COMMISSIONER OF WEALTH TAX VS SITA RAM JINDAL
2001 P T D 2451
[248 I T R 111]
[Supreme Court of India]
Present: S. P. Bharucha, Y. K. Sabharwal and Ms. Ruma Pal, JJ
COMMISSIONER OF WEALTH TAX
Versus
SITA RAM JINDAL
C As. Nos.3131 and 3132 of 1993, decided on 21/09/2000.
(Appeal by certificate from the judgment and order, dated June 3, 1991, of the Karnataka High Court in T.R.C. Nos.50 and 51 of 1986).
Wealth‑tax‑‑‑
‑‑‑‑Valuation of assets‑‑‑Valuation of unquoted equity shares‑‑‑Rule ID is mandatory‑‑‑Valuation must be made as per provisions of R. 1D of Wealth Tax Rules‑‑‑Indian Wealth Tax Rules, 1957, R.1D‑‑‑[CWT v. S. Jindal (1992) 194 ITR 539 reversed].
Rule 1D of the Wealth Tax Rules, 1957, is mandatory. The valuation of unquoted equity shares for purposes of wealth tax has to be made as per the provisions of rule 1D of the Wealth Tax Rules.
Bharat Hari Singhania v. CWT (1994) 207 ITR 1 (SC) fol.
CWT v. S. Jindal (1992) 194 ITR 539 reversed.
M.L. Verma, Senior Advocate (Rajiv Nanda and Ms. Sushma Suri, Advocates with him) for Appellant.
Respondent: Ex parte.
ORDER
Four questions were before the High Court (see (1992) 194 ITR 539 (Kar.) in a reference under section 27 of the Wealth Tax Act, 1957, at the instance of the revenue. They read thus (page 540):
"(1)Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal in right in law in holding that, in valuing shares under rule 1D of the Wealth Tax Rules, the entire provision for taxation appearing on the liabilities side of the balance‑sheet should be deducted from the value of the assets?
(2)Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal is right in law in approving the assessee's method of valuation in respect of unquoted shares in preference to the valuation adopted by the Wealth Tax Officer as per the provisions of rule 1D of the Wealth Tax Rules, 1957?
(3)Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal is justified in law in adopting the market value 'of the unquoted enquiry shares after 1967 ignoring the provisions of rule 1 D?
(4)Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal is right in law in adopting the market value of the unquoted shares of Jindal Aluminium Ltd. at Rs.100 per share as against the value determined by the Wealth Tax Officer?"
The High Court answered the first question in favour of the Revenue. It held that the provisions of rule 1D of the Wealth Tax Rules were directory and, therefore, answered the second and third questions against the Revenue. In its view, the fourth question did not call for any specific answer.
This Court in the case of Bharat Hari Singhania v. CWT (1994) 207 ITR I has taken a contrary view of the provisions of rule 1D. Therefore, the second and third questions must be answered in favour of the Revenue. Once those questions are answered in favour of the Revenue, it follows, as a matter of course, that the fourth question must be answered, and it must be answered in favour of the Revenue. Accordingly, the second, third and fourth questions are answered in the negative and in favour of the Revenue.
The appeals are allowed. The order under appeal is set aside.
M.B.A./942/FCOrder set aside.