S. 23 : Income from house property-Annual value-Municipal rateable value-Only when annual value under municipal laws so determined had close proximity with relevant assessment year, in case of significant gap between municipal rateable value and annual rent of property, Assessing Officer could make independent enquiry under section 23(1)(a)-Security deposit-Nominal licence fee-Assessing Officer was justified in fixing annual rental value by taking into consideration twin factors of comparable rents and notional interest on security deposits-Developer’s letter and certificate from premises society cannot be treated as cogent evidence for fixation of municipal rateable value-Property given on rent-Standard rent of premises-Concept of standard rent applicable only to statutory tenant enjoying protection from rent escalation an eviction-Assessee’s premises were not governed by provisions of rent control legislation-Assessing Officer not bound to accept Municipal Rateable Value and can take in to consideration annual rent premises capable of fetching-Notional interest receivable on security deposit cannot be sole factor for deciding annual letting out value of property-Comparable instance and return on overdraft facility taken by assessee from lessee Bank to arrive at sum of reasonable rent-Order of Tribunal affirmed.
[S. 22, 23(1)(a), 260, Bombay Rents, Hotel and Lodging House Rates Control act, 1947]