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1998 DIGILAW 123 (SC)

MOTI TRUST KOTA v. COMMR. OF INCOME TAX, JAIPUR

1998-01-22

B.N.KIRPAL, S.P.KURDUKAR

body1998
ORDER 1. The Income Tax Tribunal in respect of Assessment Years 1976-77 and bad referred three questions of law to the High Court for its opinion. controversy before the High Court was with regard to the applicability of Sections 161 or 164 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 with regard to the assessment of the profits. The question was whether on the distribution of the profits amongst the beneficiaries the assessment was to be made under Section 161 or whether the Trust was to be assessed under Section 164 as an association of persons for the reason that it was a discretionary trust. 2. We have heard learned counsel for the parties and we find that even if in question be regarded as a discretionary trust inasmuch as the profits have during the relevant assessment years been credited to the respective accounts of the beneficiaries. Therefore, in view of the decision of in this Court in CIT v. Kamalini Khatau1 it is the beneficiaries in whose hands the income will be assessed. This being so, the appeals are allowed and the question of law referred by the Tribunal have to be answered in favour of the assessee. There will be no order as to costs.