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2019 (7) TMI 1943 - AT - Income TaxAssessment against a non-existing entity - Amalgamation scheme Conceived - HELD THAT:- As informed of the amalgamating company having ceased to exist as a result of the approved scheme of amalgamation, the jurisdictional notice was issued only in its name. It has been held that the basis on which jurisdiction was invoked was fundamentally at odds with the legal principle that the amalgamating entity ceases to exist upon the approved scheme of amalgamation. Hon'ble Supreme Court Maruti Suzuki India Limited [2019 (7) TMI 1449 - SUPREME COURT] also observed that participation in the proceedings by the assessee in the circumstances cannot operate as an estoppel against law. It was also held that this position holds the field in view of their judgment in the case of Spice Enotainment delivered on 02.11.2017. In the case on hand it is undoubtedly the assessment was made by the Assessing Officer on SIPSPL the amalgamating company which was amalgamated with STSPL w.e.f 01.10.2011 and accordingly ceased to exist thereafter. Therefore, when the assessment was made on an non existing entity the said assessment is void ab-initio and nullity in the eye of law. Assessment framed against a non-existing entity goes to the root of the matter and it is not a procedural irregularity but a jurisdictional defect and there cannot be any assessment against a non-existing entity or a dead person. Therefore, the decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Pr.CIT v. Maruti Suzuki India Limited (supra) squarely applies to the facts of the assessee’s case. Respectfully following the decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court, we hold that the assessment made by the Assessing Officer in the name of the amalgamating company i.e. SIPSPL dated 24.01.2014 u/s. 143(3) r.w.s. 144C(13) of the Act for the A.Y.2009-10 is void ab-initio and bad in law. Hence the assessment order is a nullity in the eye of law and the same is quashed. The additional ground raised by the assessee is allowed.
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