COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX vs. RAMADEVI H. GROVER

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ITA/153/1998HC GujaratGJHC24024191199821 August 1998Author: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE R.K.ABICHANDANI,HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANIL R. DAVE3 pages
AI SummaryDismissed

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court held that the ITAT's decision allowing the agricultural income claim was a finding of fact. The Tribunal had considered village record extracts (Form Nos. 7 and 12) showing the assessee as an occupant and farmer for the years 1987-88, 1988-89, and 1989-90. It found that the assessee had tilling rights and was the occupant of leased land. The Tribunal also noted that the assessee maintained complete and audited books of accounts for agricultural income, with no specific defects pointed out by the AO. The sales of cotton and tuvar were supported by vouchers, and there was no evidence to suggest these were procured without actual sales. The certificates from the Talati, Sarpanch, and bank agent were considered vital evidence. Consequently, the ITAT found no justification for the lower authorities to estimate agricultural income at Rs. 15,000/- and treat the balance as income from undisclosed sources. The ITAT directed the entire income of Rs. 4,49,602/- to be treated as agricultural income for rate purposes. The High Court found no question of law arising and upheld the ITAT's rejection of the Revenue's application under Section 256(1).

What were the facts?

The Commissioner of Income Tax (Revenue) is the applicant, and Ramadevi H. Grover (assessee) is the respondent. The assessment year is not explicitly stated but implied to be around 1987-1990 based on the village records. The Revenue seeks a direction from the High Court to the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) to state a case under Section 256(2) of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The Assessing Officer (AO) and the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) [CIT(A)] rejected the assessee's claim of agricultural income of Rs. 4,49,602, considering it an 'exercise on paper' and disbelieving the supporting vouchers and certificates. The ITAT, however, allowed the claim.

What were the issues?

1. Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the ITAT was justified in holding that the assessee had agricultural income of Rs. 4,49,602/- de hors the facts to the contrary brought out by the AO and confirmed by the learned CIT (A)? (Question of law/mixed law and fact, turning on the interpretation and application of provisions related to agricultural income and evidence). Assessee's Contentions: Not recorded in the judgment. Revenue's Contentions: The AO rejected the claim as an 'exercise on paper', stating that the magnitude of income was not possible from the investments made. The AO dismissed the sales vouchers, stating they could be easily procured, and also disregarded certificates from the Talati, Sarpanch, and Land Development Bank Agent. The CIT(A) confirmed this view. The Revenue implicitly argues that the ITAT erred in overriding these findings of fact by the lower authorities.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 256(2),Section 256(1)

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

INCOME TAX APPLICATION No 153 of 1998

For Approval and Signature:

Hon'ble MR.JUSTICE R.K.ABICHANDANI and MR.JUSTICE A.R.DAVE ============================================================ 1. Whether Reporters of Local Papers may be allowed to see the judgements?

2.

To be referred to the Reporter or not?

3.

Whether Their Lordships wish to see the fair copy of the judgement?

4.

Whether this case involves a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of the Constitution of India, 1950 of any Order made thereunder?

5.

Whether it is to be circulated to the Civil Judge? 1 to 5 No -------------------------------------------------------------- COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX Versus RAMADEVI H. GROVER -------------------------------------------------------------- Appearance: MR M.J.THAKORE for MR MANISH R BHATT for Petitioner NOTICE SERVED for Respondent No. 1

--------------------------------------------------------------

CORAM : MR.JUSTICE R.K.ABICHANDANI and MR.JUSTICE A.R.DAVE Date of decision: 21/08/98

ORAL JUDGEMENT

[Per R.K.Abichandani, J.]

The applicant has suggested the following question for a direction on the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal to forward the statement of case in respect thereof under the provisions of Section 256 (2) of the Income Tax Act, 1961:

"Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the I.T.A.T. was justified in holding that the assessee had agricultural income of Rs.4,49,602/- de hors the facts to the contrary brought out by the A.O. and confirmed by the learned CIT (A) ?"

2.

The Assessing Officer did not accept the claim of the assessee that the income of Rs.4,49,602/- in respect of the year in question was her agricultural income. According to the Assessing Officer, the claim appeared to be an exercise on paper and no agricultural income of this magnitude could be earned from the nature of investments made by the assessee for acquiring the land. As regards the vouchers which were produced to show the sales effected of the agricultural produce by the assessee, the Assessing Officer brushed them aside by merely observing that arrangement of such vouchers in the present society may not be very difficult and such vouchers cannot be considered in isolation of other relevant facts. He also brushed aside the certificates of Talati, Sarpanch and Agent of the Land Development Bank on which reliance was placed by the assessee. This order came to be confirmed by the first appellate authority. The Tribunal, however, after taking into account all the relevant aspects of the matter and the material on record, came to a finding that the extract from the village record in Form Nos.7 and 12 showed that the assessee was an occupant and farmer in the years 1987-88, 1988-89 and 1989-90. It was held that it was proved beyond doubt that the assessee had tilling rights and was the occupant of the land leased to her by one V.A.Mohmed. It was also found that the assessee had maintained complete and audited books of accounts in respect of agricultural income and the Assessing Officer had not pointed out any specific defects therein. It was further held that the sales of agricultural produce, that is, cotton and tuvar, were supported by vouchers and there was nothing on record to show that these vouchers were simply procured without actual sales. It was also found that the certificates of Talati, Sarpanch and Agent of the bank on which the assessee relied were vital piece of evidence and could not have been brushed aside merely by observing that such certificates could be procured. For these reasons, the Tribunal found that there was no justification in the action of the lower authorities for estimating agricultural income as Rs.15,000/- only and treating the rest of the amount of Rs.4,35,602/- as income from undisclosed sources. The Tribunal,

accordingly, directed that the entire income of Rs.4,49,602/- should be treated as income from agricultural produce for rate purpose only.

3.

In our view, this clearly is a finding of fact and no question of law arises in the matter. The Tribunal was, therefore, right in rejecting the application made by the present petitioner under Section 256 (1) of the Act. The present application is, therefore, rejected. Rule is discharged with no order as to costs. [KMG Thilake] ###########

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