AMARJIT SINGH Vs. PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK

JUDGEMENT

(1.) MR. A.R. Khanna, the assessee in this case, was employed by the United Nations Organisation. He retired form service on 30th April, 1965. Thereafter he was paid pension from the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund. For the asst. yrs. 1974-75 and 1975-76 the question arose whether the pension received by the assessee was liable to tax. The point reached the Tribunal in appeals, and the Tribunal held that the pension was exempt from tax. At the instance, of the CIT, the Tribunal has now referred the following question of law, in each of these tow references, to this Court for decision : "Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was legally correct in holding that the amount received by the assessee as pension form the United nations Joint Staff Pension Fund was not liable to tax for the asst. yr. 1974-75 and 1975-76 ?"

(2.) NO one is present on behalf of the assessee. Counsel for the CIT has conceded that this very question has been decided by a Division Bench of this Court in CIT Delhi-I vs. Dr. P.L. Narula (1984) 40 CTR (Del) 277 : (1984) 150 ITR 21 (Del). That case holds that the pension paid by the United National Organisation is exempt from tax. We have examined that judgment and find no reason to differ form it. Consequently, we answer the question referred in the affirmative. Having regard to the fact that no one has entered appearance on behalf of the assessee, we make no order as to cost.