Two housewives here have challenged an amendment to the Income Tax Act under which those with investments even below the limit to attract income tax were required to furnish a Permanent Account Number (PAN) alongwith form 15G to avoid unnecessary deduction of tax.

P Sakunthala and P S Kamala, in separate writ petitions in the Madras High Court, as an interim measure sought directions staying the operation of Section 206AA of the I T Act, coming into effect on April one next and to restrain the private finance firms in which they have invested from institing on them quoting PANs in form 15Ga till disposal of the main petition.

When the petitions came up for hearing Justice P Jothimani admitted the petitions and issued notice to the Centre among others.