M.M. Kumar, J. - (1.) THIS appeal filed under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act,1961 (for brevity 'the Act') challenges order dated 24.5.2006 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chandigarh Bench arising out of ITA No. 262/Chandi/2004 for the assessment year 1998 -99 ( Annexure A/1). The assessee has also filed an application under Section 5 of the Limitation Act,1963 read with Section 260A of the Act for condonation of 294 days delay in filing the appeal.
(2.) THE appellant has claimed that following substantive questions of law would arise for our determination: I. Whether, on the facts and circumstances of the case, the ITAT was justified in confirming the action of A.O. and by wrongly reversing the orders of CIT(A) in not allowing legal deduction as claimed by the appellant Under Section 54F of the Income Tax Act,1961 by completely ignoring the CBDT Circular which is binding on the A.O. II. Whether, on the facts and circumstances of the case, the ITAT was justified in confirming the action of A.O. and by wrongly reversing the orders of the CIT(A) in not allowing legal deduction as claimed by the appellant Under Section 54F of the Income Tax Act,1961 by completely ignoring the CBDT circular which is binding on the A.O.which clearly lays down that the purchase of plot for further construction of residential house will also qualify for the impugned deduction, so that so, the denial of deduction to the appellant on the amount of capital gain spent for the purchase of plot from PUDA is bad in law and a perverse finding of fact and law. III. That without prejudice to what is stated above even if the Ld. AO was not satisfied, regarding construction of residential house within the stipulated period of three years, the addition should have been made in the year in which the period of three years lapsed, as provided for in Section 54F(4) and not before. Hence, even on this score, addition was bound to be set aside and has been correctly set aside by Ld. CIT(A). IV. Whether, on the facts and circumstances of the case, the findings of ITAT are perverse and against the evidences on record thus unsustainable in law. V. Whether, the ITAT has misdirected itself in being influenced by irrelevant factors and applying erroneous criteria while deciding the issue in dispute. Facts which are necessary for the disposal of the controversy raised are that the assessee filed the return on 11.10.1998 declaring the income of Rs.1,38,771/ -plus agricultural income of Rs. 1,64,086/ -which was processed under Section 143(1)(a) of the Act. Thereafter, notice under Section 143(2) of the Act was issued on 27.9.1999 which was served on the assessee -appellant on 28.9.1999. The Assessing Officer held discussion with the assessee -appellant to produce books of account. The assessee has shown long term capital gain of Rs. 4,64,400/ -on the sale/purchase of 2900 shares. He also claimed exemption under Section 54F of the Act in lieu of the purchase of residential plot. The Assessing Officer found that the exemption claimed under Section 54F of the Act was unwarranted as the afore -mentioned provision was not applicable to the facts of the present case because it could be attracted only if the gain has been invested on the construction of a residential house and not on the purchase of a residential plot. The assessee furnished details regarding construction of the house but the same was not accepted by the Assessing Officer because there was a report submitted by the Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana who has pointed out that Kashmira Singh, XEN visited the plot No. 1021 Urban Estate Phase II Jamalpura (Ludhiana). According to the Executive Engineer, the main gate was locked and on enquiry made from the neighbourer it was found that only a boundary wall and two rooms with AC Sheet roofing for use of storage of cement etc. were constructed approximately in the month of February, 2001. The Assessing Officer further recorded that infact at the time of filing the return the assessee had made erroneous claim in the belief that the return is unlikely to be taken up for scrutiny and his claim would not come to the notice of the Revenue. The claim of the assessee that he had built up two small rooms which constitute an independent dwelling unit and therefore he was entitled to clarification of circular No. dated 18.10.1993 issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes was rejected because it was held that the construction of those two rooms do not constitute to be a dwelling unit and those rooms were constructed only in the month of February, 2001. Accordingly, the claim made under Section 54F of the Act was rejected and penalty proceedings under Section 271(1)(c) of the Act were initiated for making a wrong claim.
(3.) ON appeal preferred by the assessee the Commissioner of Income Tax (A) reversed the view taken by the Assessing Officer after concluding that the appellant could have utilised the amount of capital gain of Rs.5,11,560/ -declared on 22.4.1997 within a period of three years i.e. on or before 22.4.2000. The CIT(A) found that the period did not expire at the time of filing the return on 11.10.1998. He further held that circular of the Board No. 667 dated 18.10.1993 is to be applied and the cost of the land was required to be treated as an integral part of the residential house. He brushed aside the report of the Executive Engineer, Estate Officer, Punjab Urban Development Authority and the Inspector and concluded that the assessee -appellant had erected two room residential unit which may not be called expensive but nevertheless is covered by the definition of expression 'residence'. Therefore the benefit of Section 54F of the Act was available.;