Thursday, 07, May, 2026
 
 
 
Expand O P Jindal Global University
 
  
  
 
 
 

Paras Defence And Space Technologies ... vs Deputy Commissioner Of Income Tax, 15 ...
2026 Latest Caselaw 869 Bom

Citation : 2026 Latest Caselaw 869 Bom
Judgement Date : 27 January, 2026

[Cites 21, Cited by 0]

Bombay High Court

Paras Defence And Space Technologies ... vs Deputy Commissioner Of Income Tax, 15 ... on 27 January, 2026

Author: B. P. Colabawalla
Bench: B. P. Colabawalla
    2026:BHC-OS:2958-DB


                                                                                                     3-wp-4934-2022.doc



                                                  IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
                                                       ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION


                                                               WRIT PETITION NO.4934 OF 2022

                               Paras Defence and Space Technologies Ltd.                      .. Petitioner.

                                           Versus

                               Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax
                               15 (1) (1) and Others                                          .. Respondents.

           Digitally signed
           by SMITA
SMITA     RAJNIKANT
RAJNIKANT JOSHI
JOSHI     Date:
           2026.02.02
                                  Adv. Devendra Jain with Adv. Shashank A. Mehta and Adv. Saukhya
           17:21:38 +0530
                                  Lakade i/b. Adv. Radha Halbe, for the Petitioner.

                                  Adv. Sushma Nagraj and Ms. Adyasha Day, for Respondents.

                                                                         CORAM:     B. P. COLABAWALLA &
                                                                                    FIRDOSH P. POONIWALLA, JJ.
                                                                         DATE:      JANUARY 27, 2026

                              P. C.

                              1                     RULE. Respondents waive service. With the consent of the

parties, Rule made returnable forthwith and heard finally.

2 The above Writ Petition challenges the order of assessment

dated 29.09.2022 passed under Section 143(3), read with Section 144B,

of the Act, the Notice of demand dated 29.09.2022 issued under Section

156, and the Show Cause Notices issued for imposing various penalties

JANUARY 27, 2026 S.R.JOSHI

3-wp-4934-2022.doc

in respect of Assessment Year 2020-21, inter-alia, on the ground that

such notices were issued, and the impugned assessment order was

passed, in the name of a non-existent entity.

3 Brief facts of the case are that the Petitioner in the present

case ('Paras Defence and Space Technologies Limited') is a Listed

Public Company engaged in defence engineering & manufacturing. Vide

Order dated 07.06.2018, the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT)

approved the scheme of amalgamation of M/s Mechvac India Limited

and M/s Concept Shapers And Electronics Private Limited

("erstwhile/transferor company") with the Petitioner, whereby the

former companies got amalgamated into the Petitioner w.e.f.

01.04.2017.

4 It is submitted by the Petitioner that details about the said

amalgamation were duly communicated to the Income Tax department

during the course of assessment proceedings for Assessment Year 2018-

19. A notice under Section 142(1) of the Act was issued on 17.12.2020

(annexed as Exhibit A2 to the Writ Petition) specifically asking for the

details about the scheme of amalgamation. The Petitioner responded to

JANUARY 27, 2026 S.R.JOSHI

3-wp-4934-2022.doc

the said notice vide submission dated 01.02.2021 (annexed as Exhibit

A3 to the Writ Petition) and provided details of the amalgamation inter-

alia of the erstwhile/transferor company named 'Concept Shapers And

Electronics Private Limited' (hereinaftere referred to as "Concept").

Thereafter, the order of assessment for the said Assessment Year (AY

2018-19) was duly passed in the name of the Petitioner on 12.04.2021

(annexed as Exhibit B to the Writ Petition).

5 For the Assessment Year in question, namely, A.Y. 2020-21,

the Petitioner filed its return of income on 31.12.2020 in its own name

( annexed as Exhibit C1 to the Writ Petition). Thereafter, the case of the

Petitioner for A.Y. 2020-21 was taken up for regular assessment by

issuing notice under Section 143(2) of the Act followed by several

notices issued under Section 142(1) of the Act and a Show Cause Notice

proposing to make various additions.

6 During the course of the said assessment proceedings for

A.Y. 2020-21, notices dated 25.11.2021 (Exhibit D1) and 18.01.2022

(Exhibit D3) were issued under section 142(1) in the name of Concept.

In response thereto, the Petitioner vide its letter dated 24.01.2022

JANUARY 27, 2026 S.R.JOSHI

3-wp-4934-2022.doc

( annexed as Exhibit D4 to the Writ Petition) again provided details

about the amalgamation of 'Concept Shapers And Electronics Private

Limited' with the Petitioner. Further, the submissions made by the

Petitioner were either on its own letterhead or under the seal of 'Paras

Defence and Space Technologies Limited'. However, Respondent No.1

continued to issue notice under Section 142(1) in the name of the

Concept.

7 Thereafter, Respondent No.1 issued the show cause notice

on 21.09.2022 again in the name of Concept ( annexed as Exhibit E1 to

the Writ Petition). The Petitioner responded to the said notice under its

own name and seal ( annexed as Exhibit E2 to the Writ Petition).

8 Respondent No.1, thereafter, passed the Order of regular

assessment on 29.09.2022 under Section 143(3) of the Act ( annexed as

Exhibit F to the Writ Petition) in the name of ' Concept Shapers And

Electronics Private Limited' making several additions in respect of AY

2020-21. Further, the Notice of demand under section 156 of the Act

(Exhibit G) and the notice for initiating the penalty proceedings

JANUARY 27, 2026 S.R.JOSHI

3-wp-4934-2022.doc

(Exhibits H, I, J to the Writ Petition) were also issued in the name of

'Concept Shapers And Electronics Private Limited'.

9 In this factual backdrop, Mr. Devendra Jain, the learned

counsel appearing on behalf of the Petitioner contended as under:

(a) That upon a scheme of amalgamation being sanctioned,

amalgamating/transferor company(s) ceases to exist in the eyes of law

as held by the Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of Saraswati Industrial

Syndicate Ltd v. CIT [1990] 53 Taxman 92 (SC) . Once, such transferor

company ceases to exist, it cannot fall within the definition of a 'person'

as defined under Section 2(31) of the Act. Consequently, no proceedings

can be conducted in respect of a ' person' which no longer exists. Thus,

the notices and the impugned Assessment Order, having been issued in

the name of a non-existent entity, were void-ab-inito and bad in law. In

support of this contention the Petitioner relied upon the following

judicial precedents:

- PCIT v. Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. [2019] 107 taxmann.com 375 (SC)

- Spice Entertainment Ltd. v. CST (2012) 247 CTR 500 (Delhi HC)

JANUARY 27, 2026 S.R.JOSHI

3-wp-4934-2022.doc

- Alok Knit Exports Ltd. v. DCIT [WP No. 2742/2019 (Bom.)]

-New Age Buildtech Private Limited v. NFAC [WP/5308 /2022] (Bom.)

- J. M. Mhatre Infra Pvt. Ltd. v. The Union of India [WPL/16514/2023] (Bom.)

- Vahanvati Consultants Pvt. Ltd. v. ACIT [WP No. 3562/2019 (Bom.)]

- Godrej Projects Development Ltd. v. DCIT [WPL No. 21009/2021 (Bom.)]

- CIT v. Intel Technology India (P) Ltd [2016] 380 ITR 272 (Kar.)

- PCIT v. Nokia Solutions & Network India (P) Ltd. [2018] 402 ITR 21 (Del).

10 On the other hand, Ms. Sushma Nagaraj, the learned

counsel appearing on behalf of the Respondent, relying upon the

Affidavit in Reply dated 03.09.2025, made the following submissions -

(a) That Notice under Section 143(2) dated 29.06.2021 was issued in

the name of the Petitioner, but the subsequent notices and order

of assessment were issued/passed in the name of the erstwhile

company [Concept] on account of a technical glitch whilst

selecting the name in the computer system. However, the PAN

mentioned in all the above communications was that of the

Petitioner. Accordingly, the mistake in mentioning the name of

JANUARY 27, 2026 S.R.JOSHI

3-wp-4934-2022.doc

Concept was merely a mistake and curable under the provisions of

Section 292B of the Act.

(b) That the Petitioner did not raise any issue regarding the above in

the assessment proceedings and duly participated therein. The

Petitioner was therefore aware that the proceedings were being

conducted against it and not Concept .

(c) That the Petitioner has made various submissions on the merits of

the matter, being response/ submissions dated 24.1.2022 (Exhibit

D4 to the Writ Petition), 30.1.22 (Exhibit D5 to the Writ Petition),

23.9.22 (Exhibit E2 to the Writ Petition), 24.9.22 (Exhibit E3 to

the Writ Petition). The Petitioner was therefore aware, and

understood that the notices were meant for it. The notices were

replied and dealt with by them fully. Therefore, there was no

prejudice to the Petitioner.

11. In support of the above, the learned counsel for the Revenue

placed reliance on the decision of the Delhi High Court in the case of

Sky Light Hospitality LLP v. ACIT [2018] 90 taxmann.com 413 (Delhi)

and indicated that the Special Leave Petition against the decision of the

JANUARY 27, 2026 S.R.JOSHI

3-wp-4934-2022.doc

Delhi High Court was also dismissed.

12. In rejoinder, Mr. Jain, the learned counsel appearing on

behalf of the Petitioner, contended as under:

(a) That the Respondent No.1 continued to issue notices and also

passed the order in the name of a non-existent entity. This cannot

be said to be a technical mistake. Had there been a technical glitch

in the computer system, then atleast Respondent No.1 ought to

have disclosed/mentioned about it somewhere in the body of any

notices/Order. However, no such averment or note was provided by

Respondent No.1 during the entire assessment proceedings. It is

not correct for Respondent No.1 to now state that wrong selection

of the name of the Assessee was merely on account of a technical

glitch in the computer system. Such an explanation being provided

for the first time in the affidavit-in-reply appears to be an

afterthought. Also, Respondent No.1 has not brought on record any

evidence/material which substantiates its averment about the so-

called technical glitch on the computer system.

JANUARY 27, 2026 S.R.JOSHI

3-wp-4934-2022.doc

(b) That continuing and concluding the assessment in the name of a

non-existent entity cannot be regarded as a mistake curable under

Section 292B as held in following judicial precedents:

- PCIT v. Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (supra)

- Alok Knit Exports Limited v. DCIT (supra)

(c) That merely because the Petitioner participated in the assessment

proceedings by itself does not cure the jurisdictional error

committed by Respondent No.1. The Hon'ble Apex Court in the

case of PCIT v. Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (supra) has also held that

participation in the proceedings by the Assessee cannot operate as

an estoppel against law.

(d) That the decision of the Delhi High Court in the case of Sky Light

Hospitality LLP v. ACIT (supra) has been duly considered by the

Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of PCIT v. Maruti Suzuki India Ltd

(supra), and also by this Court in Alok Knit Exports Ltd. v. DCIT

(supra), and it was held that the said decision was rendered in the

peculiar facts of that case. It is submitted that the said case is

distinguishable from the facts of the present case. Consequently, he

JANUARY 27, 2026 S.R.JOSHI

3-wp-4934-2022.doc

submitted that the impugned Assessment Order as well as all

notices emanating therefrom be quashed.

13. We have heard both the parties at length and have also

perused the records produced before us and also the affidavit in reply

filed by the Respondents. It is an undisputed fact that the Petitioner had

made Respondent No.1 aware about the amalgamation of 'Concept

Shapers And Electronics Private Limited' with the Petitioner during the

course of the assessment proceedings for AY 2018-19 as well as during

the assessment proceedings for the relevant Assessment Year 2020-21.

Despite the aforesaid, Respondent No.1 issued the Notice under Section

142(1) in the name of Concept; proceeded to issue the Show Cause

Notice in the name of Concept; and ultimately even passed the order of

assessment, issued notice of demand under Section 156 and issued

penalty Show Cause Notices; all in the name of Concept. Had there

been a genuine technical glitch in the selection of the name in the

computer system, then Respondent No.1 ought to have reported the

same somewhere in the impugned notices/ the Show Cause Notice or

atleast in the impugned order of assessment. However, neither any

corrigendum was issued nor any averment was made in this respect in

JANUARY 27, 2026 S.R.JOSHI

3-wp-4934-2022.doc

the body of the notices or in the assessment order. Merely stating that

the mistake was on account of a technical glitch or that the PAN was

correctly quoted, does not absolve Respondent No.1 from the mandate

to issue notice and pass the order of assessment in the correct name.

14 We are not inclined to hold that issuing notices and passing

of the Assessment Order in the name of a non-existent entity is a

procedural error which can be cured by taking recourse to the

provisions of Section 292B. This is a case where Respondent No.1 has

conducted assessment for the period (i.e. Assessment Year 2020-21)

which falls post the date of amalgamation. In such a case it is certainly

expected from Respondent No.1 to be mindful as to which entity is he

assessing. Issuing notice and passing of the Assessment Order in the

name of Concept, for an Assessment year which falls subsequent to its

cessation, certainly cannot be pardoned as a curable defect.

15 The argument of the revenue that issuance of notice/order

in the name of a non-existent entity is a curable defect pursuant to the

provision of Section 292B, has already been negated by Hon'ble Apex

Court in the case of PCIT v. Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (supra), wherein it

JANUARY 27, 2026 S.R.JOSHI

3-wp-4934-2022.doc

was inter-alia held as under:

" 31. Mr Zoheb Hossain, learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the Revenue urged during the course of his submissions that the notice that was in issue in Skylight Hospitality Pvt. Ltd. was under Sections 147 and 148. Hence, he urged that despite the fact that the notice is of a jurisdictional nature for reopening an assessment, this Court did not find any infirmity in the decision of the Delhi High Court holding that the issuance of a notice to an erstwhile private limited company which had since been dissolved was only a mistake curable under Section 292B. A close reading of the order of this Court dated 6 April 2018, however indicates that what weighed in the dismissal of the Special Leave Petition were the peculiar facts of the case. Those facts have been noted above. What had weighed with the Delhi High Court was that though the notice to reopen had been issued in the name of the erstwhile entity, all the material on record including the tax evasion report suggested that there was no manner of doubt that the notice was always intended to be issued to the successor entity. Hence, while dismissing the Special Leave Petition this Court observed that it was the peculiar facts of the case which led the court to accept the finding that the wrong name given in the notice was merely a technical error which could be corrected under Section 292B. Thus, there is no conflict between the decisions in Spice Enfotainment (supra) on the one hand and Skylight Hospitality LLP (supra) on the other hand.

It is of relevance to refer to Section 292B of the Income Tax Act which reads as follows:

"292B. No return of income, assessment, notice, summons or other proceeding, furnished or made or issued or taken or purported to have been furnished or made or issued or taken in pursuance

JANUARY 27, 2026 S.R.JOSHI

3-wp-4934-2022.doc

of any of the provisions of this Act shall be invalid or shall be deemed to be invalid merely by reason of any mistake, defect or omission in such return of income, assessment, notice, summons or other proceeding if such return of income, assessment, notice, summons or other proceeding is in substance and effect in conformity with or according to the intent and purpose of this Act."In this case, the notice under Section 143(2) under which jurisdiction was assumed by the assessing officer was issued to a non-existent company. The assessment order was issued against the amalgamating company. This is a substantive illegality and not a procedural violation of the nature adverted to in Section 292B.

In this context, it is necessary to advert to the provisions of Section 170 which deal with succession to business otherwise than on death. Section 170 provides as follows:

"170. (1) Where a person carrying on any business or profession (such person hereinafter in this section being referred to as the predecessor) has been succeeded therein by any other person (hereinafter in this section referred to as the successor) who continues to carry on that business or profession,

(a) the predecessor shall be assesseed in respect of the income of the previous year in which the succession took place up to the date of succession;

(b) the successor shall be assesseed in respect of the income of the previous year after the date of succession.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-

section (1), when the predecessor cannot be found, the assessment of the income of the previous year in which the succession took place up to the date of succession and of the previous year preceding that year shall be made on the

JANUARY 27, 2026 S.R.JOSHI

3-wp-4934-2022.doc

successor in like manner and to the same extent as it would have been made on the predecessor, and all the provisions of this Act shall, so far as may be, apply accordingly.

(3) When any sum payable under this section in respect of the income of such business or profession for the previous year in which the succession took place up to the date of succession or for the previous year preceding that year, assesseed on the predecessor, cannot be recovered from him, the 99[Assessing] Officer shall record a finding to that effect and the sum payable by the predecessor shall thereafter be payable by and recoverable from the successor and the successor shall be entitled to recover from the predecessor any sum so paid.

(4) Where any business or profession carried on by a Hindu undivided family is succeeded to, and simultaneously with the succession or after the succession there has been a partition of the joint family property between the members or groups of members, the tax due in respect of the income of the business or profession succeeded to, up to the date of succession, shall be assesseed and recovered in the manner provided in section 171, but without prejudice to the provisions of this section. Explanation. For the purposes of this section, "income" includes any gain accruing from the transfer, in any manner whatsoever, of the business or profession as a result of the succession"

Now, in the present case, learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the respondent submitted that SPIL ceased to be an eligible assessee in terms of the provisions of Section 144C read with clause

(b) of sub section 15. Moreover, it has been urged that in consequence, the final assessment order dated 31 October 2016 was beyond limitation in terms of Section 153(1) read with Section 153 (4). For the purposes of the present proceeding, we do not consider it necessary to delve into that

JANUARY 27, 2026 S.R.JOSHI

3-wp-4934-2022.doc

aspect of the matter having regard to the reasons which have weighed us in the earlier part of this judgment."

Thus, the Hon'ble Apex Court has already held that the issue

of jurisdiction goes to the root of the matter and any error committed in

it, is a substantive illegality not curable under Section 292B. Further,

even this court in the case of Alok Knit Exports Ltd. v. DCIT (supra)

held as under:

"8. The stand now taken in the affidavit in reply and submissions of Mr. Mohanty is nothing but an afterthought by respondent after having committed a fundamental error. We would have expected respondent no. 1 to have at least applied his mind and looked for documents which were already on file to see whether Niraj Realtors existed before issuing notice under section 148 of the Act. Respondents' records would have indicated that Niraj Realtors ceased to exist and his predecessor/colleague has issued notice for the Assessment Year 2011-2012 along with the reasoning in the name of petitioner.

Therefore, the stand of respondent today that it was an error which could be corrected under section 292B of the Act is not acceptable to this Court...."

(emphasis supplied)

16 Heavy reliance is placed by the learned Counsel appearing

on behalf of the Revenue on the decision of the Delhi High Court in the

case of Sky Light Hospitality LLP v. ACIT (supra). We find that this

decision is clearly distinguishable from the present case. In that case,

JANUARY 27, 2026 S.R.JOSHI

3-wp-4934-2022.doc

the concerned Assessing Officer, in the reasons recorded for reopening,

had duly reported/stated the fact that the assessee therein was formerly

known by the name 'Sky Light Hospitality Pvt Ltd.' and after conversion

was known by the name 'Sky Light Hospitality LLP'. However, the

Notice under Section 148 was issued in the name of erstwhile entity

''Sky Light Hospitality Pvt. Ltd.' Conversion of the private limited

company into a limited liability partnership with effect from 13.05.2016

was noticed and mentioned by the Assessing Officer at several places

like in the tax evasion report, the reasons to believe recorded by the

Assessing Officer, the approval obtained from the Principal

Commissioner and the order under Section 127 of the Act. It was in this

background that the High Court of Delhi observed that there was

substantial and affirmative material and evidence on record which

established that issuance of notice in the name of 'Skylight Hospitality

Pvt. Ltd.' was a mistake. In contrast, in the facts of the present case,

despite the Petitioner having already informed Respondent No.1 about

the amalgamation several times, in none of the correspondence did

Respondent No.1 make any attempt to convey that he had duly taken

note of such amalgamation. Even otherwise, the Hon'ble Apex Court in

the case of PCIT v. Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. (supra) has already

JANUARY 27, 2026 S.R.JOSHI

3-wp-4934-2022.doc

distinguished the decision relied by the revenue by observing as under :-

" .... .... .... .... .... .... ...

Now, it is evident from the above extract that it was in the peculiar facts of the case that this Court indicated its agreement that the wrong name given in the notice was merely a clerical error, capable of being corrected under Section 292B. The "peculiar facts" of Skylight Hospitality emerge from the decision of the Delhi High Court in Sky Light Hospitality LLP (supra). Skylight Hospitality, an LLP, (supra) had taken over on 13 May 2016 and acquired the rights and liabilities of Skylight Hospitality Pvt. Ltd upon conversion under the Limited Liability Partnership Act 2008. It instituted writ proceedings for challenging a notice under Sections 147/148 of the Act 1961 dated 30 March 2017 for AY 2010-2011. The "reasons to believe"

made a reference to a tax evasion report received from the investigation unit of the income tax department. The facts were ascertained by the investigation unit. The reasons to believe referred to the assessment order for AY 2013-2014 and the findings recorded in it. Though the notice under Sections 147/148 was issued in the name of Skylight Hospitality Pvt. Ltd. (which had ceased to exist upon conversion into an LLP), there was, as the Delhi High Court held "substantial and affirmative material and evidence on record" to show that the issuance of the notice in the name of the dissolved company was a mistake. The tax evasion report adverted to the conversion of the private limited company into an LLP. Moreover, the reasons to believe recorded by the assessing officer adverted to the approval of the Principal Commissioner. The PAN number of the LLP was also mentioned in some of the documents. The notice under Sections 147/148 was not in conformity with the reasons to believe and the approval of the Principal Commissioner. It was in this background that the Delhi High Court held that the case fell within the purview of Section

JANUARY 27, 2026 S.R.JOSHI

3-wp-4934-2022.doc

292B for the following reasons:

                              ...      ....     ....   ....     ....   ....     ..."
17                    Even this court in the case of Alok Knit Exports Limited v.

DCIT (supra) had declined to follow the decision of the Delhi High

Court in the case of Sky Light Hospitality LLP v. ACIT (supra) citing the

following:

"5. Mr. Mohanty appearing for respondents submitted that it was a human error which could be corrected under section 292B of the Act. According to Mr. Mohanty human errors and mistakes cannot and should not nullify proceedings which were otherwise valid and no prejudice has been caused. Mr. Mohanty, relying upon the judgment of the Delhi High Court in Sky Light Hospitality LLP v. Asstt. CIT [2018] 90 taxmann.com 413/254 Taxman 109/405 ITR 296, submitted that that was the effect and mandate of section 292B of the Act. Mr. Mohanty also relied upon the order passed by the Apex Court when Sky Light Hospitality LLP (supra) was escalated to the Apex Court Sky Light Hospitality LLP v. Asstt. CIT [2018] 92 taxmann.com 93/254 Taxman 390. These do not help Mr. Mohanty's case. This cannot be a general proposition as the Apex Court has expressly stated "In the peculiar facts of this case, we are convinced that wrong name given in the notice was merely a clerical error which could be corrected under section 292B of the IT Act .

(emphasis supplied)

6. The Apex Court in its recent judgment on this subject in Pr. CIT v. Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. [2019] 107 taxmann.com 375/265 Taxman 515/416 ITR 613, considered the judgment of Sky Light Hospitality LLP (supra) of the Apex Court and said that the Apex Court has expressly mentioned that in the peculiar facts of that case wrong name

JANUARY 27, 2026 S.R.JOSHI

3-wp-4934-2022.doc

given in the notice was merely a clerical error. The Apex Court in Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. (supra), has also observed that what weighed in the dismissal of the Special Leave Petition were the peculiar facts of that case. The Apex Court has reiterated the settled position that the basis on which jurisdiction is invoked is under section 148 of the Act and when such jurisdiction was invoked on the basis of something which was fundamentally at odds with the legal principle that the amalgamating entity ceases to exist upon the approved scheme of amalgamation, the notice is bad in law..."

18 Having dealt with decision of the Delhi High Court in Sky

Light Hospitality LLP (supra), we are of the view that Respondent No.1

has committed a jurisdictional error by issuing notices and passing the

Order of Assessment in the name of a non-existent entity, which cannot

be cured by taking recourse to the provisions of Section 292B. It is no

longer res-integra that proceedings undertaken in the name of a non-

existent entity are void. We draw support from the following:

(a) The judgment of the Apex Court in the case of Saraswati

Industrial Syndicate Ltd. v. CIT (supra) which held that when two

companies are merged/amalgamated and are so joined, as to form a

third company or one is absorbed into one or blended with another; the

amalgamating company loses its existence;

JANUARY 27, 2026 S.R.JOSHI

3-wp-4934-2022.doc

(b) The judgment of the Delhi High Court in the case of Spice

Entertainment Ltd v. CST (supra), which held that once the factum of

amalgamation of a company had been brought to the notice of the

Assessing Officer, despite which the proceedings are continued and an

Order of Assessment is passed in the name of a non-existent company,

the Order of Assessment would be void;

(c) The judgment of the Apex Court in the case of PCIT v. Maruti

Suzuki India Ltd. (supra) which held that if despite informing the

assessing officer, the jurisdictional notice was issued in the name of the

erstwhile company, then the basis on which the jurisdiction was invoked

was fundamentally at odds with the legal principle that the

amalgamating entity ceases to exist upon the approval of the scheme of

amalgamation, and the participation in the proceedings by the assessee

cannot operate as an estoppel against law;

(d) Consequent to the above, this Court has consistently held that

issuance of notice/order in the name of a non-existent entity is bad in

law. We have recently endorsed that view in the case of J. M. Mhatre

Infra Pvt. Ltd. (Erstwhile J M Mhatre, Partnership firm) v. UOI [WPL

JANUARY 27, 2026 S.R.JOSHI

3-wp-4934-2022.doc

16514 OF 2023 decided on 16.12.2025].

19 Thus, in our view, considering the facts of the present case,

on the yardstick of the aforestated well settled propositions of law, the

impugned notices issued under Section 142(1), the Show Cause Notice

issued on 21.09.2022, the impugned Order of Assessment passed under

Section 143(3) r.w. Section 144B dated 29.09.2022, and the

consequential notice issued raising a demand under Section 156, as well

as the notices proposing to impose penalties, all being in the name of a

non-existent entity [i. e. Concept], are void and bad in the eyes of law.

20 Hence the following order:

(i) The present Writ Petition stands allowed.

(ii) The impugned Order of Assessment passed under Section 143(3)

r.w Section 144B dated 29.09.2022 and the consequential notice issued

raising demand under Section 156 and the notices proposing to impose

penalties are all hereby quashed and set-aside.

21 Rule is made absolute in the aforesaid terms and the Writ

JANUARY 27, 2026 S.R.JOSHI

3-wp-4934-2022.doc

Petition is also disposed of in terms thereof. However, there shall be no

order as to costs.

22 This order will be digitally signed by the Private Secretary/

Personal Assistant of this Court. All concerned will act on production by

fax or email of a digitally signed copy of this order.

[FIRDOSH P. POONIWALLA, J.] [B. P. COLABAWALLA, J.]

JANUARY 27, 2026 S.R.JOSHI

 
Download the LatestLaws.com Mobile App
 
 
Latestlaws Newsletter
 

Publish Your Article

 

Campus Ambassador

 

Media Partner

 

Campus Buzz

 

LatestLaws Guest Court Correspondent

LatestLaws Guest Court Correspondent Apply Now!
 

LatestLaws.com presents: Lexidem Offline Internship Program, 2026

 

LatestLaws.com presents 'Lexidem Online Internship, 2026', Apply Now!

 
 

LatestLaws Partner Event : IJJ

 

LatestLaws Partner Event : Smt. Nirmala Devi Bam Memorial International Moot Court Competition

 
 
Latestlaws Newsletter