HRA Exeption with No PAN declaration letter from landlord

I am residing in Chennai and pay more than a Lakh per annum as house rent through cash mode. I applied for HRA exemption with my payroll team for the rent paid during the financial year 2017 - 18.
I have submitted a ‘ No PAN’ declaration from landlord wherein the landlord signed that he /she does not have any taxable income and hence have no PAN.
I submitted rental agreement along with rental receipts also.
But my company doesn’t accept those as stating the reason ”Staff who had paid rent in excess of Rs.1 lakh per annum have not submitted PAN of the landlord. It is mandatory for the employer to obtain PAN of the landlord for granting HRA exemption to staff”. And also my company revoked my HRA exemption claim.
Please advise whether this decision from the company is right or wrong?.
Please support.

There is a circular of CBDT circular 8/2013 dated 10th October 2013) that PAN is mandatory for getting Landlord PAN and if he does not have a PAN, landlord address and name be given in the claim form.
CBDT circular 20/2015 dated 2nd December 2015 also refers in this connection.