COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX Vs. LEATHERITE INDUSTRIES LIMITED

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS is an appeal under Section 269h of the I. T. Act, 1961, by the Commissioner, Patiala, against the order of the Income-tax Appellate Tribunal, Chandigarh Bench, dated July 31, 1976.

(2.) BRIEFLY, the facts are that Kapil Dev Tayal (hereinafter referred to as " the transferor "), purchased plot No. 67, measuring 5333. 33 sq. yards, situated in Sector VI, Faridabad, from the State of Haryana, vide conveyance deed dated November 18, 1970. He constructed a factory shed with asbestos sheets, office block, time office -and boundary walls on it. Later, he sold the plot along with the constructions made by him to M/s. Leatherite Industries Pvt. Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as " the transferee "), for a consideration of Rs. 1,78,500, vide sale deed dated December 5, 1973. Out of the sale consideration, the transferee paid Rs. 10,000 at the time of the agreement and the balance amount of Rs. 1,68,500 at the time of execution of the deed by two pay orders issued by the National and Grindlays Bank.

(3.) THE competent authority under the Act, on receipt of the information regarding the sale, made a reference under Section 269l to the Valuation Officer, Rohtak, for the purpose of determining the fair market value of the property. The valuation officer valued it at Rs. 2,20,801. After receipt of the report, he initiated proceedings for acquisition of the property under the Act. Notices of the proceedings were served on the transferor as well as on the transferee. The transferor did not file any objections against the acquisition of the property but the transferee did so. The competent authority came to the conclusion that the fair market value of the property exceeded the apparent consideration by more than 15 per cent. and that the consideration for the transfer had not been truly stated in the sale deed, with the objects referred to in Clauses (a) and (b) of Sub-section (1) of Section 269c of the Act. He, therefore, passed an order for its acquisition along with the superstructures thereon.