KARAM SINGH SOBTI Vs. H S MUMTAZ

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India arising out of the proceedings for recovery of tax taken against the partnership firm known as Micheal Overman & Co. According to the statements of fact contained in the writ petition the firm was assessed to income-tax amounting to Rs. 2,879.00 for the years 1953-55 to 1956.57, The entire tax was demanded from the petitioner, Shri Karam Singh Sobti who had 60% 'sharp whereas Mr. Micheal Overman had a share of 40%. The petitioner represented to the Income-tax Officer that the firm had been dissolved and hence the claim for income-tax should be apportioned. On this application the Income-tax Officer wrote to the District Collection Officer,. Delhi, that a sum of Rs. 1785.00 should be collected from the petitioner and the balance-of Rs. 1155.70 should be collected from the other partner It was also stated that the petitioner had already paid Rs. 985.00 and would pay the balance of Rs. 750.00 by 15.11.59. The District Collection Officer was directed to collect the balance amount from Shri Micheal Overman, employed by M/s. Oberoi Hotels. The letter of the Income-tax Officer in which this division of the tax liability is set out is dated 31.8.59 and is Annexure 'B' to the writ petition.

(2.) Later on the Tax Recovery Officer sought to recover the balance amount of Rs 1155.79 under the provisions of the Income tax-Act, 961. This was challenged by the present writ petition and the recovery proceedings were stayed by the Circuit Bench of the Punjab High Court. The case of the petitioner lies in a very narrow compass. According to the petitioner, his liability is limited to 60% of the tax liability and he cannot be made liable to the 40% which should have been paid by his partner Shri Micheal Overman. The only ground for this contention, contained in the writ petition, is that an order of apportionment was 'made by Shri M.L Chopra, Income Tax Officer, which was final and conclusive and cannot be reopened.

(3.) No provision of the Income-tax Act 1922 or even the Act of 1961 can be pointed out which enables the Income Tax Officer to divide the liability of the firm between its two partners. There is a difference in this respect between the liability of a registered firm and an unregistered firm. It is not the case of the petitioner that the firm M/s. Micheal Overman and Co. was a registered firm, Hencs, the only question to be determined in this case ft the legal effect of the apportionment made by Mr. M.L. Chopra, Income Tax officer, by his letter dated-31 8 1962. Whether the letter dividing the amount can have any legal effect, resulting in the respondent being unable "to collect the balance of the tax due from the partnership firm is dependent on whether there was any legal authority investing the Income Tax Officer with the power to limit the liability of a partner in respect of the debts due from the firm. No such power can be pointed out.