ICI Pakistan Limited vs Federation Of Pakistan Through Secretary, Ministry
This matter arises from a petition for leave to appeal against the judgment of the High Court of Sindh, which dismissed a constitutional petition filed by ICI Pakistan Limited. The core legal questions concern the maintainability of the constitutional petition under Article 199 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the jurisdiction of income tax authorities to determine the effective date of a demerger already sanctioned by the High Court in its company jurisdiction, and whether income tax authorities can override such judicial orders. Furthermore, the petition challenges the validity of a notice issued under Section 62 of the Income Tax Ordinance, 1979. The Supreme Court of Pakistan, upon preliminary review, found that a prima facie case for leave to appeal was established. Consequently, the Court granted leave to appeal to examine these significant legal issues. Pending the final decision of the appeal, the Court granted an ad-interim stay, suspending the impugned judgment and restraining the respondents from proceeding further based on the contested notice issued by the income tax authorities.
- Whether a constitutional petition under Article 199 is maintainable when challenging the actions of income tax authorities regarding a demerger?
- Do income tax authorities possess the jurisdiction to determine an effective date of demerger that has already been sanctioned by the High Court in its company jurisdiction?
- Can income tax authorities override an order of the High Court regarding the effective date of a demerger?
- Is a notice issued under Section 62 of the Income Tax Ordinance 1979 valid if it contradicts a prior judicial order of the High Court?
- Article 199, Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1973
- Section 62, Income Tax Ordinance 1979
ORDER
HAMID ALI MIRZA, J.-This petition for leave to appeal is directed against judgment dated 13.1.2006 in C.P. NO. D-658 of 2005 passed by learned Division Bench of the High Court of Sindh, Karachi, whereby the said Constitution Petition was dismissed, hence this petition for leave to appeal:
2. Facts of the case need not be reiterated as the same have been stated in the memo, of petition as well as in the impugned judgment.
3. We have heard learned counsel for the petitioner and perused the impugned judgment and, the record.
4. We find that prima facie case for grant of leave to appeal Is made out, inter alia to consider the following points:-
(i) Whether the learned Division Bench of the High Court erred in law in holding that the petition was not maintainable under Article 199 of the Constitution of th$ Islamic Republic of Pakistan?
(ii) Whether the Income Tax Authorities had jurisdiction to ascertain the effective date of demerger which the High Court in its special Company Jurisdiction had already decided in Judicial Misc.
Application No. 17 of 2001 in the matter of ICI Pakistan Limited and Pakistan PTA Limited?
(iii) Whether the Income Tax Authorities can override the order of the High Court in not accepting the effective date as sanctioned by the High Court in its special company jurisdiction? And
(iv) Whether learned Division Bench of the High Court erred in law in failing to appreciate that notice issued under Section 62 of the Income Tax Ordinance was without lawful authority and of no legal effect.
C.M.A, is put up for consideration wherein the petitioner has prayed for suspension of the impugned judgment dated 13.1.2006 passed by the Hon'ble High Court of Sindh at Karachi in Constitutional Petition No. 68 of 2005 and to restrain the respondents No. 3 and 4 from proceedings any further on the basis of the notice dated 26.5:2005 issued by respondent No. 4 under Section 62 of the Income Tax Ordinance, 1979 till the decision of appeal.
Notice. Meanwhile ad-interim stay as prayed for is granted.