Marybong
& Kyel Tea Industries Ltd. Vs. Commissioner of Income Tax Calcutta [1997] INSC 162 (13 February 1997)
S.C.
AGRAWAL, K.S. PARIPOORNAN
ACT:
HEAD NOTE:
[WITH
CIVIL APPEAL NO. 3910 OF 1983]
In
these appeals, the appellants (assessees) had received compensation from the
Insurers under policies for insurance against fire and the question that was
referred for opinion of the High Court was whether there was a
"transfer" as defined in Section 2 (47) of the Income Tax Act, 1961
and the excess sum of compensation after deducting the original cost of the
assets destroyed by fire had been properly brought to tax as capital gains
under Section 45 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. By the impugned judgment in Civil
Appeal No. 3909 of 1983 the Calcutta High Court has answered the said question
against the assessee and has placed reliance on the decision of the Gujarat
High Court in Commissioner of Income Tax v. Vania Silk Mills 107 ITR 300.
The
said decision in Civil Appeal No. 3909 of 1983 was followed by the said High
Court in the Judgment which is under challenge in Civil Appeal No. 3910 of
1983. The decision of the Gujarat High Court in Commissioner of Income Tax v. Vania
Silk Mills (supra) came up in appeal before this Court and has been reversed in
Vania Silk Mills v.
Commissioner
of Income Tax, (1991) 191 ITR 647, wherein it has been held that in cases where
an Insurance Company pays for the total loss or damage of the property and
takes over the property or whatever is left of it there is no transfer for the
purpose of capital gain under Section 45 of the Income Tax Act. This matter if
thus fully covered by the said decision of this Court reported in 191 ITR 647.
For the reasons given in the said judgment, the appeals are allowed and the
question referred in both the cases is answered in favour of the assessee and
against the Revenue. No order as to costs.
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