Constitutional challenge to the Black Money Act: HC issues rule and grants interim protection against coercive action.

A constitutional challenge to provisions of the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015 was entertained, and the HC issued rule because similar writ petitions on the same or connected issues were already pending with rule and interim relief. Pending final hearing, the Court protected the petitioner from coercive action, including prosecution and penalty, while allowing the appeal already filed before the CIT(A) to continue.

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Issues: Whether the challenge to the constitutional validity of provisions of the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015 warranted issuance of rule, and whether interim protection against coercive action was to be granted pending the petition.

Analysis: The petition raised a constitutional challenge to provisions of the Black Money Act. Noting that similar writ petitions involving the same or similar issues were already pending with rule issued and interim relief granted, the Court issued rule in the present matter. On interim relief, the Court permitted the appeal already filed before the CIT(A) to proceed, while protecting the petitioner from coercive steps, including prosecution and penalty, until hearing and final disposal of the writ petition.

Outcome: Rule issued and interim protection granted against coercive action, while the connected appellate proceedings were permitted to continue.

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