COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX Vs. PALAKUNNATHU TRADERS

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is an appeal filed by the Commissioner of Income Tax, Thiruvananthapuram against the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Cochin Bench in I. T. A. No. 23 (Coch)/96 dated 17th September 1999. The matter arises under the Income Tax Act, 1961 (for short 'the Act'). The assessment year is 199192; the relevant previous year ending 31st March 1991. The respondent assessee is a partnership firm engaged in the business of Fertilizers, Pesticides, etc. The said firm was originally constituted by a partnership deed dated 2nd March, 1981 (AnnexureB). The firm consisted of three partners, Sri P. T. Cherian, Mrs. Santha Benjamin and Mrs. Annie Thomas. It was granted registration and the same was being continued. However, two of the said partners i.e., Mrs. Santha Benjamin and Mrs. Annie Thomas had expressed their desire to retire from the partnership and gave notice accordingly. On June 14, 1990 a new partnership deed (AnnexureC) was executed between Sri P. T. Cherian, who was the partner in the original partnership deed, Sri P.B.Titus and Mrs. Mary Thomas as partners.

(2.) For the assessment year 1991-92 the firm filed two separate returns, one for the period from 1st April 1990 to 13th June 1990 and the other for the period from 14th June 1990 to 31st March 1991. This was on the ground that on the retirement of the two partners of the firm as originally constituted the said partnership ceased to exist by operation of law and subsequently another partnership deed was executed by the remaining partner along with two others. According to the assessee this is a case of succession covered by S.180 of the Act and therefore two separate assessments are contemplated as provided under S.170 of the Act. The assessing officer however took the view that there was no dissolution of the original partnership of 14th June 1990 when two partners retired and that it was a case of change in the constitution within the meaning of S.187(2) of the Act when two partners retired and two others were inducted as partners. The assessing officer accordingly completed a single assessment on the partnership firm for the period from 1st April 1990 to 31st March 1991. Being aggrieved by the said order the assessee filed appeal before the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) who by his order dated 30th October 1995 (Annexure-D) allowed the said appeal by directing the assessing officer to make two separate assessments, one for the period from 1st April 1990 to 13th June 1990 and the other for the period from 14th June 1990 to 31st March 1991. This order of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) was confirmed by the Appellate Tribunal in its order dated 17th September 1999 (Annexure-E). Being aggrieved by the order of the Tribunal the Department has filed this appeal. This court while admitting the appeal ordered notice on the following question of law:

(3.) We have heard Sri P. K. R. Menon, Learned Senior Counsel (Government of India), (Taxes) appearing for the appellant and Sri P. Balakrishnan, learned Counsel appearing for the respondent/assessee.