Desai, J.:— This is an appeal on behalf of the original respondents from the Judgment and Order of Mr. Justice Vimadalal dated September, 28, 1967. granting an order of injunction restraining the original respondents from assessing or reassessing the Colaba Land and Mills Company Limited hereinafter referred to as the Mills Company to income-tax for the assessment years 1950-51 to 1955–56.

2. It is sufficient to notice that in the Company Petition No. 221 of 1958 the Official Liquidator was appointed Interim Liquidator of the Mills Company by an Order dated May 1, 1959. By an Order dated October 7, 1959, the Mills Company was ordered to be wound up and the Official Liquidator was confirmed as Liquidator of the Mills Company with all powers under Section 457 of the Companies Act, 1956. By six different Notices dated August 23, 1966, issued under Section 14 of the Income-tax Officer, Companies Circle I (8), Bombay, recorded in respect of the assessment years 1950–51 to 1955–56 that the Mills Company had escaped assessment within the meaning of Section 147 of the Income-tax Act, 1961, and that he therefore proposed to re-assess the income of the Mills Company for these assessment years and called upon the Liquidator to deliver to him within thirty days a return in the prescribed form of the income of the Mills Company assessable for these years. It was recorded that the said Notices were being issued after obtaining the necessary satisfaction of the Central Board of Direct Taxes.

3. By six different Notices for each of the above assessment years dated December 31, 1966, issued under Section 142(1) the Income-tax Officer, Companies Circle, referred to the above prior six Notices and called upon the Official Liquidator to produce certain documents and give in writing duly verified in the prescribed manner information called for in the forms attached thereto and on the points or matters specified, to the income-tax Office on January 19, 1967. In connection with the above Notices, by the Judge's Summons dated July 1, 1967, the Official Liquidator of the Mills Company claimed that the Notices should be quashed and/or set aside and cancelled and also for certain directions and an order of injunction restraining the appellants from in any way assessing or reassessing the Mills Company for the above six assessment years. The grounds in support of the claims made in the Summons appear in paragraph 26 of the affidavit in support dated July 1, 1967. made by B.J Rele, the then Official Liquidator.

4. The main contentions made before the learned Judge on behalf of the Mills Company were that the reassessment proceedings (under the above notices under Section 148 of the Income-tax Act, 1961) against the Mills Company could only be instituted or commenced after first obtaining leave of the Company Court under Section 446(1) of the Companies Act, 1956. The consequential submission was that the proceedings having been commenced without such leave were without jurisdiction and a nullity.

5. On behalf of the appellants two contentions which were advanced before the learned Judge, were as follows:—

(1) The notices for reassessment issued under Section 148 were not “legal proceedings” within the meaning of that phrase in Section 446(1) of the Companies Act, and

(2) Assuming that the reassessment proceedings started under the above notices were “legal proceedings” leave of the Company Court under sub-section (1) of Section 446 of the Companies Act was not necessary, because the Income-tax Officer alone had exclusive jurisdiction to make reassessment and to determine the tax liability. The proceedings were such as in respect whereof no Civil Court, including the Company Court, could have jurisdiction of any kind. This contention is hereinafter referred to as the above second contention.

6. The learned Judge accepted the contentions made on behalf of the Official Liquidator and observed that on the plain reading of Section 446(1) there was no reason whatsoever for coming to the conclusion that the expression “legal proceedings” would not include a proceeding for assessment or reassessment under the Income-tax Act. In support of that observation he referred to the decision of the Federal Court in the case of Governor General v. Shiromani Sugar Mills, 14 ITR 248 : 48 Bom LR 482, (AIR 1946 FC 16) where also the question of the true effect and construction of Section 171 of the Indian Companies Act, 1913, which is in pari materia with the provisions of Section 446(1) of the Companies Act, 1956, arose. Reference was also made to the case of Abdul Aziz Ansari… v. The State Of Bombay,…., 59 Bom LR 1259 : (AIR 1958 Bom 279), where a Division Bench of this Court came to consider the phrase “legal proceedings” as contained in the Sales-tax Act, 1953, and in that connection referred to the provisions of Section 7(e) of the Bombay General Clauses Act. Reference was also made in that very connection to the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Union of India v. India Fisheries Pvt. Ltd., AIR 1966 SC 35, where the Supreme Court came to consider the true effect of Section 446(1). The learned Judge negatived the submission made by Mr. Joshi for the appellants that the phmse “legal proceeding” was synonymous with “judicial proceeding,”

7. In connection with the above second contention Mr. Joshi for the appellants relied before the learned Judge and in this appeal on the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Damji Valji v. L.I.C of India, AIR 1966 SC 135. In that case the Supreme Court had made certain observations which might have been construed as supporting the second contention made by Mr. Joshi, but the learned Judge held these observations to be per incuriam and rejected the contention. The learned Judge accordingly granted an order of injunction as already recited above.

8. In this appeal, Mr. Joshi for the appellants once again contends that the proceedings under the Income-tax Act for assessment of income-tax liability could not justifiably be held to be “legal proceedings” within the meaning of Section 446(1) of the Companies Act, 1956. In that connection he emphasised that the proceedings are under a special Act and are undertaken by a special Officer nominated for the purpose in accordance with the scheme of the Act. Under the Act, a statutory duty is imposed on that officer alone to initiate and proceed further with such proceedings and in those proceedings to ascertain the Quantum of the liability to pay income-tax in respect of assessees and/or matters falling within his jurisdiction. He submitted that proceedings of the above kind undertaken by a special officer designated and nominated in accordance with the scheme of the Act for ascertaining liability as prescribed by the Act cannot be “legal proceedings” within the meaning of that phrase in the above section. In that connection he submitted that the observations of the Division Bench of this Court in the case of 59 Bom LR 1259 : (AIR 1958 Bom 279) must be restricted to the facts of that case and in particular to the provisions in Section 48(2)(ii) of the Sales-tax Act, 1953. Towards developing this submission, he relied upon the decision of a Single Judge of the Allahabad High Court, (Manchanda, J.) in the case of Tika Ram and Sons Ltd. v. Comrar. of Income-tax. (51 ITR 403 (All). He sought to distinguish the observations of the Federal Court in the case of 14 ITR 249 : (AIR 1946 FC 16), by submitting that the true effect of the observations of the Federal Court in that case was that the proceedings for enforcement and recovery of tax already ascertained in the assessment proceedings were “legal proceedings” The prior actions taken by and before the Tax Officers upto the final stage of ascertaining the quantum of tax i.e the assessment proceedings, were not held in that case to be legal proceedings. He strongly relied upon the observations made by Sen, J. sitting singly in the High Court of Calcutta in the unreported case of Brahmaputra Tea Co. (India) Ltd. v. Commr. of Income-tax West Bengal, disposed of on 25-4-69 (Cal). In reply to submission on the first contention strong reliance was placed on behalf of the original applicant on the observation as regards the true construction and effect of the phrase “legal proceedings” of the Division Bench of this Court in the case of 59 Bom LR 1259 - (AIR 1958 Bom 279). Strong reliance was also placed on the observations of the Federal Court in the case of 14 ITR 248 : (AIR 1946 FC 16) as regards the meaning of the phrase “legal proceedings” whilst construing that phrase in Section 171 of of the Indian Companies Act, 1913. Reliance was also placed on the decision in the case of M.K Ranganathan v. 1. Government Of Madras, AIR 1950 SC 604, and it was submitted that the meaning of the phrase “legal proceedings” as ascertained by the Federal Court in the case of Shiromani Sugar Mills was affirmed by the Supreme Court in that case. Reliance was also placed on the observations of the Supreme Court in the case of AIR 1966 SC 35. where the question of true construction of Section 171 of the Indian Companies Act, 1913, had arisen before the Supreme Court.

9. We do not propose to decide the correctness or otherwise of the arguments advanced on behalf of the parties on the above first contention made by Mr. Joshi because as discussed hereunder, having regard to the observations of the Supreme Court in the case of AIR 1966 SC 135 it would be incorrect to hold that in respect of the assessment proceedings adopted against the Mills Company leave of the Court was necessary under Section 446(1) of the Companies Act, 1956. It is convenient to deal with the above second contention made on behalf of the appellants at this stage.

10. It is first necessary to refer to the relevant parts of Sections 442, 446. 530 and 537 of the Companies Act, 1956, on which reliance has been placed by both sides. These sections are in pari materia with the provisions in Sections 169, 171, 230 and 231 of the Indian Companies Act, 1913.

11. Section 442 relates to the power of Court to stay or restrain proceedings against company pending the hearing of a petition for winding up and authorises the winding up Court to stay any suit or proceeding.

12. The marginal note to S. 446 reads “suits stayed on winding up order” and the relevant part of the section provides:

(1) When a winding up order has been made or the Official Liquidator has been appointed as provisional liquidator, no suit or other legal proceeding shall be commenced, or if pending at the date of the winding up order, shall be proceeded with, against the company except by leave of the Court and subject to such terms as the Court may impose.

(2) The Court which is winding up the company shall, notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, have jurisdiction to entertain, or dispose of—

(a) any suit or proceeding by or against the company;

(b) xxxx

(c) any application made under Secson 391 ………………

(d) any question of priorities or any other question whatsoever, whether of law or fact, which may relate to or arise in course of the winding up of the company;

(3) Any suit or proceeding by or against the company which is pending in any Court other than that in which the winding up of the company is proceeding may, notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, be transferred to and disposed of by that Court.

(4) Nothing in sub-section (1) or subsection (3) shall apply to any proceeding in appeal before the Supreme Court or a High Court.”

13. Sub-sections (2), (3) and (4) were inserted in Section 446 by Section 165(2) of the Amending Act 65 of 1960. The provisions of these sub-sections do not form part of the provisions in Section 171 of the Indian Companies Act, 1913, which was in all respects in pari materia with sub-section (1) of S. 446.

14. Section 530 relates to preferential payments and, inter alia, has the effect of providing that in a winding up the ground rent and/or debts due and tax and/or revenue dues will not have any priority unless the same became due within twelve months next before the date of winding up.

15. Section 537, inter alia, pro vides that attachment, distress or execution put in force and execution sales held without leave of the winding up Court shall be void. Sub-section (2) provides:

“Nothing in this section applies to any proceedings for the recovery of any tax or impost or any dues payable to the Government.”

16. This sub-section, however, was inserted Into Section 537 by Section 187 of the Amending Act 65 of 1960.

17. The facts in the case of AIR 1966 SC 135 may be shortly stated as follows; On or about July 1, 1966 a sum of Rs. 82,000/- was alleged to have been transferred from the Life Fund of the Vishwabharati Insurance Company, Bombay, to its General Department contrary to the provisions in the Insurance Act, 1938. On January 19, 1956, the Life Insurance Corporation Ordinance was promulgated and thereafter on July 1, 1966, the Life Insurance Corporation Act came into force. On November 9, 1959, the Vishwabharati Insurance Company was ordered to be wound up. Subsequent thereto the Life Insurance Corporation of India instituted a petition before the Life Insurance Tribunal, Nagpur, claiming the sum of Rs. 82,000/- as being payable, under the scheme of the above Ordinance and the Act, to the Corporation by the Insurance Company. Under Section 15 of the Act the Tribunal had jurisdiction to deal with the claim made. In fact, the Tribunal, while decreeing the claim of the Corporation, negatived the contention made on behalf of the Insurance Company that the leave of the High Court of Bombay as a winding up court was necessary under Section 446(1) for proceeding with the petition. In the appeal filed in the Supreme Court against the decree passed by the Tribunal, on behalf of the appellants it was contended that the Tribunal had no jurisdiction to proceed with the proceedings on the petition presented by the Corporation without the leave of the High Court in view of Section 446 of the Companies Act, the company having been ordered to be wound up by the High Court on November 9, 1959. We are not concerned with the other contentions made on behalf of the appellants. In paragraph 16 of its judgment the Supreme Court summarised the provisions of Sec. 446, which we have quoted above. In paragraph 17 the Supreme Court referred to Section 41 of the Life Insurance Corporation Act and to the fact that the section provided that no civil court shall have jurisdiction to entertain or adjudicate upon any matter which the Tribunal is empowered to decide or determine under the Act. It was observed:

“The Tribunal is given the exclusive jurisdiction over this matter.” In paragraph 18 in connection with the provisions in sub-sections (1) and (2) of S. 446. the observations made are:—

“It is in view of the exclusive jurisdiction which sub-section (2) of Section 446 of the Companies Act confers on the company Court to entertain or dispose of any suit or proceeding by or against a company or any claim made by or against it that the restriction referred to in sub-section (1) has been imposed on the commencement of the proceedings or proceeding with such proceedings against a company after a winding up order has been made, x x x x x x x x lt must follow that the consequential provisions of sub-section (1) of Section 446 of the Companies Act will not operate on the proceedings which be pending before the Tribunal or which may be sought to be commenced before it.”

18. The reason for the last observation quoted above is in the intervening sentence which we did not quote for convenience and which runs as follows:—

“In view of Section 41 of the L.I.C Act the company Court has no jurisdiction to entertain and adjudicate upon, any matter which the Tribunal is empowered to decide or determine under that Act.”

19. In paragraph 19 the Supreme Court stated:—

“Further, the provisions of the special Act, i.e, the L.I.C Act, will override the provisions of the general Act, viz., the Companies Act, which is an Act, relating to Companies in general.”

20. Now Mr. Joshi for the appellants contends that there is no distinction of any consequence which can be made in the facts of the present case and the facts in the case of AIR 1966 SC 135 in so far as the question as regards the application of the provisions in sub-section (1) of Section 446 arises. His submission is that the Income-tax Act. like the Life Insurance Corporation Act, has created machinery of a complete Code providing for assessment of income-tax dues. The provisions of the Act in all respects are such that no civil Court could ever be constituted as an officer to set in motion proceedings for assessment of income-tax dues. His submission was that, apart from the Income-tax Officer who is under the scheme of the Act authorised to set in motion machinery for assessment of income-tax dues, none other could in law have the authority to commence or deal with the question of assessemnt of income-tax dues. He has in that connection strongly rslied upon the analysis of the provisions in the Income-tax Act as appearing in the case of Commr. of Income-tax v. Tribune Trust Lahore, decided by the Judicial Committee and reported in 16 ITR 214 at PP. 220 and 224 : (AIR 1948 PC 102 at pp. 104 to 107). It is sufficient to state that in connection with the provisions of the Income-tax Act, 1922, the Judicial Committee noticed Chapter by Chapter the provisions of the Income-tax Law and the scheme thereof, inter alia, in respect of the charging sections, deductions and assessments, recovery and penalties, refunds and notices, the sections prescribing the duties of the Income-tax authorities and the right of appeal to the Assistant Commissioner, and such other matters. The Judicial Committee also noticed Section 67 of the Act which, inter alia, provided that no suit shall be brought in any Civil Court to set aside or modify any assessment made under that Act. Now the Judicial Committee reviewed the Code of Income-tax law for the purpose of showing that it exhaustively defines the obligations and remedies of the tax-payer. The findings read as follows:—

“x x x x x Their Lordships are of opinion that the only remedies open to the tax-payer, whether in regard to appeal against assessment or to claim for refund, are to be found within the four corners of the Act. This view of his rights harmonises with the provision of section 67, to which reference has already been made, that no suit shall be brought in any Civil Court to set aside or modify any assessment made under the Act. It is the Act which presences both the remedy and the manner in which it may be enforced.”

21. Mr. Joshi is right in his submission that the distinction sought to be made by Mr. Chagla in the scheme of the Income-tax Act and the Life Insurance Corporation Act which was before the Supreme Court in the case of AIR 1966 SC 135 that the Income-tax Act does not contain any provision like that contained in Section 41 of the Life Insurance Corporation Act ousting the jurisdiction of Civil Courts is a distinction of no consequence at all. It is quite clear that in connection with the assessment to ascertain the quantum of Income-tax a separate independent machinery and/or a complete Code is provided in the Income-tax Act. It is not possible to make a study of each and every relevant provision of that Act in this Judgment. That the Act provides for assessment of the quantum of income-tax dues by the Income-tax Officer and further provides for an appeal to the Appellate Assistant Commissioner and provides for a Reference only on questions of law to High Courts is well-known. There are detailed provisions in the Act in respect of commencing proceedings for re-assessment for escaped income with the sanction of the Income-tax Commissioner. The right of appeal is also circumscribed and there is a provision for deposit of tax before any appeal could be filed. Now it is true that in sub-section (2) of Section 446 it is provided that “notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force” the winding-up Court would have jurisdiction to entertain any proceeding by or against the Company. It is also true that having regard to the language in this sub-section an argument that the winding-up Court has acquired jurisdiction to assess income-tax liability of the Company in winding-up could be advanced and has been advanced on behalf of the original applicant. Reliance has been placed in that connection on the phrase “notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force”. Now it appears to us that the constitution of the Civil Court acting as winding-up Court is such that it would be impossible for such Court to act as an Income-tax Officer and commence assessment proceedings. In this connection we are not called upon to find out the limitations on the powers of the winding-up Court in respect of proceedings referred to in the sub-section (2). It is quite clear that having regard to the scheme for assessment of quantum of income-tax contained in the Income-tax Act, a Civil Court and/or a winding-up Court could not “entertain or dispose of” assessment proceedings. The procedure prescribed is altogether so foreign to the procedure prescribed for it that a Civil Court would not be able to put into effect the machinery prescribed by the Income-tax Act. This discussion has the effect of holding that the absence of a provision like Section 41 of the Life Insurance Corporation Act in the Income-tax Act does not alter or affect the established position that the Income-tax Act, in so far as the proceedings for assessment are concerned, provides for a scheme of a complete Code. This part of the scheme of the Act is such as can never be enforced through the machinery of a Civil Court. It is for this reason that we have not been able to appreciate Mr. Chagla's contention that the absence of a provision like Section 41 of the Life Insurance Corporation Act in the Income-tax Act is an important distinction and that for that reason the observations in paragraph 18 of the Judgment of the Supreme Court in the case of AIR 1966 SC 135, are not applicable to the facts of the present case.

22. Now it is quite clear that the Supreme Court has held in the above paragraph that the provisions of sub-section (1) of Section 446 are consequential to the provisions of sub-section (2) of Section 446 and tbat this is so because under sub-section (2) exclusive jurisdiction is conferred on the Company Court to dispose of all suits or proceedings by or against a Company and further that the consequential provisions of sub-section (1) of Section 446 are not attracted and cannot be applied to proceedings (like those before Life Insurance Tribunal) before an administrative Tribunal and/or a Tribunal which is given exclusive jurisdiction to decide and determine matters arising under the relevant Act. Apparently, in connection with matters of exclusive jurisdiction triable by special Tribunals in paragraph 19 the Supreme Court observed that “the provisions of the special Act, i.e, the L.I.C Act, will override the provisions of the general Act, viz., the Companies Act which is an Act relating to companies in general”. It appears that the Court formulated a view that in matters which are by special Acts liable to be decided, determined and disposed of by special Tribunals of exclusive jurisdiction, the Company Court will not have any iurisdiction under sub-section (2) of Section 446 and that consequently in connection with such matters or proceedings, even if they are legal proceedings, leave of Court would not be necessary under sub-section (1) of Section 446.

23. Mr. Chagla contended that in this connection we should first notice the scheme of the Companies Act (1913) and particularly the provisions of section 171 thereof. He rightly submitted that the phrase “legal proceedings” in Section 171 related to the same matter as is contained in sub-section (i) of section 446. He rightly submitted that S. 171 and this phrase in the section was the subiect-matter of decision of the Federal Court in the case of AIR 1946 FC 16 and the construction of that phrase as made by the Federal Court has been cited with approval by the Supreme Court in the case of AIR 1955 SC 604. Though the section was not referred to, there was some discussion about the jurisdiction of the Company Court and the Income-tax Authorities in the case of AIR 1966 SC 35. His submission was that the observation of the Supreme Court in the case of AIR 1966 SC 135 had in no way limited or restricted the meaning of the phrase “legal proceedings”. He strongly relied upon the fact that sub-section (1) of Section 446 was the only part of that section before the Amending Act 65 of 1960 introduced sub-sections (2), (3) and (4). He therefore was aliphatic in his submission that these newly added sub-sections had not changed the meaning of the phrase “legal proceedings” and that the phrase must be held to have continued to have the same meaning as was ascertained by the Federal Court in the case of Shiromani Sugar Mill. In Ms submission the consequence of the observation of the Supreme Court in the case of AIR 1966 SC 135 was that the winding-up Court would have exclusive jurisdiction under the Indian Income-tax Act and would therefore be entitled to proceed under that Act to assess quantum of tax dues of the Mills Company and he therefore argued that the assessment proceedings against the Mills Company would become stayed in accordance with the provisions in Section 446(1). In his submission wherever conflict of jurisdiction for disposing of claims against Company appeared it would be settled by deciding if the jurisdiction provisions are special and/or general. The special would exclude the general. In his submission the provision in Section 148 of the Income-tax Act whereunder the notices in question were issued was a general provision relating to all assessees. On the contrary, in connection with the very same matter Section 446(2) was a special provision applicable only to companies In winding-up. In the result the proceedings under Section 148 were liable to be set aside. In the connection he particularly relied upon the observations of the Supreme Court in the case of AIR 1966 SC 35.

24. In connection with these contentions it first requires to be recorded that in the case of Shromani Sugar Mills the question related to the proceedings commenced under Section 46(2) of the Income-tax Act for recovery of already assessed tax. Though the assessment of quantum of tax had taken place subsequent to the date of the winding-up order, the question that the assessment proceedings were unauthorised or invalid because leave of the Court under Section 171 had not been obtained was not raised or decided. In connection with the recovery proceedings the Court was called upon to find out the true meaning of the phrase “legal proceedings” as contained in Section 171. In that connection the Court first noticed that under Section 239 of the Indian Companies Act, 1913, only limited priority was fixed in connection with Crown debts. Ordinarily, Crown debts ranked for payment pari passu with ordinary creditors. The Court also noticed that except for the machinery provided in Section 171 for compelling the department to get leave of Court before proceeding to make recovery, there was no machinery for having the account of the monies recovered and for securing the recovered monies into Court so that the assets of the Company in winding-up were duly distributed pari passu amongst all ordinary creditors. In connection with the meaning of the phrase “legal proceedings” the argument on behalf of the Revenue was that it must be in the nature of a suit and reliance was placed on that connection on the observations of the Full Bench of the High Court at Lahore in the case of Shukantla v. The Peoples Bank of Northern India Ltd., ILR (1941) 22 Lah 760 : (AIR 1941 Lah 392 FB). The Federal Court negatived the submission. The Court observed that the phrase “legal proceedings” need not be confined to original proceedings in a Court of first instance, analogous to a suit, initiated by means of a petition similar to a plaint. Section 171 must, in our judgment, be construed with reference to other sections of the Act and the general scheme of administration of the assets of a company in liquidation laid down by the Act.” Having seen the scheme of Sections 232 and 211, the Court found that “no narrow construction should be placed upon the words ‘or other legal proceeding’ in Section 171. In our judgment, the words can and should be held to cover distress and execution proceedings in the ordinary Courts. In our view, such proceedings are other legal proceedings against the company, as contrasted with “ordinary suits against the Company.” The further observations were “but we see no reason why in British India no legal proceeding” can be taken otherwise than in an ordinary Court of law, or why a proceeding taken elsewhere than in an ordinary Court of law, provided it be taken in a manner prescribed by law and in pursuance of law or legal enactment, cannot properly be described as a “legal proceeding”. Similarly a Division Bench of this Court in the case of (AIR 1958 Bom 279), definitely observed in the context of Section 48(2) of the Sales-tax Act, 1953, that “legal proceeding” in its normal connotation can only mean a proceeding in accordance with law, and there can be no doubt that assessment proceedings which are under the Sales Tax Act are such proceedings”. The further relevant observation was that “It must be remembered in this context that the expression ‘legal proceeding’ is not synonymous with ‘judicial proceeding’. Proceedings may be legal even if they are not judicial proceedings, if they are authorised by law, Mr. Palkhiwala by his argument undoubtedly requires us to equate the expression “legal proceeding” in S. 48, sub-section (2)(vii). With judicial proceedings, for which, in our opinion, there is no warrant in law. The ultimate finding of the Court in that case was that the expression “legal proceeding” in Section 48(2)(ii) includes assessment proceedings, x x x x. Now Mr. Chagla insisted that having regard to the history of the legislation in Section 171 and Section 446(1) and the above obseivations in connection with the phrase “legal proceedings” the finding of Mr. Justice Vimadalal that the assessment proceedings commenced by the impugned notices were “legal proceedings” must be accepted as correct. According to him, this being the correct position in law, we bhould proceed to hold in his favour that there is nothing in the decision in the case of AIR 1966 SC 135 which has affected the above position. In support of that submission he has placed strong reliance on the contents of sub-sections (3) and (4) of Section 446. Now it is quite clear that under SUB-section (4) of Section 446, in spite of a winding-up order having been made in connection with proceedings pending in appeal before the Supreme Court or a High Court, leave under Section 446(1) is unnecessary. It is also clear that under sub-section (3) the winding-up Court, in its discretion, may notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, transfer to itself any suit or proceeding and dispose of the same. Relying on this part of the section Mr. Chagla sought to argue that under sub-section (2) exclusive jurisdiction is created in a winding-up Court in connection with the matters mentioned in that sub-section. He therefore argued that the true effect of the observations of the Supreme Court in the case of AIR 1966 SC 135 was that in each and all proceedings in which a claim is made for oi against a Company in liquidation the same was within the jurisdiction of the Company Court and for that reason the assessment proceeding commenced by the impugned notices was within the jurisdiction of the Company Court. We should, therefore, hold that the order of injunction granted by the learned Judge was justified and correct.

25. These argiynents in defence of the above second contention made by Mr. Joshi do not disclose any real defence and are liable to be rejected for the reasons following:

(1) The second contention made for the appellants is on an assumption that the notices for re-assessment issued under Section 148 of the Indian Income-tax Act, 1961, were in respect of legal proceedings covered by sub-section (1) of Section 446.

(2) La connection with Its findings regarding the true meaning and effect of the provisions in sub-sections (1) and (2) of Section 446 the Supreme Court did not find it necessary in the case of AIR 1966 SC 135 to discuss the connotation of the phrase “legal proceedings”. The Supreme Court further found it entirely unnecessary to refer to the provisions in sub-sections (3) and (4) of Section 446 and other relevant sections such as 442, 530 and 537.

(3) The Supreme Court arrived at its findings regarding the true effect of the provisions in sub-sections (2) and (3) of Section 446 in spite of, and we must presume with the full and complete knowledge of, the provisions in sub-sections (3) and (4) of Section 446 and all relevant sections, including Sections 442, 530 and 537.

(4) The main ratio of the decision of the Supreme Court was, as already discussed above, that the provisions in sub-section (1) of Section 446 were consequential provisions for the reasons discussed in the first part of paragraph 18 of the judgment. For that reason the Supreme Court found that having regard to the special provision conferring jurisdiction on a special Tribunal under Section 41 of the Life Insurance Corporation Act and the general provisions of that Act being in a special Act “will override the provisions of the general Act, viz., Companies Act”. The Supreme Court must be held to have held that in the context of a special Act like the Life Insurance Corporation Act the provisions in sub-sections (1) and (2) of Section 446 were provisions of a general Act and provisions in a special Act and/or special provision like that in Section 41 of the Life Insurance Corporation Act would override the provisions in sub-sections (1) and (2) of Section 446.

26. We are, unable to accept the argument made by Mr. Chagla that provisions in Sections 148 and 142 of the Income-tax Act, are general provisions, and the scheme of those provisions was liable to be overridden by the provisions in sub-sections (1) and (2) of Section 446 as being special provisions. The scheme in Sections 148 and 142 of the Income-tax Act and the scheme thereof for assessment of quantum of tax must be considered in pari materia with the provisions in Section 41 of the Life Insurance Corporation Act. These sections and the above scheme are in a special Act investing jurisdiction in special Tribunals and accordingly such as would “override the provisions of the general Act, viz. the Companies Act.”

27. Now it is true that in the case of AIR 1966 SC 35, in connection with the recovery proceedings envisaged by Section 49-E of the Income-tax Act, in the context of the provisions in Sections 228 and 229 of the Companies Act, 1913, in consonance with the previous decision of the Federal Court in the case of 14 ITR 248 - (AIR 1946 FC 16), the Supreme Court observed: “Section 49-E is a general provision applicable to all assessees and in all circumstances; Sections 228 and 229 deal with the proof ot debts and their payment in liquidation.’ The Supreme Court's decision was on the footing that the provisions of Section 49E were overriden by the provisions in Sections 228 and 229 of the Indian Companies Act, 1913. Similar provisions in the Income-tax Act, 1963, and the Companies Act, 1956, will bear the same effect. It however, requires to be noticed that the Scheme of the Companies Act in the Chapter relating to winding-up of insolvent Companies as regards unsecured debts is like that in the Provincial and Presidency Towns Insolvency Acts for satisfaction of these debts pari passu, i.e, for distribution of the available assets between the creditors in the proportion of their claims. Sections 228 and 229 enact the above Scheme. Provisions like these in respect of Companies in winding-up as contained In the Chapter relating to Companies in liquidation in the Companies Act would always override, as being special provisions, proceedings for recovery of tax dues and the special provisions like Section 49-E of the enacted in the Income-tax Act. Even so, the effect of the decision of the Supreme Court in Damji's case is that where claims arise for decision by special Tribunals and/or special Officers like Income-tax Officers in the present case under special jurisdiction, the provisions in sub-sections (1) and (2) of Section 446 must be considered as general provisions only. The matter is not res integra. We are, therefore, unable to accept Mr. Chagla's contention that the impugned notices were liable to be stayed by issuing an order of injunction because the Supreme Court had not changed or restricted the meaning of the phrase “legal proceedings” as construed by the Federal Court and the Supreme Court in the matter of AIR 1946 FC 16 and AIR 1966 SC 35.

28. The alternative contention In this connection was that in so far as the observations of the Supreme Court in Damji's case alter and/or restrict the meaning of the phrase “legal proceedings” the same are casual and/or made in passing. The submission was that the observations were not relevant to arrive at the findings which the Supreme Court made. The further submission in the alternative was that the findings of the Supreme Court in connection with sub-sections (1) and (2) of Section 446 were patently in ignorance of the relevant provisions Li sub-sections (3) and (4) of Section 446, as also in Sections 442, 530 and 537 and certain other sections of the companies act. These findings were made in ignorance of the above decision of the Federal Court, as also of the Supreme Court, in the two cases just mentioned. These findings were therefore per incuriam and we are not bound to follow them, in that connection reference was made to Salmond on Jurisprudence, 12th Edition page 151, where it is, inter alia, stated that the precedent is not binding if it was rendered in ignorance of a statute or a rule having the force of statute. “The rule apparently applies even though the earlier court knew of the statute in question, if it did not refer to, and had not present to its mind, the precise terms of the statute”. The lower court may refuse to follow the later decision on the ground that it was arrived at per incuriam.”

29. Now in connection with these submissions, as already stated to Mr. Chagla by us, we are of the view that the Supreme Court was called upon to ascertain the true effect of the provisions of sub-sections (1) and (2) of Sec. 446 the main important point in the case of Damji It is impossible to imagine that the contents of sub-sections (1) and (2) of Section 446, on which reliance is sought to be placed by Mr. Chagla, was not present to the mind of the Supreme Court in deciding the case of Damji. The paragraph 18, which we have already quoted above, contains direct reasoning of the Court for the findings made hi paragraphs 18 and 19 for arriving at the true construction and effect of the above two sub-sections. We are also unable to imagine that the Supreme Court was, whilst dealing with the provisions of these two sub-sections, unaware of the provisions of sub-sections (3) and (4) of Section 446 and the relevant sections or the scheme of the Companies Act. We, therefore, reject these alternative submissions made by Mr. Chagla.

30. The result of the above discussion is that the arguments advanced by Mr. Chagla in reply to the above second contention made on behalf of the appellants fail.

31. As we have accepted this second contention, the appellants are entitled to succeed in this appeal and to have the Order dated September 28, 1967, set aside.

32. Having arrived at the above conclusion on the above second contention made on behalf of the appwllants do not find it necessary to deal with the first contention made on behalf of the appellants. It is only necessary to refer in a very summary way to the arguments advanced in support of that contention.

33. Mr. Joshi contended that the proceedings initiated by the above impugned notices being assessment proceedings, were not covered by the phrase “legal proceedings” as contained in subsection (1) of section 446. The contention was that upto the stage that the liability to tax was quantified, assessment proceedings would not be such legal proceedings because upto that stage the department does not become creditor of the company. Upto that stage the debt itself is not ascertained and/or quantified, legal proceedings would be those which would directly affect the assets and properties of a company in winding-up. This was so because the object of the provision in sub-section (1) of Section 446 was to facilitate protection and realisation of assets and to prevent wasteful litigation in regard thereto. The scheme in winding-up was to have the secured assets distributed pari passu among general creditors and to prevent a scramble by creditors of a company in winding-up by taking custody and possession of assets of such company. The argument was that in respect of proceedings which could not be withdrawn by a winding-up Court for trial by itself leave under sub-section (1) of Section 446 was unnecessary. The assessment proceedings were proceedings which an Income-tax Officer undertakes in discharge of a statutory duty imposed on him as such officer by the Income-tax Act and therefore these are not legal proceedings. The contentions in reply were that the object of winding-up being to collect assets of a company in winding up and to satisfy the claims of all the ordinary creditors pari passu, sub-section (1) of Section 446 provided for stay of proceedings of every kind which were in the nature of claims against a company in winding-up. The object of sub-sec. (1) was to enable the Company Court to get complete control over all claims which might arise against the company in winding up. For these reasons the phrase “legal proceedings” should be given widest possible meaning. This phrase meant action to recover any claim which may result into an order or a decree that can be recovered by legal process. The submission was that the charging section in the Income-tax Act created a debt and the proceedings for quantification thereof must be held to be a claim for decision of a claim against a company in winding-up. The submission was that the notice under Section 148 of the Income-tax Act activates machinery of taxation law from quantification till recovery of the tax dues. There was accordingly no warrant to distinguish the stage of recovery of tax dues from the anterior stage for quantification of the tax liability.

34. As already stated in the above discussion in connection with these contentions, there are extremely relevant observations in the decision of the Federal Court in the case of the (AIR 1946 FC 16) and of the Supreme Court in the case of AIR 1966 SC 35. There are also relevant observations in the case of 59 Bom LR 1259 : (AIR 1958 Bom 279). We, however, find it unnecessary to discuss these decisions and to arrive at any finding as regards these rival contentions, in view of the fact we have accepted the above second contention made on behalf of the appellants.

35. In the result, the appeal is allowed and the Order made by Mr. Justice Vimadalal dated September 28, 1967 is set aside.

36. The Judge's Summons dated July 1, 1967 is dismissed with costs. The respondent to pay the appellant's costs.

37. Appeal allowed.