THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME vs. SHRI. P. MADAN MOHAN

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TCA/719/2016HC Madras04 June 2020Bench: HON'BLE DR.JUSTICE VINEET KOTHARI4 pages
AI SummaryDismissed

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court dismissed the appeals filed by the Revenue. The dismissal was based on a Circular instruction issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) vide Circular No. 17/2019 dated August 8, 2019. This circular stipulates that appeals shall not be filed or pursued by the Department before the High Court if the tax effect does not exceed Rs. 1,00,00,000/- (Rupees One Crore). In the present cases, the tax effect was stated to be less than this monetary limit. Therefore, the appeals were dismissed as withdrawn. The Court explicitly stated that the substantial questions of law were kept open for determination in appropriate cases. No costs were awarded.

What were the facts?

The Revenue, Commissioner of Income Tax, filed two Tax Case Appeals (TCA Nos. 719 & 720 of 2016) before the High Court of Madras, challenging orders of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), 'A' Bench, Chennai, dated May 15, 2015. These appeals pertained to Assessment Year 2009-10 and concerned the tax treatment of capital gains and eligibility for exemption under Section 54F for assessees Shri P. Madan Mohan and Shri A.P. Rajmohan. The ITAT's orders were under challenge. The appeals were filed under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

What were the issues?

The Tribunal had to decide four substantial questions of law: 1. Whether the capital gains should be assessed in Assessment Year 2007-08 or 2009-10. 2. Whether the date of conclusion of a joint development agreement constitutes the date of transfer. 3. Whether the assessees were eligible for exemption under Section 54F despite multiple flats being allotted in lieu of land. 4. Whether investment in multiple residential units across different floors, areas, buildings, or wings of the same building qualifies for deduction under Section 54F, as opposed to a single residential unit. The Revenue raised these questions. The judgment does not record specific arguments made by the assessees or the Revenue on these issues, other than the Revenue's reliance on the substantial questions of law framed.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 260A,Section 54F

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

Judgt. dt. 4.6.2020 in T.C.A.719 & 720/2016 CIT v. P.Madan Mohan 1/4 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 4.6.2020 CORAM THE HON'BLE DR.JUSTICE VINEET KOTHARI AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE R.SURESH KUMAR Tax Case (Appeal) Nos.719 & 720 of 2016 The Commissioner of Income Tax Chennai. Appellant in both cases Vs. Shri.P.Madan Mohan PAN: AGZPM4775H Respondent in TCA 719/2016 Shri.A.P.Rajmohan PAN: AJJPR0649A Respondent in TCA 720/2016 Tax Case Appeals filed under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, 'A' Bench, Chennai, dated 15.5.2015 made in ITA No.1493/Mds/2013 & 1495/Mds/2013. For Appellant : Mr.T.Ravikumar, Senior Standing Counsel For Respondents : Mr.Vijayaraghavan for M/s.Subbaraya Aiyar Padmanabhan COMMON JUDGMENT (Delivered by DR.VINEET KOTHARI,J) These Tax Case Appeals have been filed by the Revenue, calling in question the correctness of the order passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, 'A' Bench, Chennai, dated 15.5.2015 made in ITA http://www.judis.nic.in Judgt. dt. 4.6.2020 in T.C.A.719 & 720/2016 CIT v. P.Madan Mohan 2/4 No.1493/Mds/2013 & 1495/Mds/2013, for the Assessment Year 2009- 1020, by raising the following substantial questions of law: "(i) Whether in the facts and circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in law in holding that the Capital Gains is to be assessed in the Assessment Year 2007-08 and not in the Assessment Year 2009-2010? (ii) Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was correct in holding the date of conclusion of agreement for joint development of land constitutes the date of transfer? (iii) Whether in the facts and circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in holding that the assessees are eligible for exemption u/s.54F even though multiple flats were allotted to them in lieu of cost of 60% of the land allotted to the builder? (iv) Whether in the facts and circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was correct in treating the investment in multiple residential units located at different floors, different areas and different buildings and in different wings of same building as being eligible for deduction http://www.judis.nic.in Judgt. dt. 4.6.2020 in T.C.A.719 & 720/2016 CIT v. P.Madan Mohan 3/4 u/s.54F though as per provision, the investment in a residential unit alone is eligible for exemption?" 2. When the matters are taken up for hearing, learned Senior Standing Counsel brought to our notice the Circular instruction issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes vide Circular No.17/2019 dated 8th August 2019, 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). 3. In the instant cases, the tax effect is said to be less than the monetary limit imposed and therefore, the Appeals filed by the Revenue are dismissed, as withdrawn, keeping open the substantial questions of law for determination in appropriate cases. No costs. (V.K.,J.) (R.S.K.,J.) 4.6.2020 Index : Yes/No Internet : Yes/No ssk. To 1. Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, 'A' Bench, Chennai. http://www.judis.nic.in Judgt. dt. 4.6.2020 in T.C.A.719 & 720/2016 CIT v. P.Madan Mohan 4/4 DR.VINEET KOTHARI, J. and R.SURESH KUMAR, J. ssk. 2. Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, 'A' Bench, Chennai. 3. The Income Tax Officer, Business Ward V(2), Chennai 600 034. 4. The Income Tax Officer, Salary Ward V(4), Chennai 600 034. T.C.(A) Nos.719 & 720 of 2016 4.6.2020. http://www.judis.nic.in

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