SATYA PAL VERMA Vs. INCOME TAX OFFICER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS is a petition under Article 226 of the Constitution.

(2.) THERE were some income -tax arrears due from Sri A. N. Verma, the father of the petitioner. Sri A. N. Verma died in the year 1958; the arrears related to assessment years 1947 -48, 1949 -50 to 1955 -56. The Income -tax Officer, Dehra Dun, is trying to realise the arrears of tax from the petitioner by attachment of his property and by way of proceedings under Section 226(3) against the tenants of the petitioner's property and from the creditors of the petitioner. Even the money payable to thepetitioner under (insurance) policies of his life were sought to be attached. The petitioner has challenged these proceedings on various grounds such as :

(3.) ADMITTEDLY , no notice of demand had been served upon the petitioner requiring him to pay the arrears of tax due from his late father. There is no doubt that the petitioner being the legal representative of his late father is liable to pay the tax due from the latter to the extent of the estate of the deceased inherited by him. Under Sub -section (3) of Section 159 he shall be deemed to be an assessee for purposes of the Act, but recovery proceedings, including proceedings under Section 226, can be initiated only against an assessee in default. Under Sub -section (4) of Section 220 an assessee shall be deemed to be in default only if he does not pay the tax within the time and in the manner specified in the notice of demand. A notice of demand is issued under Section 156 to every assessee for tax payable : and under Section 220(1) the amount specified as payable in the notice of demand under Section 156 shall be paid within 35 days from the date of the service of the notice. Thus, it is clear that unless an assessee is served with the notice of demand and he fails to comply with that notice within 35 days from the date of receipt of the notice he cannot be said to be an assessee in default and, consequently, no recovery proceedings can be taken against him. Merely because an assessee has the knowledge of the tax assessed against him or payable by him under any of the provisions of the Income -tax Act the service of the notice of demand cannot be dispensed with. In the counter -affidavit it is not denied that no notice of demand was served upon the assessee but it is said that he had knowledge of the arrears of tax due from his father. This is not enough to render him as an assessee in default. The recovery proceedings are, therefore, illegal and cannot be sustained.