Raja Ram Kumar Bhargava Vs. Union of India [1987] INSC 375 (11 December 1987)

VENKATACHALLIAH, M.N. (J) VENKATACHALLIAH, M.N. (J) NATRAJAN, S. (J)

CITATION: 1988 AIR 752 1988 SCR (2) 352 1988 SCC (1) 681 JT 1988 (1) 297 1988 SCALE (1)235

ACT:

Income Tax Act, 1922, Sections 66(5), 66(7) Income Tax Act, 1961, Sections 297(2)(a), 297(2)(i) Excess Profit Tax Act, 1940, Section 21.

Removal of Difficulties Order, 1962.

Assessee- Assessment made and recovery effected under the 1922 Act-Tax reduced on reference to High Court subsequent to commencement of 1961 Act-Claim to interest on refund of income and excess profit taxes- 'Completed assessment'-Meaning of-Section 297(2)(i) and not 297(2)(a) held applicable-Claim to interest on refund of income tax wholly insupportable-Claim to interest on excess profit tax upheld-Suit for-Whether maintainable.

Civil Procedure Code, 1908: Section 9-Civil Court- Exclusion of jurisdiction-When implied.

HEADNOTE:

% Raja Ram Kumar Bhargava-Appellant was assessed in the capacity of Kartha of a Hindu Undivided Family for Income and Excess Profit Taxes for the assessment year 1947-48.

Pursuant to assessment order dated September 23, 1951 as modified by the orders of the Appellate Assistant Commissioner and the Income-Tax Appellate Tribunal dated May 15, 1952 and March 3, 1957 respectively, a sum of Rs.2,57,383.87 was recovered from the assessee on March 27, 1957 under threat of coercive process. Payment was made by the assessee by borrowing money from a Bank on heavy interest by mortgage of his properties. The assessee's Reference under Section 66 of the 1922 Act and Section 21 of Excess Profit Tax Act 1940 was decided in his favour, and the quantum of both the taxes came to be substantially reduced. A sum of Rs.2,01,146.62 as income tax, and Rs.19,126.16 as Excess Profit Tax became refundable.

In the meanwhile, the 1922 Act was repealed by Section 297(1) of the 1961 Act, and the assessee's claim of interest from the date of payment of tax in 1957 till the date of reference, was rejected by the Department in view of Section 297(2(i) of the I.T. Act, 1961.

353 The assessee filed a suit in the High Court for recovery of interest on the refunds of Income Tax and Excess Profit Tax claiming that the assessment for the year 1947-48 was completed the moment the assessment order dated March 28, 1951, was passed, and that the claim for interest squarely fell within Section 66(7) of the 1922 Act, read with, and saved by Section 297(2)(a) of the 1961 Act.

The Revenue resisted the suit contending that the suit was not maintainable; that it was statute barred, and being governed by Section 297(2)(i) and not Section 297(2)(a) of the 1961 Act no interest was payable.

A Single Judge dismissed the suit, holding that the remedy of a civil suit was misconceived, for the Civil Court has no jurisdiction to grant interest in place of the discretion vested in the Commissioner under Section 66(7) of the 1922 Act, and that on a reading of the provisions of section 297 with the Removal of Difficulties order 1962 it had to be held that the claim of the plaintiffs was governed by the provisions of the 1922 Act.

In Appeal, the Division Bench reversed the findings of the Single Judge and held that the provisions of the 1922 Act did not govern the claim, but sustained the decree of dismissal.

The legal representatives of the Assessee appealed by Special Leave to this Court.

It was contended on behalf of the appellant-plaintiff that: (i) for purposes of Section 297(2)(i) the assessment must be held to have been completed not when the ITO made the initial order of assessment but only when the assessment assumes finality in appeal; (ii) the scheme of the 1961 Act and the provisions of the Removal of Difficulties order, 1962 suggest that the expression "assessment completed before the commencement of this Act" in Section 297(2)(i) should not be construed as to render the provisions of the 1922 Act relating to the payment of interest on refunds nugatory and deprive an assessee of a right vesting in him under the 1922 Act, and (iii) the claim for interest based on Section 21 of the Excess Profit Tax Act, 1940 pre-eminently survives, as Section 2 incorporates and assimilates into itself as a part of its own legislative- scheme, Section 66 of the 1922 Act and the provisions so built into Section 21 by the legislative expedient of incorporation and not merely of reference, continue to be operative notwithstanding the repeal of the 1922 Act.

354 Allowing the Appeal in part,

HELD: 1(a) An assessment would be a 'completed assessment' within Section 297(2)(i) if the ITO had passed the order of assessment prior to the coming into force of the 1961 Act. [360B] 1(b) The view taken by the Division Bench of the High Court on the point must, therefore, be held to be correct and does not call for interference. [360Cl O. RM. M. SP. SV. P. Panchanatham Chettiar v. Commissioner of Income-Tax, Madras, 99 ITR 579 and CIT Bombay, Presidency & Aden v. Khemchand Ramdas, 6 ITR 414 referred to.

2(a) Section 66(7) of the 1922 Act which by virtue of Section 21 of the Excess Profit Tax Act, 1940 is attracted to cases of refunds of Excess Profit Taxes stipulates that notwithstanding that a reference has been made to the High Court, the tax shall be payable in accordance with the assessment made in the case provided that if the amount of assessment is reduced as a result of such reference, the amount overpaid shall be refunded "with such interest as the Commissioner may allow." [360G-H; 361A] 2(b) This provision mandates the grant of interest, the discretion of the Commissioner being limited to the rate of interest only. [361A-B] Liquidators of Pursa Ltd. v. Commissioner of lncome- Tax, Bihar & Ors., 32 lTR 603 and Khushalchand Daga v. N.M. Joshi, 3rd Income- Tax office A-I Ward, Bombay & Ors., 130 ITR 180 approved.

3. Generally speaking the broad guiding considerations with regard to institution of suits are that wherever a right, not pre-existing in common law, is created by a statute and that statute itself provides a machinery for the enforcement of the right, both the right and the remedy having been created uno-flatu and a finality is intended to the result of the statutory proceedings, then, even in the absence of an exclusionary provision the civil courts' jurisdiction is impliedly barred. If, however, a right pre-existing in common law is recognised by the statute and a new statutory remedy for its enforcement provided, without expressly excluding the Civil Courts' jurisdiction, then both the common law and the statutory remedy might become concurrent remedies leaving open an element. Of election to the persons of inherence. [36ID-F] 355 Secretary of State v. Mask & Co., AIR 1940 P.C. 105;

K.S. Venkataraman & CO. v. State of Madras, 1966 2 SCR 229;

Dhulabhai & Ors. v. the State of Madhya Pradesh & Anr., [1968] 3 SCR 662 and The Premier Automobiles Ltd. v. Kamlakar Shantaram Wadke & Ors. AIR 1975 SC 2238, referred to.

The instant case, is an old litigation which has vexed the parties for over two decades. It appears somewhat unjust to expose the parties to a fresh round of litigation.

Counsel left the matter to this Court. In the particular and special circumstances of this case, and with a view to doing full and complete justice between the parties, a sum of Rs.12,282.11 representing the interest on the refund of the Excess Profit Taxes should be ordered to be paid to the appellants. [362B; E]

4. The judgment and decree in so far as they pertain to the dismissal of the suit concerning the claim of Rs.17,358.87 is left undisturbed. That part of the judgment and decree pertaining to the claim of Rs.12,282.11 is decreed directing the respondent-defendant to pay to the appellant-plaintiff the said sum together with pendente-lite interest and further interest at 6% per annum from the date of institution of the suit till realisation. [362F-G]

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTlON: Civil Appeal No. 4034 of 1983.

From the Judgment and Decree dated 14.2.1980 of the Delhi High Court in First Appeal (O.S.) No. 17 of 1972.

F.S. Nariman and Ranjit Kumar for the Appellant.

S.C. Manchanda, K.C. Dua, S. Rajjappa and Ms. A. Subhashini for the Respondent.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by VENKATACHALIAH, J. This appeal, by special leave, by the legal representatives of Raja Ram Kumar Bhargava, the unsuccessful plaintiff, is directed against the Judgment and decree, dated, 14.2.1980 of the High Court of Delhi in First Appeal (o.S.) No. 17 of 1972 on its file. affirming the judgment and decree of dismissal dated, 28.7.1972 in Suit no. 372 of 1969 entered by the learned Single Judge of the High Court.

356 Plaintiff sued for recovery of interest on certain refunds of Income-tax and Excess Profit Tax claimed to be statutorily due and payable to him under Section 66(7) of the Income tax Act 1922 (here in after referred to as the ' 1922 Act') on the refunds of the taxes. The suit claim comprised of a sum of Rs.1,17,358.87 sought by way of interest on the refund of income-tax; and Rs.12,282.11 claimed as representing interest on the refund of Excess Profit Tax. The assessments were made under the Income Tax Act (1922 Act) and the Excess Profit Tax Act 1940 respectively.

2. The necessary and material facts may briefly be stated:

Raja Ram Kumar Bhargava was assessed in the capacity of Kartha of a Hindu Undivided Family for Income and Excess Profit Taxes for the assessment year 1947-48. It would appear, pursuant to the order of assessment dated, 23.9.1951 made by the Income Tax officer, as modified by the appellate orders dated 15.5.1952 and 27.3.1957 of the Appellate Assistant Commissioner and the Income-Tax Appellate Tribunal, respectively, a sum of Rs.2,57,383.87 was recovered from him on 27.3.1957 under threat of coercive process.

It was plaintiff-assessee's case that he met this obligation by raising funds from the Central Bank of India Ltd. On the mortgage of his properties incurring heavy liability towards interest on the mortgage loans.

3. However, the quantum of both the taxes came to be substantially reduced pursuant to the consequential orders, dated, 16.9.1966 made under Section 66(5) of the 1922 Act and under Section 66(5) read with Section 2 1 of Excess Profit Tax Act 1940 respectively giving effect to the orders of the High Court in certain references under P Section 66(1) of the Act. A sum of Rs.2,01,146.62 and a sum of Rs.19,126.16 became refundable by way of income-tax and Excess Profit Tax, respectively, on such recomputation of the income. The said sum of Rs.2,01,146.62 was refunded on 17.12.1966; and the sum of Rs.19,126.16 towards Excess Profit Tax refunded on 9.12.1967. The question that yet remained was whether plaintiff-assessee was entitled to the payment of interest on the said refunds under Section 66(7) of the 1922 Act.

4. In the meanwhile, on 1.4.1962, the Income-Tax Act (1961 Act) had come into force. Under Section 297(1) of the '1961 Act' repealed the ' 1922 Act'. Under the 1922 Act and the Excess Profit Tax Act 1940, appellant was entitled to claim interest on the refund of 357 taxes under circumstances contemplated by Section 66(7) of the ' 1922 Act'. But Section 297(2)(i) provided that: A "(i) where, in respect of any assessment completed before the commencement of this Act, a refund falls due after such commencement or default is made after such commencement in the payment of any sum due under such completed assessment, the provisions of this Act relating to interest payable by the Central Government on refunds and interest payable by the assessee for default shall apply. " Accordingly, the claim of the plaintiff-assessee for payment of interest on the refunds came to be considered by the authorities under the provisions of 1961 Act and no claim for interest was held to survive.

5. Plaintiff-assessee thereafter, instituted the present suit against the Union of India for recovery of the interest under Section 66(7) of the 1922 Act alleging that the assessment in the present case must be held to have been "completed" before the commencement of the 196 1 Act- according to the assessee the assessment was completed the moment the income-tax officer made the order dated, 28.3.1951-and that, therefore, the claim for interest squarely fell within Section 66(7) of the 1922 Act read with, and saved by, Section 297(2)(a) of the 1961 Act.

The defendant resisted the suit contending first, that the suit was not maintainable; secondly, that it was statute-barred and that, thirdly, at all events, the view taken by the authorities that the matter was governed by the Section 297(2)(i) of the 1961 Act was correct.

6. The High Court framed the necessary and relevant issues stemming from the pleadings. Having regard to the questions agitated in this appeal, the following two issues- issues nos. 4 & 6-require to he noticed:

4. Whether this Court has jurisdiction to try this suit?

6. Whether the claim of the plaintiffs in the suit is governed by the provisions of Income-Tax Act, 1922? The Learned Single Judge of the High Court who tried the suit recorded findings against plaintiff-assessee on issue 4 and in his favour on issue no: 6. On issue no, 6, the learned Judge held: H 358 " .. In my judgment, the present case is governed by the provisions of the old Act . . ." "........ In the present case, the reference was pending when the present Act came into force. The rights of the parties will, therefore, be governed by the provisions of the old Act and it cannot be said that the assessment had been completed. As observed by the Supreme Court in Kalawah Devi Harlalka v. Commissioner of Income Tax, West Ben gal and others, (66 ITR 680), the word "assessment" can bear a very comprehensive meaning; it can comprehend the whole procedure for ascertaining and imposing liability upon the tax-payer . . ." ".... On a reading of the provisions of Section 297 with the Removal of Difficulties order, it seems to me that the intention of the Legislature was that in a case of assessment such as the present one the provisions of the old Act should apply ".... 1, therefore, hold that the claim of the plaintiffs is governed by the provisions of the Income Tax Act 1922 on issue no. 4, however, learned Judge held:

" .... The remedy of a civil suit, it seems to me, is misconceived, for the Civil Court has no jurisdiction to substitute its discretion to grant interest in place of the discretion vested in the Commissioner. Section 66(7) of the Act provides that the amount over-paid shall be refunded to the assessee "with such interest as the Commissioner may allow." Now. rate of interest may be anything between one percent and six percent. In view of this statutory provision, the discretion is vested in the public functionary created by the Statute and the Civil Court in this suit has no power to over-ride him, and grant interest .. " Accordingly, the suit came to be dismissed. In the appeal before the Division Bench of the High-Court, the finding of the learned Single Judge on issue no. 6 was reversed. It was held that the Provisions of the 1922 Act did not govern the claim. As this appellate finding was sufficient to support and sustain the decree of dismissal, 359 the appellate-Bench did not record any finding of its own on issue. 4. The Legal representatives of the deceased- plaintiff have come-up with this appeal.

7. Shri Nariman, learned Senior Counsel, appearing in support of the appeal, urged that the correct view which should commend itself for acceptance is that for purposes of 297(2)(i) the assessment must be held to be "completed" not when the ITO made the initial order of assessment, but only when the assessment assumes finality in appeal. Implicit in the idea of a completed assessment, says learned Counsel, is the element of its finality and the requirements and concomitants of the idea of a "completed assessment" would, accordingly be satisfied only when all proceedings including those in appeal come to an end and the assessment thus assumes finality under the Act. Shri Nariman relied upon some authorities including the one in ClT Bombay, Presidency & Aden v. Khemchand Ramdas, (6 ITR 414) to explain what the concept of a completed assessment or a final assessment connotes in law. Learned Counsel referred to the scheme of the 1961 Act in this behalf and to the provisions of the Removal of Difficulties order 1962 to suggest that the expression "assessment completed before the commencement of this Act" in the Section 297(2)(i) should not be so construed as to render the provisions in the 1922 Act relating to the payment of interest on refunds nugatory and deprive an assessee of a right vesting in him under the ' 1922 Act'. Learned Counsel urged that if the expression "assessment completed" in section 297(2)(;) is construed in a manner so as to advance justice, then, it should not be limited to cases where only the original assessment by ITO had come to be made. A proper construction would require that a case of the present kind was kept outside the mischief of 297(2)(i) and brought within the benignity of Section 297(2)(a)-a construction which would promote and preserve the vested rights under Section 66(7) of the ' 1922 Act'. It was urged that no provision under the 1961 Act envisaged payment of interest in a case of the present kind and any construction which brings the case under 297(2)(i) and not 297(2)(a) would not promote justice. Shri Nariman in fairness brought to our notice the pronouncement of this court in o. RM. M. SP. SV. P. Panchanathanm Chettiar v. Commissioner of lncome-Tax, Madras, (99 ITR 579) but he urged, however, that we should prefer a broader view of the matter consistent with justice and fairness.

8. Shri Manchanda, learned Senior Counsel for the respondent, maintained that the point raised in the appeal is no longer res-integra, 360 having been the subject of an earlier, definitive pronouncement of this court on the very question and that, therefore, the contention urged for the appellant is untenable. We think Shri Manchanda is right in this submission.

In Panchanatham Chettiar's case, a similar question having arisen, this court held that an assessment would be a 'completed assessment' within Section 279(2)(i) if the ITO had passed the order of assessment prior to the coming into force of the 1961 Act. In view of this pronouncement, it is not possible to accept the contention that the matter fell within Section 297(2)(a) and not Section 297(2)(i) of the 196 l Act. It is not disputed that, in the present case, if the matter fell under 297(2)(i) the claim for interest on the refund of income-tax becomes wholly insupportable. The view taken by the Division Bench of the High Court on the point must, therefore, be held to be correct and does not call for interference in appeal.

Accordingly, the first part of the claim in so far as it pertains to Rs.1,17,358.87 must be held to have been rightly rejected by the High Court.

9. But the claim of Rs.12,282.11 said to represent interest on the refund of Excess Profit Tax does not admit of such an easy exit. Shri Nariman urged that this claim rested on an altogether different and surer legal footing.

Learned Counsel said that Section 21 of the Excess Profit Tax 1940 incorporated and assimilated into itself as a part of its own legislative-scheme, inter-alia, Section 66 of the 1922 Act and the provisions so built into Section 21 by the legislative expedient of incorporation-and not merely of reference-continue to be operative notwithstanding the repeal of the 1922 Act and that, therefore, the claim for interest based on Section 21 of the Excess Profit Act 1940 pre-eminently survives. Learned Counsel submitted that the claim for interest has been negatived by the High Court without examining the scheme of Excess Profit Act 1940 and merely as a corollary of the untenability of the claim of interest on the refund of the income-tax.

The distinctive nature of this part of the suit claim pertaining to the interest on Excess Profit Tax has not been specifically dealt with by the High Court. Section 66(7) of the 1922 Act which, by virtue of Section 21 of the Excess Profit Tax Act 1940, is attracted to cases of refunds of Excess Profit Taxes stipulates that notwithstanding that a reference has been made to the High Court, tax shall be payable in accordance with the assessment made in the case provided that if the 361 amount of assessment is reduced as a result of such reference, the amount over-paid shall be refunded "with such interest as the commissioner may allow". Several High-Courts have taken the view that the provision mandates the grant of interest, the discretion of the Commissioner being in the area of the rate of such interest (See Liquidators of Pursa Ltd. v. Commissioner of Income-Tax, Bihar & Ors., 32 ITR 603; Khushalchand Daga v. N. M. Joshi, 3rd Income-tax officer A-I Ward, Bombay & Ors, 130 ITR 180).

But then, even if the right to claim interest on the refunds of Excess Profit Tax could be said to have been preserved, the question yet remains whether a suit for its recovery is at all maintainable. The question turns on the scope of the exclusionary clause in the statute. The effect of clauses excluding the civil courts' jurisdiction are considered in several pronouncements of the judicial committee and of this Court (See Secretary of State v. Mask & Co., AIR 1940 P.C. 105; K.S. Venkataraman & Co. v. State of Madras, [1966] 2 SCR 299: Dhulabhai & Ors. v. The State of Madhya Pradesh & Anr, [1968] 3 . SCR 662. The Premier Automobilies Ltd. v. Kamlakar Shantaram Wadke & Ors., AIR 1975 SC 2238). Generally speaking. the broad guiding considerations are that wherever a right, not pre-existing in common law, is created by a statute and that statute itself provided a machinery for the enforcement of the right, both the right and the remedy having been created uno-flatu and a finality is intended to the result of the statutory proceedings, then, even in the absence of an exclusionary provision the civil courts' jurisdiction is impliedly barred. If, however, a right pre-existing in common-law is recognised by the statute and a new statutory remedy for its enforcement provided, without expressly excluding the civil courts' jurisdiction, then both the common-law and the statutory remedies might become concurrent remedies leaving open on element of election to the persons of inherence. To what extent, and on what areas and under what circumstances and conditions, the civil courts' jurisdiction is preserved even where there is an express clause excluding their jurisdiction, are considered in Dhulabhai's case.

10. It was suggested for the revenue that a civil-suit is clearly barred and that the remedy of an assessee who has been denied interest by the Commissioner under Section 66(7) of the 1922 Act would be a recourse to proceedings under Article 226 of the Constitution, where if the assessee succeeds the remedy is limited to the issue of a direction to the repository of the statutory power to consider and dispose of the matter afresh in accordance with law and that, even then, the court, 362 could not itself, grant the relief in terms of its own quantification of the interest. These contentions. Of course, are eminently arguable. The Division-Bench of the High Court did not keep the qualitative distinction between the two refunds distinguished; but treated the second claim stemming from the Excess Profit Taxes not with reference to the particularities characterising it but purely on its assumed similarity with that of the first.

11. This is an old litigation which has vexed the parties for over two decades. It appears to us somewhat unjust to expose the parties to a fresh round of litigation.

Even if the contention of the respondent as to the non- maintainability of a civil-suit is upheld, appellants could yet have recourse to proceedings under Article 226 if they can satisfy the High Court as to the delay in approaching it and seek an appropriate Mandamus to the Commissioner who would then have to reconsider the claim for interest under this head. Interest claimed is at 6% per annum In the particular and special circumstances of this case, we thought-and put it to the learned counsel-whether the interests of justice would not be served by granting relief in these proceedings itself without going into the technicalities of procedure and without a pronouncement on the question of the maintainability of the suit. Learned counsel, in all fairness, left the matter to the court. We think that with a view to doing full and complete justice between the parties, a sum of Rs. 12,282.11 representing interest on the refund of the Excess Profit Taxes should be ordered to be paid to the appellants. This direction we give without pronouncing on issue no. 4.

12. In the result, while the judgment and decree under appeal, in so far as they pertain to the dismissal of the suit concerning the claim of Rs, 1,17,358.87 is left undisturbed, this appeal is, however, allowed in part to the extent it pertains to the claim of Rs. 12,282.11 claimed by way of interest on the refund of excess profit tax; and in reversal of that part of the judgment and decree of the High Court pertaining to this claim of Rs.12,282. 11, the suit is decreed directing the respondent-defendant to pay to the appellant-plaintiffs the aforesaid sum of Rs. 12,282.11 together with pendente-lite and further interest at 6% p.a.

from the date of institution of the suit till realisation.

The appellants shall be entitled to costs in proportion to their success in the suit. Respondent, however is left to bear and pay its own costs throughout. The appeal is disposed of accordingly.

N.V.K. Appeal allowed partly.

 Back