Short Overview : Where no possession had been given by the transferor to the transferee of the entire land in part performance of JDA so as to fall within the domain of section 53A and in absence of registration of JDA, although executed afterwards, the agreement did not fall under section 53A and consequently section 2(47)(v) did not apply and no further amount had been received and no action thereon had been taken, therefore, appeal of Revenue was dismissed.

Issue arose under consideration as to whether Tribunal was justified in holding that no possession had been given by the transferor to transferee of the entire land in part performance of joint development agreement so as to fall within the scope of section 53A of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882, that in absence of registration of joint development agreement having been executed, agreement did not fall under section 53A of the Transfer of Property Act for section 2(47)(v) to apply, that the society has transferred the land through JDA on a pro-rata basis and that only money received against which sale deeds had also been executed could be taxed and money to be received later could not be presently taxed.

 It is held that No possession had been given by the transferor to the transferee of the entire land in part performance of JDA so as to fall within the domain of section 53A. Further, section 53A, by incorporation, stood embodied in section 2(47)(v) and all essential ingredients of section 53A were required to be fulfilled. In absence of registration of JDA, although executed afterwards, the agreement did not fall under section 53A and consequently section 2(47)(v) did not apply. It was submitted by assessee that whatever amount was received from the developer, capital gains tax had already been paid on that and sale deeds had also been executed. No further amount had been received and no action thereon had been taken. Therefore, appeal of Revenue was dismissed.

Decision: In assessee’s favour

IN THE PUNJAB & HARYANA HIGH COURT AT CHANDIGARH

AJAY KUMAR MITTAL & RAMENDRA JAIN, JJ.

Pr. CIT v. Chuni Lal Bhagat

ITA No. 24 of 2017 (O&M)

17 February, 2017

Appellant by: Vivek Sethi, Adv.

JUDGMENT

Ajay Kumar Mittal, J.

This appeal has been preferred by the appellant-revenue under section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 which (in short, “the Act”) against the Order, dt. 28-6-2016, Annexure A.3, passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Amritsar Bench, Amritsar (in short, “the Tribunal”) in ITA No. 393(ASR)/2015, claiming following substantial questions of law:–

(i) “Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case, the Hon’ble ITAT was justified in deleting the addition made by assessing officer relying upon the decision of Hon’ble High Court in the case of C.S. Aiwal v. CIT [ITA No. 200 of 2013 decided on 22-7-2015] : 2015 TaxPub(DT) 2839 (P&H-HC), when SLP has been filed by the department in the case?

(ii) Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case and in law, the Hon’ble ITAT erred in relying upon the order of Hon’ble High Court and was justified in holding that the transfer of land by members of a Cooperative Society by signing an irremovable Power of Attorney in the name of the Developer and also by signing a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) would constitute ‘transfer’ within the meaning of section 2(47)(ii) of the Income Tax Act, 1961(the Act) read with Clause (v) and Clause (vi) of the said section so as to attract Capital Gain within the meaning of section 45 read with section 48 of the Act?

(iii) Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case and in law, the Hon’ble ITAT erred in relying upon the order of Hon’ble High Court and was justified in holding that no possession had been given by the transferor to the transferee of the entire land in part-performance of Joint Development Agreement dated 25-2-2007 so as to fall within the scope of section 53A of the Transfer of Property Act 1882 ignoring the fact that the combined reading of the clauses of the duly registered irrevocable Special Power of Attorney and the JDA would clearly show that the developer was handed over possession of the property whereby the assessee was authorized to enter upon the property not only for the purposes of development but other purposes also, including mortgage and sale of that property?

(iv) Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the Hon’ble ITAT erred in relying upon the order of Hon’ble High Court and was justified in holding that in the absence of registration of JDA dated 25-2-2007 having been executed after 24-9-2001, the agreement does not fall under section 53A of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 and consequently, section 2(47)(v) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 does not apply to the present case, failing to appreciate the fact that this requirement of registration cannot be read into clause (v) of section 2(47) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 because the said provision refers only to the contract of the nature of section 53A of the T.P. Act without going into the controversy whether or not such agreement is required to be registered?

(v) Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the Hon’ble IT AT erred in relying upon the order of Hon’ble High Court and was justified in holding that the Society has transferred the land through JDA on a pro-rata basis, and that only the money received against which sale deeds have also been executed could be taxed and the money to be received later cannot be presently taxed ignoring the fact that as per section 45 read with section 48 of the Income Tax Act, in case of capital gain, the tax has to be paid on the total consideration arising on transfer which include the consideration which has been received as well as consideration which has arisen and became due and may be received later on?

(vi) Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the Hon’ble ITAT erred in relying upon the order of Hon’ble High Court and was justified in concluding that the assessee has already terminated the agreement and has revoked the irrevocable Power of Attorney, ignoring the vital fact that the said irrevocable Power of Attorney could not be revoked for any reaons without obtaining specific prior written consent of THDC/HASH and no document showing the consent of THDC for revocation of this irrevocable Power of Attorney was ever been produced by the assessee?

(vii) Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the Hon’ble IT AT erred in relying upon the order of Hon’ble High Court and was justified in holding that clause (vi) of section 2(47) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 would not be applicable in this case, ignoring the fact that the developer i.e. THDC/HASH has purchased the membership of the members of the society which would lead to its enjoyment of the property and in that sense, clause (vi) of section 2(47) would apply to the present case?”

2. Briefly, the facts as narrated in the appeal, necessary for adjudication of the controversy involved may be noticed. The respondent-assessee is an individual. He filed his return for the assessment year 2007-08 on 30-11-2007 declaring total income of Rs. 2,98,890 plus agriculture income at Rs. 96,000. The return was processed under section 143(1) of the Act on 24-8-2008. The assessee also filed revised return of income on 30-10-2009 declaring total income of Rs. 19,43,830 which was filed beyond the time limit as prescribed under section 139(5) of the Act. Later on, proceedings under sections 147/148 of the Act were initiated by issuing notice under section 148 of the Act on 22-11-2013 as the assessee had not declared entire long-term capital gain. The assessment was completed by the assessing officer on 13-2-2015 at an assessed income of Rs. 3,56,93,826 plus agriculture income of Rs. 96,000. While completing the assessment, the assessing officer computed long-term capital gain amounting to Rs.3,53,94,940 and added the same to the original declared income of the assessee. The assessee was one of the members of the Punjabi Housing Building Society Ltd. The Society consisting of 95 members is the owner of 21.2 acres of land in village Kansal. It had allotted plots measuring 500 square yards to its 65 members, 1000 square yards to its 30 members and 4 plots of 500 square yards each were retained by it. The society entered into a tripartite Joint Development Agreement (JDA) dated 25-2-2007 with Hash Builders Pvt. Ltd. Chandigarh (HASH) and Tata Housing Development Company Ltd. Mumbai (THDC). Under the JDA, it was agreed that HASH and THDC shall undertake development of 21.2 acres of land owned and registered in the name of the society in respect of which it would give development rights in lieu of consideration. The agreed consideration was to be disbursed by THDC through HASH to each individual member of the society having plot size of 500 square yards partly in monetary and balance in terms of built up property. Clause 4 of the JDA provided details of the payments. The assessee had been allotted 1000 square yards plot in the society. He was entitled to receive monetary consideration of Rs.1,65,00,000 and two furnished flats of 2250 square feet each. The assessee received proportionate amount of Rs.30,00,000 during the year under consideration i.e. 2007-08. VideOrder, dt. 13-2-2015, Annexure A.1, the assessing officer under section 143(3) of the Act held that since as per the JDA, there was grant and assignment of various rights in the property by the assessee in favour of THDC along with handing over physical and vacant position, the same tantamount to transfer. The assessing officer applied the provisions of section 2(47)(v) of the Act read with section 53A of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 (in short, “the 1882 Act”) which provides that any transaction involving allowing the possession of the immovable property to be taken or retained in part performance of contract of the nature referred to section 53A of the Act of the 1882 Act shall be treated as transfer for purposes of the Act. Since the JDA was signed on 25-2-2007 i.e. during the previous year relevant to assessement year 2007-08, the assessing officer computed chargeable capital gains in that year. It was also held that there was transfer within the meaning of sub sections (ii) and (vi) of section 2(47) of the Act. The assessing officer concluded that the assessee was liable to tax during the assessment year under consideration on the entire amount received/receivable in future under the head capital gains and thus made net addition of Rs.3,53,94,940 on account of long-term capital gains taxable in the hands of the assessee. Aggrieved by the order, the assessee filed an appeal before the Commissioner (Appeals) (CIT(A)). Vide Order, dt. 26-5-2015, Annexure A.2, the Commissioner (Appeals) dismissed the appeal of the assessee upholding the order passed by the assessing officer. Still not satisfied, the assessee filed second appeal before the Tribunal. Vide Order, dt. 28-6-2016, the Tribunal allowed the appeal filed by the assessee holding that his case was covered by the decision of this Court in C.S. Atwal & Ors. v. CIT & Anr. [ITA No. 200 of 2013 decided on 22-7-2015] : 2015 TaxPub(DT) 2839 (P&H-HC). Hence, the instant appeal by the revenue.
3. We have heard learned counsel for the appellant.
4. The matter is no longerres integra. In C.S. Atwal’s case (supra) in [ITA No. 200 of 2013 decided on 22-7-2015] : 2015 TaxPub(DT) 2839 (P&H-HC), the issue involved in this appeal stands decided by this Court. In the said case, the following issues emerged for consideration :–

(i) Scope and legislative intent of section 2(47)(ii), (v) and (vi) of the Act;

(ii) The essential ingredients for applicability of section 53A of 1882 Act;

(iii) Meaning to be assigned to the term “possession”?

(iv) Whether in the facts and circumstances, any taxable capital gains arises from the transaction entered by the assessee?

After considering the relevant statutory provisions and the case law, the following conclusions were drawn:–

“(1) Perusal of the JDA dated 25-2-2007 read with sale deeds dated 2-3-2007 and 25-4-2007 in respect of 3.08 acres and 4.62 acres respectively would reveal that the parties had agreed for pro-rata transfer of land.

(2) No possession had been given by the transferor to the transferee of the entire land in part performance of JDA dated 25-2-2007 so as to fall within the domain of section 53A of 1882 Act.

(3) The possession delivered, if at all, was as a licencee for the development of the property and not in the capacity of a transferee.

(4) Further section 53A of 1882 Act, by incorporation, stood embodied in section 2(47)(v) of the Act and all the essential ingredients of section 53A of 1882 Act were required to be fulfilled. In the absence of registration of JDA dated 25-2-2007 having been executed after 24-9-2001, the agreement does not fall under section 53A of 1882 Act and consequently section 2(47)(v) of the Act does not apply.

(5) It was submitted by learned counsel for the assessee-appellant that whatever amount was received from the developer, capital gains tax has already been paid on that and sale deeds have also been executed. In view of cancellation of JDA dated 25-2-2007, no further amount has been received and no action thereon has been taken. It was urged that as and when any amount is received capital gains tax shall be discharged thereon in accordance with law. In view of the aforesaid stand, while disposing of the appeals, we observe that the assessee appellants shall remain bound by their said stand.

(6) The issue of exigibility to capital gains tax having been decided in favour of the assessee, the question of exemption under section 54F of the Act would not survive any longer and has been rendered academic.

(7) The Tribunal and the authorities below were not right in holding the assessee-appellant to be liable to capital gains tax in respect of remaining land measuring 13.5 acres for which no consideration had been received and which stood cancelled and incapable of performance at present due to various orders passed by the Supreme Court and the High Court in PILs. Therefore, the appeals are allowed.”

5. Learnedcounsel for the appellant has not been able to controvert the applicability of the decision rendered in C.S. Atwal’s case (supra). The substantial questions of law claimed in this appeal are answered accordingly. Consequently, the appeal stands dismissed.