THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX I PUNE vs. BALDEVSINH SANTSINGH WAHI (HUF) AHMEDNAGAR

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ITA/62/2015HC BombayHCBM03006968201520 February 2018Author: HON'BLE SHRI JUSTICE S V GANGAPURWALA,HON'BLE SHRI JUSTICE ARUN M. DHAVALE4 pages
AI SummaryDismissed

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court held that no question of law arises. It observed that consistently until assessment year 2005-06, the Assessing Officer treated these transactions as short-term and long-term capital gains. Subsequently, for later years, the Assessing Officer classified them as business income. The Tribunal had set aside the order treating them as business income. The High Court had previously dismissed departmental appeals for earlier assessment years (Appeal Nos. 13/2014, 14/2014, 15/2014, and 16/2014) by a speaking order, holding that transactions in shares were long-term and short-term capital gains depending on the holding period. The Court noted that there was no evidence on record beyond the number of transactions and profit earned, and the pattern of business activity had not changed, with the transportation business continuing. Considering the previous judgment of the High Court for earlier assessment years, and finding no changed circumstances in the present assessment year, the Court concluded that the share transactions were similar and thus to be treated as capital gains. The appeal was dismissed.

What were the facts?

The appeal concerns assessment year 2008-09. The assessee, Baldevsingh Santsingh Wahi (HUF), dealt in shares. The Commissioner (Appeals) held that transactions in shares held for less than three months should not be considered capital gains and remitted the matter. Both the department and the assessee appealed to the Tribunal. The Tribunal dismissed the department's appeal and allowed the assessee's appeal. The Assessing Officer had consistently treated share transactions as short-term and long-term capital gains until assessment year 2005-06. For subsequent years, the Assessing Officer treated them as business income. The High Court had previously dismissed departmental appeals for earlier assessment years, holding share transactions as capital gains depending on holding period.

What were the issues?

1. Whether the Tribunal erred in considering the frequency and enormous amount of share transactions, and the disparity between business income and income from shares, when determining the nature of income, thereby treating it as capital gains instead of business income? (Question of law) Assessee's Contention (Revenue's argument): The learned counsel for the appellant (Revenue) argued that the Tribunal relied solely on consistency and failed to consider the frequency and substantial amount of share transactions. The business income shown was significantly less than the income from share dealings. The Commissioner (Appeals) and the Tribunal erroneously concluded that holding shares for some period did not preclude the income from being business income. The appellant relied on the judgment of the Hon'ble Apex Court in The Commissioner of Income-Tax, Nagpur v. M/s. Sutlej Cotton Mills Supply Agency Ltd. (AIR 1975 SC 2106) and argued that the assessee did not prove shares were held as stock-in-trade, and the substantial nature of transactions needed consideration. The CBDT Circular dated 15.06.2007 was also not considered. Assessee's Contention (Respondent's argument): The judgment does not record any specific arguments made by the assessee.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 68

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

1 Sr23 ITA62.2015 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY. BENCH AT AURANGABAD. INCOME TAX APPEAL NO. 62 OF 2015 The Commissioner of Income Tax­I, Aayakar Bhavan, PMT Building, B­Wing Shankar Seth Road, Swargate, Pune­37. … Appellant VERSUS Baldevsingh Santsingh Wahi (HUF) B­34, Raj Chambers, Near Kothla Road, Ahmednagar. … Respondent .......... Dr. Kalpalata Patil Bharaswadkar, Advocate for the appellant Mr Alok Sharma, AGP for respondent/State ............. CORAM  :  S. V. GANGAPURWALA & A. M. DHAVALE, JJ. DATE      :  20TH FEBRUARY, 2018. ORDER: 1. This Income Tax Appeal pertains to assessment year 2008­ 09. 2. Mrs Kalpalata Patil Bharaswadkar, the learned counsel for the appellant submits that the Tribunal has gone on the premise of consistency   only   and   has   not   considered   the   frequency   of   the transactions, the enormous amount of the sale and purchase of share

2 Sr23 ITA62.2015 transactions.  The business income shown was far too less than the income received from the business of shares.   The Commissioner (Appeals) and the Tribunal have erroneously considered that only because for some period the shares were held would not come within the ambit and purview of business income.   According to the learned counsel, only because upto the year 2005­06 transactions in shares were treated as short term and long term capital gain that would not ifso facto be sufficient to consider the same to be a short term or long term   capital   gain   for   the   present   year.     The   CBT   Circular dt.15.06.2007   also   has   not   been   considered.     According   to   the learned counsel, it is not shown by the assessee that the shares were held as stock in trade.  The substantial nature of transaction has to be considered. She relies on the judgment of the Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of The Commissioner of Income­Tax, Nagpur v. M/s. Sutlej Cotton Mills Supply Agency Ltd. reported in AIR 1975 SC 2106. 3. The   assessee   has   dealt   in   shares.     The   Commissioner (Appeals) had held that the transactions which were of shares held for less than three months should not be considered as capital gain and to that extent had remitted the matter.  The department and the assessee filed appeal before the Tribunal.  The Tribunal dismissed the appeal of the department and allowed the appeal of the assessee.

3 Sr23 ITA62.2015 4. It would be seen that, consistently till the year 2005­06, the Assessing Officer was considering the transactions of these assesses as short term and long term capital gain.  Subsequently, for subsequent year the Assessing Officer has held the transaction in shares to be a business   income.     The   Tribunal   set   aside   the   said   order.     The Department   filed   appeal   before   this   Court   bearing   Appeal No.13/2014,   14/2014,   15/2014   and   16/2014.     This   court   by   a speaking order dismissed the appeals of the department holding the transaction in shares to be a long term and short term capital gain depending upon their holding. 5. It was observed that, there is no evidence on record besides the number of transactions and the profit earned.   The pattern of business activity has not undergone change. The transport business continues. 6. It is a fact that, the assessee has also his transportation business as is reflected in the oder. 7. Considering   the   judgment   of   this   court   for   the   earlier assessment year, there are no changed circumstances in the present

4 Sr23 ITA62.2015 assessment   year   and   the   transactions   in   shares   are   similar.     No question of law arises. The appeal is dismissed.  No costs. [  A. M. DHAVALE ] [  S. V. GANGAPURWALA ] JUDGE JUDGE Punde

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