APARNA FAMILY TRUST V. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX

ITR/110/1997

AI Insights

The case involves the Kinnary Family Trust as the applicant and the Commissioner of Income-Tax as the respondent, concerning the taxation status of the trust for the assessment years 1985-86 and 1986-87. The core issue was whether the trust should be considered a discretionary family trust liable to be taxed at the maximum marginal rate. The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal had previously held that the trust was indeed a discretionary family trust. However, the High Court, referencing a similar case (Sanjiv Family Trust Vs C I T), decided to remand the matter back to the Tribunal for a fresh decision, allowing for a comprehensive reevaluation of the trust's tax liability.

• Counselvise Citation: [2006] 140 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 727279 (HC-GUJARAT)
• Appeal Type: Others
• Pronouncement Date: 30-08-2006
• Assessment Year: misc
• Other Referred Cases: Sanjiv Family Trust Vs C I T, McDowell Co Ltd v C T O, Union of India v Azadi Bachao Andolan
• Laws Referred To: Income Tax Act
• Result in Favour of: Partly Allowed
• Court: HIGH COURT
• Department Lawyers: MANISH BHATT
• Assessee Lawyers: R K KOTHARI
• Keywords: Discretionary family trust; Income tax appellate tribunal; Maximum Marginal Rate; Remand back to Tribunal
• Section: 1443; 1440; 1441; 1442; 1444; 1445

Judgement Text

"ITR/108/1997 1/3 JUDGMENT IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD INCOME TAX REFERENCE No. 108 of 1997 With INCOME TAX REFERENCE No. 109 of 1997 With INCOME TAX REFERENCE No. 110 of 1997 For Approval and Signature: HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R.S.GARG HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.R. SHAH ========================================================= 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 ? ========================================================= KINNARY FAMILY TRUST - Applicant(s) Versus COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX - Respondent(s) ========================================================= Appearance : MR R.K. Kothari for the Applicant(s) : 1, MR MANISH R BHATT for Respondent(s) : 1, ========================================================= CORAM : HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R.S.GARG and HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.R. SHAH Date : 30/08/2006 ORAL COMMON JUDGMENT (Per : HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R.S.GARG) ITR/108/1997 2/3 JUDGMENT . . . , . Mr R K Kothari learned counsel for the assessee . , . Mrs Bhatt learned counsel for the Revenue The parties are . heard . 2 , The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal Ahmedabad 'A' has referred the following question to this Court for its opinion . & / / arising out of Income Tax Appeal No 1444 1445 Ahd 92 - - ; relating to assessment years 1985 86 and 1986 87 'Whether on the facts and in the , circumstances of the case the income tax Appellate Tribunal was right in law in holding that the assessee trust was a discretionary family trust liable to be taxed at maximum marginal rate ?' . 3 . , In Income Tax Reference No 109 of 1997 the Income , Tax Appellate Tribunal Ahmedabad 'A' has referred the abovesaid question to this Court for its opinion arising out of . & / / Income Tax Appeal No 1442 1443 Ahd 92 relating to - - . assessment years 1985 86 and 1986 87 . 4 . , In Income Tax Reference No 110 of 1997 the Income , Tax Appellate Tribunal Ahmedabad 'A' has referred the abovesaid question to this Court for its opinion arising out of . & / / Income Tax Appeal No 1440 1441 Ahd 92 relating to - - . assessment years 1985 86 and 1986 87 ITR/108/1997 3/3 JUDGMENT . 5 Learned counsel for the parties submit that the present Tax References would be squarely covered by our order . . . dated 13 7 2006 passed in Income Tax Reference No 149 of . . . . 1995 in the matter of Sanjiv Family Trust Vs C I T The parties submit that the orders passed by the Tribunal may be set aside and the matters may be remanded back to the Tribunal with a direction that the Tribunal shall decide the matters afresh in . accordance with law The orders of the Tribunal are accordingly set aside with direction that the Tribunal would be entitled to reconsider the entire matter and redetermine the liability of the , . ., . assessee i e the beneficiary of the first level Trust It would be open to the Tribunal to reconsider the matter and decide the matter in accordance with law after taking into consideration the & . . . . . ., judgments in the matter of McDowell Co Ltd v C T O 154 ITR ; . , ; 148 Union of India v Azadi Bachao Andolan 263 ITR 706 263 ; ; . ITR 706 209 ITR 101 and 231 ITR 540 As we are remanding , the matters back to the Tribunal we refuse to make any observation on the merits of the matters as the same is likely to . affect the rights of the either party All the References stand . . accordingly disposed of No costs [ . . , . ] R S Garg J . rmr [ . . , . ] M R Shah J "