Despite high volume & short holding period, shares gain is STCG – Bombay HC

CIT vs. Naishadh V. Vachharajani (Bombay High Court)

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION

INCOME TAX APPEAL (L) NO.1042 OF 2011

The Commissioner of Income Tax Versus  Naishadh V. Vachharajani

DATE : 22^nd September 2011

P.C.:

3. The assessee is a marine consultant. He had carried on the business of trading in shares and had also made investments in shares. In the assessment year in question, the assessee had sold certain shares held as investments and gains arising on account of sale of these shares were offered as long term capital gains / short term capital gains, as the case may be. The assessing officer held that the said income were liable to be assessed under the head ‘business income’.

4. The Tribunal in para 6 and 7 of its judgment has recorded a finding that in a number of cases the assessee had held the shares for more than 10 years and wherever the assessee has purchased and sold the shares within a period of one year, income arising therefrom have been offered to tax as short term capital gains in the assessment year 2005-­06 and the same have been assessed accordingly.

5. This Court in the case of Commissioner of Income Tax V/s. Gopal Purohit reported in 228 ITR 582 (Bom) has held that it is open to an assessee to trade in the shares and also to invest in shares and wherever, the shares are held as investment, then the income arising on sale of those shares are liable to be assessed as long term / short term capital gains.