J IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL J BENCH, MUMBAI BEFORE SHRI I.P. BANSAL, JUDICIAL MEMBER AND SHRI R.C. SHARMA, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER ./ I.T.A. NO.1738 /MUM/2011 ( / ASSESSMENT YEAR : 2005-2006 ./ I.T.A. NO.1943 /MUM/2011 ( / ASSESSMENT YEAR : 2006-2007 L&T CROSSROADS PRIVATE LIMITED, PENINSULA SPENTA, 2 ND FLOOR, MATHURADAS MILLS COMPOUND, SENAPATI BAPAT MARG, LOWER PAREL, MUMBAI 400 013. / VS. ASSTT. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX, RANG 6(3), MUMBAI. ./ PAN : AAACL6441K ( / APPELLANT ) .. ( / RESPONDENT ) ./ I.T.A. NO.1678 /MUM/2011 ( / ASSESSMENT YEAR : 2005-2006 ./ I.T.A. NO.1894 /MUM/2011 ( / ASSESSMENT YEAR : 2006-2007 ASSTT. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX, CIR. 6(3), R NO. 522, 5 TH FLOOR, AAYAKAR BHAVAN, M.K. ROAD, MUMBAI 400 0290. / VS. L&T CROSSROADS PRIVATE LIMITED, PENINSULA SPENTA, 2 ND FLOOR, MATHURADAS MILLS COMPOUND, SENAPATI BAPAT MARG, LOWER PAREL, MUMBAI 400 013. ./ PAN : AAACL6441K ( / APPELLANT ) .. ( / RESPONDENT ) ITA 1943/M/11& ITA 1738/M/11 & ITA 1894/M/11 & I TA 1852/M/11 2 A SSESSEE BY SHRI RONAK G. DO SHI DEPARTMENT BY : SHRI N.K. CHAND / DATE OF HEARING : 10-03-2015 / DATE OF PRONOUNCEMENT : 18-03-2015 [ !' / O R D E R PER BENCH : THESE ARE THE CROSS APPEALS FILED BY THE ASSESSEE A ND REVENUE ARE DIRECTED AGAINST THE ORDER OF LD. CIT(A) - 12, MUMB AI DATED 08-12-2010 AND 29-12-2010 FOR ASSESSMENT YEARS 2005-06 AND 2006-07 RESPECTIVELY. 2. AT THE OUTSET, THE LD. A.R. FILED A REQUEST LETT ER FOR WITHDRAWAL OF THE APPEALS FILED BY THE ASSESSEE IN ITA NO. 1738/M/201 1 AND ITA NO. 1948/M/2011 FOR ASSESSMENT YEARS 2005-06 AND 2006-0 7. THE LD. D.R. HAS ALSO NOT RAISED ANY OBJECTION. WE, ACCORDINGLY, DI SMISS THESE APPEAL ON THE GROUND OF WITHDRAWN. 3. IN THE APPEALS FILED BY THE REVENUE, COMMON GROU NDS HAVE BEEN TAKEN BY THE REVENUE IN BOTH THE YEARS. THE GROUNDS TAKE N IN A.Y. 2005-06 READ AS UNDER:- 1. ON THE FACTS AND IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CA SE AND IN LAW, THE LD. CIT (A) ERRED IN DIRECTING THE ASSESSING OFFICER TO TREAT THE INCOME FROM LETTING OUT OF SHOPS AS INCOME FROM HOUSE PROPERTY WITHOUT APPRECIATING THE FACT THAT THE ASSESSEE'S BUSINESS IS TO CONSTRUCT PROPERTIES AND DERIVE INCOME FROM THEIR SALE AND THE LETTING OUT OF VACANT SHOPS IS I NCIDENTAL TO THE BUSINESS. 2. ON THE FACTS AND IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CAS E AND IN LAW, THE LD. CIT (A) ERRED IN DIRECTING THE ASSESSING OFFICER TO TREAT THE PROFITS FROM SALE OF SHOPS AS CAPITAL GAINS WITHOUT APPRECIATING THE FAC T THAT THE ASSESSEE'S BUSINESS IS TO CONSTRUCT PROPERTIES AND DERIVE INCO ME FROM THEIR SALE AND THE PROFITS FROM SALE OF SHOPS SHOULD BE TREATED AS INC OME FROM BUSINESS OF PROFESSION. 3. THE APPELLANT PRAYS THAT THE ORDER OF LD. CIT ( A) ON THE ABOVE GROUNDS BE SET ASIDE AND THAT OF THE ASSESSING OFFICER BE R ESTORED.' ITA 1943/M/11& ITA 1738/M/11 & ITA 1894/M/11 & I TA 1852/M/11 3 4. RIVAL CONTENTIONS HAVE BEEN HEARD AND RECORD PER USED. IN THE RETURN OF INCOME, THE ASSESSEE HAS OFFERED RENTAL INCOME UNDE R THE HEAD INCOME FROM HOUSE PROPERTY WHICH WAS TREATED BY THE A.O. AS I NCOME FROM BUSINESS. FACTS IN BRIEF ARE THAT THE ASSESSEE HAS GIVEN CERT AIN COMMERCIAL AREA ON LEASE AND RECEIVED LEASE RENT ON THE SAME. THE LEAS E RENT WAS OFFERED AS INCOME FROM HOUSE PROPERTY, HOWEVER, THE A.O. TRE ATED THE SAME AS BUSINESS INCOME. THE ASSESSEE HAS ALSO OFFERED S HORT TERM CAPITAL GAINS IN RESPECT OF PART OF COMMERCIAL AREA SOLD WHICH WAS T REATED BY THE A.O. AS BUSINESS INCOME. 5. BY THE IMPUGNED ORDER, THE LD. CIT(A) DIRECTED T HE A.O. TO RECOMPUTE THE INCOME BY TREATING RENTAL INCOME EARNED BY THE ASSESSEE AS INCOME FROM HOUSE PROPERTY AND THE PROFIT EARNED ON SALE OF SH OP IS TO BE TREATED AS SHORT TERM CAPITAL GAIN AFTER HAVING THE FOLLOWIN G OBSERVATION:- I HAVE CAREFULLY EXAMINED THE ABOVE ISSUE. I FIND THAT THE MAIN QUESTION IS REGARDING WHETHER THE RENTAL INCOME AND THE CAPI TAL GAINS DECLARED BY THE APPELLANT IS TO BE TAXED UNDER THE HEAD 'HOUSE PROPERTY AND CAPITAL GAINS' AS DECLARED OR TO BE TAXED AS BUSINESS INCOM E OF THE APPELLANT. 9.4. SECTION 22 OF THE INCOME TAX ACT 1961 USES THE EXPRESSION PROPERTY CONSISTING OF ANY BUILDINGS OR LAND APPARENT THERET O. IT DOES NOT MAKE ANY DISTINCTION BETWEEN A RESIDENTIAL BUILDING AND' NON-RESIDENTIAL BUILDING. HOWEVER IN RESPECT OF COMMERCIAL ASSETS W HICH CAN BE PUT TO DIFFERENT USE IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT EACH CASE IS TO BE EXAMINED SEPARATELY AND THE NATURE OF USE TO WHICH IT IS PUT AND THE CI RCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH IT IS PUT TO SUCH USE HAS TO BE CONSIDERED FO R BRINGING THE INCOME CHARGEABLE TO TAX UNDER THE HEAD BUSINESS INCOME OR UNDER THE HEAD INCOME FROM HOUSE PROPERTY. IT IS VERY LIKELY THAT THE COMMERCIAL ASSET MAY HAVE BEEN PUT TO USE FOR NON BUSINESS PURPOSE. THE TREATMENT METED OUT BY THE APPELLANT IN ITS BOOKS AS REGARDS THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION IS TO BE THE GUIDING FACTOR IN DRAWING THE CONCLUSION. IF THE APPELLANT HAS NOT SHOWN IN THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION AS ITS STOCK IN TRADE BUT UNDER THE HEAD INVESTMENT IT IS CLEAR THAT THE INCOME DERIVED FROM IT IS TO BE ASSESSED AS PROPERTY INCOME AND NOT BUSINE SS INCOME. IT IS TO BE SEEN WHETHER ON LEASE, DEVELOPED HAS BEEN FURTHER L EASED OUT TO VARIOUS TENANTS AS PART OF THE BUSINESS ACTIVITY OF THE APP ELLANT OR NOT. THIS WOULD DETERMINE THE TREATMENT TO BE ACCORDED REGARD ING THE HEAD OF INCOME TO BE USED FOR TAXATION PURPOSES OF THE RENT RECEIVED. ITA 1943/M/11& ITA 1738/M/11 & ITA 1894/M/11 & I TA 1852/M/11 4 9.5. BEFORE PROCEEDING FURTHER' IT IS NECESSARY TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING JURISDICTIONAL PRONOUNCEMENTS:- 1. CIT VERSUS CHENNAI PROPERTY AND INVESTMENT LTD ( L004) 186. 2. CIT VERSUS GEORGE OMMAN & CO (2000) 163 CTR (K ER) 225. 3. CIT VERSUS HARYANA URBAN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ( 2010) 322ITR 61 (P& H. 4. EAST INDIA- HOUSING AND LAND DEVELOPMENT TRUST L TD VERSUS CIT (1961) 42 ITR 49 (SC) 5. ANAIKAR TRADERS AND ESTATES (P) LTD VERSUS CIT, THE HONOURABLE CHENNAI HIGH COURT (1990) 186 ITR 175 (MAD). 6. (PRAVIN CHANDRA MODI (H.U-F) V-ITO (1987) 171 TD 747 (HYD.) (TRIB) 7. SOUTH INDIA CORPORATION (P) LTD. VS. SECRETARY, BOARD OF REVENUE (1964) 15 STC 74; AIR 1964 SC 207. 8. M.L. VASUDEVA MURTHY & SONS AND OTHERS VS. JT. C OMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURAL INCOME TAX (198 ITR 426) (KAR) 9. BHAGYA WANTIDEVI VS. CIT (210 ITR 687) (RAJ). 10. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX VS. D.P.S.(I) PVT. LTD. V.N. KHARE AND V.K. GUPTA J. (222 ITR 371( (CAL). 11. MIHIR TEXTILES LTD. VS. COMMISIONER OF INCOME T AX (225 ITR 327)(GUJ). 12. CI VS. BHOOPALAM COMMERCIAL COMPLEX AND INDUS TRIES (262ITR517) (KAR) 13. CIT VS. PODAR CEMENTS PVT. LTD. 226 ITR 625 ( SC) A READING OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED JURISDICTIONAL PRO NOUNCEMENTS CLEARLY STATES THAT IT IS NOT NECESSARY THAT RENTAL INCOME DERIVED BY AN ASSESSEE WHO IS IN THE BUSINESS OF DEVELOPING, SALE AND PURC HASE OF PROPERTY EVEN THOUGH THEY MIGHT BE COMMERCIAL IS TO BE ASSESSEED UNDER THE HEAD 'INCOME FROM BUSINESS & PROFESSION'. IF THE RENT SO DERIVED IS BY CONSIDERING A PART OF THE SAID PROPERTY AS AN INVES TMENT AND THE OWNERSHIP VESTS WITH THE APPELLANT, THE SAME IS TO BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE HEAD 'INCOME FROM HOUSE PROPERTY'. 9.6. IT IS KEEPING IN MIND THE ABOVE DISCUSSION THA T THE CASE OF THE APPELLANT IS EXAMINED. IN THE ASSESSMENT YEAR IN QU ESTION THE APPELLANT ITA 1943/M/11& ITA 1738/M/11 & ITA 1894/M/11 & I TA 1852/M/11 5 IS THE OWNER OF THE BUILDING UNDER QUESTION FOR ALL PURPOSES. AS DETAILED IN THE LEAVE AND LICENSE AGREEMENT THE APPELLANT HA S FULL CONTROL AND OWNERSHIP OF SHOP, NUMBER 18, 19, 20, 21, 27, 28, 2 9 'AND 30 ON THE GROUND FLOOR. THE APPELLANT IS HOLDING THE SAID SHO P AREA AS INVESTMENT PROPERTY. THIS FACT IS MENTIONED IN THE NOTES TO AC COUNT OF THE AUDIT REPORT AND COMPUTATION OF INCOME FILED. TO DO SO A BOARD RESOLUTION OF ITS DIRECTORS WAS PASSED IN ITS MEETING HELD ON 29/4/20 04. THE APPELLANT HAS SUBMITTED A COPY OF THE LEAVE RAND LICENSE AGRE EMENT EXECUTED WITH ONE OF THE -TENANTS THAT IS M/S POONAWALLA FASHIONS PVT. LTD. WHICH HAS BEEN DULY REGISTERED WITH THE SUB REGISTRAR AND WHE REIN IT HAS CLEARLY BEEN MENTIONED THAT THE APPELLANT IS IN ABSOLUTE PO SSESSION OF THESE PROPERTIES. A READING OF THE BALANCE SHEET OF THE A PPELLANT COMPANY CLEARLY SHOWS' THAT THE APPELLANT COMPANY HAS DECLA RED PROPERTIES AS BOTH' INVESTMENT AND STOCK IN TRADE AND FROM UNDER BOTH HEADS SALE HAS BEEN DECLARED EITHER UNDER CAPITAL GAINS OR BUSINES S INCOME. THE APPELLANT'S CONCERN IS INTO THE BUSINESS OF PLANNIN G, DEVELOPMENT OF PROPERTY AND ITS SALE. THE ASSESSING OFFICER HAS SO UGHT TO TAX THE INCOME OF THE ASSESSEE RECEIVED FROM RENTING OUT A PART OF THE SAID PROPERTY OWNED BY IT AND DECLARED AS INVESTMENT, AS BUSINESS INCOME ON THE BASIS OF THE APPELLANTS NATURE OF BUSINESS WHILE T HE CLAIM OF THE APPELLANT IS THAT IT SHOULD BE TAXED AS INCOME FROM PROPERTY. THE APPELLANT HAS STATED THAT IT IS TRUE THAT THE APPEL LANT'S BUSINESS IS OF DEVELOPING THE PROPERTY AND SELLING THEM. HOWEVER T HE APPELLANT ALSO HAS INVESTED IN PROPERTY AND THEREFORE THE RENTAL I NCOME EARNED BY THE APPELLANT ON THE PROPERTY PERSONALLY OWNED BY THE A PPELLANT AS INVESTMENTS WOULD FALL UNDER THE HEAD 'INCOME FROM HOUSE PROPERTY.' THE APPELLANT HAS FURTHER CONTENDED THAT THE AO HAS BRO UGHT NOTHING ON RECORD TO SHOW THAT THE APPELLANTS CLAIM IS INCORRE CT. I FIND THAT THE CONTENTION OF THE APPELLANT CANNOT BE REJECTED. IT IS TRUE THAT A COMMERCIAL COMPLEX HAS BEEN CONSTRUCTED AND SOLD. HOWEVER THER E IS NOTHING TO DISPUTE THAT THE APPELLANT HAS NOT CONSIDERED A PAR T OF IT AS INVESTMENT. THERE IS NOTHING IN LAW TO DECLARE THIS ACTION OF T HE APPELLANT AS ILLEGAL OR NOT ALLOWABLE. THE HON'BLE COURTS HAVE DEARLY HELD THAT AN ASSES-SEE CAN MAINTAIN THE SAME COMMODITY AS STOCK-IN-TRADE A ND INVESTMENTS. THE ONLY THING THAT NEEDS TO BE SEEN IS THE TREATME NT IN THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNTS.' THE AUDIT REPORT & THE NOTES TO ACCOUNT FILED BY THE APPELLANT CLEARLY INDICATES THAT THESE SHOPS' GIVEN ON LEAVE AND LICENSE ARE INVESTMENTS OF THE APPELLANT. THE OWNERSHIP OF THE- APPELLANT OVER THESE SHOPS AS PER PROVISIONS OF SEC 22 OF THE LT. ACT IS NOT IN DOUBT. THEREFORE RENTAL INCOME FROM THESE SHOPS WOULD FALL UNDER THE HEAD 'INCOME FROM HOUSE PROPERTY' AS THE BUSINESS OF THE APPELLANT IS NOT TO LEASE & DEVELOP PROPERTY FOR FURTHER RENTING THEM OUT. THE RENTING OF PROPERTY IS NOT UNDERTAKEN AS A PART OF THE BUSINESS CONCERN. IT HA S BEEN LEASED / RENTED OUT AS A OWNER. THE AO HAS BROUGHT NOTHING O N RECORD TO SHOW WHY THE DECLARATION OF THE APPELLANT CANNOT BE ACCE PTED. 9.7. ON THE FACTS OF THE CASE IT IS CLEAR THAT THE APPELLANT AS OWNER OF THE BUILDING WAS ONLY EXPLOITING THE PROPERTY IT OW NED BY LEASING OUT THE SAME AND REALIZING INCOME BY WAY OF RENT. THERE IS NO COMMERCIAL ITA 1943/M/11& ITA 1738/M/11 & ITA 1894/M/11 & I TA 1852/M/11 6 ACTIVITY OR BUSINESS ACTIVITY CARRIED OUT BY THE AP PELLANT TO EARN THIS INCOME. RELYING ON THE JUDGMENT OF THE HONORABLE MA DRAS HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF KEYARAM HOTELS PVT LTD (2008) 300 ITR 1 18 AND THE DECISIONS QUOTED ABOVE EARLIER, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE RENTAL I NCOME EARNED BY THE APPELLANT IS LIABLE TO BE ASSESSED 'UNDER THE HEAD INCOME FROM HOUSE PROPERTY. SIMILARLY THE 'INCOME EARNED ON THE SUBSE QUENT SALE OF THE SHOP IS TO BE TREATED AS SHORT TERM CAPITAL GAINS A S DECLARED BY THE APPELLANT. THE ASSESSING' OFFICER IS THEREFORE DIRE CTED TO RECOMPUTE THE INCOME OF THE APPELLANT BY TAKING INTO CONSIDERATIO N THE SHORT TERM CAPITAL GAINS AND INCOME FROM HOUSE PROPERTY AS DEC LARED BY THE APPELLANT. THIS GROUND OF APPEAL OF THE APPELLANT T HEREFORE SURVIVES. 6. WE HAVE CONSIDERED THE RIVAL CONTENTIONS, CAREFU LLY GONE THROUGH THE ORDERS OF AUTHORITIES BELOW AND FOUND FROM THE RECO RD THAT THE ASSESSEE IS ENGAGED IN THE BUSINESS OF DEVELOPMENT AND SALE OF PROPERTY. OUT OF THE BUILDING CONSTRUCTED BY IT, PART OF THE BUILDING HE LD AS INVESTMENT WAS GIVEN ON LEASE. THE FACT THAT THE PORTION OF COMMERCIAL A REA GIVEN ON LEASE WAS INVESTMENTS OF THE ASSESSEE WAS CLEARLY INDICATED I N THE AUDIT REPORT AND THE NOTES TO ACCOUNT FILED BY THE ASSESSEE ALONG WITH R ETURN OF INCOME. FOR THIS PURPOSE, A BOARD RESOLUTION WAS ALSO PASSED TO THIS EFFECT. COPY OF LEAVE AND LICENCE AGREEMENT HAS ALSO FILED BEFORE THE A.O. WH ICH WAS DULY REGISTERED WITH THE SUB REGISTRAR. A CATEGORICAL FINDING WAS RECORDED BY THE LD. CIT(A) THAT IN THE BALANCE SHEET, THE ASSESSEE HAS CLEARLY BI-FURCATED THE BUILDING OWNED BY IT AS INVESTMENT AND STOCK-IN-TRADE. MEREL Y ON THE GROUND THAT THE ASSESSEE WAS IN THE BUSINESS OF PLANNING, DEVELOPME NT OF PROPERTY AND ITS SALE, THE A.O. HAS TREATED THE RENT RECEIVED AND PR OFIT EARNED ON SALE OF INVESTMENT IN BUILDING AS BUSINESS INCOME. THE LD. CIT(A) ALSO RECORDED A CATEGORICAL FINDING TO THE EFFECT THAT THE ASSESSEE HAD SHOWN RENTAL INCOME IN RESPECT OF BUILDING HELD AS INVESTMENT UNDER THE HE AD INCOME FROM HOUSE PROPERTY AND PROFIT EARNED ON SALE AS CAPITAL GAIN S IN RESPECT OF SUCH INVESTMENT AND THE A.O. HAS BROUGHT NOTHING ON RECO RD TO SUBSTANTIATE HIS STAND THAT THE BUILDING WAS HELD AS STOCK-IN-TRADE. THE LD. CIT(A) ALSO OBSERVED THAT THE ASSESSEE IS OWNER OF THE PROPERTY AND REALIZING INCOME BY WAY OF FIXED RENT. FOR EARNING RENTAL INCOME, THERE WAS NO COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY ITA 1943/M/11& ITA 1738/M/11 & ITA 1894/M/11 & I TA 1852/M/11 7 OR BUSINESS ACTIVITY CARRIED OUT BY THE ASSESSEE. B Y APPLYING ON THE JUDGMENT OF HONBLE MADRAS HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF KEYARAM HOTELS PVT. LTD. (2008) 300 ITR 118 AS WELL AS OTHER JUDICIAL PRONOUNCEMENT S AS NARRATED AT PARA 9.5 OF HIS APPELLATE ORDER, TO THE PECULIAR FACTS OF IN STANT CASE, THE LD. CIT(A) HELD THAT RENTAL INCOME EARNED BY THE ASSESSEE IS LIABLE TO BE ASSESSED AS INCOME FROM HOUSE PROPERTY AND PROFIT EARNED ON SALE OF SU CH INVESTMENT AS CAPITAL GAIN. THE DETAILED FINDING RECORDED BY THE LD. CIT( A) FROM PARA 9.3 TO 9.7 HAS NOT BEEN CONTROVERTED BY THE LD. D.R. BY BRINGING A NY POSITIVE MATERIAL ON RECORD. ACCORDINGLY WE DO NOT FIND ANY REASON TO I NTERFERE WITH THE FINDING RECORDED BY THE LD. CIT(A) AFTER RELYING ON VARIOUS JUDICIAL PRONOUNCEMENTS OF HONBLE HIGH COURTS AND SUPREME COURT AS STATED IN PARA 9.5 TO 9.7 OF HIS APPELLATE ORDER. 7. IN THE RESULT, BOTH THE APPEALS OF THE ASSESSEE AS WELL AS REVENUE ARE DISMISSED. ORDER PRONOUNCED IN THE OPEN COURT ON 18 TH MARCH, 2015. !' # $% &! ' 18-03-2015 ( ) SD/- SD/- (I.P. BANSAL) (R.C. SHARMA) JUDICIAL MEMBER ACCOUNTANT MEMBER $ 5 MUMBAI ; &! DATED 18-03-2015 [ .6../ RK , SR. PS ITA 1943/M/11& ITA 1738/M/11 & ITA 1894/M/11 & I TA 1852/M/11 8 ! '#$% &%# / COPY OF THE ORDER FORWARDED TO : 1. / THE APPELLANT 2. / THE RESPONDENT. 3. 7 () / THE CIT(A) CONCERNED, MUMBAI 4. 7 / CIT -CONCERNED, MUMBAI 5. :;( 66<= , <= , $ 5 / DR, ITAT, MUMBAI J BENCH 6. (?@ A / GUARD FILE. ' / BY ORDER, : 6 //TRUE COPY// (/') * ( DY./ASSTT. REGISTRAR) , $ 5 / ITAT, MUMBAI