Punjab and Haryana High Court sets aside I-T Department's order against PCC chief

Chandigarh, December 3

Allowing a petition filed by Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today set aside an order passed by the Principal Commissioner, Income Tax. The case has been remanded back to the Principal Commissioner to decide the matter afresh on merits. The order was yet to be uploaded on the High Court website.

In his petition placed before the Bench of Justices Ajay Tewari and Pankaj Jain, Sidhu through counsel Chetan Bansal had submitted that his revision petition under the provisions of the I-T Act was dismissed by an Income Tax Joint Commissioner on flimsy and untenable grounds.

Sidhu submitted he filed income tax return of assessment year 2016-17 on October 19, 2016, declaring total income of Rs 9,66,28,470. The assessment under Section 143(3) of Income Tax Act was completed by the Assessment Officer on December 21, 2018, at the assessed income of Rs 13,19,66,530 after making addition of Rs 3,53,38,067.

Against the erroneous assessment, the petitioner expressly waived of his right to file appeal before Commissioner Income Tax (Appeal).

He filed a revision petition under Section 264 of the Act after taking various grounds before income tax joint commissioner, Range 1, Amritsar. Instead of going into the merits of the revision, his focus was to seek an explanation on the reasons behind Sidhu’s preference for revision under Section 264 of the Act instead of appeal before the Commissioner Income Tax (Appeal). — TNS