SHRI F. SUSAI RAJU, vs. INCOME TAX OFFICER

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TCA/696/2018HC Madras26 March 2021Bench: Hon`ble Mr Justice T. S. SIVAGNANAM4 pages
AI SummaryWithdrawn

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court noted that the assessee had filed a declaration under the Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme, and an order was passed on December 23, 2020. In light of this subsequent event, the Court granted the assessee liberty to restore the appeal if the decision on the Vivad Se Vishwas declaration was not in their favour. If such a prayer for restoration was made, the Registry was directed to entertain it without requiring a condonation of delay application and place it before the appropriate Division Bench. Consequently, the Tax Case Appeal was disposed of with this liberty, and the substantial questions of law were left open. No decision was made on the merits of the questions raised.

What were the facts?

The assessee, Shri F. Susai Raju, filed a Tax Case Appeal before the High Court of Judicature at Madras, challenging an order dated January 30, 2017, passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Chennai. The appeal pertains to the assessment year 2012-13. The assessee raised three substantial questions of law concerning the taxability of a gift received, its classification as 'gift in contemplation of death' under Section 56(vii) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, and its satisfaction of Section 191 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925. Additionally, the appeal questioned the ITAT's upholding of a disallowance under Section 40A(3) for cash payments made for immovable property due to business expediency. During the pendency of the appeal, the assessee filed a declaration under the Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme, and an order was passed on December 23, 2020.

What were the issues?

The Tribunal had to decide the following substantial questions of law: 1. Whether the gift received by the appellant from Shri M. Amaloresamy could be treated as 'gift in contemplation of death' as per Proviso (d) to Section 56(vii) of the Income Tax Act, 1961. 2. Whether the gift received by the appellant was 'in contemplation of death' of the donor and satisfied the provisions of Section 191 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925, thereby not being assessable as income under Section 56 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. 3. Whether the ITAT was correct in upholding the disallowance under Section 40A(3) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, in respect of genuine cash payments of sale consideration for immovable property made out of business expediency. Assessee's Contentions: The assessee argued that the gift was in contemplation of death and satisfied Section 191 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925, making it not taxable under Section 56 of the Income Tax Act. The assessee also contended that the disallowance under Section 40A(3) was incorrect as the cash payments were for business expediency. Revenue's Contentions: The judgment does not record specific contentions for the revenue.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 56,Section 56(vii),Section 40A(3),Section 191,Section 260A

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

TCA.No.696 of 2018 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 26.3.2021 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE T.S.SIVAGNANAM and THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN Tax Case Appeal No.696 of 2018 Shri F.Susai Raju ...Appellant Vs The Income Tax Officer, Corporate Ward 5(2), Chennai-34. ...Respondent APPEAL under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order dated 30.1.2017 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras 'A' Bench, Chennai made in I.T.A.No.2423/Mds/2016 for the assessment year 2012-13. For Appellant: Mr.M.P.Senthilkumar For Respondent: Mrs.R.Hemalatha, SSC 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 dated 30.1.2017 made in I.T.A.No.2423/Mds/2016 on the file of the 1/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ TCA.No.696 of 2018 Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai, 'A' Bench ('the Tribunal' for brevity) for the assessment year 2012-13. 2. The assessee filed this appeal by raising the following substantial questions of law : ““i. Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal is right in law in holding that the gift received by the appellant from Shri M.Amaloresamy cannot be treated as 'gift in contemplation of death' as per Proviso (d) to Section 56(vii) of the Income Tax Act, 1961? ii. Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the gift received by the appellant was 'in contemplation of death' of donor and the same satisfies the provisions of Section 191 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925 and not assessable as income of the appellant under Section 56 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 ? and iii. Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal is right in law in upholding the disallowance under Section 40A(3) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 in respect of genuine payment of sale consideration to the vendors in cash for purchase of immovable property 2/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ TCA.No.696 of 2018 out of business expediency ?” 3. We have heard Mr.M.P.Senthilkumar, learned counsel appearing for the appellant/assessee and Mrs.R.Hemalatha, learned Senior 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 23.12.2020 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 26.3.2021 3/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ TCA.No.696 of 2018 T.S.SIVAGNANAM,J AND V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN,J RS

To 1.The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, 'A' Bench, Chennai. 2.The Income Tax Officer, Corporate Ward 5(2), Chennai-34. TCA.No.696 of 2018 26.3.2021 4/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/

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