COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX NEW DELHI NOW RAJASTHAN Vs. EAST WEST IMPORT AND EXPORT P LTD

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This appeal is by special leave and is directed against the judgment of the Bombay-High Court dated 16-7-1974 on a reference made under S. 66(l) of the Income Tax Act, 1922. The year of assessment is 1951-52 corresponding to the accounting year ending 31-3-1951. The question referred by the Tribunal to the High Court at the instance of the Revenue was:

(2.) Initially the company was incorporated as a private limited company at Jaipur on 24-12-1942 and was known as Messrs Rajputana Investment Company Private Limited. Under Articles 4, 81 and 82 of the Articles of Association of the company there was restriction on the transfer of the shares of the Company by the shareholders to other members of the public. These articles were deleted at an extraordinary general meeting of the Company held on 26th March, 1951, and following the deletion, the restriction on transfer of shares was removed. So was the limit on number of shareholders. On the basis of the amendment the assessee claimed relief under S. 23A(l) of the 1922 Act by pleading that all the statutory requirements were satisfied. The Income-tax Officer refused to accept the stand of the assessee on the ground that while the Explanation contained in S. 23A(l) of the Act required that in course of the previous year the shares were freely transferable by the holders to other members of the public, the company came to satisfy the requirement only for four or five days of the year. The Appellate Assistant Commissioner adopted the same view whereupon the assessee appealed to the Tribunal. The Tribunal accepted the stand of the assessee and allowed the appeal. whereupon at the instance of the Revenue the aforesaid question was referred and the case was stated to the High Court under S. 66(l) of the 22 Act. The High Court found for the assessee and against the Revenue. That has led to the present appeal by special leave.

(3.) As pointed out above, the short point for consideration in this appeal is as to whether the assessee satisfied the requirements of the Explanation to S. 23A(l) of the Act so as to be entitled to the tax benefit. This Court pointed out in the case of CIT.v. Afco (P) Ltd. (1963) 48 TTR 76: