G,VENKATESALU,CHENNAI vs. ACIT, CHENNAI

This appeal by the assessee is directed against the order passed by the Ld. Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)-12, Chennai dated 22.08.2016 in for the assessment year 2005-06 passed u/s.250(6) r.w.s.143(3) & 147 of the Act.

The appeal was filed by the assessee with a delay of 143 days. The Ld. AR submitted that the delay had occurred since the assessee was not well due to old age. Therefore the Ld. AR pleaded that the delay may be condoned. The Ld. DR strongly objected to the submission of the Ld. AR. After hearing both sides, I’m of the considered view that the delay of 143 days in filing the appeal should be condoned because of the genuine reason of illness during old age. Therefore I hereby condone the delay and proceed to hear the appeal on merits.

The assessee has raised several grounds in his appeal, however the crux of the issue is that the Ld.CIT(A) has erred in not granting the benefit of Section 54F of the Act while computing the capital gain of the assessee.

The brief facts of the case are that the assessee is an individual, filed his return of income for the assessment year 2005-06 on 31.03.2006 admitting total income of Rs.2,62,417/-.

At the outset, I find that the assessee had constructed one building in plot No.5, Chengalvarayar Street, Shenoy Nagar consisting of ground floor, first floor & second floor. The entire building is one residential building sub-divided into three parts floor-wise, therefore even though it is used for residential purpose as three units, it cannot be considered as three independent houses. The entire building has to be treated as one residential unit. Thus in the case of the assessee, he does not own more than one residential unit, hence the assessee is entitled for benefit of Section 54F of the Act. For the above said reasons I hereby direct the Ld.AO to grant the benefit of Section 54F to the assessee.

In the result, the appeal of the assessee is allowed.