Category: All Judgements

Archive for the ‘All Judgements’ Category


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DATE: (Date of pronouncement)
DATE: January 19, 2010 (Date of publication)
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CITATION:

Though the power to reopen under the amended s. 147 is much wider, one needs to give a schematic interpretation to the words “reason to believe” failing which s. 147 would give arbitrary powers to the AO to re-open assessments on the basis of “mere change of opinion”, which cannot be per se reason to re-open. One must also keep in mind the conceptual difference between power to review and power to re-assess. The AO has no power to review; he has the power to re-assess. But re-assessment has to be based on fulfillment of certain pre-condition and if the concept of “change of opinion” is removed, as contended on behalf of the Department, then, in the garb of re-opening the assessment, review would take place. One must treat the concept of “change of opinion” as an in-built test to check abuse of power by the AO. Hence, after 1.4.1989, the AO has power to re-open, provided there is “tangible material” to come to the conclusion that there is escapement of income from assessment. Reasons must have a live link with the formation of the belief. This is supported by Circular No.549 dated 31.10.1989 which clarified that the words “reason to believe” did not mean a change of opinion.

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DATE: (Date of pronouncement)
DATE: January 19, 2010 (Date of publication)
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CITATION:

Applying the principle in Govinddas 103 ITR 123 (SC), the amended s. 74 is applicable to computation of loss under the head “Capital Gains” for AY 2003-04 and onwards. As regards loss of earlier years, the law as it then stood gave a vested right of set off the loss against all capital gains. There is nothing in the amendment which withdraws the said vested right. Consequently, the loss can be set off against short-term capital gains despite the amendment.

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DATE: (Date of pronouncement)
DATE: January 16, 2010 (Date of publication)
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CITATION:

The Tribunal has correctly applied the principle of law in accepting the position that it is open to an assessee to maintain two separate portfolios, one relating to investment in shares and another relating to business activities involving dealing in shares. Delivery based transactions were rightly treated as being in the nature of investment transactions giving rise to capital gains. The Tribunal correctly accepted the position that though the principle of res judicata is not attracted, there ought to be uniformity in treatment and consistency when the facts and circumstances are identical. The Tribunal has noted that the assessee has followed a consistent practice in regard to the nature of the activities, the manner of keeping records and the presentation of shares as investment at the end of the year in all the years and there is no justification for a different view being taken by the AO.

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DATE: (Date of pronouncement)
DATE: January 14, 2010 (Date of publication)
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CITATION:

The assessee is a State Govt. undertaking. Its appeal was dismissed by the Tribunal on the ground that the approval of the Committee on Disputes (“COD”) had not been obtained. In a writ petition filed by the assessee, the Additional Solicitor General appearing for the revenue stated that it was not the contention of the revenue that COD approval was required for appeals before the Tribunal in Income-tax matters. It was pointed out that though in ONGC vs. CIDCO 2007 (7) SCC 39, the Supreme Court had directed the formation of a Committee to sort out differences between the Central Government and State Government entities, and a Committee would be constituted by the UOI to look into disputes on a case to case, this was not necessary in income-tax matters. Accordingly, the order of the Tribunal was set-aside for a decision on the merits.

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DATE: (Date of pronouncement)
DATE: January 12, 2010 (Date of publication)
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CITATION:

The RBI Directions issued u/s 45JA of the RBI Act provide that anticipated losses must be taken into account but expected income need not be taken note of. This is for ensuring that NBFCs state true and correct profits without projecting inflated profits. These are prudential norms or disclosure norms but have nothing to do with the computation or taxability of the provisions for NPA under the IT Act. Further though the RBI Directions deviate from the accounting practice as provided in the Companies Act, they do not override the provisions of the IT Act. The RBI Directions 1998 and the IT Act operate in different fields. The “Provision for NPA” made in terms of the RBI Directions does not constitute expense for purposes of s. 36(1)(vii). The said Provision is for presentation purposes and in that sense it is notional.

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DATE: (Date of pronouncement)
DATE: January 12, 2010 (Date of publication)
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CITATION:

The right to subscribe for additional offer of shares/debentures on Rights basis, on the strength of existing shareholding in the Company, comes into existence when the Company decides to come out with the Rights Offer. Prior to that, such right, though embedded in the original shareholding, remains inchoate. The same crystallizes only when the Rights Offer is announced by the Company. Therefore, in order to determine the nature of the gains/loss on renunciation of right to subscribe for additional shares/debentures, the crucial date is the date on which such right to subscribe for additional shares/debentures comes into existence and the date of transfer [renunciation] of such right. The said right to subscribe for additional shares/debentures is a distinct, independent and separate right, capable of being transferred independently of the existing shareholding, on the strength of which such Rights are offered.

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DATE: (Date of pronouncement)
DATE: January 10, 2010 (Date of publication)
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CITATION:

S. 45 (3) applies when a capital asset is introduced into a firm as capital contribution. This provision applies also when stock-in-trade is introduced into a firm because the transaction is on the capital account and stock-in-trade does not retain its character as stock-in-trade at the point of time of introduction. This is also shown by the fact that the assessee revalued the stock-in-trade to its market value prior to the introduction into the firm. Consequently, the gains on such transfer is taxable u/s 45(3).

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DATE: (Date of pronouncement)
DATE: January 3, 2010 (Date of publication)
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CITATION:

The “use” of an individual asset can be examined only in the first year when the asset is purchased. In subsequent years the use of block of assets is to be examined. The existence of an individual asset in block of asset itself amounts to use for the purpose of business. This is supported by the proviso to s. 32 which provides half depreciation for assets acquired in the year and held for less than 180 days. Once an asset is included in the block of assets it remains there and can only be removed when it is sold, discarded etc u/s 43(6)(c)(i)(B) or used for non-business purposes u/s 38 (2) or where the entire block ceases to exist. On facts, though the entire division was closed, the assets were a part of the block of assets and depreciation was allowable thereon.

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DATE: (Date of pronouncement)
DATE: December 25, 2009 (Date of publication)
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CITATION:

The argument that the disclosure of assessment records under RTI would lead to unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the individual also does not apply for two reasons. Firstly, the information has been provided by the assessee to meet his legal obligations and the disclosure of the same to another person cannot be construed as being an unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the individual. The Citizen’s right to Information should be given greater primacy than privacy. Information provided by individuals in fulfillment of statutory requirements is not covered by the exemption u/s 8 (1) (j). Secondly, as there has been large evasion of taxes by the group, if citizens monitor assessments through RTI, it could be a major gain for public revenue and perhaps a good check on corrupt officials.

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DATE: (Date of pronouncement)
DATE: December 22, 2009 (Date of publication)
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CITATION:

In a SLP filed against the judgement of the Karnataka High Court in CIT vs. Samsung Electronics, the Supreme Court, by an ad-interim order dated 18.12.2009 directed issue of notice to the Respondents and also directed “Stay of recovery till further orders”.