COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX Vs. GIRDHARRAM HARIRAM BHAGAT

JUDGEMENT

(1.) SINCE the questions referred to us at the instance of the CIT, Gujarat, and the rival contentions urged in connection therewith are common and identical in both these references, we propose to answer the questions referred to us by this common judgment.

(2.) IN IT Ref. No. 214 of 1978, we are concerned with the asst. yrs. 1967 68, 1968 69 and 1969 70, while in IT Ref. No. 68 of 1977, we are concerned with the assessment years 1970 71 and 1971 72.

(3.) IN S.Y. 1876, he had opened in his lifetime a centre for free distribution of food daily to mendicants, beggars and sadhus at his small village, Virpur, in Saurashtra. This centre was known as. Annakshetra and it attracted a large number of sadhus and saints. In course of time, people recognised Jalarambapa as a man of considerable religious distinction and he came to be recognised as a respected and revered saint. Some miraculous powers were attributed to him by the people. The contributions in cash and kind started flowing from people to the Annakshetra and a substantial number of people be an to believe that their worldly desires would be fulfilled in case they made offerings to the Annakshetra. Jalarambapa died somewhere in S.Y. 1937, and even after his demise, his place continued to be treated by a large number of his admirers and devotees as a sacred place.