COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX-I vs. JITENDRA DALPATBHAI SHAH

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TAXAP/1414/2011HC GujaratGJHC24025767201107 September 2012Bench: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE VIJAY MANOHAR SAHAI,HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE N.V.ANJARIA3 pages
AI SummaryDismissed

What did the High Court hold?

The Tribunal held that the Assessing Officer had treated the short-term capital gain as an unexplained credit under Section 68 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, based on doubts and suspicion. The Tribunal noted that the assessee had explained the source of the credit with documentary evidence, which was not found to be false. The Tribunal was convinced by the cogent reasons provided by the CIT(A) for accepting the short-term capital gain declared by the assessee in the return of income. Therefore, the Tribunal declined to interfere with the CIT(A)'s order. The High Court, in its oral judgment, stated that the appeal was concluded by findings of fact and no substantial question of law arose for consideration, thus dismissing the appeal.

What were the facts?

The assessee, Jitendra Dalpatbhai Shah, filed his return of income for assessment year 2006-07 on January 31, 2007. The Assessing Officer (AO), in his assessment order dated December 8, 2008, treated a short-term capital gain (STCG) of Rs. 1,38,21,924/- declared by the assessee as an unexplained cash credit under Section 68 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The AO's reasoning was that the assessee was attempting to bring income from unaccounted sources into his books by claiming it as STCG to pay lesser tax. The Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) [CIT(A)] directed the AO to accept STCG of Rs. 1,34,82,475/-. The Revenue appealed this decision to the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT).

What were the issues?

1. Whether the Appellate Tribunal was right in law and on facts in deleting the addition made by the Assessing Officer in respect of capital gain of Rs. 1,38,21,924/- as unexplained cash credit under Section 68 of the Income Tax Act, 1961? Assessee's Contention: The judgment does not record any specific arguments made by the assessee before the Tribunal. However, the CIT(A) had directed acceptance of STCG of Rs. 1,34,82,475/-, implying the assessee's claim was accepted at that stage. Revenue's Contention: The Revenue contended that the STCG declared by the assessee was an unexplained cash credit under Section 68 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The AO had treated the STCG as unexplained cash credit because he believed the assessee was using this claim to introduce unaccounted income into his books and pay less tax.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 68

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

TAXAP/1414/2011 1/3 JUDGMENT IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD TAX APPEAL No. 1414 of 2011 For Approval and Signature: HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE V. M. SAHAI HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.V. ANJARIA ========================================================= 1 Whether Reporters of Local Papers may be allowed to see the judgment ? 2 To be referred to the Reporter or not ? 3 Whether their Lordships wish to see the fair copy of the judgment ? 4 Whether this case involves a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of the constitution of India, 1950 or any order made thereunder ? 5 Whether it is to be circulated to the civil judge ? ========================================================= COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX-I - Appellant(s) Versus JITENDRA DALPATBHAI SHAH - Opponent(s) ========================================================= Appearance : MR MANAV A MEHTA for Appellant(s) : 1, None for Opponent(s) : 1, ========================================================= CORAM :  HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE V. M. SAHAI and HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.V. ANJARIA Date : 07/09/2012 ORAL JUDGMENT (Per : HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE V. M. SAHAI) 1. We have heard Mr. Manav A. Mehta, learned counsel for the appellant in this Tax Appeal, which has been filed on the following proposed substantial question of law:

TAXAP/1414/2011 2/3 JUDGMENT “Whether the Appellate Tribunal is right in law and on facts in deleting the addition made by Assessing Officer in respect of capital gain of Rs.1,38,21,924/- as unexplained cash credit under section 68 of the I.T. Act?” 2. The assessee filed his return of income for the assessment year 2006- 07 on 31.01.2007. The Assessing Officer framed the assessment under section 143(3) on 08.12.2008. The Assessing Officer treated the short term capital gain of Rs.1,38,21,924/- declared by the assessee as unexplained cash credit under section 68 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (for short `the Act'). The reason given by the Assessing Officer was that the assessee has brought his income from unaccounted sources in his books of account by paying lesser tax claiming that income is from short term capital gain. 3. In the appeal filed by the assessee, the CIT(A) directed the Assessing Officer to accept the capital gain of Rs.1,34,82,475/- as disclosed by the assessee. The Revenue challenged the order of CIT(A) before the Tribunal. The Tribunal considered the argument of the Revenue and held in paragraph Nos. 7 and 7.1 as under: “7. After hearing the ld. D.R., we have carefully gone through the orders of the authorities below. It is pertinent to note that in the return of income, the assessee has declared the short-term capital gain of Rs.1,34,82,475/- as under: Name of scrip Sales date Sales Value Purchase Date Purchase Value STCG RAJ SYNTHETICS 25.07.05 86,36,059 04.10.04 184,954 84,51,105 RAJ SYNTHETICS 09.07.05 51,85,865 04.10.04 154,495 50,31,370 1,38,21,924 339,449 1,34,82,475 7.1 In the assessment order, the AO treated the aforesaid short term capital gain as unexplained credit under section 68 of the I.T. Act, 1961. The source

TAXAP/1414/2011 3/3 JUDGMENT of credit has been explained by the assessee with documentary evidence and these documents were not found false. On perusal of the impugned order of the ld. CIT(A), we are convinced that on doubts and suspicion, the AO has treated short-term capital gain of Rs.1,38,21,924/- declared by the assessee as unexplained credit under section 1961 of the I.T. Act and in our considered opinion, the ld. CIT(A) has given cogent reason for directing the AO to accept the short-term capital gain of Rs.1,34,82,475/- declared by the assessee in the return of income. We, therefore, decline to interfere.” 4. The view taken by the Tribunal was that on doubts and suspicion the Assessing Officer has treated short term capital gain declared by the assessee as unexplained credit under the Act and on the contrary, the CIT(A) has given valid reasons for accepting the short term capital gain declared by the assessee in the return of income. This appeal is concluded by findings of fact. No substantial question of law arises for consideration of this court. Accordingly, this Tax Appeal is dismissed. (V.M. SAHAI, J.) (N.V. ANJARIA, J.) (SN DEVU PPS)

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