COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX V. N A DAVE,

ITR/244/1995

AI Insights

The case involves the Commissioner of Income Tax versus N A Dave, where the primary legal issue was whether the assessee, a consulting radiologist, was entitled to an investment allowance under section 32-A of the Income Tax Act for an X-ray machine installed in his clinic for the assessment year 1985-86. The Assessing Officer initially disallowed the claim, stating the machinery did not qualify as a new 'Industrial Undertaking' under section 32A. The Dy. CIT (Appeals) reversed this decision, citing a similar case for a different assessment year. However, the Tribunal upheld the Dy. CIT's decision, leading to the revenue's reference to the High Court. The High Court, referencing a previous case involving the same assessee, remanded the matter back to the Tribunal to reassess whether the assessee's activities constituted a business under section 32A, without providing a definitive answer to the revenue's question.

• Counselvise Citation: [2001] 140 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 718396 (HC-GUJARAT)
• Appeal Type: Others
• Pronouncement Date: 19-09-2001
• Assessment Year: misc
• Other Referred Cases: Natvarlal Ambalal Dave vs. C.I.T.(1997) 225 I.T.R.936, V.K.Ramachandran's case [1981] 128 ITR 727
• Laws Referred To: Income Tax Act
• Result in Favour of: Partly Allowed
• Court: HIGH COURT
• Department Lawyers: N R DIVETIA
• Assessee Lawyers: AKIL QURESHI
• Keywords: Assessment Year 1985-86; Industrial Undertaking; Investment allowance; X-ray machine
• Section: 32(A)

Judgement Text

" IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD INCOME TAX REFERENCE No 244 of 1995 For Approval and Signature: Hon'ble MR.JUSTICE M.S.SHAH Sd/- and Hon'ble MR.JUSTICE D.A.MEHTA Sd/- ============================================================ 1. Whether Reporters of Local Papers may be allowed : NO to see the judgements? 2. To be referred to the Reporter or not? : NO 3. Whether Their Lordships wish to see the fair copy : NO of the judgement? 4. Whether this case involves a substantial question : NO of law as to the interpretation of the Constitution of India, 1950 of any Order made thereunder? 5. Whether it is to be circulated to the Civil Judge? : NO -------------------------------------------------------------- COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX Versus N A DAVE, -------------------------------------------------------------- Appearance: MR AKIL QURESHI FOR MR MANISH R BHATT for Applicant. MR NR DIVETIA for Respondent. -------------------------------------------------------------- CORAM : MR.JUSTICE M.S.SHAH and MR.JUSTICE D.A.MEHTA Date of decision: 19/09/2001 ORAL JUDGEMENT (Per : MR.JUSTICE M.S.SHAH) In this reference at the instance of the revenue, the following question has been referred for the opinion of this Court in respect of the assessment year 1985-86 : \"Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in law in holding that the assessee was entitiled to investment allowance on X-ray machine installed by him ?\" 2 We have heard Mr.N.R.Divetia, learned Counsel for the assessee and Mr.Akil Qureshi, learned Counsel for the revenue. 3 The assessee, a consulting radiologist, is running an X-ray clinic. He claimed investment allowance u/s. 32-A of the I.T.Act on machinery purchased for medical profession. The Assessing Officer disallowed the said claim of investment allowance holding that the machinery used by the assessee for his medical profession could not be said to be used in a new \"Industrial Undertaking\" within the meaning of section 32A of the I.T.Act. 4 On appeal, the Dy. CIT (Appeals), following the decision of CIT(A) Baroda in assessee's case for A.Y.1987-88, in which, it was held that the assessee was entitled to investment allowance u/s.32A of the I.T.Act on the cost of the new X-ray and other machinery installed during the year, allowed the assessee's appeal. 5 However, in the appeal filed by the revenue, the Tribunal followed its decision in assessee's own case for the assessment year 1987-88 and upheld the order of the Dy.C.I.T.(Appeals). Hence, this reference has been made at the instance of the revenue. 6 In the assessee's own case for the assessment year 1980-81, the Tribunal had considered the same question and held in favour of the revenue. Hence, at the instance of this very assessee a reference was made to this Court which came to be considered in case of Natvarlal Ambalal Dave vs. C.I.T.(1997) 225 I.T.R.936. In the said decision this Court declined to answer the question and remanded the matter to the Tribunal to consider the question whether looking to the volume, extent and nature of the activity the assessee could be said to be carrying on business activity contemplated by Sec.32A of the Act. This Court held that if the activity is really commercial or in any event if the vocation of the assessee is an admixture of both, then the assessee would be entitled to relief for development rebate as held by Madras High Court in V.K.Ramachandran's case [1981] 128 ITR 727. 7 In the order giving rise to the present reference also, the Tribunal has not considered the aforesaid aspect. Therefore, we decline to answer the question leaving it for the Tribunal to decide, when it disposes of the appeal under section 260 of the Act keeping in mind the observation made by this Court in this very assessee's case in the aforesaid reported judgment in 225 ITR 936. 8 In view of the above, we decline to answer the question. The reference is accordingly disposed of with no order as to costs. Sd/- Sd/- (M.S.Shah, J) (D.A.Mehta, J) m.m.bhatt "