M/S.
Escorts Farms (Ramgarh) Limited Vs. The Commissioner of Income Tax, New Delhi [1996] INSC 1216 (26 September 1996)
Paripoornan,
K.S.(J) Paripoornan, K.S.(J) Jeevan Reddy, B.P. (J) Paripoornan, J.
ACT:
HEAD NOTE:
1. The
appellant, a private limited company, is an Assessee to income tax. It derives
income from investment, agriculture and brick kiln business. It is an investor
in shares. In the assessment years 1967-68 and 1968-69, the relevant previous
years ending on 30th
June 1966 and 30th June 1967, the assessee sold shares of
Escorts Limited and declared the capital gains that accrued therefrom. the
Income Tax Officer did not accept the cost of acquisition of the shares, as
returned by the assessee and worked out the capital gains in a different manner.
The computation made by the Income Tax Officer regarding the original shares
was confirmed by the Appellate Assistant Commissioner and the Appellate
Tribunal. In so doing, the Appellate on the decision of this Court in
Commissioner of Income-tax, Bihar v. Dalmia
Investment Co. Ltd. [(1964) 52 ITR 567]. At the instance of the appellant-assessee,
the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal referred the following two questions of law
for both the Assessment Years under Section 256(1) of the Income-tax Act for
the decision of the High Court of Delhi.
"1.
Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case the Tribunal was
justified in determining the cost of acquisition of the original shares, by
spreading the original cost over the original and the bonus shares and then
averaging the same and on that basis working out the capital gain at Rs.32,100/-
and Rs.12,450/- and 1968-69 respectively?
2. If
the answer to question No.1 is in the negative, whether the assessee was
justified in taking the value of the shares at their original cost under
section 45 of the Income-tax Act, 1961?"
2. The
question that arose for decision was, how the cost of the acquisition of the
original shares should be determined for the purposes of capital gains tax.
After referring to the relevant decisions, the High Court held that the
valuation made by the revenue regarding the cost of the original shares is
proper and valid in the facts and circumstances of the case. Question No.1 was
answered in the affirmative and in favour of the revenue. The High Court
declined to answer question No. 2. It is the aforesaid decision of the High
Court dated 23.4.1982, which the assessee has assailed in these appeals. The
decision of the High Court is reported in (1983) 143 ITR 749.
3. We
heard counsel. At our request, Dr. Gaurishanker, Senior Advocate also addressed
us and brought to our notice certain decisions and passages from various
text-books. The short question that arises for consideration is, how the cost
of acquisition of the original shares is to be determined when bonus shares are
issued subsequently? It is common ground that the appellant admittedly
purchased the original shares after 1954. Such shares were sold subsequently.
Since the acquisition was after 1954, the option of taking the fair market
value as on 1.1.1954 does not arise. According to the appellant, for
determining the capital gains that accrued when the original shares were sold,
the cost of acquisition should be taken at actual cost". The subsequent
issue of bonus shares is of no consequence and will not have the effect of
altering the original cost of acquisition of the shares. The High Court
declined to accept this plea. It was held that once the bonus shares are
issued, it has impact on the original shares; lt has the effect of altering the
cost of original shares. lt was so held by placing reliance on the decisions of
this Court reported in C.I.T. v. Dalmia Investment Co.Ltd. (52 ITR 567), C.I.T.
v. Gold Mohare, Investment Co.Ltd. (74 ITR 62), C.I.T. v. Gold Company Ltd. (78
ITR 16) and distinguishing the cases of this Court reported in Emerald &
Co. Ltd. v. C.I.T. (36 ITR 257) and Shekhawati General Traders Ltd. v. I.T.O.
(82 I.T.R. 788).
4.
Before us, counsel for the appellant-assessee, vehemently argued that the High
Court was in error in holding that the subsequent issue of bonus shares has the
effect of altering the cost of acquisition of the original shares. Stress was
laid on the fact that in the instant case, the shares sold were original shares
and by an "investor", whereas in the decisions of this Court dealt
with by the High Court, the shares sold were "bonus shares", and the assessees
in those cases were "dealers in shares".
It was
further argued that the question in those cases, is not the computation of
capital gains, as a result of the sale of the shares (whether original or bonus
shares) but the computation of "the profits and gains" in the
business.
The
said vital difference was omitted to be noticed by the High Court. On the other
hand, counsel for the revenue submitted that the High Court was justified in
its reasoning and conclusion in holding that the subsequent issue of bonus
shares has the effect of altering the original cost of acquisition of the
shares, irrespective of the fact whether the assessee is an investor or dealer
in shares and shares sold are original shares or bonus shares.
5. In
order to resolve the controversy in this case, it will be useful to bear in
mind the relevant statutory provisions, as they stood at the relevant time:-
Section 2(14) of the Income-tax Act.
"2
(14) "capital asset" means property of any kind held by an assessee,
whether or not connected with his business or profession, but does not
include-- (i) any stock-in-trade, consumable stores or raw materials held for
the purpose of his business or profession;" Section 45(1) of the
Income-tax Act "45. Capital gains.-- Any profits or gains arising from the
transfer of a capital asset effected in the previous year shall, save as
otherwise provided in sections 53 and 54, be chargeable to income-tax under the
head 'Capital gains', and shall be deemed to be the income of the previous year
in which the transfer took place." (In this case, Section 45(2) to 45(4)
added by Section 12 of the Finance Act, 1964 and omitted by Financt Act, 1966
are not relevant) Section 48 of the Income-tax Act.
"48.
Mode of computation and deductions. - The income chargeable under the head
Capital gains shall be computed by deducting from the full value of the
consideration received or accruing as a result of the transfer of the capital
asset the following amounts, namely:-
(i) expenditure
incurred wholly and exclusively in connection with such transfer;
(ii) the
cost of acquisition of the capital asset and the cost of any improvement
thereto." Section 55(2) "55. Meaning of "adjusted",
"cost of improvement" and "cost of acquisition".
(1)
XXX XXXX XXXX (2) For the purposes of sections 48 and 49, 'cost of
acquisition', in relation to a capital asset,- (i) where the capital asset
became the property of the assessee before the 1st day of January, 1954, means
the cost of acquisition of the asset to the assessee or the fair market value
of the asset on the 1st day of January, 1954, at the option of the assessee;
xxx xxxx
xxxxx"
6. It
will also be useful to note what is meant by "bonus shares" , the
circumstances under which they are issued and its impact on the original
shares. Robert R. Pennington in his book Company Law 5th edition (1985) at
pages 467, 468 and 469 deals with the matter thus:- "It is common,
however, for articles to contain a power for the company by ordinary resolution
in general meeting on the recommendation of its directors
(a) to
set free for distribution any part of its distributable profits or reserves and
to apply them in paying up in whole or part the issue price of partly paid
shares held by members, or in paying in full the nominal value of new shares or
debentures to be issued to members in the same manner and proportions as a cash
dividend of the same amount would have been distributed; and
(b) to
capitalise any part of the amounts standing to the credit of the company profit
and loss accounts or to reserve accounts which are not available for
distribution (i.e. capital reserves and unrealised profits) and to apply the
amount so capitalised in paying in full the nominal value of new shares to be
issued to members in the same manner and proportions as a cash dividend of the
same amount would have been distributed. Under such provision, in the articles
it is possible for a company to capitalise the net amount of its realised and unrealised
profits or the amount of reserves representing them in order to issue bonus
shares. but only the company accumulated balance of realised profits may be
used to issue bonus debentures or to pay up any unpaid part of the issue price
of shares which have already been issued. New Shares or debentures issued in
this way on a capitalisation of profits or reserves are known as bonus shares
or debentures, but the name is misleading in that it implies that they are a
gift from the company. If they were a gift, they would not be paid up at all,
and in the case of bonus shares, the company could call on their holders to pay
for them in cash. In fact they are not a gift, for their nominal value is paid
in full or in part by the capitalised profits or reserves which could otherwise
have been distributed to the shareholders as a cash dividend, or in the case of
unrealised profits, retained as a reserve. On the other hand, since no cash
dividend is declared, bonus shares are not paid for in cash by the shareholder
himself, because there is at no point of time any debt owing to him by the
company which he can set off against his liability to Pay for the shares.
Consequently, an issue of bonus shares must be treated as an issue for a
consideration other than cash, and an appropriate return and written contract
for the Registrar of Companies.
xxx xxx
xxx (a) They enable the company to retain money required for its business which
it would otherwise have to raise by issuing new shares or debentures on the
market or by borrowing;
(b)
The market value of the company's shares is reduced to a figure nearer their
nominal value, and this makes them more saleable.
But a
bonus issue increases the total market value of a shareholder's holding only
marginally; he merely has more shares of a correspondingly lower value
each." (Emphasis supplied.) Dr. A.N. Agarwala in his book "The Higher
Science of Accountancy" (1972 edition) at page 632 deals with bonus shares
thus:-
"8.
BONUS SHARES
Bonus
Shares out of Profits : Capitalisation of Profits Bonus shares are shares
issued to existing shareholders out of profits. This is a case of capitalisation
of profit, that is to say, instead of being distributed as dividends, profits
are turned into shares. Bonus shares are distributed among shareholders in
proportion to their share holdings. What the company, in effect, does in such a
case is that it:-
(i)
Declares a bonus (extra dividend) out of undistributed profits;
(ii)
Issues a corresponding number of new (bonus) shares;
(iii)
Applies the bonus in payment of the amount due on these shares: and
(iv)
Distributes bonus shares among existing shareholders.
Shareholders,
in other words, get their dividends in the shape of shares. The advantage of
this procedure is that shareholders get back undistributed profits which was
hitherto withheld from them. So far as the company is concerned, it pays the
shareholders not in cash but in the form of bonus shares to that its financial
position is in no way impaired. It will mean that the future rate of dividend
will come down since the same amount of profit will now have to be distributed
over a larger number of shares.
(Emphasis
supplied.) In the book "British Master Tax Guide" (1988-89) under the
head "Bonus and rights issues" at page 598, bonus issues are dealt
with as hereunder:
"Bonus
issues Bonus issues are free distributions of shares (e.g. two new shares for
each share already held).
Example: In 1970, A purchased 300 ordinary
shares in S Ltd. at Pound 3 per share, total cost Pound 900 (ignoring expenses
for the purposes of the example).
In
1980, A received a bonus issue of 300 shares.
He
then held 600 shares at pound 1.50 per share.
They
are all as purchased in 1970." (Emphasis supplied.) William Pickles in his
book "Accountancy" dealing with bonus shares at pages 23245-23246,
states thus:- "Advantages and Disadvantages. The advantages and
disadvantages of an issue of bonus shares are briefly summarized (a) as regards
the company, and (b) as regards the shareholders.
xxxx xxxx
xxxx (b) The Shareholder's Viewpoint.
(i)
Surtax and Capital Gains Tax may be payable on a bonus shares distribution.
(ii)
Unless the company makes increased profits, the fall in rate of dividend or
depletion of reserves will cause the market price per share to fall--though the
total value of the large holding may be greater.
(iii)
Speculative dealings in the shares may be caused.
4. A
bonus issue of debentures or redeemable preference shares ranks as a
distribution, and so also will payments of interest or dividends.
An
issue of irredeemable bonus shares, however, unless related to a previous
repayment, does not rank as a distribution. It should be appreciated that
distributions are chargeable to Income Tax Schedule F, and in the hands of the
recipients (the shareholders), distributions are liable to surtax.
This
includes capital dividenas.
5. If
the bonus is applied in reducing or extinguishing the uncalled Capital (e.g.
marking shares of pound 1 each, pound 0.75 paid into fully-paid pound 1 shares)
there is a distinct tangible benefit to the shareholder and therefore the
amount is taxable.
A
bonus share dividend is merely a book entry effected by a transfer from General
Reserve or Profit and Loss Appropriation Account to Share Capital- each
shareholder receiving a share certificate proportionate to his holding- instead
of cash.
Thus,
if the share capital is pounds 8,000 in fully-paid ordinary shares of pound 1
each and pounds 3,000 is transferred thereto, each shareholder will have the
right to an allotment of three new shares for every eight old shares that he
holds. He is usually given the option of taking up the shares or selling his
right of allotment to another person, that is, `renouncing'.
As
share holders are entitled to CASH dividends. the sanction of the Articles or
special resolution is required for any dividend otherwise than in cash, whether
it is:
(a) an
actual distribution of other assets; or (b) a 'notional' distribution by way of
a bonus share dividend. Income Tax is normally charged or, a bonus share
dividend.
Although
the issue of bonus shares to ordinary shareholders is generally regarded as a
'book entry', it may confer a substatial advantage to such holders where there
are preference shares which carry a right in a winding-up to share pari passu
in a surplus, as the bonus issue, by absorbing such part of the reserves of the
company as is necessary for such purpose, diminishes the 'surplus'. In other
words, such `surplus' has been utilized solely to increase the claims of the
ordinary shareholders by the additions of the relevant amount of reserves......
" (Emphasis supplied) M.C. Shukla and T.S. Grewal in their book
"Advanced Accounts" (1989) at page 823, have dealt with the impact of
the bonus shares on the original shares, thus:- It should be remembered that
when bonus shares are distributed, the shareholders may not gain at all.
This
is because of the fact that the market value of the shares depends upon the
dividend received.
If the
company issues bonus shares, the profits (which do not increase) will have to
be distributed over a larger number of shares, thus reducing the dividend per
share.
This
will result in a fall in the value of the shares in the market.
Thus
the shareholder will have a larger number of shares but the total value of his
holding will not increase because each share now of a smaller value. Hence the
shareholder makes no entry in his books on receipt of bonus shares.
However,
the shareholder will benefit in the form of capital appreciation if there is a
net increase in the amount of dividend received by him." (Emphasis
supplied.)
7. On
a reference to the above standard text books, it is evident that when bonus
shares are issued by a company, it has its impact on the original shares. The
market value of the company's shares may get reduced to a figure nearer their
nominal value. The value of the original shares acquired get automatically
reduced, notwithstanding the fact that the total holding of the shareholder may
be larger. In this context, it will be useful to refer to the law laid down by
this Court in C.I.T. v. Dalmia Investment Co. Ltd. (52 ITR 567). The headnote
as extracted herein below, accurately states the law laid down in the said
decision.
"Where
bonus shares are issued in respect of ordinary shares held in a company by an assessee
who is a dealer in shares, their real cost to the assessee cannot be taken to
be nil or their face value. They have to be valued by spreading the cost of the
old shares over the old shares and the new issue (viz., the bonus shares) taken
together if they rank pari passu, and if they do not, the price may have to be
adjusted either in proportion of the face value they bear (if there is no other
circumstance to differentiate them) or on equitable considerations based on the
market price before and after issue." The above principle was affirmed by
the Constitution, Bench of this Court in C.I.T. vs. Gold Company Ltd. (78 ITR
16) wherein it was held thus:- "Where bonus shares are issued in respect
of ordinary shares held by a dealer in shares who values his stock at cost, and
the bonus shares rank pari passu with the ordinary shares. the correct method
of valuing the shares is to spread the cost of the original shares over the
original shares and the bonus shares collectively and ascertain the average
price of all the shares."
8. The
sheetanchor of the appellants case before the High Court and still before us
was, that the cost of acquisition of the original share, is its actual cost.
The fact that the bonus shares were issued subsequently cannot be taken into
account and it is not open to the revenue to alter the cost of acquisition of
the original shares. It was further contended that the assessee is only an
investor and in such a case what is to be determined is the capital gains and
not the computation of business income, as in the case of a dealer in shares.
Much stress was laid on the decision of this Court in Shekhawati General
Traders Ltd. v. Income Tax Officer. Company Circle 1, Jaipur, (1971) 82 ITR
788. The Counsel for the appellants argued that the facts of the instant case
are identical to the facts in the aforesaid decision of the Supreme Court. where
the original shares were sold by an investor, in a case where bonus shares were
issued subsequently and the matter came up for consideration. The Court held
that the capital gains or loss should be calculated in accordance with the
statutory provisions of Sections 48 and 55(2) of the Income-tax Act and the
subsequent issue of bonus shares was completely irrelevant and extraneous which
should not be taken into consideration.
9. It
is necessary to understand the scope and impact of the decision in Shekhawati
General Traders Ltd. v. Income- Tax Officer, Company Circle 1, Jaipur, (1971 )
82 ITR 788.
In the
said case, the main issue posed was with regard to the validity of the
proceedings initiated under Section 147 of the Income-tax Act. The assessee
therein acquired 12,000 ordinary shares of Orient Paper Mills on 29.3.1949. It
received 12000 bonus shares on 28.4.1951. Subsequently. on June 4, 1954 and June 26, 1961 it received bonus shares. The assessee sold 22000 shares,
which were out of the 24000 shares which it acquired prior to 1.1.1954. It
calculated the cost price of 22000 shares sold by it (out of 24000 shares
aforesaid) at the market value prevailing on 1.1.1954. Similarly, the assessee
acquired shares in Birla Jute Manufacturing Company before 1.1.1954 and also
got bonus shares therein after 1.1.1954. In other words, the original cost of
the acquisition of the said shares were taken into account for the purpose of
computing the capital gains or loss. It was common ground that the shares which
were sold, were acquired or received by the assessee prior to 1.1.1954. It is
also common ground that the assessee calculated the cost price of the shares
sold at the market value prevalent on 1.1.1954 in accordance with the then
relevant statutory provisions. The Income Tax Officer by order dated 20.7.1964
accepted the statement made by the assessee and held that the assessee had
suffered a capital loss. Subsequently by notice dated 4.1.1967, the Income Tax
Officer informed the assessee that he had reasons to believe that income
chargeable to tax for the assessment year 1962- 63 had escaped ascaped
assessment within the meaning of Section 147 of the Income-tax Act, and
initiated proceedings thereunder. The Income Tax Officer stated that while
working out the cost of the shares, the assessee had claimed the prevalent
market price as on 1.1.1954 disregarding the fact that the assessee had been
given bonus shares in the subsequent years after 1.1.1954. The assessee
objected to the above proceedings and contended that it has exercised the
option under section 55(2) of the Act, and the cost of acquisition was taken at
the fair market value as on the relevant date and the capital loss was Computed
accordingly, and there is no error in the matter. Subsequently the assessee
moved the High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India challenging
the validity and legality of the notice issued under Section 147 of the Act.
The High Court dismissed the writ petition. When the matter came up before this
Court it adverted to Sections 45 48 53. 54 and 55(2) of the Income-tax Act and
distinguishing the earlier Constitution Bench decision of this Court in
Commissioner of Income-Tax v. Dalmia Investment Co. Ltd. (1964) 52 ITR 567 held
thus:
"...that
decision was not at all apposite for the purpose of deciding the point which
has arisen in the present case. No question arose there of the calculation of the
capital gain or loss in accordance with the statutory provisions in pari materia
with sections 48 and 55(2) of the Act.
In the
present case we are confined to the express provisions of section 55(2)
relating to the manner in which the cost of acquisition of a capital asset has
to be determined for the purpose of section 48. Where the capital asset became
the property of the assessee before the first day of January 1954 the assessee
has two options.
It can
decide whether it wishes to take the cost of the acquisition of the asset to it
as the cost of acquisition for the purpose of section 48 or the fair market
value of the asset on the first day of January, 1954. The word "fair"
appears to have been used to indicate that any artificially inflated value is not
to be taken into account. In the present case it is common ground that when the
original assessment order was made the fair market value of the shares in
question had been duly determined and accepted as correct by the Income-Tax
Officer. Under principle or authority can anything more be read into the
provisions of section 55(2)(1) in the manner suggested by the revenue based on
the view expressed to the Dalmia Investment Co's case. The High Court
completely overlooked the fact that for the ascertainment of the fair market
value of the shares in question on January 1, 1954, any event prior or
subsequent to the said date was wholly extraneous and irrelevant and could not
be taken into consideration. If the contention of the revenue were to be
accepted the acquisition of bonus shares subsequent to January 1. 1954, will
have to be taken into account which on the language of the statue it is not
possible to do....... " (Emphasis supplied)
10. A
close analysis of the facts of the above case, and the ultimate conclusion
reached by this Court, will go to show that the learned Judges laid stress on
the fact that the assessee had opted to take the cost of acquisition as
provided by the relevant Statute, i.e.,statutory cost of acquisition and thus
substituting the market value as on 1.1.1954 in the place of actual cost of
acquisition, and only in such a case, the subsequent issue of bonus shares
cannot affect the issue. It is implicit from the above decision that the
principle of averaging by spreading the cost over the old shares and the new
bonus shares as enunciated by this Court, in Dalmia Investment Co.'s case
(supra) and other cases, will apply as a general rule in cases where the assessee
claims to deduct the actual cost of acquisition, instead of the statutory cost
of acquisition.
It
also stands to reason since the fair market value as per the "statutory
cost of acquisition" will be a notional or fictional figure -- mostly
inflated -- having no connection with the original or actual cost. We should
bear in mind that it is after discussing the effect or impact of the issue of
the bonus shares, on the value of the original shares generally and also the
various possible methods for determining the cost of the bonus shares, this
Court in Dalmia Investment Co.'s case (52 ITR 567) stated that the real cost to
the assessee of the bonus shares cannot be taken to be nil or their face value
and they have to be valued by spreading the cost of the old shares over the old
shares and the new issue (bonus shares), taken together etc.
The
principle so laid down is one of the general application. We should also state
that the character of the owner of the shares as an "investor" or as
a "dealer" is of no consequence.
There
is no `dichotomy', as to whether the shares are held by an 'investor' or
`dealer' in shares. In both the cases, it is surplus receipt that is brought to
tax, either as "capital gains" or "profit or loss", as the
case may be, and in accordance with relevant statutory provisions. The
decisions reported in Madura Mills Co. Ltd. vs. CIT (86 ITR 467 - Madras), D.M.
Dahanukar vs. CIT (88 ITR 454 - Bombay), W.H. Brady & Company Ltd vs. CIT,
Bombay (119 ITR 359 - Bombay), Alembic Chemical Works Ltd. vs. CIT (194 ITR
457- Gujarat) are in accord with the above view and they represent the correct
law. The decisions (in Sutlei Cotton Mills Ltd. vs. CIT (119 ITR 666), CIT vs.
Steel Group Ltd. (131 ITR 234), Smt. Protima Roy vs. CIT (138 ITR 536), etc. etc.)
cited before us, misapplied the rule enunciated in Shekhawati General Traders
Ltd. vs. ITO (supra) and failed to bear in mind the proper principles to be
applied in the matter and do not lay down the correct law.
11. In
this case, the High Court has found that the original shares sold were
admittedly purchased after 1954 and, therefore, the option of taking the fair
market value as on 1.1.1954 (the statutory cost) was not available to the assessee.
It appears to us that the principles laid down in Shekhawati General Traders
Ltd. v. Income-Tax Officer, company Circle 1, Jaipur, (1971) 82 ITR 788, cannot
be applied to a case where the assessee did not and could not exercise the
option of the statutory cost of acquisition in the place of the actual cost of
acquisition. The said decision is distinguishable. In view of the larger Bench
decisions of this Court, it is fairly clear that where bonus shares are issued
and some of the original shares are said subsequently, their actual cost has to
be reckoned only on the basis of "average value" (as held in Dalmia
Investment & other cases) except in rare cases, where "actual
cost" is notionally adopted or determined as it existed on the relevant
statutory date, (Shekhawati General Traders Ltd. v. I.T.O.). In the instant
case, the High Court was justified in law in holding so and in further holding
that the subsequent issue of the bonus shares has the effect of altering the
original cost of acquisition of the shares as held by this Court in
Commissioner of Income-Tax v. Dalmia Investment Co. Ltd. (1964) 52 ITR 567 and
other cases.
12. We
hold that the judgment of the High Court answering Question No. (1) referred to
it in favour of the Revenue and against the assessee does not merit
interference and these appeals should be dismissed. We do so. However, there
shall be no order as to costs.
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