Commissioner of Income Tax v. K. P. Viswanath Prabhu
2013-03-05
B.MANOHAR, N.KUMAR
body2013
DigiLaw.ai
JUDGMENT N. Kumar, J.—These two appeals by the Revenue are preferred against the common order dated December 30, 2005, passed by the Income-tax Appellate Tribunal (hereinafter refer to as the "the Tribunal") granting full benefit to the assessee. The assessee is a leading medical practitioner in Kalasa, Chikmagalur District and he is running a clinic by name Prabhu's Clinic and also a nursing home by name K.P.M. Memorial, of which he is the proprietor. A search under section 132 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as "the Act"), was conducted in the residential premises of the assessee on February 4, 1999. Subsequently, the assessee filed a return of income on April 29, 1999, for the block period of April 1, 1998, to February 4, 1999, declaring Rs. 1,66,66,490 as undisclosed income in response to the notice dated March 17, 1999. During the search, fixed deposits, CDs and Kisan Vikas Patras were seized. While completing the assessment under section 158BC, the Assessing Officer added a sum of Rs. 91,62,048 apart from the undisclosed income declared by the assessee for a sum of Rs. 1,66,66,490. Therefore, the total undisclosed income came to Rs. 2,58,28,540. A demand was raised for a sum of Rs. 1,54,97,124 and interest under section 158BFA(1) of Rs. 3,09,942 was also added. Aggrieved by the said order, the assessee filed an appeal to the Commissioner of Income-tax (Appeals), Mangalore. The appellate authority granted reliefs under five headings and declined the relief on other grounds. Therefore, both the Revenue as well as the assessee preferred appeals against the order of the appellate authority to the Tribunal. The Tribunal, after hearing both the appeals together, granted relief to the assessee to the full extent. Accordingly, the appeal filed by the assessee was allowed and the appeal filed by the Revenue came to be dismissed. Aggrieved by the said orders, the present two appeals are filed by the Revenue. 2. In I.T.A. No. 986 of 2006, the following substantial questions of law do arise for consideration. (i) Whether the Tribunal was correct in allowing the relief to the assessee contrary to the provisions contained in 158BA of the Income-tax Act? (ii) Whether the Tribunal was correct in allowing the deduction under section 80L claimed by the assessee? 3.
2. In I.T.A. No. 986 of 2006, the following substantial questions of law do arise for consideration. (i) Whether the Tribunal was correct in allowing the relief to the assessee contrary to the provisions contained in 158BA of the Income-tax Act? (ii) Whether the Tribunal was correct in allowing the deduction under section 80L claimed by the assessee? 3. In I.T.A. No. 987 of 2006, in addition to the aforesaid substantial questions of law, the following substantial question of law do arise for consideration: (i) Whether the Tribunal was correct in accepting the order of the Appellate Commissioner deleting the additions made towards purchase of car, education expenses and stock of medicines in hospital without there being any documentary evidence available on record? 4. First substantial question of law: The undisclosed income by way of fixed deposits, Kisan Vikas Pathras which is added by the assessing authority amounts to Rs. 19,24,190. These fixed deposits were made during April 1, 1988, to February 4, 1999. The block assessment period is April 1, 1998, to February 4, 1999. For the financial year April 1, 1998, to March 31, 1999, the last date for filing the returns is July, 1999. Therefore, the assessee could have filed the returns by disclosing this income in the said returns and also paid tax. In this context, the Tribunal held that the aforesaid amount cannot be treated as undisclosed income for the reasons that such investments are out of professional receipts recorded in the diaries maintained by the assessee which were found during the survey. Such disclosure in the regular returns based on the diaries satisfies the requirement of section 158BB(1)(c). The assessee had filed the returns disclosing the said income along with the audit report. The assessing authority had passed the assessment order under section 143(3) of the Act for the assessment year 1999-2000 and in the said order he has not pointed them as receipts. Therefore, the last date for filing the returns was not yet over. As he had an opportunity to file the returns disclosing the said income, it cannot be said that it constitutes undisclosed income. In fact, in the assessment order, the Department has passed a protective assessment order including the said income.
Therefore, the last date for filing the returns was not yet over. As he had an opportunity to file the returns disclosing the said income, it cannot be said that it constitutes undisclosed income. In fact, in the assessment order, the Department has passed a protective assessment order including the said income. In the light of the aforesaid facts, as the assessee still had the time to file the returns and the said income pertains to a particular year and he has in fact filed the returns and the same is accepted, a protective assessment order is passed. It cannot be said that it constitutes undisclosed income and the assessing authority was justified in adding the said income to the undisclosed income. Therefore, the Tribunal was justified in granting relief to the assessee and, therefore, the said substantial question of law is answered in favour of the assessee and against the Revenue. 5. Second substantial question of law: Similarly, the interest accrued on the said fixed deposits cannot be held to be undisclosed income. If the principal amount is not considered as undisclosed income, the interest accrued thereon cannot be construed as undisclosed income and in the returns filed by the assessee, that income is also shown and tax is paid. 6. The benefit given to the assessee under section 80L of the Act was not challenged by the Revenue before the Tribunal. Therefore, in the appeal before this court, that cannot be the subject matter of the appeal. Accordingly, the said issue requires to be deleted and not answered. 7. Third substantial question of law: In so far as the agricultural income is concerned, the material on record clearly discloses that the assessee owned 10 acres 30 guntas of land along with his brother. The brother was looking after the agricultural operations. Rs. 36,53,333 is the agricultural income which is converted into fixed deposits in the name of the assessee. In fact, the assessing authority before passing the order appointed an Inspector and he was asked to go to the spot and verify the existence of the land and crops which are grown and then submit a report. The said report clearly discloses that the assessee owned the land along with his brother; they were cultivating the said lands and there exists agricultural income. The pahanies did disclose the name of the assessee and his brother.
The said report clearly discloses that the assessee owned the land along with his brother; they were cultivating the said lands and there exists agricultural income. The pahanies did disclose the name of the assessee and his brother. After being satisfied about the said factual aspect, the assessing authority held that the share of the assessee is only 50 percent and, therefore, he gave benefit to that extent, but added the remaining 50 percent., which order was modified to some extent by the lower appellate authority because while giving actual deductions, he has not given 50 percent, deduction. But the Tribunal looked into the entire material on record and found that the assessee had no issues. The assessee had adopted the son of his brother, in whose name the land also stands. The brother of the assessee was in charge of the agricultural operations whereas the assessee was looking after education of his son as well as the financial aspects of the family. In the absence of any evidence to show that the brothers divided the income equally, as the assessee was in the complete financial management of all the assets, it was of the view that it is probable that the entire agricultural income was kept in fixed deposit in his name as the ultimate beneficiaries of the same would be his brother and his son. In the light of evidence on record, it cannot be said that the said reasoning of the Tribunal is perverse and calls for interference. In that view of the matter, we do not see any justification in the said finding and accordingly, this substantial question of law is also answered in favour of the assessee and against the Revenue. 8. Fourth substantial question of law: The assessing authority had added the value of car, education expenses and stock of medicines in the hospital, in the absence of documentary evidence. Countering the said argument, the assessee has pointed out that in the accounts prior to 1998, there was huge opening balance from which all these acquisitions were made.
8. Fourth substantial question of law: The assessing authority had added the value of car, education expenses and stock of medicines in the hospital, in the absence of documentary evidence. Countering the said argument, the assessee has pointed out that in the accounts prior to 1998, there was huge opening balance from which all these acquisitions were made. In that context, the Tribunal was of the view that merely because the documentary evidence is not produced and those items, such as car, education expenses and stock of medicines could have been acquired out of the surplus amount and it cannot be construed as having been acquired out of the undisclosed income and the assessing authority was in error in adding the same to the declared undisclosed income. Therefore, he has granted the relief to the assessee. In fact, stock of medicines was not challenged by the Revenue before the Tribunal and, therefore, they are precluded from challenging the same for the first time before this court. We do not see any ground to interfere with the said considered order passed by the Tribunal. Therefore, the said substantial question of law is also answered in favour of the assessee and against the Revenue. For the aforesaid reasons, we do not see any merits in the appeals filed by the Revenue. Accordingly, both the appeals are dismissed.