LALITA DALMIA Vs. COMMISSIONER OF WEALTH TAX

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS order will dispose of CWs Nos. 1291, 1292 and 1293 of 1970 which have been filed by Smt. Lalita Dalmia, Smt. Krishna Dalmia and Smt. Abha Dalmia respectively. The petitioners are Hindu wives and belong to a well -to -do family of industrialists and businessmen. They are assessed to wealth -tax.

(2.) THE petitioners have in all the three petitions challenged an identical order dt. 3rd Oct., 1970, passed by the CWT, Delhi (Central), New Delhi, dismissing their revision petitions filed before the CWT under S. 25 of the WT Act, 1957 (Act 27 of 1957), hereinafter referred to as "the Act".

(3.) THE petitioner owned and possessed considerable jewellery besides other properties which she now alleges was intended for the personal use of the petitioner. The petitioner, for the various assessment years from 1957 -58 to 1967 -68, filed WT returns and disclosed her net wealth including the jewellery. The petitioner did not claim in her return any exemption in relation to jewellery under S. 5(1)(viii) of the Act as an article intended for the personal and household use of the assessee. Since the petitioner did not claim any such exemption, her WT returns were finalised and orders of assessments were passed on various dates during the period 24th Jan., 1961, to 27th Dec., 1969.