The Pr. Commissioner of Income Tax-1 vs. Keezhayur Sowrirajan Sreenivasan

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TCA/200/2024HC Madras19 October 2024Bench: Honourable Mr Justice R. SURESH KUMAR4 pages
AI SummaryDismissed

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court dismissed the Tax Case Appeal filed by the Revenue. The dismissal was based on the submission made by the learned Standing Counsel for the Revenue, citing CBDT's Circular No.9 of 2024 dated 17.09.2024, which indicated that the tax effect in the present case was below the monetary limit prescribed for filing appeals. Consequently, the Revenue requested that the appeal be disposed of without adjudicating the substantial questions of law raised. The Court recorded this submission and accordingly dismissed the appeal. The substantial questions of law were kept open for adjudication at an appropriate stage. No costs were awarded. The ITAT's order, therefore, remains undisturbed by this High Court judgment.

What were the facts?

The Revenue, specifically the Principal Commissioner of Income Tax-I, Chennai, filed a Tax Case Appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, challenging an order dated 15.06.2022 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), 'D' Bench, Chennai. The appeal pertains to the assessment year(s) not explicitly stated but concerns the taxability of a sum of Rs.484,75,000/- received by the assessee, Keezhayur Sowrirajan Sreenivasan, from Landmark Construction. The core dispute revolves around whether this receipt should be taxed as long-term capital gains or income from other sources. The ITAT's order is under challenge.

What were the issues?

The Tribunal had to decide the following substantial questions of law: 1. Whether the Tribunal was justified in holding that the sum of Rs.484,75,000/- received by the Assessee from Landmark Construction is liable to be taxed as long term capital gains, overlooking the fact that there was no transfer of capital assets in the first instance? (Question of law turning on the definition of 'transfer' under the Income Tax Act, 1961). 2. Whether compensation received by the Assessee from Landmark Construction is to be taxed as a long term capital gains or income from other sources? (Question of law turning on the nature of income). 3. Whether the reasoning and finding of the Tribunal is proper in relying on an unregistered MoU which is compulsorily registerable as per provisions of Section 17(1)(b) with effect from 24.09.2001 by the Registration Act, 1908 and also Section 49(c) of the Registration Act which clearly states that unregistered documents cannot be taken as evidence? (Question of mixed law and fact turning on the admissibility and evidentiary value of an unregistered MoU). Contentions: Assessee: Not recorded in the judgment. Revenue: Argued that the ITAT's findings were not justified, particularly concerning the classification of the receipt and reliance on an unregistered MoU. The Revenue also brought to the court's notice CBDT's Circular No.9 of 2024 dated 17.09.2024 regarding low tax effect.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 260A,Section 17(1)(b),Section 49(c)

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

T.C.A.No.200 of 2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 19.10.2024 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE R.SURESH KUMAR AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE C.SARAVANAN Tax Case Appeal No.200 of 2024 The Principal Commissioner of Income Tax-I Chennai. .... Appellant Vs. Keezhayur Sowrirajan Sreenivasan .... Respondent ----- Tax Case Appeal filed under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, 'D' Bench Chennai, dated 15.06.2022 made in I.T.A.No.2369/Chny/2019. For Appellant : Mr.T.Ravikumar Senior Standing Counsel For Respondent : Mr.K.Senguttuvan ----- J U D G M E N T (Delivered by R.SURESH KUMAR, J.) This Tax Case Appeal has been filed by the Revenue calling in question the correctness of the order passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai by raising the following substantial questions of law: https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis T.C.A.No.200 of 2024 "(i) Whether the Tribunal was justified in holding that the sum of Rs.484,75,000/- received by the Assessee from Landmark Construction is liable to be taxed as long term capital gains overlooking the fact that there was no transfer of capital assets in the first instance? (ii) Whether compensation received by the Assessee from Landmark Construction is to be taxed as a long term capital gains or income from other sources? (iii) Whether the reasoning and finding of the Tribunal is proper in relying on an unregistered MoU which is compulsorily registerable as per provisions of Section 17(1)(b) with effect from 24.09.2001 by the Registration Act, 1908 and also Section 49(c) of the Registration Act which clearly states that unregistered documents cannot be taken as evidence? 2. It is brought to our notice by the learned Standing Counsel for the appellant Revenue that in the instant case, as per the CBDT's Circular No.9 of 2024 dated 17.09.2024 the tax effect is said to be less than the monetary limit imposed and therefore, the appeal can be disposed of, keeping the substantial questions of law raised in this appeal open for adjudication at a later point of time. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis T.C.A.No.200 of 2024 3. It is further submitted by the learned Standing Counsel that to an e- mail communication dated 04.10.2024 requesting instructions as to whether this case is covered under low tax effect, the reply given by the Revenue is in the affirmative. Therefore, based on such instructions from the Revenue, the learned Standing Counsel submits that this appeal can be disposed of. 4. Recording the aforesaid submission made by the learned Standing Counsel for the appellant Revenue, this Tax Case Appeal is dismissed for low tax effect, keeping open the substantial questions of law for adjudication at appropriate stage. No costs. (R.S.K.,J.) (C.S.N.,J.) 19.10.2024 NCS : Yes/No Index : Yes/No KST To The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal 'D' Bench, Chennai. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis T.C.A.No.200 of 2024 R.SURESH KUMAR, J. AND C.SARAVANAN, J. KST T.C.A.No.200 of 2024 19.10.2024 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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