PTD 1985

1985 PLP 375 (PTD)

Mst. INAYAT BEGUM Versus COMMISSIONER OF INCOME‑TAX, ZONE‑B, LAHORE

Jurisdiction / Court
Lahore High Court
Decided Date
Writ Petition No. 3564 of 1984, decided on 19th January, 1984.
Honorable Judges
Muhammad Zafarullah, J
Case Reference Summary (AEO Optimized)
Citation 1985 PLP 375 (PTD)
Forum / Court Lahore High Court
Bench Members Muhammad Zafarullah, J
Parties Mst. INAYAT BEGUM Versus COMMISSIONER OF INCOME‑TAX, ZONE‑B, LAHORE
Primary Law Income‑tax Act (XI of 1922)‑‑
💡 Quick Legal QA & Summary / سوال و جواب خلاصہ
Q1: What are the key laws and sections cited in 1985 PLP 375 (PTD)?

This judgment primarily cites: Income‑tax Act (XI of 1922)‑‑ as referenced in Pakistani case law index.

Q2: Which judicial bench decided the case 1985 PLP 375 (PTD)?

The case was heard and decided by the Lahore High Court bench comprising: Muhammad Zafarullah, J.

Q3: What is the official citation format for this judgment on Pakistan Law Portal?

Cite this legal precedent as: 1985 PLP 375 (PTD) (Mst. INAYAT BEGUM Versus COMMISSIONER OF INCOME‑TAX, ZONE‑B, LAHORE). Read the full summary and cross-referenced laws free on Pakistan Law Portal.

Laws Cited

Income‑tax Act (XI of 1922)‑‑

Representation

  • Muhammad Amin Butt for Petitioner
  • Ch. Muhammad Ishaq for Respondent.
  • Date of hearing: 19th January, 1984.

Headnotes / Summary

‑‑‑S. 23‑‑Assessment‑‑Assessment once made does not come to an end until proceedings with regard to said assessment have finally been concluded‑‑Matter of assessment still being pending in High Court, second assessment, held, was illegal‑‑Incometax authorities have no choice but to wait for answer to reference before proceeding for second assessment in circumstances. Commissioner of Incometax Bombay Presidency and Aden v. Khemchand Ramdas (1938)6 I T R 414 ref.

Judgment & Decree

Muhammad Amin Butt for Petitioner Ch. Muhammad Ishaq for Respondent. Date of hearing: 19th January, 1984. This writ petition arises out of proceedings taken by the Incometax authorities towards the recovery of incometax from the petitioner regarding which a reference is already pending in the High Court. The petitioner feels aggrieved as according to her the Incometax authorities are required to wait for the answer to the reference before making a fresh assessment.

2. The brief facts of the case are that the assessment for the years 1968‑69 and 1969‑70 was set aside by the Incometax Appellate Tribunal on 18‑9‑1979. The Incometax Appellate Tribunal, however, decided to refer a question of law to the High Court which reference is still pending. The question of law framed by the Tribunal is as follows: "Whether after giving a finding that the assessment was illegal for lack of prior approval by the I. A. C. which was must whether the learned Tribunal was right in setting aside the order instead of cancellation. " While the reference is still pending in the High Court the Incometax Officer has passed a fresh assessment order on 30‑6‑1980. The petitioner challenged the orders in appeal and then in second appeal, but the objection of the petitioner to the competence of the proceedings in view of the pendency of the reference in the High Court did not prevail with the Incometax authorities. This brings the petitioner to the High Court in its extraordinary jurisdiction.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioner has argued that the assess ment once made does not come to an end until the proceedings with regard to the assessment have finally been concluded and since the matter of first assessment is still pending in the High Court, the second assessment order is illegal. Reliance is placed on the judgment of the Privy Council in the case of Commissioner of Incometax Bombay Presidency and Aden v. Khemchand Ramdas (1938) 6 I T R

414. The learned counsel for the respondent on the other hand has argued that the first assessment having been set aside, the Incometax authorities are not prevented from passing a fresh assessment order but he fails to notice that the Appellate Tribunal did not simply set aside the first assessment order, but referred the matter to the High Court to seek its A opinion on the question "whether the learned Tribunal was right in setting aside the order instead of cancellation". While this reference is pending it is not open to the Incometax authorities to treat the assessment order as simply set aside or even cancelled. They have no choice but to wait for the answer to the reference. In view of the above considerations the writ petition is allowed. The assessment order of 10‑6‑1980 and the subsequent proceedings are declared to be of no legal effect. There shall be no order as to costs. M. Z. M. Petition allowed.