MRS.MARIA SOFIA JEHANGIR PATEL. vs. C.I.T. BOMBAY.

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ITR/415/1985HC Bombay27 August 2007Bench: HON'BLE SHRI JUSTICE F.I. REBELLO, HON'BLE SHRI JUSTICE J.P. DEVADHAR4 pages
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What did the High Court hold?

The High Court of Bombay, while considering the reference, noted that the questions raised were covered by a judgment of the same Court delivered on the same day in Income Tax Reference No. 414 of 1985. For the reasons stated in that connected judgment, the Court answered Question No. 1 in favour of the assessee and against the revenue. Consequently, Question No. 2 was rendered academic. The Court directed that the reference be disposed of by answering Question No. 1 in favour of the assessee and against the revenue, and Question No. 2 was returned unanswered. The principle established is that credit for tax deducted at source from dividends should be given to the partners, not the firm, in circumstances similar to the connected reference.

What were the facts?

This case involves an Income Tax Reference filed by the applicants, Mrs. Maria Sofia Jehangir Patel and Mr. Pesi Shavak Patel, who are the Executors and Trustees of the Will of the late Mr. Jehangir Pestonji Patel. The assessment year in question is 1976-77. The reference was made at the instance of the assessee to the High Court of Judicature at Bombay by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Mumbai, seeking an opinion on two questions of law. The respondent is the Commissioner of Income-tax (Appeals) - II, Bombay. The procedural history indicates that the matter was heard and judgment was reserved on August 8, 2007, and pronounced on August 27, 2007.

What were the issues?

The Tribunal was asked to decide the following questions of law: 1. Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in holding that the credit for the tax deducted at source from the dividends was to be given to the firm and not to the partners? 2. Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, if the credit of the entire tax was not to be given to the partners and if there was any tax deducted at source remaining unabsorbed after meeting the firm’s tax liability, such tax could be apportioned among the partners and credit for such tax should be given to them in their individual assessment? Assessee's Contentions: The judgment does not explicitly record the assessee's arguments. However, the questions posed suggest the assessee likely argued for credit of TDS to be given to the partners. Revenue's Contentions: The judgment does not explicitly record the revenue's arguments. However, the questions posed suggest the revenue likely argued for credit of TDS to be given to the firm.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 256(1)

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION INCOME TAX REFERENCE NO.415 OF 1985 1. Mrs.Maria Sofia Jehangir Patel, a housewife of Christian Inhabitant residing at Goolestan, 37, Cuffe Parade, Colaba, Mumbai - 400 005 2. Mr.Pesi Shavak Patel, a businessman of Bombay Parsi Zoroastrian Inhabitant residing at Lyndewode House, Bomanji Petit Road, Mumbai 400 026 the only two Executors and Trustees appointed by para 1 of Will dated 28th January, 1998 of Mr.Jehangir Pestonji Patel who died at Bombay on 15-5-1998. .. Applicants. Versus The Commissioner of Income- tax, (Appeals) - II, Bombay .. Respondent. Mr.J.D. Mistry with Ms.S. Vedpathak i/by Manekshah & Sethna for the Appellants. Mr.A.S. Rao for the respondent. CORAM : F.I. REBELLO & J.P. DEVADHAR, JJ. JUDGMENT RESERVED ON : 8TH AUGUST, 2007. JUDGMENT PRONOUNCED ON : 27TH AUGUST, 2007. ORAL JUDGMENT : (Per J.P. Devadhar, J.) ORAL JUDGMENT : (Per J.P. Devadhar, J.) ORAL JUDGMENT : (Per J.P. Devadhar, J.) 1. At the instance of the applicant-assessee, the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Mumbai has forwarded the following questions of law for the opinion of this Court under Section 256(1) of the Income Tax Act, 1961. CNR No : HCBM020000471985 Uploaded on - 21/08/2020 Downloaded on - 28/10/2026 06:02:45

2 1. Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in holding that the credit for the tax deducted at source from the dividends was to be given to the firm and not to the partners ? 2. Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, if the credit of the entire tax was not to be given to the partners and if there was any tax deducted at source remaining unabsorbed after meeting the firm’s tax liability, such tax could be apportioned among the partners and credit for such tax should be given to them in their individual assessment ? 2. The assessment year involved herein is A.Y. 1976-77. 3. Counsel on both side state that the questions raised herein is covered by the judgment of this Court in Income Tax Reference No.414 of 1985 delivered today i.e. 27th August, 2007. 4. For the reasons stated in Income Tax Reference No.414 of 1985, question No.1 referred to us is answered in favour of the assessee and against the revenue. In view of answer to question No.1, answer to question No.2 becomes academic. 5. Accordingly, reference is disposed of by answering the question No.1 in favour of the assessee and against the revenue and question No.2 is returned unanswered. Uploaded on - 21/08/2020 Downloaded on - 28/10/2026 06:02:45

3 (J.P. DEVADHAR, J.) (F.I. REBELLO, J.) IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION INCOME TAX REFERENCE NO.415 OF 1985 Date of decision: 27TH AUGUST, 2007. For Approval and signature The Hon’ble Justice F.I. REBELLO The Hon’ble Justice F.I. REBELLO The Hon’ble Justice F.I. REBELLO AND The Hon’ble Mr. Justice J.P.DEVADHAR The Hon’ble Mr. Justice J.P.DEVADHAR The Hon’ble Mr. Justice J.P.DEVADHAR 1) Whether to be referred to the ) Reporter or not? ) 2) Whether the Reporters of the ) Local papers may be allowed ) to see the Judgment/Order? ) ****** Uploaded on - 21/08/2020 Downloaded on - 28/10/2026 06:02:45

4 Transcribed by : A.G. Kulkarni, P.A. to J.P. Devadhar, J. Uploaded on - 21/08/2020 Downloaded on - 28/10/2026 06:02:45 Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

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