COMMISSIONER OF WEALTH TAX Vs. WIG R L

JUDGEMENT

(1.) AT the instance of the CWT, Kanpur, the Income-tax Appellate Tribunal, Allahabad Bench, Allahabad, has referred the following question of law for the opinion of this court under Section 27(2) of the W.T. Act, 1957.

(2.) THE facts found are that a plot of land, which had been taken on lease by the assessee from the Nagar Mahapalika, Kanpur, was subject to the condition that in case the assessee sells the plot, before making any construction thereon, the Mahapalika would be entitled to a share of 75% in the profit made in the transaction. On the valuation date, namely, March 31, 1972, relevant to the assessment year 1972-73, the plot of land had remained without any construction by the assessee. THE WTO computed the price of the plot at Rs. 66,870 on the basis of its assumed market value on that date. He negatived the claim of the assessee that 75% of the amount of increase over the cost of the plot which had been paid by the assessee should be deducted under the aforesaid covenant. This order was upheld by the AAC but the Income-tax Appellate Tri- bunal, before which the matter went in a second appeal, took the view that on account of the covenant aforesaid, the real wealth in the hands of the assessee in respect of the plot in question could only be worked out after deducting the amount of 75% of the notional profit if the land was to be sold on 31st March, 1972. It followed the view of a Division Bench of the Delhi High Court in this respect. THE Department did not accept that view to be correct and sought the present reference.

(3.) IN the present case, the covenant, that is, the term that the Mahapalika was entitled to a share of 75% in the profit if the plot of land was sold, is in the nature of a restriction upon the right of the assessee in the event of the sale of the property. Of course, the restriction was to operate only till such time that no construction was made by the assessee over the plot of land. IN view of the principle laid down by the Supreme Court in the aforesaid case which, in our opinion, squarely applies to the facts of the present case, we answer the question in the affirmative, in favour of the assessee and against the Commissioner of Wealth-tax. The assessee will be entitled to his costs which we assess at Rs. 250.