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Facts
The assessee challenged a revisional order by the Pr.CIT under Section 263 to set aside an assessment order for AY 2017-18. The primary contention was that the original assessment order dated 17.10.2019, and the preceding notice under Section 143(2) dated 09.08.2018, were issued in the name of Mr. Ramesh Chandra, who had died on 16.06.2018, rendering the assessment void ab initio.
Held
The Tribunal, relying on precedents, held that an assessment order passed in the name of a deceased person is void ab initio and not sustainable in law. Consequently, a revisional order passed under Section 263 against such a non-existent assessment order is without legal sanction and impermissible.
Key Issues
Validity of an assessment order passed in the name of a deceased assessee and the permissibility of revisional action under Section 263 against such a void order.
Sections Cited
Section 263, Section 143(3), Section 143(2)
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, DELHI BENCH “F” DELHI
Before: SHRI PRADIP KUMAR KEDIA & SHRI SUDHIR KUMAR
PER PRADIP KUMAR KEDIA - A.M.: The captioned appeal by the assessee is directed against the revisional order passed by the Principal Commissioner of Income Tax, Faridabad (‘Pr.CIT’ in short) dated 30.03.2022 under Section 263 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (the Act) whereby the assessment order passed by the Assessing Officer (AO) dated 17.10.2019 under Section 143(3) of the Act concerning Assessment Year 2017- 18 was sought to be set aside for de novo assessment in terms of supervisory directions.
As per the captioned appeal, the assessee has challenged the revisional order passed by the Pr.CIT by invoking Section 263 of the Act.
When the matter was called for hearing, the ld. counsel for the assessee submitted at the outset that the assessment order has been drawn in the name of deceased-Mr. Ramesh Chandra. The assessment order was passed on 17.10.2019 whereas the assessee had died on 16.06.2018. The ld. counsel also adverted our attention to notice issued under Section 143(2) dated 09.08.2018 in the name of deceased Shri Ramesh Chandra. The notice issued under Section 143(2) could not be issued in the name of the deceased after his death on 16.06.2018. Thus, the notice issued under Section 143(2) empowering the AO to frame assessment under Section 143(3) of the Act itself is void ab initio. Thus, in the light of the judgments rendered in the case of Savita Kapila vs. ACIT (2020) 108 CCH 0049 (Del); Rajendra Kumar Sehgal vs. ITO in W.P. (C) 11255/2017 order dated 19.11.2018, the assessment order itself is bad in law and not executable. Consequently, the revisional order passed on such prima facie non-est order is not sustainable in law. The ld. counsel further addressed us on merits to contend that the assessment order is neither erroneous nor prejudicial to the interest of the Revenue and therefore, the jurisdiction under Section 263 was never conferred upon the Pr.CIT.
The ld. CIT-DR for the Revenue, on the other hand, referred to the judgment rendered in the case of Smt. Swaran Kanta vs. CIT, (1989) 176 ITR 291 (P&H) to submit that the return of income filed by the deceased do not get invalidated when the widow was impleaded and the notice was issued to her as legal heir of the assessee.
4.1 The ld. CIT-DR thus submitted that the revision of the assessment order so passed is capable of being revised under Section 263 of the Act.
We have carefully considered the rival submissions.
As pointed out on behalf of the assessee, the assessment order was drawn in the name of Late Mr. Ramesh Chandra who was deceased at the time of framing of the assessment order on 17.10.2019. This being so, in the light of the judgments rendered by Hon’ble Jurisdictional High Court in the case of Savita Kapila (Supra) and Rajendra Kumar Sehgal (supra), the assessment order framed in the name of deceased is apparently not sustainable in law. Consequently, the revisional action of a non-existent assessment order is not permissible in law. Thus, without going into the merits of the plea towards lack of prerequisites for the purposes of Section 263, we hold that the revisional action under challenge is outside the sanction of law.
In the result, the appeal of the assessee is allowed. Order pronounced in the open Court on 06 August, 2024.