NAVIN JINDAL v. ASSTT. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

S.H. KAPADIA, J. 1. Heard learned counsel on both ' sides. H

p. 258

2Copy pinpoint2. In this batch of civil appeals, the narrow issue which arises for determination is the nature of the loss suffered by the appellant(s) [assessee(s)] - whether Rs.2,43,750/-was a short- term capital loss, as contended on behalf of the assessee(s), or whether the said loss was a long-term loss, as contended B on behalf of the Revenue?

3Copy pinpoint3. In the lead matter, being Civil Appeal No.634 of 2006, we are concerned with Assessment Year 1992-1993 corresponding to the Financial Year ending 31st March, 1992.

4Copy pinpoint4. The assessee was a shareholder in Jindal Iron and Steel Company Limited [' J ISCO', for short]. The said Company announced in January, 1992, issue of 12.5% equity secured PCDs [Partly Convertible Debentures] of Rs.110/- for cash at par to shareholders on Rights Basis and employees on 0 Equitable Basis. The Issue opened for subscription on 14th February, 1992, and closed on 12th March, 1992. As the assessee held 1500 equity shares of JISCO, assessee received an offer to subscribe to 1875 PCDs of JISCO on Rights Basis. Assessee renounced his right to subscribe to E PCOs in favour of Colorado Trading Company on 15th February, 1992, at the rate of Rs.30/- per Right. Assessee received, accordingly, Rs.56,250/- for renunciation of right to subscribe to PCDs. Against the afore-stated sale consideration, assessee suffered diminution in the value of the original 1500 F equity shares in the following manner: the cum-right price per share on 3rd January, 1992, was Rs.625/-, whereas ex-Rights price per share on 6th January, 1992, was Rs.425/-, resulting in a loss of Rs.200/- per share. Consequently, the capital loss suffered by the assessee was Rs.3,00,000/- [1500 x 200] as G against the receipt of Rs.56,250/- on renunciation of 1875 PC Os.

5Copy pinpoint5. To complete the chronology of events, on 7th August, 1991, assessee sold 8460 equity shares of JSL at Rs.240/- for the total consideration of Rs.20,30,400/-, whose cost of H

NAVIN JINDAL v. ASSTT. COMMISSIONER OF 259 INCOME TAX [S.H. KAPADIA, J.] acquisition was Rs.3,63,200/- and, consequently, the A transaction resulted in a long-term gain for the assessee in the sum of Rs.16,67,200/-. Similarly, on 20th June, 1991, assessee sold 7000 equity shares of Saw Pipes Limited ("SPL", for short) at the rate of Rs.103/- each, for total consideration of Rs.7,21,000/- from which the assessee deducted Rs.70,000/- B towards cost of acquisition, resulting in a long-term gain of Rs.6,51,000/-. In all, under the caption, "long-term gain" assessee earned Rs.23, 18,200/- [Rs.16,67,200 + Rs.6,51,000]. These figures are not in dispute, though there is a small variation in arithmetical calculations made by the two c sides, which is insignificant.

6Copy pinpoint6. The quantum of loss is not in issue in these civil appeals. The only question which this Court has to decide is the nature of the loss. The Assessing Officer accepted the computation of loss on renunciation of right to subscribe to D PCDs at Rs.2,43,750/- but treated the same as long-term capital loss. As a consequence, the Assessing Officer reduced the amount of long-term capital loss by t~e amount of statutory deduction under Section 48(2) of the Income Tax Act, 1961. It is this calculation which is the subject-matter of challenge by E the assessee(s) in this batch of civil appeals.

7Copy pinpoint7. To answer the above question, we need to quote hereinbelow the relevant provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961, ['Act', for short] having a bearing on the issue in dispute: F

"2(29A). ·Long-term capital asset' means a capital asset which is not a short-term capital asset.

2(42A). 'Short-term capital asset' means a capital asset held by an assessee for not more than thirty-six months G immediately preceding the date of its transfer.

45(1). Any profits or gains arising from the transfer of a capital asset effected in the previous year shall, save as otherwise provided in sections 53, 54, 548, 54D, 54E, 54F, H

p. 260

·A 54G and 54H, be chargeable to income-tax under the head 'Capital gains', and shall be deemed to be the ·income of the previous year in which the transfer took place.

48(1). The income chargeable under the head 'Capital B gains' shall be computed,--

[a] by deducting from the full value of the consideration received or accruing as a result of the transfer of the capital asset the following amounts, namely:-- c [i] expenditure incurred wholly and exclusively in connection with such transfer;

[ii] the cost of acquisition of the asset and the cost of any improvement thereto; D Provided that in the case of an assessee, who is a non-resident Indian, capital gains arising from the transfer of a capital asset being shares in, or debentures of, an. Indian company shall be computed by converting the cost of acquisition, expenditure incurred wholly and exclusively in connection with such transfer and the full value of the consideration received or accruing as a result of the transfer of the capital asset into the same foreign currency as was initially utilised in the purchase of the shares or debentures, and the capital gains so computed in such foreign currency shall be reconverted into Indian currency, so however, that the aforesaid manner of computation of capital gains shall be applicable in respect of capital gains accruing or arising from every re-investment thereafter in, and sale of, shares in, or debentures of, an Indian G company.

Explanation: For the purposes of this clause,-

(i) 'non-resident Indian' shall have the same meaning as in clause (e) of section 11 SC;

NAVIN JINDAL v. ASSTI. COMMISSIONER OF 261 INCOME TAX [S.H. KAPADIA,· J.] (ii) 'foreign currency' and ·Indian currency' shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in section 2 of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1973 (46 of 1973); .. ,

. (iii) the conversion of Indian currency into foreign currency and the reconversion of foreign currency into Indian B currency shall be at the rate of exchange prescribed in this n:J,behalf' -'"'1 '· , ' ' [b] where the capital gain arises from the transfer of a long- . term capital asset (hereafter in this section referred to, respectively, as tong-term capital gain and long-term capital C asset) by making the further deductions specified in sub- section (2).

· (2) The deductions referred to in clause (b) of sub-section ;f1l'(1) are the following; namely:-~1 • · ' ·, .' •

[a) where the amount of long-term capital gain arrived at after making the deductions under clause (a) of sub- section (1) does not exceed fifteen thousand rupees, the whole of such amount; E [b] in any other case, fifteen thousand rupees as increased lib b"y a 'su'm equal to, -- · , · ·• ' ' ' . (i) in respect of long-term capital gain so arrived at relating to capital assets, being buildings or lands or any rights in F buildings or lands or gold, bullion or jewellery,--

(A) in the case of a company, ten per cent of the amount "·. of su'ch'ga_fr;· in e~cess o{fifteen thousand rupees; . i J. 1 ,_ c j

'(B) in the case of any other assessee, fifty per cent of the G- amount of such gain in excess of fifteen thousand rupees;

(ia) in respect of long-term capital gain so arrived at relating to equity,shares of venture capital undertakings,- , (A).in the case of a company, other than venture capital HH

p. 262

A company, thirty per cent of the amount of such gain in excess of fifteen thousand rupees;

(B) in the case of venture capital company, sixty per cent of the amount of such gain in excess of fifteen thousand rupees; B (C) in any other case, sixty per cent of the amount of such gain in excess of fifteen thousand rupees;

[ii] in respect of long-term capital gain so arrived at relating c to capital assets other than capital assets referred to in sub-clauses (i) and

(ia),--

(A) in the case of a company, thirty per cent of the amount of such gain in excess of fifteen thousand rupees;

(B) in any other case, sixty per cent of the amount of such gain in excess of fifteen thousand rupees:

Provided that where the long-term capital gain relates to both categories of capital assets referred to in sub-clauses (i) and (ii), the deduction of fifteen thousand rupees shall be allowed in the following order, namely:--

[1] the deduction shall first be allowed against long-term capital gain relating to the assets mentioned in sub-clause (i);

[2] thereafter, the balance, if any, of the said fifteen thousand rupees shall be allowed as deduction against long-term capital gain relating to the assets mentioned in sub-clause (ii), and the provisions of sub-clause (ii) shall apply as if references to fifteen thousand rupees therein were references to the amount of deduction allowed in accordance with clauses (1) and (2) of this proviso:

H Provided further that, in relation to the amount referred to

NAVIN JINDAL v. ASSTI. COMMISSIONER OF 263 INCOME TAX [S.H. KAPADIA, J.] in clause (b) of sub-section (5) of section 45, the initial A deduction of fifteen thousand rupees under clause (a) of this sub-section shall be reduced by the deduction already allowed under clause (a) of section BOT in the assessment for the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1987, or any earlier assessment year or, as the case s1 may be, by the deduction allowed under clause (a} of this 1

sub-section in relation to the amount of compensation or consideration referred to in clause (a) of sub-section (5) of section 45 and references to fifteen thousand rupees in clauses (a) and (b) of this sub-section shall be construed C as references to such reduced amount, if any.

Explanation: For the purposes of this section,--

[a] 'venture capital company' means such company as is engaged in providing finance to venture capital o undertakings mainly by way of acquiring equity shares of such undertakings or, if the circumstances so require, by way of advancing loans to such undertakings, and is approved by the Central Government in this behalf;

[b] 'venture capital undertaking' means such company as the prescribed authority may, having regard to the following factors, approve for the purposes of sub-clause (ia) of clause (b) of sub-section (2), namely;--

[1] the total investment in the company does not exceed ten crore rupees or such other higher amount as may be prescribed; ·

[2] the company does not have adequate financial resources to undertake projects for which it is otherwise professionally or technically equipped; and

[3] the company seeks to employ any technology which will result in significant improvement over the existing technology in India in any field and the investment in such technology involves high risk." H

264. SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2010] 1 S.C.R.

A' 8. We find merit in this batch of civil appeals filed by the assessee(s). The right to subscribe for additional offer of shares/debentures on Rights basis, on the strength of existing shareholding in the Company, comes into existence when the Company decides to come out with the Rights Offer. Prior to B- that, such right, though embedded in the original shareholding, remains inchoate. The same crystallizes only when the Rights Offer is announced by the Company. Therefore, in order to <;letermine the nature of the gains/loss on renunciation of right to subscribe for additional shares/debentures, the crucial date G is the date on which such right to subscribe for additional shares/debentures comes into existence and the date of transfer [renunciation] of such right. The said right to subscribe for additional shares/debentures is a distinct, independent and separate right, capable of being transferred independently of the existing shareholding, on the strength of which such Rights D are offered.

9Copy pinpoint9. For the purposes of Section 48 of the Act, one must keep in mind an important principle, namely, that chargeability and computation has to go hand in hand. In other words, computation is an integral part of chargeability under the Act. It is for this reason that we have opined that the right to subscribe for additional offer of shares/debentures comes into existence only when the Company decides to come out with the Rights Offer. It is only when that event takes place, that diminution in the value of the original shares held by the assessee takes place. One has to give weightage to the diminution in the value of the original shares which takes place when the Company decides to come out with the Rights Offer. For determining whether the gains/loss of renunciation of right to subscribe is a short-term or long-term gains/loss, the crucial date is the date on which such right to subscribe for additional shares/debentures comes into existence and the date of renunciation [transfer] of such right.

10Copy pinpoint10. Our view is based on the judgement of this Court in H

NAVI~ JINPAL v. AS~!if· _COMM'l~,~!O.~J~~;Of;;?, 2~!),•. \,

INCOME TAX'[$.H. KAPADIA, J] the case of Miss Dhun Dadabhor. KapadJa vs .. Commissioner A\ of !nqonie-iax, ~9m~ay'.: r~~-0~~~" i:~ t1~~7l~~3~~~r:,~:..~~1], which h.as taken the v,1ew .tn~t. f'?[, ~o~~u\1ng c:~p.1b~1 1 ~~1q~i on renunciation of right to subscribe· for )Gitib'-''..: , • • . = 1 additional. ·- shares, -~L l1 .<r1" .-,.,_']• t-•1" 1

diminution in the value' of· original' ,-1 , .. · shares would.-·,t.)11(" I ~. be, regarded i·'\i. i(>~'Jj ·.<"1i' -~·r1 1 ;..

as. the co.st ?f ac.qu~~itio~ -f~r~~NC::h rigP!)~G~ R~9~.;t·~i15§55 B8 of t~~ .1sa1d iudg~m,e~~r .'{'Je_ q~o,~e ~-~~~.1~0~~0".Y;.,W~ 1 [~/eX.~nt portion , of the said Judgement '"ir~·; -~ 1'• , · . Which further '· ,;[~:!L indicates .lhat the ,.· l'd.'IL.-i.i (y;_.jG:::1V1'.i

ng~~ ,to, sub~cribe -~~r ilew, s1~~-~e~l9iE:l~~qtur,~s, 1~..,,~r?~p~r~te capital' asset' which comes i.'! ~ . U• . •, into· existence ",1qf-i.'" ' j only when lhe 1t· fr 1'1 ~;I •1ll)~IJ

C6mpariy (~'· passes Resolution -i "", for-the issue o.f new .·"ii ··:b.~l'('-·'· ,sJi'ares: . !JVUbt.Jt11q!:"~ 0 1 C,..,_ 1

\ ."The capital asset which the"-appellafit' 6rtgifi~lly possessed consisted of 710 brdinafy''slfare~:BFihe '<company:· There was''already \~ rHovislcfn"l<tl1at?_'.ifl\the 3 JI COIYlpany' iSSUed any 'hewnohares,"e\Jery' flolde(!OJ 0ld shares would be entitled'to such ~numbe(='of ordinary DCl . shares as the board may, by re'solution."decide.:.tfiitnght was possessed by the appellant because of herowrier8hip of the old 710 ordinary shares?'and'when tfie!boara of directors of the company passed a"-resolUtionr for issue of. new shares, this right of the 'appellant rriatured ti:tihe E , extent that she became entitled'to'receive ·71<5"new shares, i This right could be exeroisei:Fby h'df1/fy aaiually . purchasing those shares af the~prescribeifii-at&; f>or·by renouncing those shares in favour of afiother1Jersolra'nd obtaining monetary·gain in that-trahsa'ction: ii.fthe\fime, F :i therefore, when the appellant renounced her right to take ' th~se new'shares, the capital asset which she actually P9,~~es~eq,coqsjst~cj <.?! !J!Jt91c;l ·7.1 Q:$IJ,a_~sp/!J.s:.fhis right t,o .ta~e 7.1.0 n~\"( sf?_ar~~ 1.J1a,,/ r.s~.. 1 '>ril r·;nu JiJi;;.ii;rsn;; 1·· " .; ,, ' ,,!uor '):J !Jd c,J i·. '· , .'<.:' ai 3rno:..1i ii:n,cG C) 1::·:·: ::·.:· '";· :··· · ~. :.i Ei i k~''· ..., ... 11 noiJr_.-, ~·h ..;:;t,,.JJ ~rn l() 9iJ~Bv 1iu;

cl n the alternative.' the. case :canJ be'exarriined ,iri' ·another ' 0 aspect. At the time 'ofi:the 1ssue·•ofJ'ffe\N stiares\'·th~xe appellant possessed 710 old shares ~arid 'shealso"gofllie1 :->~ right to obtain 710 new shares: Wherl'stie 1so1d:tfos<iight' e:H H

p. 266

A to obtain 710 new shares and realised the sum of Rs.45,262.50P., she capitalised that right and converted it into money. The value of the right may be measured by setting off against the appreciation in the face value of the new shares the depreciation of the old shares and, B consequently, to the extent of the depreciation in the value of her original shares, she must be deemed to have invested money in acquisition of this new right. A concomitant of the acquisition of the new right was the depreciation in the value of the old shares, and the c depreciation may, in a commercial sense, be deemed to be the value of the riJht which she subsequently transferred. The capital gain made by her would, therefore, be represented only by the difference between the money realised on transfer of the right, and the amount which she lost in the form of depreciation of her original shares in order to acquire that right. Looked at in this manner also, it is clear that the net capital gain by her would be represented by the amount realised by her on transferring the right to receive new shares, after deducting therefrom the amount of depreciation in the value of her original shares, being the loss incurred by her in her capital asset in the transaction in which she acquired the right for which she realised the cash. This method of looking at the transaction also leads to the same conclusion which we have indicated in the preceding paragraph." F [Emphasis supplied]

11Copy pinpoint11. Section 48 deals with mode of computation of income chargeable under the head "Capital gains". Under that section, such income is required to be computed by deducting from the G full value of the consideration received as a result of the transfer of the capital asset, the expenditure incurred wholly and exclusively in connection with such transfer anc;l the cost of acquisition of the asset. Under Section 48(1 )(b) of the Act, it is further stipulated that where the capital gain arises from the H

NAVIN JINDAL v. Assn. COMMISSIONER OF 267 INCOME TAX [S.H. KAPADIA, J.] transfer of a long-term capital asset, then, in addition to the A expenditure incurred in connection with the transfer and the cost of acquisition of the asset, a further deduction, as specified in Section 48(2) of the Act, which is similar to standard deduction, becomes necessary. 8

12Copy pinpoint12. The basic controversv in this batch of civil appeals concerns the stage at which Section 48(2) of the Act becomes applicable. For that purpose, we annex hereinbelow a chart indicating Computation of Income under the head "Capital gains", as projected by the assessee on the one hand and as projected by the Assessing Officer on the other hand. C

13Copy pinpoint13. On analysis of the said chart, one finds that, according to the assessee, the net income chargeable to tax under the head "Capital gains" is Rs.6,77,530/-, whereas, according to the Assessing Officer, the net Dincome is Rs.8,28,980/-. o According to the assessee, the loss suffered by him, as indicated in the chart, is a short-term capital loss of Rs.2,43,750/-, which occurred to the assessee on sale of right to subscribe to PCDs. The long-term gain, which accrued to the assessee on sale of shares of JSL and SPL, came to E Rs.23, 18,200/- to which Section 48(2) is applied by the assessee. On application of Section 48(2), the standard deduction comes to Rs.13,96,920/- Accordingly, the long-term gain, as computed under Section 48, accruing to the assessee on sale of shares of JSL and SPL came to Rs.9,21,280/- from F which the assessee deducts loss of Rs.2,43, 750/- resulting in the net income of Rs.6,77,530/-. On the other hand, according to the Assessing Officer, there is no dispute regarding the long- term gains accruing to the assessee on sale of shares of JSL and SPL amounting to Rs.23,31,200/- [difference in the figures is insignificant]. from the said figure of Rs.23,31,200/-, the G Assessing Officer deducts the loss of Rs.2,43,680/- as a long- term loss and applies Section 48(2) deduction to the figure of Rs.20,d7,450/-. Consequently, the Assessing Officer works out

H

' ' ' COMPUTATION OF INCOME UNDER THE HEAD "CAPiTAL GAINS .. As per assessee As per assessing officer ca121ta1 ga1nstLoss: (/) a] Short Term: c Amount of sale proceeds 56,250 -0 ;:o (renouncement of 1875 Right m PCDs offer of JISCO from :s: Colorade Trading Co. Ltd. m on 15.2.92@ 301-. () Less : being cost of 0 c acquisition of 1875 right ;:o PCD offer of JISCO being -I ;:o depleted in the value of m existing share holdings of -0 1500 Equity shares as 0 under:- Cum-right price ~ per share on 3.1.92 625 Less : Ex-right price per share on 6.1.92 425 Difference 200 1500 shares @ Rs.200/- (/) per share i.e.1500 x 200 (-) 3,00,000 (-} 2,43,750 NIL NIL () (A) ;:o

., b] Long Term: .!: z I. On 8460 equity shares of JSL: ) ~- z sold on 7.8.91 " {"-j \; •\ ~ r,, Z'- @ Rs.240/- 20,30,400 ".' l oz ·~ - oo; Less: Aggregate 16,67,200 IJ, s:: )>'

' . * (.' cost oJ acquisition 3,63.200 mr II. Oti 7000 Equity shares : ~' "I) \ -I :::: . • UJ c. )> )> of SAW PIPES LTD. « x CJ) ' Sold on 20.6.91 @ -' ~CJ)

Rs.103/- each 7,21,000 ~ -I ., - ·- -] ..... :r: • -I· • ~· ...J Less : Cost during .;..~er,, f Ci ..!" 86-87 @ Rs.10/- each 70.000 6,51,000 23,18.200, ii23,31;200 : ' ~ . :. Less: Long term capital loss <-{ -·" due depreciation in the value of 1500 original share of ,.., "'y JISCO as a result of right ti1 .. ~ !:t., {,) issue of PCDs after adjusting ~ (fl the profit realized on ale of 0 ·' _, _, discussed above ::i {~ I f 0 ~ ;., 6< Less : Deduction u/s 48(2): <;, 2 On Rs.15000/- @ 100% ~· - u.. ('I

Cit C..tJ ~ ·, On Rs.2303200/- @ 60% . ~ - {B) -15,ooo: l ': Net Income under the head 1,:381,920 -N "capital gains" (A) + (B) O> l: <O

p. 270

A the net income at Rs.8,28,980/- as against the figure of Rs.6,77,530/-worked out by the assessee. The above analysis shows the controversy between the parties. Assessee treats Rs.2,43,750/- as a short-term loss, and, therefore, he applies the standard deduction under Section 48(2) to the long-term B gain of Rs.23, 18,200/- from sale of shares of JSL and SPL, whereas the Assessing Officer applies Section 48(2) deduction to the figure of Rs.20,87,450/- which is arrived at on the basis that the loss suffered by the assessee of Rs.2,43,680/- was a long- term loss. c 14. As stated above, we have opined that the loss suffered by the assessee amounting to Rs.2,43,750/- was a short-term loss. Therefore, in our view, the computation of income under the head "Capital gains", as projected in the chart submitted by the assessee and as computed by the assessee is correct. D In other words, the computation of income under the head "Capital gains" submitted to this Court by the assessee is correct and the computation of income made by the Department is erroneous.

E Accordingly, civil appeals filed by the assessees stand allowed with no order as to costs.

R.P. Appeals allowed.