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Issues:
1. Quashing of prosecutions for non-deposit of tax deducted at source. 2. Legality of instruction No. 1317 issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes. 3. Power of the Commissioner of Income-tax to compound offences. 4. Violation of legislative mandate by the Central Board of Direct Taxes. 5. Binding nature of circulars issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes. Analysis: 1. The petitioner sought the quashing of prosecutions for non-deposit of tax deducted at source for the years 1969-70 and 1970-71. The petitioner, a physician and surgeon, was associated with a company facing financial difficulties. The company had defaulted on tax payments due to financial crisis, leading to penal provisions being invoked by the Income-tax Department. 2. The legality of instruction No. 1317 issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes was challenged. The petitioner argued that the circular withdrew the powers of the Commissioner of Income-tax to compound offences. The petitioner contended that the circulars were issued unlawfully, violating the powers granted to the Commissioner under section 279 of the Income-tax Act. 3. The issue of the power of the Commissioner of Income-tax to compound offences was central to the case. The petitioner argued that only the Commissioner had the authority to compound offences under section 279(2) of the Act. The petitioner alleged that the Central Board of Direct Taxes overstepped its jurisdiction by issuing instructions that undermined the Commissioner's powers. 4. The petitioner claimed that the Central Board of Direct Taxes had violated the legislative mandate by issuing circulars that restricted the Commissioner's authority to compound offences. The petitioner contended that the circulars were in contravention of the specific provisions of the Income-tax Act, particularly section 279(2), which empowers the Commissioner in such matters. 5. The court noted a related case where it was held that the Central Board of Direct Taxes cannot impede the quasi-judicial functions of the Commissioner of Income-tax. The court found certain clauses of the circular to be ultra vires the provisions of the Act. Consequently, the court accepted the petition, remanding the case to the Commissioner for appropriate action on the compounding application. In conclusion, the judgment favored the petitioner's arguments regarding the quashing of prosecutions and the legality of the circular issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes. The court upheld the powers of the Commissioner of Income-tax to compound offences and emphasized the importance of adhering to legislative mandates in such matters.
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