LATE SHRI DAMODAR SINGH THROUGH LEGAL HEIR KRISHNAPAL,AGRA vs. PRABHAKAR, AGRA

This assessee’s appeal for assessment year 2012-13 arises against the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)/National Faceless Appeal Centre [in short, the “CIT(A)/NFAC”], Delhi’s DIN and order no. ITBA/NFAC/S/250/2023-24/1060188921(1) dated 29.01.2024 involving proceedings under section 143(3) r.w.s. 147 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Act’).

Case called twice. None appears at the appellant’s behest. It is accordingly proceeded ex-parte.

The delay of 3 days in filing the assessee’s instant appeal stands condoned as per her contentions/averments explaining reasonable cause on account of the situation beyond her control.

It emerges at the outset that the appellate before us, Sh. Krishna Pal, claims himself as the “legal representative” of the deceased assessee Late Sh. Damodar Singh, who is stated to have left for his heavenly abode. Learned counsel submits that since the appellant happens to be the son of the deceased assessee, he is entitled to file the instant appeal as his “legal representative”. 5. We have given our thoughtful consideration to the assessee’s foregoing arguments regarding maintainability of his instant appeal. It is made clear that neither he has proved to have satisfied the relevant statutory conditions defining a “legal representative” u/s 2(29) of the Act r.w.s. 2(11) of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 of Act that he represents the estate of the deceased appellant or he is the intermeddler thereof, nor any action is stated to have been initiated against him u/s 159 of the Act.

That being the case, we find no merit in the appellant’s claim as “legal representative” of the deceased assessee and reject his instant appeal at this stage in very terms, subject to a rider that he shall be at liberty to file a fresh appeal as and when he either satisfies the statutory conditions of a “legal representative” under section 2(11) (supra) or he is proceeded against by the department under section 159 of the Act, whichever is earlier. Ordered accordingly.