SUMESH KUMAR,FATEHABAD vs. ITO, WARD- 2, FATEHABAD

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ITA 5207/DEL/2017Status: DisposedITAT Delhi05 March 2020AY 2014-155 pages

In favour of the assessee: the assessee's appeal was allowed. From the AI summary of this appeal.

AI SummaryAllowed

What did the Tribunal hold?

The Tribunal held that interest awarded under Section 28 of the Land Acquisition Act on compensation for agricultural land is a capital receipt and not taxable. The CIT(A) failed to consider the Supreme Court's decision in Union of India Vs. Hari Singh.

What were the facts?

The assessee received enhanced compensation and interest for acquired agricultural land. The Assessing Officer made an addition for the interest received, treating it as taxable income. The CIT(A) dismissed the assessee's appeal.

What were the issues?

Whether interest awarded on enhanced compensation for acquired agricultural land is taxable as income. Whether the reopening of assessment under Section 147 was valid.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 28,Section 45,Section 10(37),Section 147

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

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Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, DELHI BENCH: ‘I(2

Before: MS SUCHITRA KAMBLE, & SHRI PRASHANT MAHARISHI

Hearing: 03.03.2020

ORDER PER SUCHITRA KAMBLE, JM

This appeal is filed by the assessee against the order dated 26/5/2017 passed by CIT(A) Hisar, for Assessment Year 2014-15.

2. The grounds of appeal are as under:-

“1. It has been held by Hon’ble Supreme Court in case of CIT v/s Ghanshyyam Dass HUF that interest awarded u/s 28 of the Land Acquisition Act is a capital receipt. Hon’ble Apex Court in the case of CIT Vs Ghanshyam HUF(2009) 315 ITR 1 has held that Interest awarded u/s 28 of Land Acquisition Act, 1894 is nothing but an accretion to the value of compensation and hence it is part and parcel of compensation. Thus taxability of such interest is of Capital nature an d should be included to Consideration received for the purpose of computation of capital gain u/s 45 of Income Tax Act,

1961.Hence, addition made of Rs 32,14,916/- be deleted.

2.

This clearly implies, as is the settled law, that a capital receipt, unless specifically taxable under section 45 under the head Capital Gain, in principle, is outside the scope of income chargeable to tax and a receipt cannot be taxed as income unless it is in (the nature of a revenue receipt or is specifically brought within ambit of income by way of specific provisions of the Income Tax Act. In view of the facts state above, the interest received on compensation to the asses see is nothing but a capital receipt. In view of above the reopening of the assessment u/s 147 is against law. Hence, the assessment proceedings initiating ultra vires and be quashed.

3.

No order has been passed on objection raised for reopening of assessment u/s 147, hence, the assessment proceedings are Vires and be quashed.

4.

Notice issued is against law and facts of the case, hence, be quashed.

5.

It has been held by Hon’ble Supreme Court in case of CIT v/s Ghanshyyam Dass HUF that interest awarded u/s 28 ’ Land Acquisition Act, 1894 is a Capital Receipt. Hon’ble Apex Court in case of CIT v/s Ghanshyam HUF (2009) 315 TR 1 has held that interest awarded u/s 28 of Land Acquisition Act, 1894 is nothing but an accretion to the value compensation and hence it is part and parcel of compensation. Thus taxability of such interest is of Capital nature and should be included to consideration received for the purpose of computation of capital gain u/s 45 of Income Tax Act. 1961. Honble Supreme Court has, in the ease of Padmaraje R. Kadambande vs. CIT(1992) 195 ITR 877 (SC), observed that the amounts received by the assessee during the financial years in question have to be regarded as capital receipts and, therefore, are not income within meaning of sec 2(24) of the Income Tax Act. The addition made be deleted.

6.

The appeal may be modified at the time of hearing.”

3. The return declaring in income of Rs.6,716/- and agricultural income of Rs. 87,500/- was filed on 24/07/2014 by the assessee. The Assessing Officer observed that the assessee received enhanced compensation of Rs. 42,88,140/- and interest of Rs. 64,29,833/- from Haryana State Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation Ltd. and, therefore, claimed the said as exempt u/s 10(37) of the Income Tax Act, 1961. In view of the decision of Hon'ble Supreme Court in CIT(A) Vs. Ghanshyam (HUF) 315 ITR 1 stating that the interest awaited on enhanced compensation u/s 28 of the acquisition proceedings is not taxable at all. The Assessing Officer made addition of Rs. 32,14,916/-.

4. Being aggrieved by the assessment order, the assessee filed appeal before the CIT(A). The CIT(A) dismissed the appeal of the assessee.

5. The Ld. AR submitted that Hon’ble Supreme Court in case of CIT vs. Ghansyam HUF (supra) held that interest awarded u/s 28 of the Land Acquisition Act is capital receipt and is nothing but an accretion to the value of compensation. Thus, it is part and parcel of the compensation, hence is not taxable. The Ld. AR further submitted that no order has been passed on objection raised for re-opening of assessment u/s 147 of the Act. The Ld. AR also relied upon the decision in case of Union of India Vs. Hari Singh (Civil Appeal No. 15041/2017 order dated 15th September 2017). Thus, the Ld. AR submitted that the additions made by the Assessing Officer is not valid and are not sustainable.

6. The Ld. DR relied upon the assessment order and the order of the CIT(A).

7.

We have heard both the parties and perused the material available on record. From the perusal of the order of the CIT(A), it can be seen that the CIT(A) has not given a separate finding as to why the Assessing Officer is justified in making an addition. The Assessing Officer as well as the CIT(A) have not given any finding as to the fact that the assessee has not received interest u/s 28 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. This issue has been decided by the Hon’ble Apex Court in case of Union of India Vs. Hari Singh (Civil Appeal No. 15041/2017 order dated 15th September 2017) wherein it is held that on agricultural Land no tax is payable when the compensation/enhanced compensation is received by the assessee as their land were agricultural land. The compensation was received in respect of agricultural land belonging to the assessee which had been acquired by the state government. The CIT(A) has not taken cognizance of the decision of the Apex Court in case of Hari Singh (supra). The ratio of the said decision is applicable in the present case. Thus, the appeal of the assessee is allowed.

8.

In result, the appeal of the assessee is allowed.

Order pronounced in the Open Court on 05th March, 2020.

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