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IN THE INCOMETAX APPELLATETRIBUNAL “G” BENCH MUMBAI BEFORE SHRI PAWAN SINGH, JUDICIAL MEMBER AND SHRI M. BALAGANESH, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER ITA No. 3112/Mum/2017 (Assessment Year 2008-09) Mr. Samadhan Krishna ITO. Ward-3, Katekar, L/H of Late Krishna Vs. Panvel Range, Trifed Tower, Kathari Katekar, Opp. Khanda Colony, AT Dhutum, Taluka-Uran, Navi Mumbai-410206. District-Raigad. PAN: AZRPK4713E Appellant Respondent Appellant by : Mr. Prakash Pandit (Advocate) Respondent by : Shri Satish Rajore (Sr. DR) Date of Hearing : 10.06.2019 Date of Pronouncement :12.06.2019 ORDER UNDER SECTION 254(1)OF INCOME TAX ACT PER PAWAN SINGH, JUDICIAL MEMBER; 1. This appeal under section 253 of income tax Act (Act) is directed against
the order of learned Commissioner (Appeals), 2, Aurangabad, in the matter
of assessment completed under section 143(3) read with section 147 of the Income tax Act dated 28th of March 2014 for assessment year 2008- 09.
The appellant/ legal heirs of assessee has raised following grounds of
appeal: (1) In the facts and circumstances of the case and in law reassessment proceeding initiated under section 147 read with section 148 are void and nullity. (2) In the fact and circumstances of the case and in law notice under section 148 of the act is invalid and therefore reassessment order is void and nullity. (3) In the fact and circumstances of the case and in law Commissioner (Appeals) erred in confirming assessing officer action in taxing Rs. 2.94 Crore as short- term capital gain when no transfer of the plot has taken place as alleged by
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assessing officer within the meaning of section 2(47) of Act during assessment year 2008-09. (4) Reasons given by Commissioner (Appeals) for confirming assessing officer action in taxing Rs.2.94 crore as short-term capital gain for assessment year 2008-09 are wrong insufficient and contrary to the facts and evidence on record as no transfer of the plot taken place as alleged by assessing officer within meaning of section 2(47) of the Act during assessment year 2008-09. In the fact and circumstances of the case and in law, learned Commissioner appeal erred in confirming assessing officer section in taxing Rs. 8 552000/- as cash money received on the basis of third-party evidence. (5) In the facts and circumstances of the case and in law, Commissioner appeal erred in confirming assessing officer section in taxing sum of Rs. 8 552000/-as a cash money received on the basis of third-party evidence are wrong insufficient and contrary to the facts and evidence on record. 2. The appellant/ LR’s of assessee vide his application dated 22nd October 2018 filed on the 12th November 2018, raised following additional
grounds of appeal:
(1) Without prejudice to ground 1&2 in the main grounds of appeal, in the fact and in the circumstances of the case and in law, reopening of assessment under section 147 read with section 148 is void ab initio in absence of reasons recorded. (2) Without prejudice to the grounds No. 1&2 in the main grounds of appeal, in the fact and circumstances of the case and in law, the assessment order dated 28March 2014 under section 143(3) read with section 147 of the Act is void ab initio in absence of notice under section 143 (2) of the income tax Act. (3) Without prejudice to ground No.3 &4 in the main grounds of appeal, in the facts and circumstances of the case and in law, the learned assessing officer erred in treating rupees to .94 crore as short-term capital gain on sale of write in the lease hold plot, as capital gain, if any, is a long-term capital gain. (4) Without prejudice to the ground number three and four in the main grounds of appeal, in the facts and circumstances of the case and in law, the assessing
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officer erred in treating cost of acquisition and snail, with while calculating capital gain on sale of right in the lease hold plot. (5) The appellant craves leave to add, amend, alter, modify or permit any of the aforesaid grounds of appeal is occasion may arise of demand. 3. Brief facts of the case are that assessee is a non-filer of return. In this case,
Joint Commissioner of Income tax (JCIT) (OSD), Central Circle, 39,
Mumbai made certain investigation on the basis of documents and other
incriminating materials seized during the course of search and seizure
action in case of Madan Kolambekar and M/s Jai Corp Group of cases. The
said search and seizure action was carried under section 132 on 22.01.2009
wherein various incriminating evidence were gathered. On the basis of
such incrementing material, the investigation party took a view that the
incriminating evidence clearly shows that Jai Corp group entity purchased
plot No. 132, Sector- 56 admeasuring 2450 in Navi Mumbai. The said plot
of land was developed and allotted by CIDCO. On further enquiries from
CIDCO it was transpired that the said plot was allotted to the Krishna
Katekar by CIDCO in addition to the compensation paid by the State
Government on acquisition of land. The investigation party also gathered
information and evidences that the said plot was negotiated through Madan
Kolambekar and the assessee had received Rs. 85,52,000/- as advance in
cash on 02.02.2008. On 22 January 2009, a survey under section 133A was
conducted in one of the office of Jai Corp group at their office at Embassy
Centre, Nariman point, Mumbai. During the course of survey operation,
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various other incriminating documents /evidences was recovered, which further corroborates the facts of ‘on money’ payments was paid for purchase of said plot. Subsequently, some other incriminating documents were also unearthed during the course of search action in case of Jai Corp group on 5 March 2009. All these information was passed to the Income Tax Officer Panvel, District Raigarh (assessing officer). 4. The assessing officer on the basis of above referred information was having reason to believe that income of the assessee had escape assessment; therefore notice under section 148 in the name of Krishna Kathari Katekar was issued on 13th March 2013. The assessing officer noted that there was no response to the notice dated 13th March 2013. Therefore, on 21st November 2013 other notice was issued to the assessee directing the assessee to file return of income within seven days of receipt of the said notice. The assessing officer also recorded that notice under section 143 (2) and 142 (1) was issued and served upon the legal heirs of Krishna Kathari Katekar (assessee). The legal heirs of Krishna Kathari Katekar (present appellant) filed return of income on 14th March 2014.The return of income filed on 14th March was treated as time barred return. The assessing officer recorded that the reasons recorded was sought by the representatives of the assessee and that it was shown to them. It was further recorded by the assessing officer that it was explained to him that during the year under consideration Krishna Kathari Katekar has entered in 4
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to the agreement for sale of plot of land allotted from CIDCO to M/s
Madan Kolambekar for Rs. 2.94 Crore and against the said land
transaction he has received Rs.1.50 Crore only. The assessing officer
issued show cause notice as to why the sale consideration out of which the
substantial part is received be not taxed as short term capital gain (STCG).
And similarly the receipt of cash of Rs. 85,52,000/- be not taxed to the
total income of the assessee.
The show cause notice was replied on behalf of the assessee vide reply
dated 18.03.2014 (wrongly noted as 18.03.2004). In the reply the
background of allotment of plot admeasuring 2450 was explained. It was
explained that the assessee entered in to agreement to sale of the said plot
to Madan Kolambekar for a total sale consideration of Rs. 2.94 Crore. It
was stated that half of the consideration was payable on the execution of
agreement of lease by CIDCO and remaining on the execution of tripartite
agreement by purchaser. It was further stated that out of the total sale
proceed the assessee has received only Rs. 1.50 Crore on various dates.
The purchaser failed to execute the agreement and to make remaining
payment within the agreed period. In the meantime the relatives of the
assessee also filed the suit for claiming rights in the said plot of land. It
was further explained that the sale was not complete and that the asset was
not transferred within the meaning of section 2(47) of the Act. The
explanation furnished on behalf of the assessee was no accepted by the 5
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assessing officer. The assessing office concluded that the assessee was in
receipt of unaccounted cash money of Rs. 85,52,000/- on 02.02.2008 from
Jai Corp Entity/ Madan Kolambekar in respect of deal of plot. The return of income was filed only on issuance of notice under section 148 and
failed to declare the income of Rs.2.94 Crore of STCG. Thus, the assessing
officer made addition of STCG of Rs. 2.94 Crore and unaccounted cash of Rs. 85.52 lakhs while passing assessment order on 28th March 2014 under
section 143 (3) read with section 147. 6. Aggrieved by the additions made by assessing officer, the applicant/LRs of
assessee filed appeal before Commissioner (Appeals). Perusal of first
appellate authority order reveals that initially, the assessee challenged only
the additions in the quantum assessment; however during the pendency of
appeal the validity of notice under section 148 as well as validity of assessment order was also challenged. The learned first appellate authority
upheld the validity of notice under section 148 as well as the additions in
the assessment order. Therefore, further aggrieved by the order of
Commissioner (Appeals) the assessee has filed present appeal before us. 7. Perusal of record reveals that on the 09.04.2019, the learned senior
departmental representative (Sr. DR) was directed to allow the inspection
of assessment record to the appellant and also provide the copy of reasons
recorded. On 10.06.2019 (on the day of final hearing), the learned senior
departmental representative submits that he has brought the original 6
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assessment record. It was disclosed by ld. DR that the original assessment record does not contain the reasons recorded. On our further quarry it was
communicated to us that there is no evidence available on record to show that the reasons recorded were ever supplied to the representative of assessee or to the legal has of assessee. With the assistance of the ld.
representatives, we have gone through the original assessment record along with the order sheet noting of assessing officer. The assessing officer started recording his order sheet only from 21st November 2013; however the notice under section 148 was issued on 13 March 2013. We further
noted that there is evidence in the assessment record, if notice under section 143(2) was issued or sent by assessing officer. On these observations, we heard the submission of learned representative of the
parties. 8. We have heard the submission of learned authorised representative (AR) of the assessee and learned departmental representative (DR) for the revenue
and perused the material of available on record. We have also deliberated on various case laws relied by learned representative of the parties as well as by the lower authorities. The learned AR of the assessee made
exhaustive submissions on validity of notice under section 148 as well as the validity of assessment order passed against the deceased assessee. The learned AR submits that the notice under section 148, dated 13th of March
2013 was issued in the name of Shri Krishna Kathari Katekar. The said 7
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notice was received by Samadhan Krishna Katekar, the son of deceased on 14th March 2013. The son of deceased assessee, while receiving the notice under section 148, clearly endorsed on the said notice that “assessee has expired on 30th of December 2009 and that he is his son”. The learned AR further submits that he has received the copy of said notice from the
assessment record under the provisions of Right to Information Act, and the copy of which is placed on record. The learned AR for the assessee further submits that despite informing the assessing officer about the death of assessee, the assessing officer concluded with the assessment
proceeding. No fresh notice under section 148 was served upon the legal hairs of the assessee, as mandated under the provisions of Code of Civil Procedure, as well as under the provisions of section 159 of Income-tax
Act. The assessing officer had enough time to carry out the formalities for bringing legal hairs on record and issuing fresh notice under section 148. The notice under section 148, issued in the name of deceased is invalid
notice and the proceedings initiated in pursuance of the said notice invalid and the subsequent action of assessing officer is void ab initio. Therefore, the entire assessment is void ab initio as notice under section 148 is in the
name of deceased person is invalid. 9. The learned AR for the assessee further explained that as per sub section (1) of section 59 of Income tax Act, where person dies, his legal
representative shall be liable to pay sum which the assesses would have 8
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been liable to pay if he had not died, in the like manner and to the same
extent as the deceased if he had survived. Similarly section 159 (2) also
empower the assessing officer to take the proceeding against the legal
representative which he should have taken against the deceased, if he had
survived. Sub section (2) of section 159 nowhere authorise the assessing
officer to take the proceeding against the individual who has already
expired, that is why the legal representative under section 2 (7) are
regarded to be assessee. The notice under section 148 has to be issued on
the assessee i.e. individual (human being). A person who has already
expired cannot be regarded as human being as on the date when the notice
was issued in this case. Only the legal heir can be regarded to be
individual. Therefore, in view of the clear mandates of section 2(7) and sub
sections (1), (2) and (3) of section 159, it was submitted that in absence of
issuance of valid notice, the proceeding initiated under section 147 cannot
be said to be a valid one. Since, the notice under section 148 is itself
invalid, therefore the assessing officer has no jurisdiction to make the
assessment. The defect of notice which goes to root of the matter cannot be
cured under section 292B or 292 BB. It was submitted that the learned
Commissioner (Appeals) relied upon the decision of Madhya Pradesh
High Court in case of Smt. Kaushalyabai Vs CIT (238 ITR 1008), on the
ground that as legal heirs participated in the assessment proceeding, the
notice issued under section 148 is valid (cured). The learned 9
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Commissioner (Appeals) ignored binding decision of Third Member of
Agra Tribunal in case of ITO Vs Sikandar Lal Jain (45 SOT 119) and the
decision of Hon’ble Madras High Court in case of CIT Vs M Hemanathan
(384 ITR 177 Mad), whereby the Hon’ble Madras High Court held that
principle of law which is mentioned by Madhya Pradesh High Court in
Smt. Kaushalyabai Vs CIT(supra) does not appears to be correct. Thus, it
was argued that the law explained by Hon’ble Madras High Court is the
correct explanation of law. 10. In support of his submission, the ld. AR of the assesses relied upon the
decision of Hon’ble Madras High Court in CIT vs. M. Hemanathan (384
ITR 177 (Madras), Hon’ble Bombay High Court in Rupa Shyamsundar
Dhumatkar vs. ACIT (W.P.No. 404 of 2019) dated 05.04.2019, ITO vs.
Sikandar Lal Jain (2011) 45 SOT 113(TM), Mrs. Jerbanoo N. Wadia vs.
ACIT (39 TTJ (Bom) 138, Rashid Lala vs. ITO (77 Taxman.com 39
(Guj.), CIT vs. Rakesh Kumar, Mukesh Kumar (313 ITR 305 (P&H), CIT
vs. Suresh Chandra Jaiswal (325 ITR 563) and ITO vs. Ganga Prasad
Jaiswal (39 ITD 444 (All.). 11. On the other hand, the ld. DR for the revenue supported the order of lower
authorities. The ld. DR further submits that the appellant/LRs of assessee
have not objected about the issuance of notice in the name of dead person.
The LR’s of the assessee fully participated in the assessment proceeding.
Reasons of re-opening was never asked for during the assessment 10
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proceeding. The appellant has not shown any prejudice caused to them.
Now the appellant /LR’s of the assessee are precluded from raising the
objection about the issuance of notice under section 147/148 in the name of dead person. The ld DR for the revenue fully supported the order of ld
Commissioner (Appeals) and also relied on the decision of MP High Court
in Smt. Kaushalyabai Vs CIT (supra). 12. We have considered the submission of both the parties and gone through
the orders of authorities below carefully. As noted earlier that the assessee
has raised additional grounds of appeal. Perusal of the additional grounds
of appeals reveals that in sum and substance the additional grounds are
reframed and no fresh material is required to be brought on record for
adjudication of additional grounds. Therefore, the additional grounds of
appeals are admitted for adjudication. There is no dispute that the assessing officer issued notice under section 148 on 13.03.2013. The said notice was
received by the son of the assessee on 14.03.2013. While receiving the
notice the son of the assessee clearly made endorsement on the notice itself
that the assessee expired on 30th December 2009. This fact of
endorsements on the notice under section 148, about the death of assessee on 30th December 2009, was verified from the assessment record brought
in the Court. Admittedly, no fresh notice under section 148 on the legal
heirs of the assessee was served. The legal heirs of the assessee filed return
of income on 14 .03.2014. The said return of income was treated as time 11
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barred return. The assessment was completed on 28.03.2014 under section
143(3) rws 147. The assessment was passed in the name of Samadhan
Krishna Katekar. No notice under section 148 was served on Samadhan
Krishna Katekar (the legal heir of the assessee). There is no dispute that
the legal heir of the assessee participated in the assessment proceedings.
The perusal of the assessment order reveals that the assessing officer made
additions of the basis of the information passed by investigation team who
had conducted the search and survey action on Jai Corp group. The
assessing officer brushed aside the explanation furnished before him that
only a sum of Rs. 1.50 Crore was received by the assessee and that the
asset i.e. the plot allotted from the CIDCO was not transferred nor the
agreed sale proceeds was received.
We have noted that the assessee has raised specific additional ground of
appeal before ld. Commissioner (Appeals) that the notice issued under
section 148 is invalid and therefore, the assessment order in void ab initio.
The additional ground of appeal raised by legal heirs was rejected by ld
Commissioner (Appeals) holding that the legal heirs of the assessee
participated in the assessment and furnished their reply dated 18.03.2014.
The ld. Commissioner (Appeals) rely on the decision of MP High Court in
Smt. Kaushalyabai ( supra), wherein it was held that the issuance of notice
on the dead person should be treated a procedural irregularity under
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section 292B of the Act and due to participation in the proceedings it is
cured automatically.
The ld. AR for the assessee vehemently argued that the decision in Smt.
Kaushalyabai (supra) is not good law as has been held by Hon’ble madras
High Court in CIT Vs Hemanathan (supra).
The Hon’ble Madras High Court in CIT vs. M. Hemanathan (supra) while
considering the question of law “whether on the facts and in the
circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in law in quashing the
order of the Commissioner of Income Tax passed under section 263 of the
Income Tax Act on a dead person without noting that the Commissioner
of Income Tax has impleaded the legal heirs of the assessee and whether
on the facts and circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in not
considering the crucial fact that the notice under section 263 of the
Income Tax Act was served on the legal representative and the
opportunity of being heard was given to the legal representative and his
authorised representative appeared and attended the hearings before the
Commissioner of Income Tax during the proceedings under section 263
of the Income Tax Act. The Hon’ble High Court held that notice issued
in name of deceased-assessee was served upon legal heir, who, then,
participated in proceedings, such proceedings was a nullity being initiated
against a dead person. It was further held that where notice issued in
name of deceased-assessee was served upon legal heir, who, then, 13
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participated in proceedings, said legal heir could not be deprived of right
to challenge service of notice. For better appreciation of facts of the said
case and for comparing the facts of the present case the relevant part of
the decision is extracted below:
We have carefully considered the above submissions. 11. The first contention of the learned Standing Counsel for the Department is that the notice, despite having been issued against the dead person, was served on the legal heir and the legal heir also participated in the proceedings. Therefore, it is his contention that it is not open to the legal heir now to take a position that the entire proceedings are a nullity. 12. But unfortunately, the said contention loses sight of the settled position that any proceeding initiated against a dead person is a nullity. The contention of the learned Standing Counsel for the Department loses sight of one important distinction between a case where the proceedings are initiated against a person, who is alive, but continued after his death and a case of proceedings initiated against a dead person himself. If the proceedings had been initiated against a person, who was alive, and they were continued after his death after putting his legal heirs on notice, those proceedings, under certain circumstances, may be saved. Such a situation is also contemplated in civil proceedings and a provision is made in the Civil Procedure Code itself under Order XXII Rule 4. Therefore, the cases where the very proceedings are initiated against a dead person stand apart from those proceedings where they are initiated against a live person, but continued after his death against the legal heirs. Hence, the first contention is rejected. 13. The second contention revolves around section 292BB of the Act, which reads as follows : "292BB. Notice deemed to be valid in certain circumstances. Where an assessee has appeared in any proceeding or co- operated in any inquiry relating to an assessment or reassessment, it shall be deemed that any notice under any provision of this Act, which is required to be served upon him, has been duly served upon him in time in accordance with the provisions of this Act and such assessee shall be precluded from taking any objection in any proceeding or inquiry under this Act that the notice was-- (a) not served upon him; or (b) not served upon him in time; or (c) served upon him in an improper manner: Provided that nothing contained in this section shall apply where the assessee has raised such objection before the completion of such assessment or reassessment." 14
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A cursory look at section 292BB would show that the same would apply only to two types of proceedings namely (i) proceedings, in which, the assessee had appeared and (ii) any inquiry, in which, the assessee had cooperated. 15. In the case on hand, the assessee was dead. It was the assessee's son, who appeared and perhaps cooperated. Therefore, the primary condition for the invocation of section 292BB is absent in the case on hand. 16. Section 292BB is in place to take care of contingencies where an assessee is put on notice of the initiation of proceedings, but who takes advantage of defective notices or defective service of notice on him. It is trite to point out that the purpose of issue of notice is to make the noticee aware of the nature of the proceedings. Once the nature of the proceedings is made known and understood by the assessee, he should not be allowed to take advantage of certain procedural defects. That was the purpose behind the enactment of section 292BB. In cannot be invoked in cases where the very initiation of proceedings is against a dead person. Hence, the second contention cannot also be upheld. 17. The third contention revolves around section 159(2). It will be useful to extract section 159 in entirety. It reads as follows : "159. Legal representatives.—(1) Where a person dies, his legal representative shall be liable to pay any sum which the deceased would have been liable to pay if he had not died, in the like manner and to the same extent as the deceased. (2) For the purpose of making an assessment (including an assessment, reassessment or re-computation under section 147) of the income of the deceased and for the purpose of levying any sum in the hands of the legal representative in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (1),— any proceeding taken against the deceased before his death shall be deemed to have been taken against the legal representative and may be continued against the legal representative from the stage at which it stood on the date of the death of the deceased ; any proceeding which could have been taken against the deceased if he had survived, may be taken against the legal representative;
and all the provisions of this Act shall apply accordingly
(3) The legal representative of the deceased shall, for the purposes of this Act, be deemed to be an assessee. (4) Every legal representative shall be personally liable for any tax payable by him in his capacity as legal representative if, while his liability for tax remains undischarged, he creates a charge on or disposes of or parts with any assets of the estate of the deceased, which are in, or may come into, his possession, but such liability shall be limited to the value of the asset so charged, disposed of, or parted with. (5) The provisions of sub-section (2) of section 161, section 162 and section 167, shall, so far as may be, and to the extent to which they are not 15
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inconsistent with the provisions of this section, apply in relation to a legal representative. (6) The liability of a legal representative under this section shall, subject to the provisions of sub-section (4) and sub-section (5), be limited to the extent to which the estate is capable of meeting the liability." 18. Sub-section (1) of section 159 would apply to a case where a liability has already crystallised. The death of an assessee would not absolve the legal heirs of the assessee of any liability that the assessee had incurred during his life time. In the case on hand, the liability, if any, would have arisen only after an order is passed under section 263. Therefore, sub-section (1) of section 159 will not apply to the case on hand. Sub-section (2) of section 159 deals primarily with two contingencies. The first is dealt with in Clause (a) of sub-section (2) of section 159. This Clause (a) contemplates the contingency of a proceeding taken against the deceased before his death. 19. In this case, the very initiation of proceedings under section 263 was done after the death. Clause (a) of sub-section (2) uses the expression 'before his death'. Therefore, Clause (a) would not apply to the case on hand. 20. Clause (b) is probably more advantageous to the Revenue, if at all it could be taken advantage by the Revenue. Clause (b) attempts to save the situation where the right of the Revenue to proceed against the assessee was available at the time when the assessee had passed away. Take for instance cases where the Appellate Authority has decided an issue in favour of the assessee and before the time limit available for the Department to file a further appeal, the assessee had died. In such situation, the right to file further appeal is a right to take any proceeding that was available to the Department as if the deceased assessee had survived. Therefore, it is only those circumstances that can be said to be taken care of under clause (b). 21. In any case, in the case on hand, the Department was made aware of the fact that the assessee was dead. The Income Tax Officer's letter dated 23.9.2013 informing his superior that the notice under section 263 returned with the endorsement of the Postal Department to the effect that the addressee was dead, clinches the fact. Despite being put on notice that the noticee was dead, the Department chose to pursue the very same notice. In such circumstances, Clause (b) of sub-section (2) of section 159 cannot be taken advantage of by the Department. 22. Sub-section (3) of section 159 contains a deeming fiction. It states that the legal representative of the deceased shall, for the purposes of this Act, be deemed to be an assessee. Therefore, it is contended by Mr.M. Swaminathan, learned Standing Counsel for the Department that the respondent should be deemed to be an assessee and the service of notice on him should be deemed to be sufficient service. 23. In other words, the contention of the learned Standing Counsel is that the respondent herein automatically becomes a deemed assessee in terms of sub- section (3) and hence, his participation would pre-empt him from taking objection to the fact that the notice was addressed to a dead person.
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Though at first blush, the contention appears to be well founded, we do not think that the Department can raise it in this case. As we have pointed out earlier, the original order of assessment was a scrutiny assessment passed under section 143(3) on 23.6.2011. After two years, the Commissioner sought to invoke section 263. The assessee had died in the meantime on 13.6.2013. The show cause notice under section 263 was issued on 6.9.2013. 25. We can give the benefit to the Department that they were not aware of the death of the assessee on that date. But, this notice dated 6.9.2013, sent by post, returned with the endorsement that the addressee was dead. Thereafter, the Department served the very same notice on the legal heir through a messenger. Therefore, the Department cannot now take advantage of sub-section (3) of section 159. If the Department had issued the notice addressed to the legal heir himself, by taking recourse to section 159(3), the deeming fiction could have been taken advantage of by the Department. It is too late in the day for the Department to take advantage of the same. 26. Mr.M.Swaminthan, learned Standing Counsel drew our attention to the decision of the Madhya Pradesh High Court in Smt.Kaushalyabai v. CIT [1999] 238 ITR 1008 and contended that once the legal heir of the deceased assessee had participated in the proceedings, the defect in the notice stood automatically cured. 27. We have gone through the decision of the Madhya Pradesh High Court. As seen from the facts, out of which, the said case arose, the proceedings for assessment for the years 1975-76 to 1980-81 were completed by the Department. Thereafter, the Department noticed that the share income of the wife of the assessee, which should have been included in the assessee's hands under section 64, had escaped assessment. Therefore, the proceedings were initiated under section 147. In the meantime, the assessee expired on 12.1.1981. Notices were issued on 3.3.1981 and they were received by the legal heirs. In response to the notices, the legal heirs actually filed returns for all these years under protest. 28. Therefore, there are two reasons as to why we cannot go by the ratio decidendi in Kaushalyabai (supra). The first is that in response to the notices, the assessee's legal heirs filed returns of income. In other words, they submitted to the jurisdiction. Moreover, what was sought to be done was actually to include the income of the wife under section 64. 29. The second reason is that with great respect to the Madhya Pradesh High Court, the principle of law that they had mentioned therein does not appear to be correct. A notice sent to a dead person is actually a nullity. There is only one exception in so far as civil proceedings are concerned, which could be traced to Order XXII Rule 4. Section 159 of the Income Tax Act also carves out an exception. Since service of notice on the legal heir of a dead person falls under the category of an exception to the general rule, the same cannot overtake the rule in the absence of a specific provision. 30. A Bench of this Court, to which, one of us (VRSJ) was a party, had pointed out in Gopalakrishnan G.S. v. State of Tamil Nadu [2006 (4) CTC 757], that a distinction has always to be maintained between judicial/ quasi-judicial proceedings and other proceedings. In Savithriammal v. State of Tamil Nadu [2006 (3) MLJ 389], a Division Bench of this Court had categorically pointed 17
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out that the notification issued in the name of a dead person is a nullity. In Smt. Lila Vati Bai v. State of Bombay AIR 1957 SC 521, the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court had carved out an exception. 31. The case on hand will not fall under the said exception. Therefore, the very initiation of the proceedings against the dead person and the continuation of the same despite having noticed the factum of death of the assessee cannot be approved. 32. Hence, the tax case appeal is dismissed and the questions of law are answered against the Department.” 16. The Hon’ble Bombay High Court in Rupa Shyamsundar Dhumatkar
(supra) held that it is settled law; notice for reopening of assessment
against a dead person is invalid. The fact that the assessing officer was not
informed of the death before issue of notice is irrelevant.
Further, Hon’ble Gujarat High Court in Rashid Lala Vs ITO (supra)
held that where original assessee, died on 2-12-2009 and after a period
of six years Assessing Officer issued notice under section 148 in her
name to reopen assessment for assessment year 2009-10 and further
despite pointing out by heir of assessee that assessee had expired long
back, he relying upon section 159 continued with reassessment
proceedings against assessee, section 159 would not applicable to
instant case and, therefore impugned notice was liable to be set aside.
Similarly, Delhi High Court in Rajinder Kumar Sehgal Vs ITO [2019]
101 taxmann.com 233 (Delhi) also took the view that where notice
seeking to reopen assessment was issued in name of deceased assessee,
since she could not have participated in reassessment proceedings,
provisions of section 292BB were not applicable to assessee's case and
ITA No. 3112/Mum/2017- 3112 Mum 2017 Samadhan Krishna Katekar
as a consequence, impugned reassessment proceedings deserved to be
quashed.
The case law relied by ld Commissioner (Appeals) in Smt.
Kaushalyabai ( supra) is not helpful to the revenue as the same has
already been distinguished by Madras High in CIT vs. M. Hemanathan
(supra) as well as by Delhi High Court in Rajinder Kumar Sehgal Vs
ITO (supra).
In view of the foregoing factual and legal discussions and respectfully
following the decisions of various High Courts, the impugned
reassessment notice issued under section 148 on 13.03.2013 in invalid and
therefore, all consequent proceedings including the reassessment order-
have to be and is, hereby quashed. In the result the ground No. 1&2 of the
appeal raised by the assessee are allowed. As we have allowed the legal
issues raised by the assessee and quashed the reassessment, therefore,
discussions on the merits of the case have become academic.
In the result the appeal of the assessee is allowed.
Order pronounced in the open court on 12/06/2019.
Sd/- Sd/- M. BALAGANESH, PAWAN SINGH ACCOUNTANT MEMBER JUDICIAL MEMBER Mumbai, Date: 12.06.2019 SK Copy of the Order forwarded to : 1. Assessee 2. Respondent 3. The concerned CIT(A) 19
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The concerned CIT 5. DR “G” Bench, ITAT, Mumbai 6. Guard File
BY ORDER,
Dy./Asst. Registrar ITAT, Mumbai