Circular No. 263-Income Tax dated 19-11-1979

1538. Additional relief to any one building in occupation of de-recognised Ruler declared as his official residence – Notification issued under sub-section (2) granting full exemption from estate duty

Whereas relief under clause (i) of sub-section (1) of section 33 of the Estate Duty Act, 1953 (34 of 1953), in respect of any one building in the occupation of a Ruler declared by the Central Government as his official residence under paragraph 13 of the Merged States (Taxation Concessions) Order, 1949, or paragraph 15 of the Part B States (Taxation Concessions) Order, 1950, had ceased to be available consequent on de-recognition of Rulers of Indian States ;

And whereas the Central Government is of opinion that the circumstances of the de-recognised Rulers and their heirs are such that relief by way of exemption from estate duty should be granted in respect of any one building in the occupation of a de-recognised Ruler, being a building which immediately before the commencement of the Constitution (Twenty-sixth Amendment) Act, 1971, was his official residence ;

Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 33 of the said Act, the Central Government hereby directs that no estate duty shall be payable in respect of any one building belonging to and in occupation of a Ruler as defined in sub-clause (b) of clause (2) of article 363 of the Constitution, which —

(i)  was declared by the Central Government as his official residence under paragraph 13 of the Merged States (Taxation Concessions) Order, 1949 or paragraph 15 of the Part B States (Taxation Concessions) Order, 1950; and

(ii)  passes on his death.

Notification : No. GSR 461, dated 27-3-1973