Case: Commissioner Of Income-Tax, Bombay City , Bombay Vs. Bai Shirinbai K. Kooka

taken to the House of Lords. The House of Lords decided in favour of the Crown, Lord Oaksey dissenting. Viscount Simonds thus expressed his views in his speech at page 299 of the report:"But it appears to me that when it has been admitted or determined that an article forms part of the stock-in-trade of the trader, and that upon his parting with it so that it no longer forms part of his stock-in-trade some sum must appear in his trading account as having been received in respect of it, the only logical way to treat it is to regard it as having been disposed of by way of trade. If so, I see no reason for ascribing to it any other sum than that which he would normally have received for it in the due course of trade, that is to say, the market value. As I have already indicated, there seems to me to be no justification for the only alternative that has been suggested, namely, the cost of production. The unreality of this alternative would be plain to the tax-payer, if, as well might happen, a very large service fee had been paid so that the cost of production was high and the market value did not equal it." 11. Lord Radcliffe pointed out that when a horse was transferred from the stud farm to the owners personal account, there was a disposition of trading stock, though the disposition might not be by way of trade. He then referred to three methods of recording the result of the disposition in the stud farm trading accounts. One of them was that there might be no entry of a receipt at all and Lord Radcliffe pointed out that this method would give the self-supplier an unfair tax advantage. The second method would be to enter the cost price; this again would be fictional because, no sale in the legal sense had taken place, nor had there been any actual receipt. The third method was to enter as a receipt a figure equivalent to the current realisable value of the stock item transferred. Lord Radcliffe gave two grounds in favour of the third method. The first ground was that it gave a fairer measure of assessable trading profit as between one tax-payer and another, for it eliminated variations which were due to no other cause than any one taxpayer decision as to what proportion of his total product he would supply to himself. The second ground was that it was better economics to credit the trading owner with the current realisable value of any stock which he had chosen to dispose of without commercial disposal than to credit him with an amount equivalent to the accumulated expenses in respect of that stock. 12. It is worthy of note that the facts in (1955) 36 Tax Cas 275, were similar to the facts of Kikabhais case, AIR 1953 SC 509 . In both those cases what had happened was that a part of the stock- in-trade was withdrawn and the question was at what figure in the trading accounts the withdrawal should be accounted for. In Kikabhais case. AIR 1953 SC 509 this Court came to the conclusion that the withdrawal should be at the cost price. In (1955) 36 Tax Cas 275, the House of Lords held that the proper figure should be the market value which gave; a fairer measure of assessable trading profit it is significant that the House of Lords reached that conclusion not without dissent. If the facts of the case which we are now considering were similar to the facts of Kikabhais case, AIR 1953 SC 509 it might have been necessary for us to re-examine the ratio of that decision. It is necessary to state here, however, that the decision of the House of Lords in (1955) 36 Tax Cas 275, is not an authority which is binding on us. It is only an authority of persuasive value entitled to great respect. 13. In an earlier part of this judgment we have taken pains to point out the distinction between Kikabhais case, AIR 1953 SC 509 and the case under our consideration. In view of that distinction, we do not think that it is really necessary in the present case to re-examine the ratio of the decision in Kikabhais case. AIR 1953 SC 509 . What then is the basis for computing the actual profits in the present case? We think that the basis must be, as the High Court has put it, the ordinary commercial principles on which actual profits are computed. We think that the approach of the High Court was correct and normally the commercial profits out of the transaction of sale of an article must be the difference between what the article cost the business and what it fetched on sale. So far as the business or trading activity was concerned, the market value of the shares as on April 1, 1945 was what it cost the business. We do not think that there is any question of notional sale here. The High Court did not create any legal fiction of a sale when it took the market value as on April 1, 1945 as the proper figure for determining the actual profits made by the assessee. That the assessee later sold the shares in pursuance of a trading activity was not in dispute; that sale was an actual sale and not a notional sale; that actual sale resulted in some profits. The problem is how should those profits be computed? To adopt the language of Lord Radcliffe, the only fair measure of assessing trading profits in such circumstances is to take the market value at one end and the actual sale proceeds at the other, the difference between the two being the profit or loss as the case may be. In a trading or commercial sense this seems to us to accord more with reality than with fiction. 14.

Decision (1 = appeal accepted, 0 = rejected): 1

Explanation:
1[ds]7. We propose now to examine these arguments in some detail.The question raised is a short question but a difficult one to order to examine the arguments urged on behalf of the appellant, it is necessary first to refer to the decision of this Court in Kikabhais case 1954 SCR 219: (AIR 1953 SC509). Thefacts of that case were these. The assesses there was a dealer in silver and shares and he maintained his accounts according to the mercantile system and valued his stock at cost price both in the beginning and at the end of the year. During the relevant accounting year he withdrew some silver bars and shares from the business and settled them on certain trusts in which he was the managing trustee and in his books of account he credited the business with the cost price of the silver bars and shares so withdrawn. Thex authorities assessed him to tax on the basis of the difference between the cost price of the silver bars and shares and their market value at the date of their withdrawal from the business. The High Court of Bombay upheld the action of thex authorities. The Court, however, by a majority decision came to the conclusion that the assessee was entitled to value the silver bars and shares withdrawn at cost price and was not bound to credit the business with their market value at the close of the year for ascertaining the assessable profits for the year. Bhagwati, J. who expressed the dissentient view said that so far as the business was concerned, it made no difference whether thee was realised or withdrawn from the business and the business was entitled to be credited with the market value of the assets withdrawn as at the date of the withdrawal, whatever be the method employed by the assessee for the valuation of itse on hand at he close of the year. The majority view was expressed by Bose, J., who dealt with the two contentions of the learned Attorney General who appeared for the Revenue (respondent) in that case. The Attorney Generals first contention was that as the silver bars and shares were brought into the business, any withdrawal of them from the business must be dealt with along ordinary andn business lines, namely, that if a person withdraws an asset from a business must account for it to the business at the market rate prevailing at the date of the withdrawal8. From what has been stated above it would at once appear that Kikabhais case, 1954 SCR 219: (AIR 1953 SC 509  ) was the converse of the present case. In Kikabhais case 1954 SCR 219:(AIR l953 SC 509) a part of thee was withdrawn from business; there was no sale nor any actual profit. The ratio of the decision was simply this: under thex Act the State has no power to tax a potential future advantage and all it can tax is income, profits and gains made in the relevant accounting year. In the case under our consideration the admitted position is that there has been a sale of the shares in pursuance of a trading or business activity and actual profits have resulted from the sale. The question in the present case is not whether the State has a power to tax potential future advantage, but the question is how should actual profits be computed when admittedly there has been a sale in the business sense and actual profits have resulted therefrom. We agree with the High Court that in this respect there is a vital difference between the problem presented by Kikabhais case 1954 SCR 219: (AIR 1953 SC 509  ) and the problem in the present case. We further agree with the view expressed by the High Court that the ratio in Kikacabhais case 1954 SCR 219: (AIR 1953 SC 509  ) need not necessarily be extended to the very different problem presented in the present case, not only because the facts are different, but because there is an appreciable difference in principle. The difference lies in this: in one case there is no question of any business sale or actual profits and in the other admittedly there are profits liable to tax, but the question is how the profits should be computed. We must, therefore, overrule the first two arguments of the learned Additional Solicitor General that the distinction draws by the High Court between Kikabhais case, 1954 SCR 219: (AIR 1953 SC 509  ) and the present case is not warranted on principle and that the ratio of the decision in Kikabhais case, 1954 SCR 219: (AIR 1953 SC 509  ) must necessarily apply to the present case alsoIt is worthy of note that the facts in (1955) 36 Tax Cas 275, were similar to the facts of Kikabhais case, AIR 1953 SC 509  . In both those cases what had happened was that a part of the stocke was withdrawn and the question was at what figure in the trading accounts the withdrawal should be accounted for. In Kikabhais case. AIR 1953 SC 509   this Court came to the conclusion that the withdrawal should be at the cost price. In (1955) 36 Tax Cas 275, the House of Lords held that the proper figure should be the market value which gave; a fairer measure of assessable trading profit it is significant that the House of Lords reached that conclusion not without dissent. If the facts of the case which we are now considering were similar to the facts of Kikabhais case, AIR 1953 SC 509   it might have been necessary for us toe the ratio of that decision. It is necessary to state here, however, that the decision of the House of Lords in (1955) 36 Tax Cas 275, is not an authority which is binding on us. It is only an authority of persuasive value entitled to great respectIn an earlier part of this judgment we have taken pains to point out the distinction between Kikabhais case, AIR 1953 SC 509   and the case under our consideration. In view of that distinction, we do not think that it is really necessary in the present case toe the ratio of the decision in Kikabhais case. AIR 1953 SC 509  . What then is the basis for computing the actual profits in the present case? We think that the basis must be, as the High Court has put it, the ordinary commercial principles on which actual profits are computed. We think that the approach of the High Court was correct and normally the commercial profits out of the transaction of sale of an article must be the difference between what the article cost the business and what it fetched on sale. So far as the business or trading activity was concerned, the market value of the shares as on April 1, 1945 was what it cost the business. We do not think that there is any question of notional sale here. The High Court did not create any legal fiction of a sale when it took the market value as on April 1, 1945 as the proper figure for determining the actual profits made by the assessee. That the assessee later sold the shares in pursuance of a trading activity was not in dispute; that sale was an actual sale and not a notional sale; that actual sale resulted in some profits. The problem is how should those profits be computed? To adopt the language of Lord Radcliffe, the only fair measure of assessing trading profits in such circumstances is to take the market value at one end and the actual sale proceeds at the other, the difference between the two being the profit or loss as the case may be. In a trading or commercial sense this seems to us to accord more with reality than with fictionThat is the first question which I propose to discuss.The assessee inKikabhais case was a dealer in shares and silver. The method employed by him in keeping his accounts was to enter the cost price of his stock at the beginning of the year, to credit the sale proceeds of the stock sold during the year and value the unsold stock at the end of the year at cost price, these latter being carried forward as the opening entries of the next years accounts. It appeared that the assessee had withdrawn some silver and shares from his business and settled these upon certain trusts. In the accounts he entered the silver and shares so withdrawn at their cost price. The State contended that these should have been entered in the accounts at their market value on the date they were withdrawn from the business. This Court found this contention unacceptable and held that the entry should be of the cost price and not of the market value on that dateIt was also said that to apply the principle that one cannot trade with himself to the present case would be overlooking the actual fact that moneys worth was brought into the business. I am unable to appreciate this contention. There is no overlooking of the moneys worth brought in, for that moneys worth is value at the cost at which the stock concerned was actually acquired from the market, may be as an investment and not as a stock in trade. I am unable to appreciate how it can be said that any moneys worth would be, I will assume, no businessman will do in calculating his profitsif the share are not valued at the market value of the day on which they are brought into the trade but are valued at the price at which actually they had been previously acquired by the assessee. The real question is what were the shares worth in money for calculating the profits. The contention of the respondent assumes that the moneys worth must be calculated as on the date of the commencement of the trade and hence really begs the questionA second reason which appears only in the judgment of Lord Radcliffe is that if the market value on the date of withdrawal is not entered, there will be aninequitable distribution of the burden oftax. This is not very clear to me. Learned advocate for the assessee said that Lord Radcliffe was contemplating the case of two traders who started their business on the same day one of whom bought his stock in trade from the market on that date, of course at the market value, and the other started his business by converting what he was earlier holding for his personal purpose, into stock in trade. It was said that unless the latter was permitted to value his stock in trade at the market rate on the date of conversion, he would be subjected to a tax different in amount from that of the tax on the former and this would result ininequitable distribution of the burden oftaxation. Again, I am not convinced that this reasoning is conclusive. Take the case of two traders. One by his shrewd business method or by friendly contacts, or may be by means not very creditable may on the same day acquire goods necessary for his trade at a much cheaper rate than the other. The profits of the two would then be different. I do not imagine that anyx law would find this objectionable. Furthermore, I am not sure that this anxiety for an equitable distribution of the burden of tax justifies departure from a cardinal rule which is accepted in many cases in England also, that a man cannot be said to trade with himself so as to make taxable profitsLord Radcliffe realised the difficulty of the problem which he had to solve and said so. I do not think I will be wrong in saying that he put his decision on the ground of the best practical solution of that difficulty. The majority judgment in Sharkeys case does not lead me to the conclusion that our decision in Kikabhais case, 1954 SCR 219: (AIR 1953 SC 509  ) was wrong. I respectfully prefer the view taken in Kikabhais case, 1954 SCR 219: (AIR 1953 SC 509  ) and by Lord Oaksey in Sharkeys case, (1955) 36 Tax Cas 275. Bhagwati J. in his minority judgment in Kikabhais case, 1954 SCR 219: (AIR 1953 SC 509  ) based himself on the arguments of the Attorney General. It is not necessary to specifically deal with his views for they have been dealt with in that case and with what has been said there I am in complete agreemente leaving Sharkeys case it would be of some interest to point out that Lord Simonds did not think that any distinction was Possible between the case that he had before him and a case like the one now before us for he said:"And so also, as I have more than once pointed out in this case, it is conceded by thetaxpayerthat some figure must appear in the stud farm accounts as receipt in respect of the transferred horses, though Lady Zia in her capacity as transferee did not carry on a taxable activity. In the same way, it would I suppose, be claimed that, if Lady Zia were to transfer or retransfer a horse from her racing establishment to her stud farm some figure would have to appear in the stud farm accounts in respect of that horse though it cost her nothing to make the transfer. If it were not so and she subsequently sold the transferred horse and the proceeds of sale were treated as receipts of the stud farm, she could justly complain that she had been charged with a fictitious profit."In the course of arguments a case was suggested of a man who had inherited or received by way of gift a certain commodity with which after a lapse of sometime be started a trade. It was said that it would be impossible in such a case to say that the cost of acquisition of hise was nil and the entire sale proceeds received by him in respect of that thing in his trade were his profits. Now, it seems to me that even if it were so, it would not follow that hise had to be valued at the date on which he started his trade with that. So to hold would be against Kikabhais case, 1954 SCR 219: (AIR 1953 SC 509  ). That being so, this illustration would only beg the question and not prove that Kikabhais case, 1954 SCR 219: (AIR 1953 SC 509  ) is wrong. I think a businessman would in such a case enter into his accounts as the price for which he acquired hise its value in the market on the date on which he received it free That would not involve going against Kikabhais case, 1954 SCR 219: (AIR 1953 SC 509  ) for it would not be based on a fictional trading by a man with himself. If you cannot distinguish a business from its proprietor, then the cost of a thing for the purpose of the business would be its value at the time the proprietor of the business acquired it. Such value from a businessmans point of view would in my opinion be the value for which he acquired it when did so for value, or its market value on the date of acquisition, when he paid no value for it.