PRAKASH TATOBA TORASKAR Vs. INCOME-TAX OFFCER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Petitioner challenges notices issued under Sec. 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 ("the Act") dtd. 30/6/2021 and 20/6/2022 and the Order under Sec. 148A(d) dtd. 30/6/2022 on the ground that the the re-assessment proceedings have been initiated against a dead person.

(2.) It is stated that the Respondents have issued a notice under Sec. 148 dtd. 30/6/2021, in the name of the father of the Petitioner, namely, Prakash Tatoba Toraskar, who had already expired on 4/11/2019. The death certifcate issued by Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai is also placed on record to support this fact. It is stated that the said notice had not been challenged in any writ proceedings before the Court and ordinarily the matter should have rested there. However, pursuant to the judgment of the Apex Court in the case of Union of India Vs. Ashish Agarwal 2022 SCC Online SC 543, the Respondents then vide communication dtd. 20/5/2022 acting in purported compliance of the said judgment treated the earlier notice issued under Sec. 148 of the Act to be a notice under Sec. 148A(b) provided information to the deceased Prakash Tatoba Toraskar and sought reply thereto, so that necessary Order in terms of Sec. 148A(d) could be passed. Since Prakash Tatoba Toraskar had already expired, his legal heir Kiran Toraskar submitted a response informing the assessing offcer about the factum of death of the assessee. A copy of the death certifcate was also furnished along with the response. It is also not out of place to mention that since the communication dtd. 20/5/2022 purporting to be a notice under Sec. 148A(b) had been addressed in the name of the deceased, the legal heir of the deceased, therefore, did not consent to participate in the assessment proceedings.

(3.) Not withstanding the above mentioned objection having been taken by the legal heir of the deceased, an Order under Sec. 148A(d) came to be passed on 30/6/2022. From the facts as they emerge from the record, thus, make it clear that initial notice under Sec. 148 was in the name of the deceased and so was the subsequent communication dtd. 20/5/2022 purporting to be a notice in terms of Sec. 148A(b), it is settled law that notice issued under Sec. 148 of the Act against a dead person would be invalid, unless the legal representatives submit to the jurisdiction of the Assessing Offcer without raising any objection. Reference in this regard can be made in the case of Income Tax Ward 1(3)(7), Surat Vs. Durlabhbhai Kanubhai Rajpara2.