PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF IN vs. M/S.SMT KATHIJATHU NASREEN

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TCA/593/2021HC Madras17 December 2021Bench: Hon`ble Mr Justice R. MAHADEVAN6 pages
AI SummaryWithdrawn

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court dismissed the appeal as withdrawn. The Revenue's counsel brought to the court's notice Circular No. 17/2019 dated 08.08.2019 issued by the CBDT, which stipulates that appeals shall not be filed or pursued before the High Court if the tax effect does not exceed Rs. 1,00,00,000/-. The counsel submitted that the tax effect in this particular appeal was less than the stipulated threshold limit. Consequently, the Court, in light of this submission and the circular, dismissed the appeal as withdrawn. The substantial questions of law were kept open for determination in an appropriate case. No costs were awarded. The specific findings of the ITAT on the five questions of law were not adjudicated upon by the High Court.

What were the facts?

The Revenue, represented by the Principal Commissioner of Income Tax, International Taxation – 2 (1), Chennai, filed an appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, against an order dated 01.03.2018 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), 'A' Bench, Chennai. The appeal pertained to Assessment Year 2014-15 and challenged the ITAT's decision regarding the year in which Long Term Capital Gain (LTCG) should be taxed. The assessee is M/s. Smt Kathijathu Nasreen. The core dispute revolved around whether the transfer of property, for the purpose of computing LTCG, occurred in Assessment Year 2007-08 or 2014-15.

What were the issues?

The Tribunal had to decide five substantial questions of law. 1. Whether the ITAT was correct in directing the Assessing Officer to tax Long Term Capital Gain in Assessment Year 2007-08, when the assessee herself returned the income in Assessment Year 2014-15? 2. Whether the ITAT was correct in holding that the transfer of property occurred in the financial year 2006-07 (relevant to AY 2007-08) based on a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) dated 27.06.2006, despite a clause in the JDA stating the assessee would not be entitled to possessory rights, which could be construed as a transfer under the Income Tax Act? 3. Whether the ITAT was correct in holding that the transfer occurred in FY 2006-07, when the developer acted only as an exclusive licensee, not a transferee, as per para 7.2 of the JDA, referencing the case of Vijaya Productions P. Ltd vs ACIT? 4. Whether the ITAT was correct in not appreciating that for a 'Transfer' under Section 2(47)(v) to qualify, there must be a contract registrable under the amended Indian Registration Act, 2011, as per the Supreme Court's ruling in CIT vs Balbir Singh Mainin? 5. Whether the ITAT was correct in concluding that the transfer occurred in FY 2006-07 when the JDA did not indicate a complete transfer of control to the developer, referencing the Bombay High Court's decision in Chaturbuj Dwarakadas Kapadia vs CIT? The Revenue argued that the transfer should be taxed in AY 2014-15 as returned by the assessee, and questioned the ITAT's interpretation of the JDA and relevant legal provisions regarding transfer of property and registration requirements. The assessee's arguments are not explicitly detailed but are implied through the questions raised by the Revenue and the ITAT's findings.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 260A,Section 2(47)(v)

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

Tax Case Appeal No.593 of 2021 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 17.12.2021 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R. MAHADEVAN AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MOHAMMED SHAFFIQ Tax Case Appeal No. 593 of 2021 Principal Commissioner of Income Tax International Taxation – 2 (1) Chennai – 34. .. Appellant Versus M/s. Smt Kathijathu Nasreen New No.60, Old No. 33 Veerabadran Street Nungambakkam Chennai – 600 034 PAN: AABPN 8274A .. Respondent Tax Case Appeal filed under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order dated 01.03.2018 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, “A” Bench, Chennai in I.T.A.No.1757/CHNY/2017. For Appellant : Mr.Karthik Ranganathan JUDGMENT (Judgment of the Court was delivered by R. MAHADEVAN, J.) This tax case appeal has been filed by the appellant / Revenue, challenging the order dated 01.03.2018 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, 'A' 1/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Tax Case Appeal No.593 of 2021 Bench, Chennai, in I.T.A.No.1757/CHNY/2017, relating to the assessment year 2014-15, by raising the following substantial questions of law:- “(i) Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Hon'ble ITAT was right in directing the Assessing Officer to tax Long Term Captital Gain in the assessement year 2007-08 as against Assessement year 2014-15, when the assessee herself find the return of income admitting Long Term Capital Gain in that year? (ii) Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the Hon'ble ITAT was right in holding that the transfer of property had taken place in the financial year 2006-07 relevant to the assessment year 2007-08 since Joint Development Agreement was entered in 27.06.2006, when the assessee herself mentioned in para 7.3 of the Joint Development Agreement shall not be entitled to create any possessory right over the said lands, which could be construed as transfer of the property within the meaning of the Income Tax Act? (iii) Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Hon'ble ITAT was right in holding that the transfer of property had taken place in the financial year 2006-07 relevant to the assessment year 2007-08 when the developer had acted only as exclusive licensee to carry out construction and not as a transferee, (as per para 7.2 of JDA), as observed by Hon'ble ITAT in the case of Vijaya Productions P. Ltd vs ACIT (2012) 134 ITD 2/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Tax Case Appeal No.593 of 2021 19? (iv) Whether the Hon'ble ITAT was right in not appreciating the fact that to qualify “Transfer” of a capital asset u/s 2 (47)(v) of the Act, there must be a contract which can be taken cognisance of for the purpose of specififed sec. 53A of Transfer of Property Act, after amendment of Indian Registration Act, 2011, unless the said contract is registered, as observed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in the case of Commissioner of Income tax vs Balbir Singh Mainin in Civil Appeal No. 15619 of 2017? (v) Whether Hon'ble ITAT was right to conclude that the transfer of property had taken place in the financial year 2006-07 relevant to assessment year 2007-08 when the Development Agreement is not indicating that the passing of transferring of complete control over the property in favour of the Developer, as observed by the Hon'ble High Court of Bombay in the case of Chaturbuj Dwarakadas Kapadia of Bombay vs CIT (2003)-206 ITR 491)?” 2. When the matter was taken up for consideration, the learned counsel for the appellant / Revenue brought to the notice of this court the Circular No.17/2019 dated 08.08.2019 issued by the Central Board Direct Taxes, 3/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Tax Case Appeal No.593 of 2021 wherein, it is stipulated that appeals shall not be filed/pursued by the Department before the High Court in cases where the tax effect does not exceed Rs.1,00,00,000/- (Rupees One Crore). It is also submitted that the tax effect in this appeal is less than the threshold limit. 3. In the light of the aforesaid submissions made by the learned counsel for the appellant / Revenue, the present appeal, wherein, the tax effect is said to be less than the monetary limit imposed, is dismissed as withdrawn, keeping open the substantial questions of law for determination in an appropriate case. No costs. [R.M.D,J.] [M.S.Q, J.] 17.12.2021

Internet : Yes

Index : Yes / No dhk 4/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Tax Case Appeal No.593 of 2021 To 1. The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras “A” Bench. 2. The Principal Commissioner of Income Tax International Taxation – 2 (1) Chennai - 600 034 R. MAHADEVAN, J. 5/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Tax Case Appeal No.593 of 2021 AND MOHAMMED SHAFFIQ, J. dhk Tax Case Appeal No. 593 of 2021 17.12.2021 6/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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