(1.) Eight questions have been referred under section 256(1) of the Income-tax, 1961, four at the instance of the assessee and four at the instance of the Department. Out of the eight questions, five questions are concluded one way or the other by the decisions of this court or the retrospective amendment of the law, as the case may be. With a view to clear the ground, we shall first refer to these questions and also point out in what manner thy are concluded. The first question is :
(2.) The second question, also referred at the instance of the assessee, is :
(3.) The third question referred at the instance of the Revenue is :