Ashok Kumar Jha v. Income Tax Officer, Ward No. 13(1), Kolkata
2024-01-02
SUPRATIM BHATTACHARYA, T.S.SIVAGNANAM
body2024
DigiLaw.ai
JUDGMENT : T.S. Sivagnanam, J. 1. This intra-Court appeal by the writ petitioner is directed against the order dated 5th June, 2023 in W.P.A. 8608 of 2023 by which the learned Single Bench declined to grant interim order and directed the respondents/department to file their affidavit-in-opposition within four weeks and the appellant was permitted to file his reply within two weeks thereafter and the matter was directed to be listed in the monthly list of August, 2023. 2. We are informed by the learned advocate for the appellant that till date the department has not filed their affidavit-in-opposition, though four weeks time was granted in the order dated 5th June, 2023. Thus, we are of the view that if during the pendency of the writ petition, without complying with the direction issued by the learned writ Court and without filing an affidavit-in-opposition, if the department proceeded to pass a reassessment order, then the challenge to the proceedings initiated under section 148A(d) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 may become infructuous. 3. Therefore, we direct that the respondents/department shall not pass the re-assessment order till the writ petition is heard. The time for filing affidavit-in-opposition as granted by the learned writ Court is extended by a period of four weeks from date; reply, thereto, if any, may be filed within a week thereafter and the writ petition be listed before the appropriate bench on 6th February, 2024. 4. With the above observations and direction, the appeal stands disposed of. 5. No costs. 6. Urgent photostat certified copy of this order, if applied for, be furnished to the parties expeditiously upon compliance of all legal formalities. I agree.- Supratim Bhattacharya, J.