ANJALI SRIVASTAVA L/H LATE ABHIJEET SRIVASTAVA vs. INCOME TAX OFFICER & ANR.

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ITA/256/2025HC DelhiDLHC01051266202509 September 2025Bench: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE V. KAMESWAR RAO,HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VINOD KUMAR2 pages
AI SummaryDismissed

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court noted the revenue's submission that no decision had been taken to invoke Section 159 against the legal heir. Consequently, the appeal was treated as closed.

What were the facts?

The assessee, Anjali Srivastava, filed an appeal as the legal heir of late Abhijeet Srivastava. The ITAT rejected her appeal, stating she had not proven proceedings against her under Section 159 of the Act or met the definition of a legal representative. The revenue stated no decision had been made to invoke Section 159 against her.

What were the issues?

Whether the legal heir could be proceeded against under Section 159 of the IT Act without a specific decision by the revenue to do so. The applicability of the definition of a legal representative in the context of tax proceedings.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 159,Section 2(29),Section 2(11)

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

$~16 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + ITA 256/2025, CM APPL. 46243/2025 ANJALI SRIVASTAVA L/H LATE ABHIJEET SRIVASTAVA .....Appellant Through: Mr. Nitin Kanwar, Ms. Parul Kanwar, Mr. Dushyant Nayak, Mr. Jitendra Singh, Mr Rajiv Kumar, Mr. Shivam Jain, Advs. versus INCOME TAX OFFICER & ANR. .....Respondent Through: Mr Sanjay Kumar, SSC, Ms Monica Benjamin and Ms Easha Kadian, JSCs. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE V. KAMESWAR RAO HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VINOD KUMAR O R D E R % 09.09.2025 1. The challenge in this appeal is primarily to an order dated 09.01.2025 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal in ITA 5156/Del/2024 filed by Anjali Srivastava, the legal heir of late Abhijeet Srivastava. 2. The Tribunal has in the appellate order, Paragraph 3-4 stated as under: “I find no merit in the assessee’s instant appellant’s technical argument as neither she has pleaded and proved to have been proceeded against u/s 159 of the Act nor her case satisfies the statutory condition u/s 2(29) of the Income-tax Act read with section 2(11) of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, that a legal representative is the person who “represents the estate of the deceased ....”. I, thus reject the appellant’s instant appeal in the capacity of deceased assessee’s legal representative at this This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 17/09/2025 at 14:20:30

stage with a rider that she would be at liberty to take recourse of legal remedies once the appropriate proceedings are initiated against her by the department or the moment she qualifies the foregoing statutory provision(s), whichever is earlier. Ordered accordingly.” 3. Mr. Sanjay Kumar, learned Senior Standing Counsel for the revenue states that as per his instructions, as of today, no decision has been taken by the respondent/revenue to invoke Section 159 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (‘the Act’). 4. It is only as and when a decision is taken to invoke Section 159 of the Act qua Anjali Srivastava being legal heir, the cause of action will accrue to her. 5. In view of the submission made by Mr. Sanjay Kumar, Mr. Nitin Kanwar states that the appeal be treated as closed. 6. It is ordered accordingly. V. KAMESWAR RAO, J VINOD KUMAR, J SEPTEMBER 9, 2025 tg This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 17/09/2025 at 14:20:30

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