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Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, PUNE BENCH “B”, PUNE
Before: SHRI R.S. SYAL & SHRI PARTHA SARATHI CHAUDHURY
आदेश / ORDER
PER R.S.SYAL, VP :
This appeal filed by the assessee arises out of the order
passed by the CIT(A)-4, Pune on 19-06-2017 in relation to the
assessment year 2012-13.
The assessee has filed revised grounds of appeal, which read
as under : -
“1. The learned (ld) CIT(A) grossly erred in confirming the impugned reassessment order for the AY 2012-13, as the appellate order suffers from a number of fatal and vital defects and the same is also based on totally erroneous / false statements on a number of vital aspects.
ITA No.2752/PUN/2017 Smt. Sushilabai Ishwardas Bamb
The Id CIT(A) grossly erred in not appreciating that the second notice under section 148 of the Income-Tax: Act, 1961 (the Act), dt.28.3.2016, could not be issued on the basis of the same set of facts, after the ITO, Wd.5(3), Pune, had dropped the reassessment proceedings, initiated vide first notice under section 148 of the Act, dt.30.3.2015
The Id CIT(A) failed to appreciate that even on merits, the AO could not have adopted the fair market value (FMV) of the property as on 1.4.1981, at Rs.400 per sq.mtr, as against Rs.700 per sq.mtr, determined by the Government Registered Valuer appointed by the appellant, as also the Government Registered Valuer, appointed by the co-seller.
The Id CIT(A) grossly erred in not appreciating that the impugned reassessment order, dt.30.12.2016, is absolutely invalid and bad in law, because the total income therein, has been computed on provisional basis, the same being subject to the valuation report of the DVO, which was yet to be received,
The Id CIT(A) failed to appreciate that there was no fresh / new material in possession of the AO, for the issuance of the second notice under section 148 of the Act, dt.28.3.2016, after the reassessment proceedings initiated, vide the first notice under section 148 of the Act, dt.30.3.2015, were dropped by the ITO, Wd.5(3), Pune.
The Id CIT(A) failed to appreciate that the impugned second notice under section 148 of the Act, dt.28.3.2016, was issued purely on the basis of change of opinion on the part of the AO, on the same set of facts, which is not permissible in law.
The Id CIT(A) grossly erred in ignoring the ground of appeal that the impugned reassessment order was passed in defiance of the judgement of the Bombay High Court, in the case of Aroni Commercials Ltd Vs Dy.CIT (2014) 101 DTR 244 (Bom).
The Id CIT(A) grossly erred in not appreciating the fact that there was another fatal flaw in the impugned reassessment order, because the same was passed without disposal of the objections filed by the appellant against the second notice under section 148 of the Act, dt.28.3.2016, vide her letter, dt.17.12.2016.
All the aforesaid Grounds of Appeal are without prejudice to one another.
3 ITA No.2752/PUN/2017 Smt. Sushilabai Ishwardas Bamb
The appellant craves-leave to add, alter, amend, modify or delete any or all the aforesaid Grounds of Appeal.
The first issue raised in the instant appeal is against initiation
of re-assessment proceedings. Briefly stated, the facts of the case,
are that the assessee filed original return on 28-07-2012 declaring
total income of Rs.83,88,922/- inclusive of long term capital gain
of Rs.34,57,850/-. This return was revised on 22.11.2013
declaring total income of Rs.84,95,772/-. In such revised return,
there was no variation in the amount of long term capital gain
originally declared by the assessee at Rs.34,57,850/-. The
Assessing Officer (AO) initiated re-assessment proceedings by
means of a notice u/s.148 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter
also called as ‘the Act’) dated 30-03-2015. Proceedings pursuant
to such notice were dropped vide order dated 16.03.2016.
Thereafter, another notice dated 28-03-2016 was issued u/s.148 of
the Act on the ground that the amount of long term capital gain
declared by the assessee by taking indexed cost of acquisition at
Rs.17,41,01,150/-, being, 98% of the sale consideration, was
exorbitantly excessive when considered in the light of a much
lower indexed cost of acquisition shown by one Sh. Kundanmal
Chunilal Khivansara, another co-owner of the same property. The
4 ITA No.2752/PUN/2017 Smt. Sushilabai Ishwardas Bamb
assessee objected to the initiation of re-assessment proceedings by
arguing that the AO could not have re-opened the assessment on
the same reason for which the earlier notice dated 30-03-2015 was
issued and the proceedings were dropped. The AO rejected such
contention by noticing that there were certain typographical
mistakes and other infirmities in such earlier notice of re-
assessment and that was the rationale for dropping proceedings out
of such a notice followed by a fresh notice u/s.148 dated 28-03-
2016 recording proper reasons. During the course of assessment
proceedings, the AO elaborated the position by indicating that the
assessee adopted fair market value of the property on 1.4.1981 at
the rate of Rs.700 per sq.mt., as against such fair market value
shown by Sh. Kundanmal Khivansara at Rs.400 per sq.mt. The AO
made a reference to the Valuation Officer, Solapur for determining
the FMV of the property as on 01-04-1981. Since the report of the
DVO was not received till the completion of the assessment on
30-12-2016, the AO adopted the FMV of the said property as on
01-04-1981 at Rs.400/- per sq.mtr, being, the same rate at which
another transferor of the same property had declared. It was,
however, mentioned in the assessment order that this adoption
shall be subject to FMV as on 01-04-1981 as determined by the
5 ITA No.2752/PUN/2017 Smt. Sushilabai Ishwardas Bamb
DVO, to whom reference was made and the report was awaited.
This led to an addition of Rs.7,86,71,212/-. The assessee remained
unsuccessful before the ld. CIT(A) both on merits as well as
against the initiation of re-assessment proceedings. This is how,
the instant appeal has been filed before the Tribunal.
We have heard the rival submissions and gone through the
relevant material on record. The first issue raised before us is
against the initiation of re-assessment proceedings. The ld. AR
contended that the AO initiated re-assessment proceedings vide
notice u/s 148 of the Act dated 30-03-2015 by recording the
reasons on 10-03-2015 to the effect that it transpired during the
course of examination of high value transactions of Mr.
Kundanmal Chunilal Khinvasara, another co-seller of the same
property which the assessee transferred, that the assessee received
sale consideration of Rs.17,76,63,000/- and there was some
escapement of capital gains in the hands of the assessee. These
proceedings were dropped vide order dated 16-03-2016. The ld.
AR submitted that the initiation of re-assessment proceedings
again on 28-03-2016 on some subject matter amounted to change
of opinion, which was not permissible. This was strongly refuted
by the ld. DR, who submitted that there were certain irregularities
6 ITA No.2752/PUN/2017 Smt. Sushilabai Ishwardas Bamb
in the recording of reasons by the AO on 10-03-2015, which
necessitated the dropping of the proceedings flowing from such
notice and initiating fresh proceedings pursuant to notice u/s.148
dated 28-03-2016.
In order to properly appreciate the rival contention on this
score, it would be apposite to note the reasons recorded by the AO
on 10-03-2015, copy of which is available on page 2 of the paper
book as under :-
“In this case, information has been received from the DIT(Intel. & Cr .Inv.) Pune, vide letter dtd.22.01.2015 that while verifying the high value transaction in the case of Shri Kundanmal Chimanlal Khinvasara, it was received that Smt. Sushilabai Ishwardas Bamb, one of the co-sellers has received sale consideration of Rs.17,76,63,000/- during the F.Y. 2011-12. Though letter was issued by the DIT (Intel.& Cr. Inv) Pune, to this assessee, no information was received by them in this respect. Therefore, the said information has been passed on to the jurisdictional AO. In order to verify the transaction and escapement of Capital Gain, re- opening of assessment in the case of the assessee for A.Y.2012-13 is necessary. Notice issued u/s.148 of the I.T. Act, 1961.”
Pursuant to such reasons, the AO issued notice dated
30-03-2015, a copy of which is available at page 1 of the paper
book. The AO dropped these proceedings vide order dated
16-03-2016, a copy of which is available at page 12 of the paper
book. It is two-lined order reading : `Proceedings initiated u/s.147
7 ITA No.2752/PUN/2017 Smt. Sushilabai Ishwardas Bamb
of the I.T. Act, 1961, vide issue of notice u/s.148 of the Act dated
10-03-2015 are hereby dropped’. It can be seen from the reasons
dated 10-03-2015 that the AO simply recorded that information
was received from DIT (Intel. & Cr. Inv.), Pune, that while
verifying the high value transaction in the case of Kundanmal
Chunimal Khinvasara, the assessee was also found to have
received sale consideration of Rs.17.76 crore and odd. In order to
verify the transaction and escapement of capital gain, the re-
assessment proceedings were initiated. It is apparent from a
perusal of the above reasons that there is no positive satisfaction by
the AO about the escapement of income in the hands of the
assessee. What has been recorded is a vague attempt to verify the
transaction without their being any reason to believe about the
escapement of income. The AO, after initiation of assessment
proceedings pursuant to such reasons dated 10-03-2015,
understood the gravity of the mistake committed in the manner of
recording the reasons and thought it better to drop the proceedings.
A finding to this effect has been returned in the assessment as well
as the impugned orders. This led to the passing of the order dated
16.3.2016 dropping the proceedings.
ITA No.2752/PUN/2017 Smt. Sushilabai Ishwardas Bamb
Thereafter, a fresh notice u/s. 148 of the Act was issued on
28-03-2016 accompanied by the reasons, a copy of which is given
at pages 14 and 15 of the paper book, reading as under : -
“The assessee has filed her return of income for the financial year 2011-12 relevant to the assessment year 2012-13 on 22.11.2013 declaring total income at Rs.84,95,772/-. The return was processed u/s.143(1) of the I.T. Act, 1961. 2. In this case information has been received from office of the DIT (Intel. & Cr. Inv.) Pune, regarding high value transaction related to the sale of immovable property of Rs.29,93,59,000/- (market value of Rs.28,22,81,175/-) in respect of the land bearing survey No.50/1, Survey No.50/2, ½ portion out of survey No.50/4, survey No.50/6, Survey No.50/7+8 and Survey No.50/10+11/2/2. In all measuring about 5.33 Hectare, 8 Acre, i.e. 53,380 sq. mtr and registered with Jt. SRO, Class-2, Haveli-19, Pune on 06.09.2011 vide document number 8555/2011 sold by the vendors as per table below :
Sr.No. Name of the Vendor Vendor % Share of Amount No. the vendor received (Rs.) towards payment received 1 Kundanmal Chunilal 1 22% 6,50,54,000 Khinvasara 2 Shirish Kundanmal 2 19% 5,66,42,000 Khinvasara Meenal Kundanmal Khinvasara Madhur Kundanmal Khinvasara Yash Kundanmal Khinvasara 3 Sushilabai Ishwardas Bamb 3 59% 17,76,63,000 Total 29,93,59,000
Shri Kundanmal Chinulal Khinvasara (Vendor 1) in his return of income filed for the A.Y. 2012-13, has taken the cost of acquisition in respect of his share in the land at Rs.46,40,000/- with corresponding indexed cost of acquisition worked out at Rs.3,64,24,000/- (55% of the sale consideration) with LTCG calculated at Rs.2,86,30,000/- as against the sale consideration received at Rs.6,50,54,000/-.
ITA No.2752/PUN/2017 Smt. Sushilabai Ishwardas Bamb
Smt. Sushilabai Ishwardas Bamb (Vendor 3), one the co-sellers has received sale consideration of Rs.17,76,63,000/- (59% of the total sales consideration of Rs.29,93,59,000/-) during the A.Y. 2012-13 and has not filed her return of income within the scheduled date. Further, on 22.11.2013, Smt. Sushilabai Ishwardas Bamb, has filed her return of income calculating the LTCG arises during the assessment year as below :
Full value of consideration Rs.17,76,63,000 Less : Cost of acquisition : Rs.17,41,05,150/- (98% of sale consideration) Expenditure on transfer : Rs.1,00,000 Rs.17,42,05,150 --------------------- LTCG : Rs.34,57,850/- --------------------
On comparing the cost of acquisition taken for the purpose of calculating the LTCG offered by Smt. Sushilabai Ishwarbai Bamb with the cost of acquisition as taken by Shri Kundanmal Chunilal Khinvasara in the ratio in which the sale consideration have been received, it is observed that the cost of acquisition as taken by Smt. Sushilabai Ishwardas Bamb is unexpectedly very high (almost 100% high) as compared to the cost of acquisition taken by Shri Kundanmal Chinulal Khinvasara. Hence, it clearly established that there was the escapement of Capital Gain as offered by Smt. Sushilabai Ishwardas Bamb by adopting the cost of acquisition unexpectedly high to evade taxes. There is nothing on record to show the cost of acquisition. 5. In view of above, I have reasons to believe that income to the extent of Rs.17,76,63,000/- for the A.Y. 2012-13 has escaped assessment within the meaning of section 147 of the I.T. Act, 1961.”
After dropping the earlier re-assessment proceedings, the AO
initiated fresh re-assessment proceedings vide notice u/s 148 dated
28-03-2016 by properly recording that one piece of land
admeasuring about 53,380 sq.mtr was sold by persons, namely,
10 ITA No.2752/PUN/2017 Smt. Sushilabai Ishwardas Bamb
Kundanlal Chunilal Khinvasara, being, Vendor No.1 having 22%
share; Shirish Kundanmal Khinvasara, Meenal Kundanmal
Khinvasara, Madhur Kundanmal Khinvasara and Yash Kundanmal
Khinvasara, being, Vendor No.2 having 19% share; and the
assessee, being, Vendor No.3 having 59% share in the total sale
consideration of Rs.29,93,59,000/-. While disclosing the amount
of capital gain from the transfer of the land as a co-owner of the
same property, Sh. Kundanlal Chunilal Khinvasara, being, Vendor
No.1 with 22% share, adopted cost of acquisition at Rs.46,40,000/-
by considering fair market value of the property as on 1.4.1981 at
the rate of Rs.400 per sq.mtr, and the corresponding indexed cost
of acquisition at Rs.3.64 crore, thereby determining long term
capital gain at Rs.2.86 crore. As against that, the assessee, another
co-seller of the same property with 59% share declared long term
capital gain of Rs.34.57 lakhs by considering indexed cost of
acquisition at Rs.17.41 as against the full value of consideration at
Rs.17.76 crore. Cost of acquisition at Rs.17.41 crore was worked
out by taking fair market value of the same property at Rs.700 per
sq.mt. This led to the formation of reasons to believe by the AO
that there was escapement of capital gain in the hands of the
11 ITA No.2752/PUN/2017 Smt. Sushilabai Ishwardas Bamb
assessee, necessitating the issuance of notice u/s 148 of the Act on
28.3.2016.
The argument of the ld. AR that such a second initiation of
reassessment, leading to the passing of the instant order, is invalid,
can be better appreciated in two steps, viz., one, whether a notice
of reassessment can be issued more than once and two, whether a
second notice of assessment can be issued on the same subject
matter.
It is a trite law that there is no restriction on the number of
times an AO can venture to make reassessments, of course, subject
to the relevant provisions. So long as the successive assessments or
reassessments u/s 147 of the Act are within the stipulated time,
there can be no impediment on the powers of the AO to issue
notice and frame reassessments one after another. It is a settled
legal position, which has not been rightly disputed on behalf of the
assessee.
The dispute revolves around the second aspect, that is,
whether a second notice of reassessment can be issued on the same
subject matter. Ordinarily, when a notice of reassessment is issued
and the issue is decided, the AO cannot once again initiate
12 ITA No.2752/PUN/2017 Smt. Sushilabai Ishwardas Bamb
reassessment on the same subject matter. The reason is obvious
that once he has decided a particular aspect in the first round of
reassessment and he again takes up the same after some time,
without there being any tangible material coming into existence
after the completion of the first reassessment leading the AO to
form a belief that the income escaped assessment, it would amount
to change of opinion, which is not permissible under the law. There
is an exception to it. If however, the AO has not rendered any
decision on that aspect on which the reassessment was initiated, for
some technical reasons and the proceedings are closed at the
threshold, there can be no embargo on the powers of the AO to
initiate the reassessment once again on such subject matter after
making good the technical reasons which hindered him to proceed
in the first round of reassessment. In order to bring a subject matter
within the ambit of `change of opinion’, it is of foremost
importance that at the first instance, there should be some
formation of opinion. If the subject matter of reassessment in the
first round has not been taken up at all for consideration and
decision, it cannot be said the second reassessment notice on the
same subject matter constitutes change of opinion, so as to debar
the AO from espousing the reassessment.
13 ITA No.2752/PUN/2017 Smt. Sushilabai Ishwardas Bamb
Adverting to the facts of the instant case, we find that the
extant case falls in the exception as discussed above. Albeit, the
subject matter of reasons for issuing first notice u/s.148 on
30-03-2015 and the second notice dated 28-03-2016 is same, but
the fact that the AO had to drop the first set of reassessment
proceedings without going into merits, in our considered opinion,
properly clothed the AO with the power to issue second notice of
reassessment on the same subject matter, this time de hors, any
technical glitch. It is manifest that the reasons recorded by the AO
in the first reassessment notice were vague and did not elaborate
anything about the escapement of income in the hands of the
assessee. They simply referred to “verify the transaction”, which
is obviously not permissible within the scope of re-assessment
proceedings since the proceedings cannot be initiated for making
roving enquiries or attempting to find out if there is an escapement
of income. In order to get jurisdiction u/s.147, it is sine qua non
that the AO should have reason to believe that some income
chargeable to tax escaped assessment which is obviously at a
higher pedestal than an attempt to verify the escapement of
income.
14 ITA No.2752/PUN/2017 Smt. Sushilabai Ishwardas Bamb
Reverting to the facts, we find that once the AO realized his
mistake in recording the reasons, he swung into action and dropped
the proceedings without adjudicating on the merits of the issue.
Within a span of 15 days from the date of such dropping of the
proceedings, the AO issued a fresh notice u/s.148 on 28-03-2016,
this time, recording the reasons about the escapement of income in
a proper manner. The situation would have been otherwise if the
AO had dropped the proceedings by recording in the order that he
was satisfied with the amount of capital gain shown by the
assessee. That would have prevented him from issuing another
notice u/s.148 on the same subject matter. Since the first notice
dated 30-03-2015 did not elaborately record reasons to believe
about the escapement of income, the action of the AO in dropping
such proceedings without going into the merits and initiating fresh
proceedings, cannot be faulted with. As the second notice u/s 148
dated 28.3.2016 was within the permissible time and the eventual
assessment order u/s 143(3) read with section 147 dated
30.12.2016 was also not barred by time, we are afraid that the
contention of the ld. AR urging us to quash the initiation of
reassessment, cannot be countenanced. Ergo, we accord our
15 ITA No.2752/PUN/2017 Smt. Sushilabai Ishwardas Bamb
imprimatur to the issuance of notice dated 28.3.2016 u/s 148 of the
Act.
The ld. DR has relied on the decision of Bangalore Bench of
the Tribunal in Cornerstone Proper Investments Pvt. Ltd. Vs. ITO
(2018) 193 TTJ 58 (Bang.). The facts of that case are almost
similar to those instantly under consideration. In that case also the
re-assessment proceedings pursuant to the first notice u/s.148 were
dropped as the reasons were not properly recorded. Second re-
assessment notice was issued and then the assessment was framed.
The assessee challenged the initiation of re-assessment
proceedings, in the same way, as has been done before us.
Rejecting such contention, the Tribunal held that the proceedings
pursuant to second notice were valid because “the proceedings
initiated by issue of the earlier notice u/s.148 of the Act dated 18-
04-2012 was arrived as the reasons had not been properly
recorded”. In reaching this conclusion, the Bangalore Bench of
the Tribunal relied on the judgment of Hon’ble Allahabad High
Court in Sukhlal Ice and Storage Company Vs. ITO and Another
(1993) 199 ITR 129 (All). The reliance of ld. DR on another
judgment of the Hon’ble Madhya Pradesh High Court in Kohinoor
Enterprises Vs. ITO and others (1997) 226 ITR 86 (MP) also
16 ITA No.2752/PUN/2017 Smt. Sushilabai Ishwardas Bamb
fortifies the view canvassed by us. In that case also, first notice
issued u/s.148 was without any basis and the Department had to
drop proceedings. The Hon’ble High Court held that the second
notice issued would not be quashed as the same was within the
jurisdiction of the AO.
The ld. AR contended that the AO should suffer for the
mistake committed by him at the time of recording reasons in the
year 2015. To buttress such a contention, the ld. AR relied on
certain decisions laying down the proposition that the AO cannot
take benefit of his own errors. In our considered opinion, the
proposition propounded by the ld. AR and those decisions are not
germane in the present context. The question before us is not that
the AO sought to take certain advantage out of the errors
committed by him in issuing notice u/s.148 on 30-03-2015.
Reliance on such decisions would have assumed significance if the
AO had stuck to such reasons and tried to validate his action on the
strength of actual facts urging that even if the reasons were not
properly recorded, but in substance his action was justified. In that
situation, it could have been contended on behalf of the assessee
that the AO cannot take benefit of his own errors committed while
recording reasons at the time of issuing notice dated 30-03-2015.
17 ITA No.2752/PUN/2017 Smt. Sushilabai Ishwardas Bamb
Au contraire, here is a case, in which the proceedings arising out of
notice u/s.148 dated 30-03-2015 were dropped without going into
merits. For all practical purposes, such proceedings ceased to exist
on their dropping. While examining the validity or otherwise of the
second notice, we cannot take cognizance of the first validly
dropped proceedings without entering into the merits of the case.
What we need to examine and evaluate is to test the validity of the
initiation of re-assessment proceedings on the touchstone of the
reasons recorded by the AO on 28-03-2016. Since the assessment
order is based on the reasons as recorded pursuant to notice dated
28-03-2016, it would not be right to claim that the AO tried to take
some benefit out of his own mistakes. As the notice dated
28-03-2016 was well within the stipulated time and the earlier
proceedings u/s.148 had been validly dropped, we hold that there
can be no case to argue that the AO initiated re-assessment
proceedings in a wrong manner by taking advantage of his own
mistakes. This contention is, therefore, repelled.
The next issue raised by the ld. AR is that the AO passed a
provisional assessment order which is impermissible in law. This
was so stated on the ground that the AO recorded in para No.7 of
his order that he was adopting FMV of the property as on 01-04-
18 ITA No.2752/PUN/2017 Smt. Sushilabai Ishwardas Bamb
1981 @ Rs.400/- per sq.mtr as against the FMV taken by the
assessee at Rs.700/- per sq.mtr and the same was subject to the
FMV as on 01-04-1981 to be determined by the DVO. The ld. AR
submitted that this amounted to passing of a provisional
assessment order, subject to a final order to be passed, which was
bad in law.
We are not convinced with the argument tendered on behalf
of the assessee. There is no doubt that the AO has recorded in his
order that adoption of FMV of the property as on 01-04-1981 @
Rs.400/- per sq. mtr shall be subject to the FMV as on 01-04-1981
to be determined by the DVO, but the fact of the matter is that the
assessment got concluded with the adoption of FMV of the
property as on 01-04-1981 @ Rs.400/- per sq.mtr and the income
was determined accordingly. Not only that, the AO also issued
demand notice u/s.156. The issuance of demand notice coupled
with the passing of assessment order amply proves that it was a
final assessment order in all respects. On a pertinent query, the ld.
AR fairly admitted that the AO did not revise this assessment order
by any other order and further there was nothing to show that any
adverse report of the DVO was received or considered. This
shows that the assessment order passed by the AO, based on the
19 ITA No.2752/PUN/2017 Smt. Sushilabai Ishwardas Bamb
cost of acquisition, being, FMV as on 01-04-1981 @ Rs.400/- pre
sq.mtr, derived from the same cost of acquisition as declared by
another co-seller of the same property, cannot be considered as
based on any report of the DVO etc. Reference made to DVO
became academic because the AO never took cognizance of any
report of the DVO, if at all received at any stage, after the
conclusion of the assessment order. Thus, it is overt that the
assessment order passed by the AO is final in all respects and the
same cannot be characterized as provisional so as to claim its
quashing on this very score. We, therefore, reject this contention
raised by the ld. AR.
Now, we turn to the adoption of FMV at Rs.400/- per sq. mtr
being FMV as on 01-04-1981 of the property, on merits. It is
noticed that the assessee declared cost of acquisition by adopting
rate of Rs.700/- per sq. mtr, being, the FMV as on 01-04-1981.
This was done on the basis of a report of a Registered Valuer. The
assessee was one of three sets of co-sellers of the property
transferred at the same time. The other co-sellers also got the
property valued as on 01-04-1981 from the same Registered
Valuer, who determined the FMV on that date at Rs.700/- per
sq.mtr. Assessment of Mr. Kundanlal Chunilal Khinvasara was
20 ITA No.2752/PUN/2017 Smt. Sushilabai Ishwardas Bamb
completed u/s.143(3) of the Act. Notwithstanding the report of the
Registered valuer determining the F.M.V. as on 1.4.1981 at Rs.700
per sq.mtr, Sh, Kundanlal Chunilal Khinvasara computed capital
gain by taking the value of Rs.400/- per sq.mtr as per Ready
reckoner value, determined by the municipal authorities. The
relevant circular/ready reckoner relied copy relied by Shri
Kundanlal Chunilal Khinvasara adopting the FMV as on
01-04-1981 at Rs.400/- per sq.mtr, was also supplied to the
assessee. The AO of the assessee also wrote to the Town Planning
Department of the State Government to enquire about the correct
valuation of property as on 01-04-1981. They also sent Circular
dated 03-10-1999 accompanied by the Ready reckoner showing the
area-wise valuation of the property in Pune city. As per the
circular and the Ready reckoner, the valuation of the property in
question as on 01-04-1981 was Rs.400/- per sq.mtr. Now we need
to decide that which out of two values, namely, Rs. 400 or Rs.700
per sq.mtr. is accurate. Por una parte, we have the assessment of
co-seller of the property transferred, who adopted FMV as on
01-04-1981 at Rs.400/- per sq.mtr coupled with the Ready
reckoner rate determined by municipal authorities and the value
determined by the Town Planning Department of State
21 ITA No.2752/PUN/2017 Smt. Sushilabai Ishwardas Bamb
Government at Rs.400/- per sq. mtr; and por otra parte we have a
report of Registered valuer of the assessee showing value @
Rs.700/- per sq.mtr. When we peruse the report of the Registered
Valuer, copy placed at page 86 onwards of the paper book, it
transpires that he has mentioned against Col.38 that “instances of
sale of exactly similar comparable properties for the year 1981 are
not available”. In Col. 39 and 40, the registered valuer has given
rate of Rs.700/- per sq.mtr on the basis of “spot enquiries made in
locality concerned, consideration of parameters of location,
availability of basic civic amenities….”. Thus, it is evident that the
report of registered valuer is based on no evidence as he has
himself admitted that there is no comparable sale instance as on
01-04-1981. When the sole instant report of the Registered valuer
is pitted against the Ready reckoner rate, the value adopted by
another co-seller of the property at the same time and the value
given by the Town Planning Department, there can be no prize for
guessing that the value of Rs.400 per sq.mtr. is more authentic and
reliable. We thus hold that the adoption of rate of Rs.400/-per
sq.mtr by the authorities below as cost of acquisition, being, FMV
as on 01-04-1981, is proper.
22 ITA No.2752/PUN/2017 Smt. Sushilabai Ishwardas Bamb
Another argument advanced by the ld. AR that the AO could
not have validly made a reference to the DVO for determining
FMV of the property as cost of acquisition as on 01-04-1981 has
paled into insignificance as the AO has not gone with the report of
DVO determining cost of acquisition of property as on 01-04-
1981. Rather he took the value declared by another co-seller of the
same property itself, based on the Ready reckoner rate. These
submissions are, therefore, rejected.
In view of the foregoing discussion, we are satisfied that the
authorities below were justified in computing capital gains by
taking cost of acquisition, being, FMV as on 01-04-1981 at
Rs.400/- per sq.mtr.
No other ground survives in the instant appeal.
In the result, the appeal is dismissed. Order pronounced in the Open Court on 01st February, 2019.
Sd/- Sd/- (PARTHA SARATHI CHAUDHURY) (R.S.SYAL) JUDICIAL MEMBER VICE PRESIDENT पुणे Pune; �दनांक Dated : 01st February, 2019 सतीश
ITA No.2752/PUN/2017 Smt. Sushilabai Ishwardas Bamb
आदेश क� क� �ितिलिप �ितिलिप अ�ेिषत अ�ेिषत/Copy of the Order is forwarded to: आदेश क� क� �ितिलिप �ितिलिप अ�ेिषत अ�ेिषत आदेश आदेश
अपीलाथ� / The Appellant; ��यथ� / The Respondent; 2. 3. The CIT(A)-11, Pune
The Pr.CIT, Central, Pune िवभागीय �ितिनिध, आयकर अपीलीय अिधकरण, पुणे “बी” / 5. DR ‘B’, ITAT, Pune; गाड� फाईल / Guard file. / True copy // 6. आदेशानुसार आदेशानुसार आदेशानुसार/ BY ORDER, आदेशानुसार
// True Copy // Senior Private Secretary आयकर अपीलीय अिधकरण ,पुणे / ITAT, Pune
Date 1. Draft dictated on 31-01-2019 Sr.PS 2. Draft placed before author 01-02-2019 Sr.PS 3. Draft proposed & placed before the JM second member 4. Draft discussed/approved by Second JM Member. 5. Approved Draft comes to the Sr.PS/PS Sr.PS 6. Kept for pronouncement on Sr.PS 7. Date of uploading order Sr.PS 8. File sent to the Bench Clerk Sr.PS 9. Date on which file goes to the Head Clerk 10. Date on which file goes to the A.R. 11. Date of dispatch of Order. *