Case Law Details
Sudhir Kumar Hasija Vs ACIT (Madras High Court)
The main contention of the learned counsel for the petitioner is that the prosecution itself has been launched under the wrong premise that the petitioner has not filed his return, but the fact remains that the petitioner was issued with two Pan cards bearing numbers AKKPS7295P and ALIPS4185M inadvertently. Learned counsel further submits that as far as the second Pan card bearing No. ALIPS4185M, which is subject matter of prosecution is concerned, he has not transacted anything and he has already surrendered the said pan card and also obtained an acknowledgment from the Income Tax Authorities. It is further submitted that the petitioner has filed income tax return in respect of PAN No. AKKPS7295P without any default including the Income Tax returns for the Assessment year 2013-14. Hence, it is submitted that when the petitioner has already paid tax, merely because there are two pan numbers allotted to the petitioner, he cannot be prosecuted.
Admittedly, the issuances of two PAN cards bearing numbers AKKPS7295P and ALIPS4185M is not disputed. Though apply for two PAN cards many not be correct, the fact remains that it is the duty of the Department to verify and issue PAN cards, which has not been done in this case. Be that as it may, a perusal of the records available on record reveals that the petitioner has been repeatedly making request for surrender of second PAN card and finally surrendered the same and also obtained acknowledgment vide letter dated 10.02.2012. Now the prosecution has been launched on the premise that the petitioner has not even paid tax for the Assessment year 2013-14. This Court is of the view that when the petitioner has already surrendered the PAN card bearing No. bearing number ALIPS4185M, the question of initiating prosecution for wilful and deliberate default to furnish return of income tax does not arise and the continuation of prosecution as against the petitioner is a futile exercise and the same is liable to be quashed.
FULL TEXT OF THE JUDGMENT/ORDER OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
This petition has been filed to quash the proceedings in E.O.C.C.No.223 of 2016 pending on the file of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Economic Offences-I, Egmore, Chennai for the offences under Sections 276CC, 276C(1) and 276C(2) of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
Please become a Premium member. If you are already a Premium member, login here to access the full content.
