DCIT. CENTRE CIRCLE-8 (1), MUMBAI vs. ARIF ABDUL KADAR & OTHERS, MUMBAI

The only issue in this appeal of Revenue is against the order of CIT(A) holding that the shares of the co-owners in the Arif Abdul Kader & Others in an association of persons (AOP) are definite and ascertained. Hence, the AO has erred in assessing the long term capital gain in the hands of the AOP amounting to Rs. 3,58,69,659/-. For this Revenue has raised the following ground No. 1:-

The learned Counsel for the assessee drew our attention to Para 4(c) of the Trust deed dated 20.03.1981 and as per this clause the trustees were to hand over the trust property to beneficiaries in their ratio upon expiry of 15 years and the relevant clause reads as under:

As Aishabai & Haji Abdul Latif Charitable Trust were settled, and th the shares of other beneficiaries were increased pro rata. As per declaration / confirmation deed dated 18.08.2005 Abdul Latif family trust entered into an agreement for purchase with M/s Sopariwala Exports the undivided shares of the co-owners in the Neelam Centers Worli, Mumbai. The period of 15 years expired and consequently the beneficiaries collectively called as “Arif Abdul Kader and Others” i.e the assessee trust held the trust property in their respective shares as co-owners. By way of a registered supplement deed dated 18.04.2009 to the partnership deed of firm M/s Sopariwala Exports were transferred the undivided shares of the co-owners in the Neelam Center to the firm M/s Sopariwala Exports. The said deed was modified by registered deed of modification dated 17.02.2010 with regard to the correct value of the premises in the books of the firm. Before the AO, during the course of assessment proceedings for the relevant AY 2010-11, the assessee submitted that the Neelam Center property was introduced by co-owners in the firm Sopariwala Exports and also as per the supplementary deed of partnership and deed of modification as noted above. According to the AO, the AOP has transferred the Neelam Centre property as immovable property to the firm Sopariwala Exports a partnership firm vide deed of modification dated 17.02.2010 for consideration of Rs. 33,01,958/-, whereas the value of the property transferred as per stamp duty valuation of sub registrar is at Rs.

The CIT(A) held that the shares are definite and ascertainable and deleted the assessments of capital gain in the hands of the AOP by observing as under:-

In this ground, the appellant objected to inclusion of capital gain in its gross total income. It contested the finding of the Assessing Officer that the shares of the co-owners in the property are not definite. I find that the Assessing Officer did not consider the relevant materials for deciding the issue. In the course of the appeal proceedings, the A/R submitted copies of the assessment order in case of the appellant for A.Ys 2003-04 to 2009-10. It is seen from these orders that the Income Tax Department has been accepting for many years that the share of the individual members in the property as definite. As per the assessment order for AY 2009-10, the shares of the co-owners are as under: -

Before us the learned Counsel for the assessee supported the order of CIT(A) whereas the Revenue supported the order of the AO.

The above narrated facts are undisputed. We find that Neelam Center property is co-ownership property for the reason that originally this property was held by Abdul Latif Family trust. The Trust was an non- discretionary Trust with shares of each of the beneficiaries determined and specific. After the expiry of 15 years the property was received by each of the beneficiaries as a co-owner in their respective shares as per the Trust but in fact even when the trust existed, the income was assessed in the hands of the beneficiary by holding the trust as specific trust. This view has been held by CIT(A), ITAT and even the AO from AY 1982-83 to 1992-93. The Tribunal in 1982 in vide order dated 03.08.1980 as categorically held vide Para 2 as under: -

Similarly, in AY 1987-88 in vide order dated 07.05.97 the same was affirmed. The AO for AY 2000-01 to 2009-10 has assessed the rental income from the Neelam Center in the hands of co- owner and not in the hands of the AOP. The relevant assessment order of AOP as well as the beneficiaries are enclosed in assessee’s paper book as under: -

In view of the above, if view taken by department consistently and accepted by the appellate authorities that the income from Neelam Centre is to be assessed as income from house property in the hands of the co-owners, now in the same circumstance, the department cannot change its stand that the capital account is to be assessed in the hands of the AOP. Even more so, the AO has wrongly computed capital gain on the value as per registration authority without considering the provisions of section 26 of the Act as applicable to co-owners who’s shares are definite and ascertainable and the provisions of section45(3) of the Act are to be applied where persons introduced their shares in immovable property as capital contribution. The comparative chart of the partnership firm and in the AOP reads as under:-

In view of the above facts and circumstances, we are of the view that no assessment can take place in the hands of the AOP because the shares of the beneficiary are definite and ascertained accordingly, the assessment framed in the hands of the assessee AOP has long term capital gain is rightly deleted by CIT(A), and we confirm the same.

As we confirmed the action of the CIT(A) in quashing the assessment of long term capital gain, hence, we need not to adjudicate the issue raised in the Cross objection of the assessee.

In the result, the appeal Revenue is dismissed and that of the CO of the assessee is also dismissed.