The assessee entitled to exemption under s 54F on investment of net consideration from transfer of depreciable asset under Capital Gains Deposit Account Scheme

CIT v Rajiv Shukla
High Court of Delhi
ITA No. 620 of 2011
A K Sikri and M L Mehta, JJ
Decided on: 8 April 2011

Judgment

1. In the assessment year 2007-08, in the return filed by the assessee, herein, had shown long term capital gain on sale of property and also claimed benefit of deduction under section 54F of the Income Tax Act on the ground that it had purchased the same property in Mumbai from the said long term capital gain. The details in this respect are as under:-

The assessee had sold one flat at Defence Colony, New Delhi for a consideration of Rs.1,04,00,000/-. The said flat was purchased on 17.12.1999 for Rs.20 lakhs, stamp duty of Rs.1,60,000/- was paid on 14.08.2006 when the Sale Deed was executed and the said flat was used as an office on which, depreciation was claimed year to year. As on 31.03.2006, WDV was declared by the assessee at Rs.10,62,882/-. The Assessing Officer further noticed that the assessee had declared the capital gain at Rs.91,77,118/- (Rs.1,04,00,000-Rs.10,62,882- Rs.1,60,000) and had claimed deduction under section 54F treating the capital gain as Long Term Capital Gain, stating that he had booked one flat with Chamber Constructions Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai for a sum of Rs.2,71,55,555/-, the possession of which was given on 11.09.2008. It was further stated that the assessee had paid a sum of Rs.1crore through cheque to M/s Chamber Constructions (P) Ltd. Assessee also stated that the capital gain of Rs.91,77,118/- was eligible for deduction under section 54F as the amount had been invested in Capital Gain Deposit Account Scheme under section 54F.

2. However, Assessing Officer rejected the claim of the assessee under section 54F on the ground that the assessee had not produced any evidence showing investment in Capital Deposit Account Scheme under section 54F and that the flat sold by him was a depreciable asset. As per provisions of section 50, the capital gain arising from transfer of depreciable asset shall be deemed to be the capital gain arising from transfer of short term capital asset and, therefore, deduction under section 54F was not available. Accordingly, AO made an addition of Rs.91,77,118/- under the head Short Term Capital Gain.

3. In appeal, the CIT(A) deleted the addition and order of the CIT(A) is confirmed by ITAT. On perusal of the order of the Tribunal, we find that it has relied upon the judgment of Bombay High Court in the case of CIT v. ACE Builders Pvt. Ltd. 281 ITR 210. This decision of the Bombay High Court was followed by the same Court in CIT v. M/s Delite Tin Industries in ITA 1118/2008 dated 26th September, 2008. Against the order passed inDelite (supra) proceedings, Revenue had preferred Special Leave Petition which has also been dismissed by Supreme Court 21st August, 2009.

4. We have gone through the judgment of Bombay High Court in the aforesaid two cases. Learned counsel for the respondent has also submitted that even Gauhati High Court has taken identical view in CIT v. Assam Petroleum Industries (P.) Ltd. (2003) 262 ITR 587.

5. We do not find any reason to take a different view. In these circumstances, we are of the opinion that no substantial question of law arises for consideration.

6. Accordingly, the present appeal is dismissed.

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