2023 PLP 1843 (PTD)

Qazi Faez Isa, C.J. This civil review petition assails order dated 3 October 2022 of this Court. The matter pertains to the amendment of assessment which power, under section 122 of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 ('the Ordinance') is bestowed upon the Commissioner. When Civil Appeal No. 51 of 2020, order wherein is assailed herein, was heard it was contended that the order amending the assessment was passed by the Deputy Commissioner, Inland Revenue, who was not authorized to amend the assessment. At that time we were also assisted by Mr. Sohail Ahmed, Additional Commissioner, Regional Tax Office, Peshawar and neither he nor the learned ASC could produce any delegation of authority by the Commissioner of his said powers to the Deputy Commissioner despite grant of a further opportunity to do so (as noted in paragraph 3 of the order under review).

2. The order of this Court is now sought to be reviewed on the ground that the Deputy Commissioner was delegated powers to amend the assessment vide order No. 616, dated 5 December 2009, issued by the Commissioner Inland Revenue (Audit-I), Regional Tax Office, Peshawar ('the said order') mentioned at serial No. 1 of the Table contained in the said order.

3. However, the said order does not refer to section 122 of the Ordinance with regard to amendment of assessment nor is it so stated under column No. 4 of the Table pertaining to Jurisdiction.

4. We enquired from the learned counsel whether the said order has been gazetted and were informed that it was not. We then enquired whether that said order is available on the website of the Federal Board of Revenue ('FBR') and were told that it was not. It is beyond comprehension why this has not been disclosed. Surely the reason for concealment could not be to use it in appropriate cases and suppress it in others. Nonetheless opaqueness perturbs us. Taxpayers should know who is exercising authority and whether such exercise of authority is permissible.

5. This civil review petition is a classic example of a case not properly presented. The point raised today had already been argued at the time of hearing the appeal and indulgence had also been shown to the petitioner (Commissioner Inland Revenue) to disclose the requisite authority bestowed on the Deputy Commissioner. The very same officer, who is present today, namely, Mr. Sohail Ahmed, Additional Commissioner, FBR was in attendance then too, but he did not refer to the said order. Surprisingly, a senior officer was not aware of the said order which necessitates that all notifications/orders should be gazetted and also displayed on the website of the FBR to facilitate the officers of the FBR, tax practitioners and taxpayers.

6. The said order does not delegate the statutory power of the Commissioner to Deputy Commissioners, therefore, the purported amendment made to the assessment order was not sustainable. The said order also does not grant such specific authorization. Consequently, this review petition is dismissed with costs of ten thousand rupees; to be paid to a charity of the choice of the petitioner.

7. Copy of the order passed today be sent to the Chairman, FBR for onward circulation to all Commissioners of the Inland Revenue. We also expect that the FBR/Inland Revenue will gazette all notifications, orders etc. which may affect taxpayers and also to display them on the website of the FBR. MWA/C-26/SC Review Petition dismissed.