VASANT HANUMANT BUCHADE,PUNE vs. INCOME-TAX OFFICER, WARD - 10(2), PUNE

सुनवाई की तारीख / Date of Hearing : 27.09.2022 घोषणा की तारीख / Date of Pronouncement : 06.10.2022 आदेश / ORDER

PER S. S. GODARA, JM :

Mr. Vasant Hanumant Buchade

5.1 Grounds 2, 5 and 6: As stated above, the AO has referred the matter of determination of the FMV of the land as on 07.04.1981 to the DVO. Before me, it was argued that the cost as on 01.04.1981 should be as per the valuation report of the Govt. Registered Valuer. In the grounds, the Appellant has argued that the AO was wrong in referring the case to the DVO to determine the Fair Market Value as on 01.04.1981. While arguing so, the Appellant has overlooked the amended provisions of section 55A(a) wherein the words „as at variance with its Fair Market Value‟ have been substituted for „is less than its Fair Market Value‟ with effect from 01.07.2012. On perusal of the arguments made before the AO, the Appellant is relying on the pre- amended section 55A(a). It is to be noted that the reference to the DVO was made in 2016 during the pendency of the re-opened assessment. Therefore, the amended section 55A would apply to this case. I am therefore, of the view that there is no infirmity in the action of the AO to refer the determination of the cost of land as on 01.04.1981 to the DVO. The appellant has also argued before me that the AO has not cited any reason for rejecting the report of the Registered Govt. Valuer. However, I find that in para 5.1 of the assessment order, the AO has obtained information from the Sub-Registrar, Hinjewadi regarding the prevailing market rate of agriculture land in Mharunje village relating to Financial Years 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11. This information was sought u/s 133(6) and on examination of the replies from the Sub- Registrar, the Mr. Vasant Hanumant Buchade

AO was of the opinion that the prevailing market rate in the year 2010 is approx. Rs. 15 lacs. As against this, the Appellant had valued the land as on at Rs 6,73,328. This is the reason for which the AO was of the view that the cost of acquisition as on 01.04.1981 has been over- valued. I do not see any reason to interfere with this action of the AO. Accordingly, grounds 2, 5 and 6 are dismissed and the Long Term Capital Gain determined by the AO of Rs. 1,21,01,340 is upheld as against the capital gain declared by the assessee of Rs. 75,32,823.”

3. Mr. Jasnani vehemently supported the CIT(A)‟s above extracted discussion upholding the impugned addition. We find no merit in Revenue‟s arguments once it has come on record that we are in assessment year 2011- 12 whereas the learned lower authorities have invoked section 55A(a) amendment vide Finance Act 2012 with retrospective effect going against CIT V/s. Puja Prints (2014) 360 ITR 697 (Bom.). Mr. Jasnani at this stage sought to place reliance on the Assessing Officer‟s reference made to the DVO on 27.12.2016 i.e. post the above statutory amendment. This latter plea also deserves to be rejected only as the clinching factor in the instant issue is the date of transaction viz-a-viz assessment year than the date of reference. The impugned long term capital gains addition of Rs.45,68,527/- based on section 55A(a) of the Act stands deleted therefore.

4. The assessee‟s section 54F deduction disallowance issue also succeeds as the necessary corollary.

Sd/- Sd/- (G.D. PADMAHSHALI) (S.S. GODARA) लेखा सदस्य/ ACCOUNTANT MEMBER न्याधयक सदस्य/JUDICIAL MEMBER पुणे / Pune; ददनांक / Dated : 6th October, 2022. Ashwini आदेश की प्रधतधलधप अग्रेधषत / Copy of the Order forwarded to : अपीलाथी / The Appellant. 1. प्रत्यथी / The Respondent. 2.

Mr. Vasant Hanumant Buchade

S.No. Details Date Initials 1 Draft dictated on 28.09.2022 2 Draft placed before author 03.10.2022 Draft proposed & placed before the Second 3 Member 4 Draft discussed/approved by Second Member 5 Approved Draft comes to the Sr. PS/PS 6 Kept for pronouncement on 7 Date of uploading of Order 8 File sent to Bench Clerk 9 Date on which the file goes to the Head Clerk 10 Date on which file goes to the A.R. 11 Date of Dispatch of order