Pathak, J. - (1.) This appeal by certificate under Sec. 66A (2) of the Indian Income Tax Act, 1922 raises the question whether the transactions in which the assessee was engaged were "speculative transactions" as defined by Explanation 2 to Section 24 (1) of that Act.
(2.) The assessee carries on business in gunnies. The total purchase disclosed by the assessee for the year ended June 30, 1960 amounted to Rs. 1,01,51,225/- and the total sales during that year were shown at Rs. 1,03,27,208/-. The purchases and sales included certain transactions with Messrs. Kesardeo Shyamsunder. Under Contracts Nos. 96 dated November 11, 1959, 108 dated November 12, 1959, 643 dated April 27, 1960 and 836 dated May 25, 1960, the assessee claimed that 5,700 bales of gunny bags were purchased for Rs. 22,05,000/-. The assessee says that he sold them to the same party under contracts Nos. 520 dated March 30, 1960, 540 and 541 dated April 1, 1960 and 610 dated April 19, 1960 for Rs. 19,79,550/-. The result was a loss of Rs. 2,25,450/-. The contracts were transferable specific delivery contracts falling within the scope of the bye-laws of the East India Jute and Hessian Exchange Limited, the bye-laws having been passed with the concurrence of the Forward Market Commission. Admittedly, in the aforementioned transactions of purchase and sale there was no physical delivery of goods. There was a transfer of delivery orders only.
(3.) In the income-tax assessment for the assessment year 1961-62, the relevant previous year being the year ended June 30, 1960, the assessee showed the loss of Rs. 2,25,450/- as an ordinary business loss. The Income-tax Officer rejected the claim and held that the transactions in which delivery orders were handed over without physical delivery of the goods were "speculative transactions" within the meaning of Explanation 2 to Section 24 (1) of the Indian Income Tax Act. He observed that the loss of Rs. 2,25,450/-, being a loss in speculation business, would be treated separately. The assessee appealed, and the Appellate Assistant Commissioner took the view that as "pucca" delivery orders had been transferred, there was a transfer of documents of title to the goods and, therefore, actual delivery of the goods must be deemed to have been given. On appeal by the Revenue, the Income-tax Appellate Tribunal found that the only transaction which had suffered a loss was the transaction under contract No. 520 which was closed by the reverse purchase contract No. 836. The loss suffered was Rs. 2,99,700/-, but the claim made by the assessee quantified the loss at Rs. 2,25,450/-. In respect of that transaction the Appellate Tribunal observed that on purchase when the assessee was deemed to have received delivery the full amount was paid by cheque, and similarly when the assessee "sold forward the full sum was also paid through cheque. It referred to the trade usage that cheques were paid when bills were received and on payment thereof the pucca delivery orders changed hands. Therefore, said the Tribunal, in form it was a transaction of delivery for cash, and was not a speculative transaction.;