Aman Pathak Vs Chief Income Tax Commissioner (Patna High Court)
In a significant ruling, the Patna High Court recently dismissed a writ petition filed by Aman Pathak challenging the Income Tax Department’s decision to disqualify his bid for leasing office space. The court upheld the evaluation process conducted by the Building Hiring Committee, concluding that the petitioner’s technical bid did not meet the necessary criteria.
The case centers around a dispute concerning the lease of office space to the Income Tax Department in Ara, Bihar. The petitioner, Aman Pathak, inherited a property that had been leased to the Income Tax Department since 1999. Over the years, the lease agreements were renewed multiple times, with the most recent extension set to expire on March 31, 2024.
In February 2024, the Income Tax Department issued a notice inviting bids for leasing office space in Ara. The petitioner submitted his technical and financial bids, hoping to continue the lease arrangement. However, on April 19, 2024, the Building Hiring Committee, chaired by the Additional Commissioner of Income Tax, informed Pathak that his bid had been disqualified based on the evaluation of the technical bid.
Pathak subsequently filed a writ petition challenging the disqualification notice, arguing that the Income Tax Department had unjustly disqualified his bid without providing clear reasons. He further contended that the Department’s decision to vacate his premises after 24 years of occupancy was arbitrary and lacked transparency.
