New Delhi, Sept. 16 -- The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to urgently hear the Centre's challenge against a Punjab and Haryana High Court ruling that struck down a provision of the Income-Tax Act, in a case that could affect reassessment proceedings involving several taxpayers.

Additional solicitor general N. Venkataraman told the bench. led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, that the Punjab and Haryana High Court ruling had created a "huge vacuum" in the reassessment process. The bench agreed to list the Centre's plea on Friday.

The dispute is about whether regular jurisdictional assessing officers (JAOs) can issue reassessment notices or whether the notices must be issued through the faceless assessment system.

The matter has r...