G.V.DAVID RAJAN vs. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX

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TCA/619/2018HC Madras09 March 2021Bench: Hon`ble Mr Justice T. S. SIVAGNANAM4 pages
AI SummaryWithdrawn

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court disposed of the appeal with liberty granted to the assessee to restore it if the decision under the Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme was not in their favor. Consequently, the substantial questions of law raised in the appeal were left undecided. The court did not provide any findings or reasoning on the merits of the case, nor did it make any operative directions regarding the tax liability, disallowances, or stock valuation. The principle that can be cited from this judgment is the procedure for disposing of appeals when a subsequent settlement scheme like Vivad Se Vishwas is invoked, allowing for restoration if the scheme's outcome is unfavorable. No costs were awarded.

What were the facts?

The assessee, Mr. G.V. David Rajan, filed an appeal before the Madras High Court under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, challenging an order dated May 11, 2017, passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Chennai 'C' Bench. The appeal pertained to the assessment year 2010-11. The core of the dispute involved the taxability of capital gains arising from the conversion of agricultural land into stock-in-trade, the classification of the land as agricultural or non-agricultural, and certain disallowances of business expenses and computation of opening stock. During the pendency of the appeal, the assessee filed a declaration under the Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme, and an order was passed on December 18, 2020. Consequently, the High Court disposed of the appeal with liberty to the assessee to restore it if the Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme outcome was unfavorable.

What were the issues?

The Tribunal had to decide the following substantial questions of law: 1. Whether the land was agricultural land on the date of sale, making capital gains from its conversion to stock-in-trade taxable. 2. Whether the Tribunal's conclusion that the land was non-agricultural was based on sufficient material. 3. Whether 5% of the business expenses incurred by the appellant should be disallowed. 4. Whether the value of the opening stock of land as of April 1, 2009, should be computed using the reverse indexation method. The assessee contended that the land was agricultural and that the capital gains should not be taxed. The revenue's arguments are not explicitly recorded in the provided text, but their position would be contrary to the assessee's claims regarding the nature of the land and the taxability of gains. The judgment does not record specific arguments from either side regarding issues 3 and 4.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 260A

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

TCA.No.619 of 2018 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 09.3.2021 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE T.S.SIVAGNANAM and THE HONOURABLE MS.JUSTICE R.N.MANJULA Tax Case Appeal No.619 of 2018

Mr.G.V.David Rajan ...Appellant Vs The Commissioner of Income Tax- 10, Chennai-34. ...Respondent APPEAL under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order dated 11.5.2017 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras 'C' Bench, Chennai made in I.T.A.No.991/Mds/2015 for the assessment year 2010-11. For Appellant: Mr.N.V.Narayanan for Mr.N.V.Balaji For Respondent: Mr.M.Swaminathan, SSC assisted by Mrs.V.Pushpa, JSC Judgment was delivered by

T.S.SIVAGNANAM

This appeal has been filed by the assessee under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 ('the Act' for brevity) challenging the order 1/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ TCA.No.619 of 2018 dated 11.5.2017 made in I.T.A.No.991/Mds/2015 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai, 'C' Bench ('the Tribunal' for brevity) for the assessment year 2010-11. 2. The assessee filed this appeal by raising the following substantial questions of law : ““i. Whether, under facts and circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in holding that the land of the appellant was not an agricultural land on the date of sale and hence, the capital gains upon converson of agricultural land into stock into trade is liable to tax ? ii. Whether, on facts and circumstances of the case, the Tribunal could have come to the conclusion that the land was non agricultural land based on material before it? iii. Whether, on facts and circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in holding that 5% of the expenses incurred by the appellant in its business should be disallowed? And iv. Whether, on facts and circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in holding the value of the opening stock of land as on 01.4.2009 should be computed as per reverse indexation method?” 2/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ TCA.No.619 of 2018 3. We have heard Mr.N.V.Narayanan, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant/assessee and Mr.M.Swaminathan, learned Senior Standing Counsel assisted by Mrs.V.Pushpa, learned Junior Standing Counsel appearing for the respondent/Revenue. 4. The learned counsel for the assessee submits that the assessee already filed the declaration/undertaking under the Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme and orders were passed on 18.12.2020 in Form No.3. 5. In the light of the subsequent event, the assessee is given liberty to restore this appeal in the event the ultimate decision taken on the declaration filed by the assessee under Section 4 of the said Act is not in favour of the assessee. If such a prayer is made, the Registry shall entertain the prayer without insisting upon any application to be filed for condonation of delay in restoration of the appeal and on such request made by the assessee by filing a miscellaneous petition for restoration, the Registry shall place such petition before the appropriate Division Bench for orders. 6. The tax case appeal stands disposed of with the aforementioned liberty. Consequently, the substantial questions of law raised are left open. No costs. RS 09.3.2021 3/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ TCA.No.619 of 2018 T.S.SIVAGNANAM,J AND R.N.MANJULA,J RS

To 1.The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, 'C' Bench, Chennai. 2.The Commissioner of Income Tax-10, Chennai-34. TCA.No.619 of 2018 09.3.2021 4/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/

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