SINHA, J. - (1.) : This is a reference under s. 66(1) of the IT Act. The question referred is in the following terms:-- "Whether in the facts and circumstances of this case s. 14(2) of the EPT Act is a bar to recovery of the excess profits tax for the chargeable accounting period ended the 30th of April , 1945, from the purchaser, Ramnath Bajoria."
(2.) THE facts giving rise to this reference are as follows : For the hargeable accounting period commencing on 1st May, 1944, and ending on 30th April, 1945, and assessment was made under the EPT Act on the unregistered firm of Manton & Co. THE net demand was Rs. 1,48,260. THE firm consisted of three partners. On 23rd July, 1946, the business was sold by the firm to Ramnath Bajoria by an agreement. By cl. 2 of the agreement the price was fixed at Rs. 1,86,965-10-11 and was payable in certain instalments. Clause 7 of the agreement provided as follows :-- "All income-tax and excess profits tax in respect of the said business made and outstanding for the year first day of May one thousand nine hundred and forty-five to the thirtieth day of April one thousand nine hundred and forty-six and all Bengal sales tax from the first day of August one thousand nine hundred and forty-six together with all existing debts and liabilities of the vendors in respect of the said business will be on the account of the purchaser as appearing from the balance sheet of the business upto the thirtieth day of April one thousand nine hundred and forty-six. THE purchaser hereby undertakes with the vendors that he will pay such taxes and liabilities as and when they respectively fall due and will keep indemnified the vendors and their estates and effects free from and against all actions, costs and demands in respect thereof or any portion thereof." The demand notice in the name of Manton & Co., was served on Bajoria. Bajoria filed an appeal before the AAC who ordered that Ramnath Bajoria was not the person on whom the EPTO wanted to fix the liability for excess profits tax. He held therefore that Bajoria was not competent to file an appeal against the assessment. Against that order that CIT filed an appeal before the Tribunal. It was admitted before the Tribunal that in no event could the liability for the tax be fixed on Bajoria. The Tribunal, therefore, held that s. 14(2) of the EPT Act was a bar against the realisation of the excess profits tax from Bajoria. Application was then made to the Tribunal to refer a question to this Court and Tribunal has referred the question which I have already mentioned.
(3.) IT is not disputed under s. 14(2) of the EPT Act Bajoria is not liable for the demand of Rs. 1,48,260 made on Manton & Co. IT is however suggested that by reason of cl. 7 of the agreement Bajoria may be liable, but that is an entirely indefensible proposition. Clause 7 only says that Bajoria would be liable to excess profits tax for the year beginning with 1st May, 1945, and ending on 30th April, 1946. The demand to which I have referred is not for that period but for an earlier period namely from 1st May, 1944, to 30th April, 1945. Even if Bajoria was liable under cl. 7 of the agreement of IT authorities could not take advantage of the provision of that agreement and make Bajoria liable. IT is however clear that under cl. 7 Bajoria did not undertake the liability to pay the excess profits tax for the relevant period. He is not, therefore, chargeable for the excess profits tax which has been assessed by the EPTO. In my opinion the answer to the question propounded should be in the affirmative.;