INNUS INFRASTRUCTURE P LTD,GURGAON vs. ACIT, CIRCLE-10(1), DELHI
In favour of the assessee: the assessee's appeal was allowed. From the AI summary of this appeal.
What did the Tribunal hold?
The Tribunal held that assessment proceedings initiated and consequential orders passed in the name of a non-existent entity are not sustainable in law. Therefore, the assessment order was quashed.
What were the facts?
The assessee company, M/s Innus Infrastructure (P) Ltd., was formed after the amalgamation of M/s EMU Realcon (P) Ltd. Notices under Section 148 and 143(2) were issued in the name of the non-existent entity, M/s EMU Realcon (P) Ltd.
What were the issues?
Whether assessment proceedings and notices issued in the name of an amalgamated and non-existent entity are legally valid.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, DELHI BENCH “H’’ : NEW DELHI
Before: SHRI SUDHIR KUMAR & SHRI MANISH AGARWAL
PER SUDHIR KUMAR, JM : This appeal by the assessee is emanating from the order of the Ld. Commissioner of
Income Tax (Appeals)/National Faceless Appeal Centre, Delhi [hereinafter referred as
CIT(A)] dated 22.12.2025 pertaining to assessment year 2017-18. Assessee has raised
originally as many as 8 grounds of appeal. During the hearing, Ld. AR has also raised the
following additional grounds: 1. That on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the AO in
issuing the notice dated 23.3.2024 u/s. 148 and notice dated 1.7.2024 u/s.
143(2) of the Act in the name of M/s EMU Realcon (P) Ltd., which stood
amalgamated with M/s Innus Infrastructure (P) Ltd. Vide NCLT,
Chandigarh order dated 16.6.2023 with appointed date 1.4.2022 and thus M/s EMU Realcon (P) Ltd. had ceased to exist both on the date of issue of
notice u/s. 148 of the Act and notice u/s. 143(2) of the Act, therefore,
initiation of proceedings and consequential order of assessment u/s. 147
read with section 144 of the Act deserves to be quashed as such. 2. That notice dated 1.7.2024 u/s. 143(2) of the Act issued by the Assessment
Unit Income Tax Department is illegal, invalid and without jurisdiction and
therefore deserve to be quashed as such and consequently impugned order
of assessment dated 31.3.2025 u/s. 147 read with 144 of the Act is without
jurisdiction and deserves to be quashed as such.
Ld. AR stated that the above additional grounds are purely legal in nature and goes to
the root of the matter and in view of the Hon’ble Supreme Court decision in the case of NTPC
vs. CIT reported in 229 ITR 383 may be admitted for its adjudication. Ld. CIT(DR)
opposed the request of the Ld. AR.
After hearing both the sides and perusing the records, we are of the view that the
aforesaid additional grounds goes to the root of the matter, thus, in view of the decision in the
case of NTPC vs. CIT (Supra), we admit the aforesaid additional grounds for its adjudication
first.
Ld. AR has submitted that notice dated 23.3.2024 u/s. 148 of the Act and 4.
notice dated 1.7.2024 u/s. 143(2) of the Act in the name of M/s EMU Realcon (P) Ltd.
stood amalgamated with M/s Innus Infrastructure (P) Ltd. vide Hon’ble NCLT,
Chandigarh order dated 16.6.2023 with appointed date 1.4.2022 and thus M/s EMU
Realcon (P) Ltd. had ceased to exist both on the date of issue of notice u/s. 148 of the
Act and notice u/s. 143(2) of the Act, therefore, initiation of proceedings and consequential order of assessment u/s. 147 read with section 144 of the Act deserve to
be quashed as such.
Ld. CIT(DR) relied upon the orders of the authorities below.
Considered the rival submissions and material placed on record. We observed
that in this case notice dated 23.3.2024 u/s. 148 of the Act and notice dated 1.7.2024
u/s. 143(2) of the Act in the name of M/s EMU Realcon (P) Ltd. stood amalgamated
with M/s Innus Infrastructure (P) Ltd. vide NCLT, Chandigarh order dated 16.6.2023
with appointed date 1.4.2022 and thus M/s EMU Realcon (P) Ltd. had ceased to exist
both on the date of issue of notice u/s. 148 of the Act and notice u/s. 143(2) of the
Act, therefore, initiation of proceedings and consequential order of assessment u/s.
147 read with section 144 of the Act is not sustainable in the eyes of law. We further
note from the order of the assessment dated 31.3.2025 u/s 147 read with section 144
of the Act that M/s EMU Realcon (P) Ltd. stood merged with M/s Innus Infrastructure
(P) Ltd. vide NCLT, Chandigarh order dated 16.6.2023 with appointed date 1.4.2022.
We further note from the reply dated 12.3.2024 of the assessee which is placed at
(page no. 82-87 of the Paper Book) that it has been duly informed that M/s EMU
Realcon (P) Ltd. stood merged with M/s Innus Infrastructure (P) Ltd.; however,
despite thereof, AO has issued notice dated 23.3.2024 u/s. 148 of the Act (APB-Page
96) and notice dated 1.7.20224 u/s. 143(2) of the Act (pages 99-101 of Paper Book) in
the name of M/s EMU Realcon (P) Ltd., which had ceased to exist both on the date of
issue of notice u/s. 148 of the Act and notice u/s. 143(2) of the Act, therefore,
initiation of proceedings and consequential order of assessment u/s. 147 read with section 144 of the Act. That being the clinching factual position, we hereby quote
PCIT vs. Maruti Suzuki (2019) 416 ITR 613 (SC) that such an assessment framed in a
non-existent entity’s hands is not sustainable in law. The same stands quashed in very
terms therefore. Since we have already quashed the assessment, other pleadings between the
parties on merits stand rendered academic. 7. In the result, the assessee’s appeal is allowed. Order pronounced in the Open Court on 29.07.2026.
Sd/- Sd/- (MANISH AGARWAL) (SUDHIR KUMAR) ACCOUNTANT MEMBER JUDICIAL MEMBER Dated: 29.07.2026 SR BHATANGAR Copy forwarded to: 1. Appellant 2. Assessee 3. CIT 4. CIT(Appeals). 5. DR: ITAT ASSISTANT REGISTRAR ITAT, NEW DELHI
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