assessing Officer. This is a fatal defect and therefore the Notice has to be
quashed, is the argument of the Petitioner.
JANUARY 13, 2026
Darshan Patil
11-WP(ST)-898-2026.doc
3. It is the Petitioner's contention that this issue is squarely covered
by a decision of a Division Bench of this Court in the case of Hexaware
Technologies Ltd. V/s. Assistant Commissioner of Income-tax,
circle 15(1)(2)[(2024) 162 taxmann.com 225 (Bombay)].
4. On the other hand, the learned advocate appearing on behalf of
the Revenue stated that though it is true that this issue is concluded by the
decision in Hexaware Technologies Ltd. (supra), the said decision has been
challenged before the Hon'ble Supreme Court, and the Hon'ble Supreme
Court is likely to take up the matter shortly. The learned Counsel for the
Revenue has fairly stated that there is no stay to the judgment in Hexaware
Technologies Ltd (supra).
5. Considering these facts, we do not propose to keep the matter
pending in this Court. Once it is fully covered by the decision in Hexaware
Technologies Ltd (supra) we are bound to follow it.
6. We accordingly set aside the impugned Notice issued under
Section 148 and all other proceedings / orders emanating therefrom.
JANUARY 13, 2026
Darshan Patil
11-WP(ST)-898-2026.doc
7. We however grant liberty to the Revenue to revive the above Writ
Petition in the event the decision in Hexaware Technologies Ltd (supra) is
set aside by the Hon'ble Supreme Court on this issue. We make it clear that it
will not be necessary for the Revenue to file a separate Interim Application to
seek a revival of this Petition and the same can be done simply by moving a
Praecipe before this Court. It is further ordered that in the event the above
Petition is revived, there will be a stay to the operation and implementation
of the impugned notice issued under Section 148 until further orders. It is
needless to clarify that if the Hon'ble Supreme Court dismisses the SLP
challenging the decision in Hexaware Technologies Ltd (supra), there would
be no question of any revival.
8. We also make it clear that once the Petition is revived and
restored, the same would have to be decided on its own merits considering
that several other issues are also raised challenging the Notice issued under
Section 148.
9. Rule is accordingly made absolute and the Writ Petition is also
disposed of in terms thereof. However, there shall be no order as to costs.
JANUARY 13, 2026
Darshan Patil
11-WP(ST)-898-2026.doc
10. 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.
[FIRDOSH P. POONIWALLA, J.] [B. P. COLABAWALLA, J.]
JANUARY 13, 2026
Darshan Patil
Signed by: Darshan Patil
Designation: PA To Honourable Judge
Date: 16/01/2026 11:15:19
