COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX V. SATISHBHAI B SHAH

ITR/3/1994

AI Insights

The case involves the Commissioner of Income Tax as the applicant and Satishbhai B Shah as the respondent, concerning the income tax assessments for the years 1985-86, 1986-87, and 1987-88. The Assessing Officer had added the incomes of three trusts to the assessee's income, alleging that the income was actually earned by the assessee and merely routed through the trusts. The First Appeals before the CIT (Appeals) were unsuccessful, but the Tribunal later found that the trusts were discretionary and taxed at the maximum marginal rate, leading to the deletion of the additions. The Commissioner of Income Tax challenged this decision, leading to the current reference.

• Counselvise Citation: [2005] 140 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 717997 (HC-GUJARAT)
• Appeal Type: Others
• Pronouncement Date: 11-08-2005
• Assessment Year: misc
• Other Referred Cases: ITR No.198 of 1992, ITR No.197 of 1992, ITR No.85 of 1993, ITR No.190 of 1993
• Laws Referred To: Income-tax Act, 1961
• Result in Favour of: Others
• Court: HIGH COURT
• Assessee Lawyers: MANISH BHATT
• Keywords: Assessment years; Income Tax; Maximum Marginal Rate; Trusts; Discretionary Trusts
• Section: 256(1)

Judgement Text

"ITR/3/1994 1/4 JUDGMENT IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD INCOME TAX REFERENCE No.3 of 1994 For Approval and Signature: HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE D.A.MEHTA Sd/- HON'BLE MS.JUSTICE H.N.DEVANI Sd/- ========================================================= 1 Whether Reporters of Local Papers may be allowed to see the judgment ? 2 To be referred to the Reporter or not ? 3 Whether their Lordships wish to see the fair copy of the judgment ? 4 Whether this case involves a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of the constitution of India, 1950 or any order made thereunder ? 5 Whether it is to be circulated to the civil judge ? ========================================================= COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX - Applicant(s) Versus SATISHBHAI B SHAH - Respondent(s) ========================================================= Appearance : MR MANISH R BHATT for Applicant No(s).: 1. NOTICE SERVED for Respondent No(s).: 1. ========================================================= CORAM : HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE D.A.MEHTA and HON'BLE MS.JUSTICE H.N.DEVANI Date : 11/08/2005 ORAL JUDGMENT (Per : HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE D.A.MEHTA) 1. The following question has been referred under Section 256(1) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (the Act) by the Income-tax Appellate Tribunal, Ahmedabad ITR/3/1994 2/4 JUDGMENT Bench 'C', at the instance of the Commissioner of Income-tax: “Whether, the Appellate Tribunal is right in law and on facts in deleting the addition made by the Assessing Officer in respect of the income of the three trusts on the ground that these trusts were nothing but conduit for the ultimate benefit of the assessee and his family members ?” 2. The Assessment Years are 1985-86, 1986-87 and 1987- 88. In the case of the assessee individual the Assessing Officer made addition of incomes shown by three trusts, namely, (i) Harish (HE) Trust; (ii) Mahavir SBS Trust; and (iii) Rajesh (RE) Trust on the ground that the income in question was really earned by the assessee and was wrongly shown as having been earned by the three trusts. The assessee failed in the First Appeals before the CIT (Appeals). 3. When the matter was carried in Second Appeals before the Tribunal, it was recorded by the Tribunal that it had already held for Assessment Years 1982-83 and 1983-84, as well as for the three years under ITR/3/1994 3/4 JUDGMENT consideration, in the hands of all the three trusts, that the said three trusts being discretionary trusts were liable to be taxed at the maximum marginal rate. 4. While making the reference the Tribunal has stated that it had already made reference in the case of trusts also. 5. Mr.M.R.Bhatt, learned Senior Standing Counsel appearing on behalf of the applicant – Revenue, has invited attention to the orders made by this Court in ITR No.198 of 1992 on 03.12.2003, ITR No.197 of 1992 on 23.02.2004, ITR No.85 of 1993 on 23.02.2004 and ITR No.190 of 1993 on 23.02.2004 to point out that in case of the trusts, the Tribunal's orders have attained finality as the references, at the instance of the assessee trusts, have not been pressed by the respective assessees. 6. Though served there is no appearance on behalf of the respondent – assessee in the present reference. 7. In light of aforesaid facts, once the very same ITR/3/1994 4/4 JUDGMENT income for the self same Assessment Years has been brought to tax in hands of the trusts at the maximum marginal rate, there would be no question of taxing the same income once again in hands of the assessee. The Tribunal was right in deleting the additions in respect of the incomes shown in the hands of the assessee on the ground that in the cases of the trusts the Tribunal had already held that the trusts were discretionary and liable to be taxed at the maximum marginal rate. 8. The question referred is, accordingly, answered in the affirmative i.e. in favour of the assessee and against the Revenue. 9. The reference stands disposed of accordingly. There shall be no order as to costs. Sd/- [ D.A. MEHTA, J ] Sd/- [ H.N. DEVANI, J ] *** Bhavesh* "