Saturday, 02, May, 2026
 
 
 
Expand O P Jindal Global University
 
  
  
 
 
 

Unknown vs The Principal Director Of Income ...
2021 Latest Caselaw 11329 Mad

Citation : 2021 Latest Caselaw 11329 Mad
Judgement Date : 20 May, 2021

Madras High Court
Unknown vs The Principal Director Of Income ... on 20 May, 2021
                                                                                WP.No.35319 of 2019



                               IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

                                               Dated: 20.05.2021

                                                      CORAM:

                                   THE HON'BLE Dr. JUSTICE ANITA SUMANTH

                                            W.P. No.35319 of 2019
                                       and WMP.Nos.36129 & 36130 of 2019

                6th Sense Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd.,
                Rep. by its Director N.Nandakumar
                No. 6 Dr.TV Naidu Road Chetpet
                Chennai 600031.                                           .. Petitioner

                                                       Vs.


                1. The Principal Director of Income Tax (Circle 2)
                   New No. 46 Old No. 108 Nungambakkam High Road
                   Chennai 600034.

                2. The Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax
                   Central Circle - 2(3) Room No.126,
                   Investigation Building 46 Mahatma Gandhi Road
                   Nungambakkam Chennai – 600034.

                3. The Deputy Director of Income Tax (INV)
                   Unit 4(1) Investigation Wing
                  (Room No. 115 1st Floor) New No. 46,
                  Old No. 108 Nungambakkam High Road
                  Chennai 600034.                                       .. Respondents


                Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying
                to Writ of Certiorari to call for the records of the 2nd Respondent culminating in


https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/
                1
                                                                                   WP.No.35319 of 2019



                the impugned notice PAN. AABCT9830H/ 2019-20 dated 29.10.2019 read with
                the notice bearing No. ITBA/ AST/ S/ 153C/ 2019-20/1018477224(1) dated
                30.09.2019 issued by the 2nd Respondent under section 153 C of the Act for AY
                2017-19 and quash the same.
                                       For Petitioner      : Mrs.L.Maithili
                                       For Respondents     : Mr.A.P.Srinivas
                                                             Senior Standing Counsel
                                                       ORDER

The petitioner in this Writ Petition is a limited company incorporated under

the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956 with the object of running a business in

the field of Software Development, Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO),

Technical Education and Development of Real Estate and other objects in

conjunction with IT/ITES businesses. It had applied to the State Industries

Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT) for allotment of a plot of land in

an Information Technology Park set up by SIPCOT at Siruseri for setting up of a

software development and KPO unit. It was allotted a property admeasuring 11.12

acres under a 99 year deed of lease dated 11.05.2005.

2. The setting up of the unit was delayed and extension of time was sought

for by the petitioner from time to time in regard to the deployment of the property

for its business. However, according to the petitioner, despite its best efforts, the

petitioner was unable to commercially exploit the premises even after a decade

from its allotment.

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/

WP.No.35319 of 2019

3. In 2016, a group of shareholders of the petitioner company belonging to

the family of Dinesh Chand Surana (‘individual’), who wished to exit the business

had offered their shares to the remaining shareholders. Since the shareholders were

not willing to increase their share-holding, the said individual undertook to find

buyers for the company, such that all existing shareholders could exit.

4. On 01.10.2016, a Board resolution was passed recording the position that

the existing shareholders resolved to exit the company and the aforesaid individual

was authorised to identify a purchaser and engage in all actions for this purpose.

According to the petitioner, the individual was not authorised to receive any

consideration towards the aforesaid arrangement, either in part or in full and his

mandate extended only to the extent of him identifying a purchaser. Thereafter

matters were to be left with the Board and SIPCOT to take forward in a proper

manner.

5. In pursuance of the above arrangement, the individual is said to have

been entrusted with the temporary custody of all original documents including the

lease deed with SIPCOT, share certificates and other documents that a prospective

purchaser may seek for the purpose of conducting due diligence. A draft

Memorandum of Undertaking (MOU) dated 22.11.2016 is also said to have been

prepared by the individual duly executed by all Directors which was blank in

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/

WP.No.35319 of 2019

regard to the details of the anticipated purchaser who was being identified by the

individual.

6. While this is so, the Director of the petitioner company who has deposed

to the affidavit filed in support of this Writ Petition received summons under

Section 131 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (in short ‘Act’) calling upon him to

appear before the Additional Deputy Director of Income Tax and it was only when

the deponent appeared that, according to him, he came to know of a search carried

out in the premises of a third party, ostensibly unconnected with this petitioner,

from whom the documents entrusted to the individual had been seized.

7. These documents constitute (i) original lease deed between SIPCOT and

the petitioner company dated 11.05.2005 (ii) allotment letter dated 16.02.2004

issued by SIPCOT in favour of the company (iii) letter of handing over of

possession dated 02.08.2005 executed by SIPCOT in favour of the petitioner

company (iv) original share certificates issued by the petitioner in favour of its

shareholders and (v) undated incomplete MOU duly executed by all Directors of

the petitioner company.

8. In the course of proceedings before the Income Tax Department, the

petitioner explained that it had nothing whatsoever to do with the third party who

had been searched. The entire narration of how the documents had come to be

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/

WP.No.35319 of 2019

entrusted to the individual and were found in his possession, had also been

explained. Certain documents and details were called for from the petitioner that,

the petitioner states were handed over. The enquiry did not proceed thereafter.

9. A warrant of provisional attachment came to be issued under Section

132(9B) attaching the land and building at S.No.76 Egatoor Village, Kanchipuram

District of an extent of 11.12 acres (property/property in question). Despite the

petitioner having objected to the same, there was neither any response nor action

taken by the respondents to lift the attachment, and hence W.P.No.14023 of 2019

came to be filed before this Court seeking a quash of the provisional attachment

order.

10. In that Writ Petition, a counter had been filed dated 19.06.2019 wherein

the Additional Deputy Director of Income Tax (Inv.) (R3 in that Writ Petition) had

stated that the seized documents could not be returned since the file was to be

handed over to the appropriate Assessing Authority for assessment proceedings to

be initiated as against the petitioner. The counter went on to state that the Writ

Petition was itself infructuous, since the provisional attachment had ceased to have

effect after the expiry of six months from the date of attachment as per Statute.

11. The counter confirmed the position that as on that date, proceedings had

yet to be initiated and that a notice under Section 153A or 153C as appropriate,

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/

WP.No.35319 of 2019

was in the offing. Pending Writ Petition, a notice under Section 153C was received

by the petitioner calling for returns for Assessment Year (AY) 2017. The notice

was dated 14.06.2019 and called for a return on or before 08.07.2019. The

petitioner, while pointing out that the time granted was short, in any event, called

attention to its earlier return filed on 27.10.2017 declaring a loss, and which had

been accepted by the Central Processing Centre (CPC) at Bangalore on

01.03.2018. It requested that the return filed earlier be treated as the return of

income to be filed in compliance of the notice under Section 153C.

12. The petitioner also requested that the satisfaction note be furnished to

the petitioner along with approval/sanction for issuance of the Section 153C

notice, notification for transfer of the petitioner’s case to the Central Circle,

statements recorded, copies of the documents claimed to have been seized from the

party, appraisal report and other relevant documents.

13. Since there was no response to the aforesaid request, the petitioner

impleaded the Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax, Central Circle (R2 in this

Writ petition) as a respondent, R5, in W.P.No.14023 of 2019. R5 filed an

additional counter dated 23.08.2019 stating that the time limit for completion of

assessment in the V.K.Sasikala group of cases (the entity subject to search under

Section 132 of the Act) was till 31.12.2019 and the proper course of action would

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/

WP.No.35319 of 2019

be for the Assessing Officer (AO) to evaluate the available materials and complete

the proceedings for assessment.

14. That Writ Petition was disposed on 13.09.2019 holding that the

attachment had lapsed by elapse of time. The Court also held that the petitioner

was not entitled for the return of seized documents and that the AO would proceed

with the assessment in accordance with law.

15. On 30.09.2019 Section 153C notices were received for AYs 2012-13,

2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18, in response to which,

the petitioner, by letter dated 09.10.2019, stated that the returns filed earlier for the

aforesaid years were being re-submitted for compliance with the present notices.

On 29.10.2019, a show cause notice came to be issued by R2 pointing out to the

recovery of certain allegedly incriminating evidence from Krishnapriya, niece of

V.K.Sasikala, indicating a cash payment made to the individual totalling Rs.86

crores, in the name of the petitioner company. The petitioner was called upon to

show cause as to why the aforesaid amount not be treated as income from other

sources in its hands. Various documents were called for.

16. The petitioner reiterated its earlier request for materials said to have

been found in the search and such materials as well as some of the statements

recorded in the course of search were furnished to it. R2, on 02.12.2019 issued an

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/

WP.No.35319 of 2019

order of provisional attachment under Section 281B. It is at that juncture that the

present Writ Petition has come to be filed, on 18.12.2019, wherein the petitioner

prays for a Writ of Certiorari quashing notices issued under Section 153C dated

30.09.2019 and show cause notice dated 29.10.2019.

17. According to the petitioner, the proceedings initiated under the

impugned notices are without jurisdiction, since there is no income escaping

assessment, which a pre-condition for the initiation of the proceedings themselves.

The petitioner would urge that the seized documents do not incriminate it in any

way and hence the respondents ought not to have commenced the present

proceedings based on those documents.

18. Though reference is made to the factual aspects of the matter, i.e., the

details of the materials seized, and the circumstances in which the documents came

to be in the possession of the individual and thereafter in the possession of the

person searched, I consciously desist from referring to either the details of the

documents or the narration in regard to the transaction itself and restrict myself to

the legal issues raised.

19. The petitioner would stress on the position that the individual had been

prohibited from receiving any amount towards the sale of the company and the

company thus disavows all relationship with such amounts. If at all such amount

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/

WP.No.35319 of 2019

had been received by the individual, the same is not liable to be assessed in the

petitioner’s hands.

20. The individual, apart from being a shareholder of the company, carries

on multiple businesses and the amounts said to be seized could well relate to any

of his business transactions. To state that the petitioner should be subjected to

assessment simply on this basis is thus wholly incorrect and improper, according

to the petitioner.

21. In counter the respondents have set out their version of the transaction

between the petitioner and the individual highlighting the aspect of escapement of

income. According to the respondents, the search initiated in the case of Surana

group of companies and connected assesses revealed documents relating to the

petitioner leading to a prima facie conclusion that cash had been received by the

individual on behalf of the company for sale of the company.

22. The counter refers to the sworn statements recorded from both factions,

ie., the faction that has filed the present Writ Petition as well as other Directors of

the company, in support of the prima facie contention that there is escapement of

income which has to be examined further by the AO in the course of assessment

proceedings. I refrain from committing to any of the factual details mentioned

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/

WP.No.35319 of 2019

therein as they pertain to on-going proceedings, and in the light of the conclusion I

have arrived at in the paragraphs to follow.

23. Having heard learned counsels, I am not in agreement with the

petitioner on this issue. The question of escapement of income from assessment or

otherwise is a matter of deduction and determination by the assessing officer based

on all relevant materials and explanations of the parties concerned. The

explanation and justification offered now by the petitioner in regard to the

documents found in the premises searched, is one that would have to be

considered by the officer to determine whether is any undisclosed income to be

brought to tax and the proper person/entity in whose hands it must be brought to

tax.

24. This is not an issue that can be looked into in a writ petition as it

involves determination of disputed facts. The challenge to assumption of

jurisdiction by the assessing officer would have to be seen in the context of

whether there has been escapement of income. The two issues are thus closely

interlinked and one cannot decide the question of jurisdiction without rendering a

finding on the aspect of escapement of income. I thus decline to interfere in the

challenge to assumption of jurisdiction, on this score.

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/

WP.No.35319 of 2019

25. The petitioner would also state that no satisfaction note, as contemplated

under Section 153C has been furnished, despite a specific request. This is a pre-

condition for the initiation of proceedings under Section 153 C in the absence of

which the entire proceedings stand vitiated. The counter filed by the respondents

in the earlier writ petition had initially stated that a notice under Section 153A/C

was in the offing. Thereafter, and pending Writ Petition, a notice dated

14.06.2019 was received by the petitioner.

26. Mr.Srinivas was directed to produce the satisfaction note and had, at the

time of admission on 20.12.2019 produced an undated document stating that the

same was the satisfaction note of the IO. Counter dated 03.03.2020 also makes

reference to the satisfaction note handed over to the petitioner on 20.12.2019 (last

line of paragraph 6 of the counter).

27. A rejoinder has been filed wherein the petitioner objects to the

satisfaction note stated to have been given to it on the ground that it does not

reveal any material or reasoning to justify the initiation of proceedings against the

petitioner. The petitioner points out that the satisfaction note that was handed over

to the petitioner when the matter had come up for admission on 20.12.2019 was

undated, does not refer to any file number and was, to top it all, unsigned. These

allegations are factually correct.

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/

WP.No.35319 of 2019

28. However, Mr.Srinivas has thereafter filed a compilation of documents

wherein the recording of satisfaction in the case of M.Sasikala on 27.08.2019 is

placed at document 1, satisfaction note relating to the petitioner dated 30.09.2019

is placed at page 7 and a satisfaction note in the case of Surana Corporation

Limited, also dated 30.09.2019, is placed at page 12. These documents filed in

typed set dated 24.09.2020 are complete and have been certified to be true copies

of the originals.

29. Under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, all that the Court is

required to look into is whether satisfaction has been recorded and the

justification/sufficiency for such satisfaction is hardly a matter that the Court

would concern itself with. The satisfaction notes recorded in both cases are

extracted below:

‘Proforma for recording satisfaction under section 153C

(To be filled by the Assessing Officer of the person referred to section 153A)

1. Name of the Group searched Smt. N.Sasikala

2. Name and PAN of the person referred Smt. Sasikala to in section 153A (PAN:AMNPS6598J) 3 Date of initiation of search in the case 09.11.2017 of the person referred to in section 153A 4 Name, address and PAN No. of the M/s.6th Sense Infrastructure person whose case action under Private Limited section 153C is proposed (PAN: AABCT9830H) 5 Specific details of the seized material Search proceedings were

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/

WP.No.35319 of 2019

on the basis of which action under conducted in the case of section 153C is proposed: Smt.Sasikala on 09.11.2017.

                                   (a) Nature of the seized material        During the search and
                                   (money/bullion/jewellery/other           seizure proceedings in the
                                   valuable article or thing/ books of      case of V.K.Sasikala Group
                                   account/ documents)                      at Room No.302, Shylee

(b) Description of the seized material Niwas Service Apartment,

(c) Address of premise/ place from Nutech Washington, Old where such material was seized. No.41, New No.76, Block –

(d) Date of seizure of such material II, 1st Main Road, CIT

(e) Particulars of the relevant Nagar, Nandanam, Chennai panchnama on 18.11.2017 various

(f) Annexure/S.No./Page number etc. incriminating materials in (particulars to be specified) the form of lease agreements, incorporation certificates, original Share certificates and Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) were seized vide annexure ANN/KGA/VKS/LS/S-2 to the Panchnama dated 18.11.2017 and incriminating materials in the form of loose sheets (page numbered 18 & 19) seized from the premises of Smt.Krishnapriya, daughter of Smt.Ilavarasi, at 181/69, Habibullah Road, T.Nagar, Chennai on 11.11.2017 vide annexure ANN/MS/KK/LS/S to the Panchanama dated 11.11.2017 which contained details of various assets purchased by Sasikala group and the consideration

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/

WP.No.35319 of 2019

paid towards them.

                          6        Relationship of the person referred in   M/s.6th Sense Infrastructure
                                   S.No.4 with the person referred to in    private Limited had involved
                                   S.No.2                                   in selling their assets
                                                                            including shares to Smt.
                                                                            V.K.Sasikala
                          7        Satisfaction of the Assessing Officer of I am satisfied for the

the person referred to in section 153A detailed reason as per the that the seized material referred to in annexure that the S.No.5 with the person referred to in incriminating S.No.4 documents/loose sheets Seized vide annexure ANN/KGA/VKS/LS/S-2 & ANN/MS/KK/LS/S which contain Original Share certificates, incorporation certificates of M/s.6th Sense infrastructure Pvt Ltd and MoU for the sale of assets and shares pertains to M/s.6th Sense infrastructure Pvt. Ltd.

                          8        Assessment Years involved                A.Y.2017-18.

                           Note:

1. Copy of relevant Panchnama may be sent at the time of handing over of the relevant seized material

2. For the purposes of this proforma, seized material includes material requisitioned under-section 132A

Name and Designation of the A.O: (Sd/-) XXXX Date : 27.08.2019 (G.Ajay Robin Singh) Place: Chennai Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax Central Circle 2(2), Chennai.

Annexure ..............

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/

WP.No.35319 of 2019

Further During the course of search proceedings at Room No.302, Shylee Niwas Service apartment, Nutech Lushington, old no.41, new no.76, block II, 1st Main Road, CIT Nagar, Nandanam, Chennai, various incriminating documents in the form of Memorandum of understandings (MOUs) and share certificates evidencing the sale of various assets of prominent business groups across Tamil Nadu as elaborated in Para was found. On perusal of the incriminating materials seized it is found that the following documents related to M/s.6th Sense infrastructure Pvt Ltd. was found and seized vide ANN/KGV/LS/S2.

Page No. Details 1-10 Financials of M/s.6th Sense Infrastructure Pvt Ltd for AY 2016-17 11-21 Financials of M/s.6th Sense Infrastructure Pvt Ltd for AY 2015-16 22-33 Copy of Memorandum of M/s.6th Sense Infrastructure Pvt Ltd. 34-45 Copy of Article of Association of M/s.6th Sense Infrastructure Pvt Ltd 46-59 Lease Deed between SIPCOT and M/s.6th sense Infrastructure Pvt Ltd.

on

11 May 2005.

60-69 Order of allotment of plot in SIPCOT for M/s.6 th Sense Infrastructure Pvt Ltd.

70-95 Original Lease Deed between SIPCOT and M/s.6th Sense Infrastructure Pvt Ltd. 11 May 2005 96 Incorporation certificate of M/s.6th Sense Infrastructure Pvt Ltd 97-102 Memorandum of Understanding for sale of equity shares of M/s.6th Sense Infrastructure Pvt Ltd. for Rs.16 Crs. Singed by Lalit Mehta Mr.A.Nanda Kumar and Dinesh Chand Surana.

103-195 Original Share Certificates of M/s.6th Sense Infrastructure Pvt Ltd

* In view of the seizure of these highly incriminating materials, Shri.Senthil was summoned once again and confronted with the seized materials. During the course of the enquiry he confirmed the seized MoUs were the ones which were executed by Smt. Sasikala with the vendors. The relevant portion of sworn statement Shri.Senthil dated 11.11.2017 is reproduced below:-

.........

Satisfaction Note u/s.153C .........

Consequently the Assessing Officer of Sasikala Group after recording satisfaction in the capacity of Assessing Officer of the searched party handed over the seized materials on 27.08.2019 to this office i.e. ACIT, Central Circle 2 (3), Chennai

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/

WP.No.35319 of 2019

which is having jurisdiction over the case of M/s.Surana Corporation Ltd and M/s.6th Sense Infrastructure Pvt Ltd as well.

........

On a complete perusal and analysis of seized materials together with the corroborative sworn statement recorded during the course of search I am satisfied that the incriminating materials seized vide annexure ANN/KGA/VKS/LS/S-2 and ANN/MS/KK/LS/S which pertains to M/s.6th Sense Infrastructe Pvt Ltd have a bearing on the determination of total income of M/s.6th Sense Infrastructure Pvt Ltd for the financial year 2016-17 relevant to assessment year 2017-18.

Accordingly notice to be issued as per the provisions of section 153C IT At for AY 2012-13 to 2018-19.

                          Date: 30.09.2019                                                   Sd/-. XXXXXXX

                                                                                         H.Mahendran, IRS
                                                                           ACIT, Central Circle 2(3), Chennai.

                                                                     *******

‘Proforma for recording satisfaction under section 153C

(To be filled by the Assessing Officer of the person referred to section 153A)

1. Name of the Group searched M/s.Surana Corporation Limited

2. Name and PAN of the person referred M/s.Surana Corporation Limited to in section 153A (PAN:AAACS31221) 3 Date of initiation of search in the case 09.11.2017 of the person referred to in section 153A 4 Name, address and PAN No. of the M/s.6th Sense Infrastructure Private person whose case action under Limited section 153C is proposed (PAN: AABCT9830H) 5 Specific details of the seized material Incriminating documents found on the basis of which action under during the search and seizure section 153C is proposed: proceedings in the case of V.K.Sasikala Group at Room No.302,

(a) Nature of the seized material Shylee Niwas Service Apartment, (money/bullion/jewellery/other Nutech Washington, Old No.41, New valuable article or thing/ books of No.76, Block –II, 1st Main Road, CIT account/ documents) Nagar, Nandanam, Chennai on

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/

WP.No.35319 of 2019

(b) Description of the seized material 18.11.2017 seized vide annexure ANN/KGA/VKS/LS/S-2 and the

(c) Address of premise/ place from incriminating materials seized from where such material was seized.

the premises of Smt.Krishnapriya,

(d) Date of seizure of such material daughter of Smt.Ilavarasi, at 181/69, Habibullah Road, T.Nagar, Chennai

(e) Particulars of the relevant on 11.11.2017 vide annexure panchnama ANN/MS/KK/LS/S.

(f) Annexure/S.No./Page number etc. (particulars to be specified) 6 Relationship of the person referred in Group concern of M/s Surana S.No.4 with the person referred to in Corporation Ltd. S.No.2 7 Satisfaction of the Assessing Officer of I am satisfied that the incriminating the person referred to in section 153A documents/loose sheets Seized vide that the seized material referred to in annexure ANN/KGA/VKS/LS/S-2 & S.No.5 with the person referred to in ANN/MS/KK/LS/S contain (1) S.No.4 Original Share certificates, Mou and (2) the details of money receipts towards sale of the property to the tune of Rs.86 crores but not entered into its regular books of accounts for the A.Y.2012-13 to 2018-19. Hence, I am satisfied that the above mentioned seized materials have a bearing on the determination of the total income of the assessee for the A.Y.2012-13 to 2018-19.

                          8        Assessment Years involved                A.Y.2012-13 to 2018-19

                          Name and Designation of the A.O:                                       (Sd/-) XXXX
                          Date : 30.09.2019                                                   (H.MAHENDRAN)
                          Place: Chennai                                    Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax
                                                                            Central Circle 2(3), Chennai.

30. The petitioner has referred to the judgment of the Supreme Court in the

case of Manisha Maheswari V. Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax and

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/

WP.No.35319 of 2019

another (289 ITR 341) wherein the Supreme Court had reiterated the necessity for

recording of satisfaction prior to transfer of files by the Investigating Officer to the

AO having jurisdiction over an assessee. In the present case, the recording of

satisfaction prior to issuance to notice dated 30.09.2019 is apparent from the

record and the argument of the petitioner to the contrary is rejected.

31. Further, in the light of the confirmation furnished now to the effect that

the satisfaction had been issued by the IO only on 30.09.2019, notice dated

14.06.2019 was evidently bad in law. According to the petitioner, this fact vitiates

all other and subsequent proceedings including the impugned notice dated

30.09.2019.

32. The satisfaction notes now placed on record make it clear that as in

June, 2019, there had been no recording of satisfaction by the IO and thus the

issuance of notice under Section 153C on 14.06.2019 was erroneous since it was

without satisfaction of the condition precedent.

33. In fact, notice dated 14.06.2019 which has been placed in the typed set

filed by petitioner at page 74 has caught Mr.Srinivas by surprise and it was only

after this argument was specifically urged by the petitioner, that additional counter

dated 11.02.2021 has come to be filed by R2 accompanied by a typed set

containing the two satisfaction notes and note for transfer of files from IO to AO.

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/

WP.No.35319 of 2019

34. The question that looms large is as to whether the issuance of notice

dated 14.06.2019 without compliance of the statutory pre-condition, would vitiate

all subsequent assessment proceedings including the impugned notice. R2, in his

reply to the petitioner’s rejoinder, reiterates that the procedure followed by the

respondents is in accordance with law.

35. There is no reference in any of the respondents’ pleadings to notice

dated 14.06.2019. The respondents thus disavow notice dated 14.06.2019 and their

case rests on the position that satisfaction notes were drawn up on 30.09.2019 and

it was only parallel and pursuant thereto that the impugned notice under Section

153C dated 30.09.2019 was issued. In this context, attention is drawn to Sections

282 and 282A of the Act as well as Rules 127 and 127A of the Income Tax Rules,

1962 (Rules) to justify the issuance of the impugned notice and to state that proper

procedure has been followed.

36. I am of the considered view that the issuance of the invalid notice

dated 14.06.2019 does not compromise the assessment proceedings as, the

invalid notice is one that does not exist in the eyes of the law and must thus be

ignored. The provisions of Section 282 deal with service of notice in general

terms and Section 282A with the authentication of notices for service by

electronic means. In this case, it is not in dispute that notice dated 30.09.2019

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/

WP.No.35319 of 2019

is a valid notice qua the provisions of Sections 282 and 282A read with Rules

127 and 127A. The issuance of notice dated 14.06.2019 does not vitiate the

impugned proceedings in any way.

37. Though the decision of the Calcutta High Court in Shrikant Mohta V.

Commissioner of Income Tax (414 ITR 270) is placed as part of the compilation, it

has not been referred to in the course of the arguments. An extract from the

Income Tax Business Application Portal is also filed, perhaps to indicate the

transition of proceedings from manual to electronic mode. However, there is no

challenge to the mode of proceedings in this matter.

38. For the aforesaid reasons, the challenge to impugned notices dated

30.09.2019 under Section 153C and show cause notice dated 29.10.2019 is

rejected. Proceedings for assessment shall continue and be concluded in

accordance with law. This Writ Petition is dismissed and connected writ

miscellaneous petitions are closed with no order as to costs.

20.05.2021

Sl

Index: Yes/No Speaking order/Non Speaking order

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/

WP.No.35319 of 2019

To

1. The Principal Director of Income Tax (Circle 2) New No. 46 Old No. 108 Nungambakkam High Road Chennai 600034.

2. The Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax Central Circle - 2(3) Room No.126, Investigation Building 46 Mahatama Gandhi Road Nungambakkam Chennai – 600034.

3. The Deputy Director of Income Tax (INV) Unit 4(1) Investigation Wing (Room No. 115 1st Floor) New No. 46, Old No. 108 Nungambakkam High Road, Chennai 600034.

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/

WP.No.35319 of 2019

Dr.ANITA SUMANTH, J.

sl

W.P. No.35319 of 2019 and WMP. Nos.36129 & 36130 of 2019

20.05.2021

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/

 
Download the LatestLaws.com Mobile App
 
 
Latestlaws Newsletter
 

Publish Your Article

 

Campus Ambassador

 

Media Partner

 

Campus Buzz

 

LatestLaws Guest Court Correspondent

LatestLaws Guest Court Correspondent Apply Now!
 

LatestLaws.com presents: Lexidem Offline Internship Program, 2026

 

LatestLaws.com presents 'Lexidem Online Internship, 2026', Apply Now!

 
 

LatestLaws Partner Event : Smt. Nirmala Devi Bam Memorial International Moot Court Competition

 
 
Latestlaws Newsletter