Turner Morrison & Co. Ltd v. Commissioner Of Income-Tax, West Bengal
Supreme Court
[1953] 1 S.C.R. 520 16 Jan 1953 In favour of: Revenue
Forum / Bench
Supreme Court
Parties
Turner Morrison & Co. Ltd v. Commissioner Of Income-Tax, West Bengal
Date of order
16 Jan 1953
Assessment year(s)
—
Outcome
Dismissed
The order — as passed by the Supreme Court
Case summary
In Turner Morrison & Co. Ltd v. Commissioner Of Income-Tax, West Bengal, the Supreme Court (1953) dismissed the appeal under Section 4 of the Income-tax Act. The decision went in favour of the Revenue.
Issue: 4(1) (a), 4 (1) (c), 42, 48-Non-resident cornpany-Sale in India uf goods 1nan11,factured outside India-Person e.-O'ecting sales in India-Whether agent of non-resident-Proji,ts received in India.from sales-Whether asses-sable under s.
Summary auto-generated from the order below — read the full judgment for the complete reasoning.
Sections referenced in this judgment
Case: TURNER MORRISON & CO. LTD versus COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX, WEST BENGAL [[1953] 1 S.C.R. 520] (1953)
सर्वोच्चन्यायालयकीरिपोर्ट
520
[ 1953 ] .
र्नरमॉरिसनन
, ेड।एंडकंपननी।लिमिटट
1953
वी.
16 जननवरी।आय-,करआयुक्तपश्चिमबंगाल।
[ , दास, बोसमेहरचंदमहाजननविवियननऔरभगवतीजे.]
$
भारतीयआय-(1922 का11), एस. एस.4 ( 1 ) ( ए), 4 (1) (सी), 42,करअधिनियम43 - -अनिवासीकंपननीभारतमेंनिर्मितवस्तुओंकीबिक्री
--भारतकेबाहरभारतमेंबिक्रीकोप्रभावितकरननेवालाव्यक्तिचाहेभारतकाप्रतिनिधिहो।गैर-निवासी-बिक्रीसेभारतमेंप्राप्तलाभचाहेवेएसेज़होंएसकेतहतसेबल।4 ( 1 ) ( ए) याएस।42 - -एसकादायरा।43 .अभिकर्ताकीदेयताेड, दपोर्टसैडसॉल्टटएसोसिएशननलिमिटटएकनिगमितकंपननीयूननाइटटेडकिंगडममेंमिस्रमेंव्यापारकियाजाताथाऔरइसकामिस्रमेंमुख्यालय।यहमिस्रऔरकुछहिस्सोंमेंननमककानिर्माणकरताथा।इसतरहसेनिर्मितननमकटटर्नरमॉरिसननकोसौंपदियागयाथाऔरकं. ेड() लिमिटटनिर्धारितीभारतमेंबिक्रीकेलिए।निर्धारितीप्रभावितहुआएसोसिएशननद्वाराअननुमोदितकीमतोंपरदलालोंकेमाध्यमसेभारतमेंबिक्रीयह, 21 बिक्रीआयएकत्रकीऔरप्रतिशतकाकमीशननप्राप्तकियाआमतौरपरसभीबिक्रीपर।खर्चोंऔरशुल्कोंमेंकटटौतीकरननेकेबादसायननशेषराशिमिस्रमेंएसोसिएशननकोभेजदीगईथी।उसपरयेतथ्यनिर्धारितीकोएसोसिएशननकेएजेंटटोंकेरूपमेंमाननाजाताथा
एसकेतहत।43 भारतीयआय-करअधिनियमऔरआयकाआकलननएसकेतहतकर।4 ( 1 ) ( ए) यावैकल्पिकरूपसेएसकेतहत।
4 ( 1 ) ( (c) करूपसेएसकेतहत।अधिनियम
आयभारत।कलकत्ताउच्चन्यायालयननेअभिनिर्धारितकियाकियहएसकेतहतआय-4 ( 1 ) ( (क) करकेलिएप्रभार्यथा।आयकेरूपमें42 भारतमेंप्राप्तकियागयाऔरएसकेतहतननहीं।अधिनियमकेबारेमेंः, (i) अभिनिर्धारितकियागयाकिनिर्धारितीकोविक्रयकाकार्यसौंपागयाथा।, , बिक्रीकेलिएउन्हेंभेजेगएसामाननमालकोसंभालननाजारीकरनना, , थेवितरणआदेशआयएकत्रकरननाआदिवेएजेंटटसंघ, ;औरकेवलएकडाकघरकेरूपमेंकार्यननहींकरताथा. v.आय-, मैडपांडिचेरीरेलवेकंकरआयुक्तरास(1931) आई. एल. आर. 54 मैड।691 संदर्भितकियागया।( (ii) हीबेचाजाताथा।क्योंकिगधोंद्वारामालकाननतोआयातकियाजाताथाऔरननवेअपननेहिसाबसेदेखतेहैंलेकिननएसोसिएशननकेकारणनिर्धारितीद्वाराप्राप्तआयउननकीओरसेप्राप्तकीगईथी।एसोसिएशननकेऔरउननकेअपननेखातेपरननहीं।
(एल. आर. 6 Ch.ए. 397) एक्सपार्टेव्हाइटटविशिष्ट।( (iii) क्योंकिनिर्धारितीननकेवलबेचननेकेलिएबल्किउन्हेंबेचननेकेलिएभीअधिकृतथे।, खरीदारोंसेमूल्यएकत्रकरेंआयप्राप्तकीगईथीनिर्धारितीसंघकेअभिकर्ताकेरूपमें।
.(एल. आर. (1924) 2 के. बी. 483) बुटटविकवीअननुदाननविशिष्ट।
एस. सी. आर. सर्वोच्चन्यायालयकीरिपोर्ट
521
1953
( (iv) यहतथ्यकिअभिकर्ताओंकेरूपमेंनिर्धारितीकोअपननेद्वाराकिएगएखर्चोंऔरअपननेकमीशननकोअपननेपासरखननेकाअधिकारथा।
, ेडवी.र्नरमॉरिसननएंडकंपननीलिमिटटआयउननकेद्वाराएजेंटटकेरूपमेंप्राप्तबिक्रीआयकोउननकेप्रधाननाचार्योंकेअननुपातसेकमननहींकरसकतीथी।
कॉलकुहौननवी.ब्रूक्स(2 ैक्सकेस।490) औरसैय्यदअलीइमामबननाम।राजासम्राटट([1925] आई. एल. आर. 4 पैटट।210 ) संदर्भितकियागया।
, आयकरआयुक्तपश्चिमबंगाल।
( v) , जबभारतमेंएजेंटटोंद्वारासकलबिक्रीआयप्राप्तकीजातीथीतोउन्हेंअनिवार्यरूपसेवहलाभप्राप्तहोताथाजोउननमें, लाभयालाभथे, निष्क्रियपड़ाहुआथा।यदिखातेमेंलेननेपरआयतोभारतमेंएजेंटटोंद्वाराप्राप्तबिक्रीआयकेलिएजिम्मेदार, लाभऔरलाभथा।उसकाआननुपातिकहिस्सासकलबिक्रीकेसमयउननकेद्वाराप्राप्तआय
, औरएस।4 ( 1 ) ( क) आय-आयउन्हेंभारतमेंप्राप्तहुईकरअधिनियमकोतुरंतआकर्षितकियागयाऔरइसप्रकारप्राप्तआय, 4 ( 1 ) ( a) s 3 .लाभऔरलाभधाराओंकेतहतकरकेलिएप्रभार्यहोगए।केसाथपढ़ें।वी.गफ(एल. आर. [1896] ए. सी. 325) ग्रेंजरएंडसननविलियमलेननेइसपरभरोसाकिया।
( (vi) जहांआय, 4 ( 1 ) ( क) लाभऔरलाभवास्तवमेंभारतमेंप्राप्तहोतेहैं।लागूहोताहैऔरराजस्वकेलिएअबएस42 , 4 (द्वाराशुरूकीगईकल्पननाकासहारालेननाआवश्यकननहींहै।औरएसकेतहतगधोंकाउचितमूल्यांकननकियागयाथा।1 ) ( ए) 4 ( 1 ) ( ग), धारा4 (1) (क) गैर-औरएसकेतहतननहीं।निवासियोंसहितसभीश्रेणियोंकेनिर्धारितीपरलागूहोतीहै।हीरामिल्सबननाम।आय-करअधिकारी, काननपुर([1946] 14 आई. टटी. आर. 417), बुरुगुननागय्याबननाम।आय-करआयुक्त, मद्रास([1949] 17 आई. टटी. आर. 194) औरपांडिचेरीरेलवेकं.आय-करआयुक्त, मद्रास([1931] आई. एल. आर. 54 मैड।691 ) ( vii) 43 परभरोसाकिया।केवलयहतथ्यकिनिर्धारितीकोएसकेतहतएजेंटटकेरूपमेंमाननाजाताथा।42 , अधिनियमननेराजस्वअधिकारियोंकीओरसेएसकेतहतआकलननकरननाअनिवार्यननहींबननाया।एसकेतहतएजेंटटकेरूप43 42 .मेंनियुक्तिकेलिए।यहअधिनियमकेसभीउद्देश्योंकेलिएहैऔरकेवलएसकेउद्देश्योंकेलिएननहींहै।
इंपीरियलटटोबैकोकंपननीऑफइंडियालिमिटटेडबननामकेलिएराज्यसचिव
भारत([1922] आई. एल. आर. 49 कैल.721 ) , आय-करआयुक्त, बॉम्बेबननाम।मेटट्रोगोल्डविननमेयर(इंडिया) लिमिटटेड([1939] 7 आई. टटी. आर. 176), कैलटटेक्सलिमिटटेडबननाम।आयकरआयुक्त, बॉम्बेसिटटी([1952] 21 आई. टटी. आर. 278) ननेसमझाया।
:कलकत्ताउच्चन्यायालयकेनिर्णयननेपुष्टिकी।सिविलअपीलीयक्षेत्राधिकारसिविलअपील
Case: TURNER MORRISON & CO. LTD versus COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX, WEST BENGAL [[1953] 1 S.C.R. 520] (1953)
19-53 Jan. 16.
SUPREME COURT REPORTS
5'20
[191)3] .
'rURNBR MORRISON & CO., L1'D
v.
• COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX, WEST BENGAL.
[MEHR CHAND MAHAJAN, DAS, VIVIAN BosE and BHAGWATI JJ.]
Indian Inc"'1ie-tax Act (XI of 1922), ss. 4(1) (a), 4 (1) (c), 42, 48-Non-resident cornpany-Sale in India uf goods 1nan11,factured outside India-Person e.-O'ecting sales in India-Whether agent of non-resident-Proji,ts received in India.from sales-Whether asses-sable under s. 4 (1) (a) ors. 42-Liability of agent-Scope of s. 43.
'l'he Port Said Salt Association Ltd., a company incorporated in the United Kingdom carried on business in Egypt and had its headquarters in Egypt. It manufactured salt in Egypt and part of the salt so manufactured was consigned to Turner Morrison and Co. Ltd., (the assessee) for sale in India. The assessee effected sales in India through brokers at prices approved by the A_ssocia-tion, collected the sale proceeds and received a commission of 2-!% generally on all sales. After deducting the expenses and commis-sion the balance was remitted to the Association in Egypt. On these facts the assessee was treated as agents of the Association under s. 43 of the Indian Income-tax Act and assessed to income-tax under s. 4 (1) (a) or alternatively under s. 4 (1) (c) of the Act on the income derived by the Association fron) the sale of salt in · India. The High Court of Calcutta held that tbe income in ques-tion was chargeable t.o income-tax under s. 4 (1) (a) as income received in India and not under s. 42 of the Act:
Held, (i) that, as the assessee was entrusted with the selling of goods consigned to them for sale, handling the cargoes, issuing delivery orders, collecting the proceeds etc., they were agents of the Association, and did not act merely as a post office;
Pondicherry Railway Co. v. OonMnissioner of Income-tax, Mad-ras (1931) I.L.R. 54 Mad. 691 referred to.
(ii) as the goods were neithei- imported nor sold by the asses-sees on their own account but on account of the Association the income received by the assessees v'lere received by them on behalf of the Association and not on their own account.
Ex parte White (L.R. 6 Oh. A. 397) distinguished.
(iii) As the assessees were authorised not only to sell but to collect the price from the purchasers, the income was received by the assessee as agents of the Association.
Bi;twick v. Grant (L.R. [1924] 2 K.B. 483) distinguished.
521
S.C.H. SUPREME COURT REPORTS
19-58
(iv) The fact that the assessees as agents had a right to retain the expenses incurred by them and their commission out of the proceeds could not make the sale proceeds received by them as agents any the less the proporty of their principals. •
Turner Morrison ct Co., Ltd. v. Commissioner of Income-tare, West Bengal. ·
Colquhoun v. Brooks (2 Tax Oas. 490) and Saiyid Ali Imam v. King Emperor ([19:J5] I.L.R. 4 Pat. 210) referred to.
(v) When the gross sale proceeds were received by the agents in India they necessarily received whatever profits and gains were lying dormitnt in them. If on taking accounts there were income, profits or gains, then the proportionate part thereof attributable to the sale proceeds received by the agents in India was income, profits and gains received by them at the moment the gross sale proceeds were received by them in India, and s. 4 (1) (a) of the Income-tax Act was _immediately attracted and the income, profits and gains so received became chargeable to tax under s. 4 (1) (a) read with s. 3.
Grainger ct Son v. William Lane Gough (L.R. [1896] A.O. 325) i·elied on.
(vi) Where income, profits and gains are actually received in India s. 4 (1) (a) applies and it is no longer necessary for the revenue to resort to the fiction introduced by s. 42, and the asses-sees were properly assessed under s. 4 (1) (a) and not under s. 4 (1) (c), Section 4(1) (a) applies to all categories of assessees includ-ing non-residents.
Case: TURNER MORRISON & CO. LTD versus COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX, WEST BENGAL [[1953] 1 S.C.R. 520] (1953)
इंपीरियलटटोबैकोकंपननीऑफइंडियालिमिटटेडबननामकेलिएराज्यसचिव
भारत([1922] आई. एल. आर. 49 कैल.721 ) , आय-करआयुक्त, बॉम्बेबननाम।मेटट्रोगोल्डविननमेयर(इंडिया) लिमिटटेड([1939] 7 आई. टटी. आर. 176), कैलटटेक्सलिमिटटेडबननाम।आयकरआयुक्त, बॉम्बेसिटटी([1952] 21 आई. टटी. आर. 278) ननेसमझाया।
:कलकत्ताउच्चन्यायालयकेनिर्णयननेपुष्टिकी।सिविलअपीलीयक्षेत्राधिकारसिविलअपील
1952 कासं. 41।आय-1949 की31 (आय-कर) करसंदर्भसंख्यामेंविशेषअधिकारिताकाप्रयोगकरतेहुएकलकत्तामेंउच्चन्यायालय(सेननऔरचंदरजे.) के25 जुलाई, 1950 केनिर्णयऔरडिक्रीसेअपील।
6
522 [1953]सर्वोच्चन्यायालयकीरिपोर्ट
1953 . (. . )अपीलकेलिएएसमित्राउननकेसाथएसएननमुखर्जी
लांटट।टट
र्नर
, सी. के. , र-(पी. ए.मॉरिसननएंडकंपननीडैफ्टटरीसॉलिसिटटजननरलफॉरइंडिया
ेडमेहता, ) लिमिटटउननकेसाथप्रत्यर्थीकेलिए।
1953 16 -कर,केआयुक्त।जननवरी।न्यायालयकानिर्णयआय
द्वारादियागयाथा
पश्चिमबंगाल।
डी. ए. एस. जे. यहअपीलछहसंदर्भोंसेउत्पन्नहोतीहै।
आयकरकीकलकत्तापीठद्वाराबननायागया
दासजे।
कीधारा66 (1) भारतीयसंविधाननकेतहतअपीलीयन्यायाधिकरण
आय-, करअधिनियमजिननमेंसेदोआयसेसंबंधितहैं
1943-44 और1944-45 औरकरनिर्धारणवर्ष
अतिरिक्तलाभकरसेसंबंधितशेषचार
31 तारीखकोसमाप्तहोननेवालीप्रभार्यलेखाअवधि1940,1941,1942 प्रत्येकवर्षकादिसंबरऔर1943 क्रमशः।केबयाननोंमेंदिखाईदेननेवालेप्रासंगिकतथ्यमामलाइसप्रकारहैःमेसर्स।पोर्टसईदसाल्टटएसोसिएशननलिमिटटेड, (इसकेबाद"एसोसिया" केरूपमेंसंदर्भित)") टियननसंयुक्तराज्यमेंनिगमितएककंपननीहै।.राज्यऔरवहाँइसकापंजीकृतकार्यालयहै।द, हालाँकिसंगठननमिस्रमेंव्यवसायकरताहै।औरइसकामुख्यकार्यालयअलेक्जेंड्रियामेंस्थितहैजहाँइसकेशेयरधारकोंकीवार्षिकआमबैठकेंआयोजितकीजातीहैं।यूननाइटटेडकिंगडममेंनिवासीननहींहोननेकेकारणएसोसी. आई. ए. एनन. अपननेमुननाफेपरकोईब्रिटिशआय-करननहींदेताहै।भारतीयसंविधाननकेतहतमूल्यांकननकेउद्देश्योंकेलिएआय-करअधिनियमएसोसिएशननपरविचारकियागयाहैगैर-निवासीहोनना।एसोसिएशननबननातीहैमिस्रमेंननमकजहाँइसकीकुछरियायतेंहैंऔरनिर्मितननमककोकिसीभीस्थाननपरबिक्रीकेलिएभेजाजाताहैऐसादेशजहाँउपयुक्तबाजारहो।इसकाहिस्साएसोसिएशननद्वाराइसप्रकारनिर्मितननमककोननहैमेसर्सकोहस्ताक्षरकिए।टटर्नरमॉरिसननएंडकंपननीलिमिटटेड., ,भारतमेंबिक्रीकेलिए।सभीशिपिंगसंचालननअर्थात।, , स्टटीमरलोडिंगबीमाआदिकाचार्टरमिस्रमेंएसोसिएशननद्वाराप्रभावितजोभेजताहैमेसर्सकोदस्तावेज़।टटर्नरमॉरिसननएंडकंपननीलिमिटटेडमेसर्स।टटर्नरमॉरिसननएंडकंपननीलिमिटटेड. सी. आर. 523दलालोंकेमाध्यमसेभारतमेंसर्वोत्तममूल्यपरबिक्रीकाप्रभावएससर्वोच्चन्यायालयरिपोर्ट
एसोसिएशनन।टटर्नरमॉरिसनन
एंडकंपननीलिमिटट
ेड
2 र्नरकोप्रतिशतकीदरसेकमीशननदियागया।आमतौरपरमॉरिसननएंडकंपननी
1 कुछमामलोंकोछोड़करसभीबिक्रीपरजहांप्रति
.लि
प्रतिशत।भुगताननकियाजाताहै।कार्गोकीसभीहैंडलिंगजबवे
वी.
कलकत्तापहुँचेंऔरआवश्यकसंवितरणआयुक्त
आय-कर,
इसकेसंबंधमेंकियाजाताहैऔरकियाजाताहै
पश्चिमबंगाल।
र्नरमॉरिसननएंडकंपननीलिमिटटेडबिक्रीसेप्राप्तआयर्नरमॉरिसननएंडकंपननीलिमिटटेडद्वाराएकत्रकिएजातेहैं।
दासजे।
औरउननकेअपननेननामकेखातेमेंजमाकियागया
हांगकांगऔरशंघाईबैंकिंगनिगमकेसाथयह।उननकेसहितखर्चोंकोकाटटननेकेबाददेयराशिटटर्नरद्वाराप्रेषितकीजातीहै।
मॉरिसननएंडकंपननीलिमिटटेडननेएसोसिएशननकोमिस्र।इननतथ्योंपरआयकरअधिकारीननेइलाजकियार्नरमॉरिसननएंडकंपननीलिमिटटेडकेएजेंटटोंकेरूपमेंभारतीयसंविधाननकीधारा43 केतहतसंघआय--करअधिनियमऔरउननकेलिएआयकरकाआकलननऊपरवर्णितदोमूल्यांकननवर्षधारा4 (1) (ए) या, , पहलेभागकेतहतवैकल्पिकरूपसेधारा4 (1) (ग)।उन्हेंभीअधिकआंकागयाथाचारप्रभार्यलेखांकननकेलिएलाभकरयहाँपहलेउल्लिखितअवधियाँ।र्नरमॉरिसननएंडकंपननीलिमिटटेड(इसकेबाद)) एजेंटटोंकेरूपमेंसंदर्भितकेखिलाफपसंदीदाअपीलें
अपीलीयकोउपरोक्तमूल्यांकननआदेश
, , सहायकआयुक्तजिन्होंननेहालांकिबर्खास्तकरदियाअपीलेंकरें।एजेंटटोंननेएकऔरअपीलकीआय-करअपीलीयन्यायाधिकरण।प्रस्तुतकरननान्यायाधिकरणकेसमक्षएजेंटटोंकाकहननाथाकिधारा4 (1) (ए) केतहतखराबथाऔरयहकिधारा42 केतहतमूल्यांकननकियाजाननाचाहिएथा।, अधिनियमसे।न्यायाधिकरणकेविचारपर, तथ्यइसनिष्कर्षपरपहुंचेकिमूल्यांकननधारा4 (1) (ए) औरइंसीकेतहतठीकसेबननायागयाथामौखिकरूपसेन्यायाधिकरणभीइसनिष्कर्षपरपहुँचाकिआय-करलेखककावैकल्पिकविवादयहहैकिमूल्यांकननकेतहतकियाजाननाचाहिएधारा4 (1) (सी) कापहलाभागभीअच्छीतरहसेस्थापितथा।42 औरउसमामलेमेंधाराकाकोईअननुप्रयोगननहींथा।
68
[1953]सर्वोच्चन्यायालयकीरिपोर्ट
↑ 524
1953 परिणामयहहुआकिन्यायाधिकरणननेआयकरअधिकारीऔरअपीलीयकेनिष्कर्षोंकीपुष्टिकी, र्नरननेअपीलोंकोखारिजकरदिया।मॉरिसननएंडकंपननीसहायकआयुक्तपरलिमिटटेडकेतहतकिएगएएजेंटटोंकेआवेदनन
66 (1) अधिनियमकीधाराअपीलीयन्यायाधिकरण
Case: TURNER MORRISON & CO. LTD versus COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX, WEST BENGAL [[1953] 1 S.C.R. 520] (1953)
Grainger ct Son v. William Lane Gough (L.R. [1896] A.O. 325) i·elied on.
(vi) Where income, profits and gains are actually received in India s. 4 (1) (a) applies and it is no longer necessary for the revenue to resort to the fiction introduced by s. 42, and the asses-sees were properly assessed under s. 4 (1) (a) and not under s. 4 (1) (c), Section 4(1) (a) applies to all categories of assessees includ-ing non-residents.
Hirn Mills v. Income-tax Officer, Cawnpore ([1946] 14 I.T.R. 417), Burugu Nagayya v. Commissioner of Income-tax, Madras ([1949] 17 LT .R. 194J and Pondicherry Railway Co. v. Commissioner of Income-tax, Madras ([1931] I.L.R. 54 Mad. 691) relied on.
(vii) The mere fact that the assessees were treated as agents under s. 43 of the Act did not 1nake it compulsory on the part of the revenue authorities to assess under s. 42, for an appointment as agent under s. 43 is for all the purposes of the Act and not only for the purposes of s. 42.
Iniperial Tobacco Co. of India Ltd. v. Secretary of State for India ([1922] I.L.R. 49 Cal. 721!, Commissioner of Income-tax, Bombay v. Metro Goldwyn Ma,yer (India) Ltd. ([1939] 7 I.T.R.176), Caltex Ltd. v. Commissioner of Income-tax, Bombay City ([1952] 21 I.T .R. 278) explained.
Judgment of the Calcutta High Court affirmed.
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No. 41 of 1952. Appeal from a Judgment and Decree dated 25th July, 1950, of the High Court of Judica-ture at Oalcul:.1:.a. (Sen 11nd Chunder JJ.) exercising Special Jurisdiction (Income-tax) in Income-tax Reference No. 31 of 1949,
522
SUPREME COUR'r R~JPORTS [1953]
S. Mitra (S. N. Mukherjee, with him) for the appel-
1958
lant.
Turner AforriBon & Co., Ltd. v.
C. K. Daphtary, Solicitor-General for India (P. A.
Mehta, with him) for the respondent.
Co11anissioner of Inconie-tax, TVcst Bengal.
1953. January 16. The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
DAs J.-'l'his appeal arises out of six references made by the Calcutta Bench of the Income-tax Appellate Tribunal under section 66(1) of the Indian Income-tax Act, two of them relating to the income-tax assessment years 1943-44 and 1944-45 and the remrtining four re_lating to excess profits tax for the chargeable accounting periods ending on the 31st December of each of the years 1940, 1941 1943 and 1943 respectively.
Daa J.
The relevant facts ap-pearing in the statements of
the case are as follows: Messrs. Port Said Salt Asso-ciation Ltd, (hereinafter referred to as "the Associa-tion") is a company incorporated in the United Kingdom and has its registered office there. 'rhe Association, however, carries on business in Egypt and its head office is situate in Alexandria where tbe annual general meetings of its shareholders are held. Not being resident in the United Kingdom the Asso-ciation pays no British income-tax on its profits. For the purposes of assessment under the Indian Income-tax Act the As'sociation has been considered to be a non-resident. The association manufactures salt in ]~gypt where it has certain concessions and the salt as manufactured is sent for sale in any country where there is.a ~.uitable market. Part of the salt so manufactured by the Association is con-signed to Messrs. Turner Morrison & Company Ltd. for sale in India. All shipping operations, i e., chartering of steamer, loading, insurance etc., are effected in Egypt by the Association wlio sends the documents to Messrs. Turner Morrison & Company Ltd. Messrs. Turner Morrison aud Company Ltd. (lffect sales i11 India through brokers at the best price
S.C.R. SUPREME OOURT REPORTS
523
Case: TURNER MORRISON & CO. LTD versus COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX, WEST BENGAL [[1953] 1 S.C.R. 520] (1953)
68
[1953]सर्वोच्चन्यायालयकीरिपोर्ट
↑ 524
1953 परिणामयहहुआकिन्यायाधिकरणननेआयकरअधिकारीऔरअपीलीयकेनिष्कर्षोंकीपुष्टिकी, र्नरननेअपीलोंकोखारिजकरदिया।मॉरिसननएंडकंपननीसहायकआयुक्तपरलिमिटटेडकेतहतकिएगएएजेंटटोंकेआवेदनन
66 (1) अधिनियमकीधाराअपीलीयन्यायाधिकरण
-कर,उच्चन्यायालयकेआयुक्तननेनिम्ननलिखितप्रश्नोंकोउच्चन्यायालयकोभेजाःआय
“ ( 1 ) चाहे, तथ्योंऔरपरिस्थितियोंमें
पश्चिमबंगाल।
, इसमामलेमेंन्यायाधिकरणयहअभिनिर्धारितकरननेमेंसहीथाकि
जे. , लाभऔरलाभधारा4 (1) (ए) , लाभब्रिटिशभारतमेंननमककीबिक्रीसेप्राप्तआयकेतहतप्राप्तयाप्राप्तकिएगएआय?औरलाभकेरूपमेंकरकेलिएआकलननयोग्यहैं
,कारात्मक
( 2 ) , आयक्याइसमामलेकेतथ्योंऔरपरिस्थितियोंमेंन्यायाधिकरणविभागकेइसतर्ककोस्वीकारकरननेमेंसहीथाकिभारतमेंउपार्जितयाउत्पन्नयाउपार्जितयाउत्पन्नमाननाजाताहैऔरजैसाकिविचारकियागयाहैकरकेलिएआकलननयोग्यहै
धारा4 (1) (सी)?
( 3 ) क्यान्यायाधिकरणसी. आई. आर. मेंसहीथा(आवेदक) आय, लाभऔरलाभकेवलधारा42 केनिर्धारितीकेइसतर्ककोअस्वीकारकरननेमेंइसमामलेकेनिहितार्थकि?तहतब्रिटिशभारतमेंननमककीबिक्रीसेकरकेलिएप्रभार्यहैं
यहसंदर्भएकपीठकेसमक्षनिपटटारेकेलिएआया
कलकत्ताउच्चन्यायालयजिसमेंसेननऔर
चंदरजेजे।विद्वाननन्यायाधीशोंननेनिम्ननलिखितप्रश्नोंकेउत्तरदिएः" (1), ,प्रश्न।जहाँतकआयकरकाआकलननकियागयाहैइसकाजवाबसकारात्मकहै।अतिरिक्तलाभकर, हालाँकिइसआधारपरशुल्कननहींलगायाजासकताहै।(2)प्रश्नन्यायाधिकरणविभागकेइसतर्ककोस्वीकारकरननेमेंगलतथाकिआयभारतमेंउपार्जितयाउत्पन्नहुईथी।न्यायाधिकरणननेयहअभिनिर्धारितननहींकियाकिआयवहआयहैजिसेभारतमेंउपार्जितयाउत्पन्नमाननाजाननाचाहिए।प्रश्नकावहभागजिसमेंकहागयाहैकिन्यायाधिकरणननेऐसाननहींकियाहै
आय,तथ्यकेअननुसार।हमपातेहैंकि
6 }
एस. सी. आर. सर्वोच्चन्यायालयकीरिपोर्ट
525
ई.
लाभऔरलाभउत्पन्नहुएमाननेजाननेचाहिएया
1953
, जहाँतकअतिरिक्तलाभकरहैभारतमेंउपार्जित42 (3),आयकरटटर्नरमॉरिसननएंडकंपननीकीधारा
अधिनियमगुणद्वाराअतिरिक्तलाभकरलगाननेपरलागूहोताहै।
.लि
21।अतिरिक्तलाभकरअधिनियमकीधारा
(3)आय, -कर।केवलधारा42 केप्रश्नन्यायाधिकरणननेइसतर्ककोअस्वीकारकरननेमेंसहीथाकिलाभऔरलाभपश्चिमबंगालतहतकरलगायाजाताहै।वे.
आय-करकेलिएभीप्रभार्यहैंजोइसकेअंतर्गतआताहै
दासजे।
आय-करकीधारा4 (1) (ए) कीपरिधिकीओरसेभारतमेंप्राप्तआयकेरूपमेंअधिनियम42निर्धारितीकंपननी।ऐसेमामलेमेंधाराआय-करअधिनियमलागूननहींहोगा।यहदेखाजाएगाकिएजेंटटसफलहुएजहाँतकवेसंबंधितहैंउननकेविवादअतिरिक्तलाभकरकानिर्धारण।जवाबहैं।, , लाफगयाउच्चन्यायालयद्वारादियागयाहालांकिइसकेखिजहाँतकवेमूल्यांकननसेसंबंधितहैंआय-दोननोंनिर्धारणवर्षोंकेलिएकर।इसकेबादएजेंटटोंननेदोआवेदननकिए66 अपीलकरननेकीअननुमतिकेलिएधाराएकेतहतउच्चन्यायालयआय-करनिर्धारणकेसंबंधमेंइसन्यायालयको.दोमूल्यांकननवर्षोंमेंसेप्रत्येककेलिएविचार।दउच्चन्यायालयननेप्रमाणितकियाकिमामलेअपीलकेलिएउपयुक्तथेइसन्यायालयकोऔरअपीलकरननेकीअननुमतिदीऔरनिर्देशदियाकिदोननोंअपीलोंकोसमेकितकियाजाए।दकमिज, हालांकिपश्चिमबंगालकेआयकरविभागननेऐसाननहींकियाहै।निर्णयकेउसभागसेकिसीभीअपीलकोप्राथमिकतादीगईउच्चन्यायालयजोइसपरअपननीरायदेताहैजहाँतकवेमूल्यांकननसेसंबंधितहैंअतिरिक्तलाभकर।अतःयहअपीलकोननहैकेवलउच्चद्वारादिएगएउत्तरोंकेसाथजहाँतकवेसंबंधितहैंप्रश्नोंकेलिएन्यायालयआयकाआकलनन-केवलकर।. श्रीएसमित्राद्वाराआग्रहकियागयापहलामुख्यतर्क,इसअपीलकेसमर्थननमेंउपस्थितहोननायहहैकिकोईआयननहींभारतमेंलाभऔरलाभप्राप्तकिएगएथेसंघकाआधा।वहइसेअच्छाबननाननाचाहताहै
विभिन्नकारणोंपरविवादजिननमेंसेसभीहैं
-एकदूसरेकेसाथकाफीसुसंगतनन
526 हींहैऔरमेंसेकुछ
[1953]सर्वोच्चन्यायालयकीरिपोर्ट
1953 जोपरस्परविननाशकारीभीहोसकताहै।ननरसम्मलबननाममेंनिर्णयोंपरभरोसाकरनना।राज्यसचिवटट
र्नर
, (1) ेडv., (3), मॉरिसननएंडकंपननीभारतकेलिएऔरपांडिचेरीरेलवेकंपननीलिमिटटआयकरआयुक्तमद्रासश्रीमित्रा
V. आग्रहकरताहैकिकोईआय, लाभऔरलाभननहींथेभारतमें"प्राप्त" केआयुक्त, एजेंटटोंकेलिएकुछभीआय-करननहींथे, बल्कि"एकसजीवडाकघर" थे।हमबाध्यहैं
. दास, पश्चिमबंगाल।इसतर्ककोउसीआधारपरअननुचितमाननतेहुएअस्वीकारकरें।जेजिननपरप्रिवीकाउंसिलननेपांडिचेरीरेलवेकंपननीकेमामलेमेंइसीतरहकेविवादकोखारिजकरदिया।
ेड()लिमिटट।लॉर्डमैकमिलननकीभाषामें
एजेंटटोंकेकार्यउननकेद्वाराएकत्रकीगईराशिकोमिस्रमेंएसोसिएशननकोप्रेषितकरननेकेमात्रयांत्रिककार्यसेकहींअधिकथे।, , , , उन्हेंसंघकीओरसेमहत्वपूर्णकर्तव्यसौंपेगएथेअर्थात्बिक्रीकेलिएउन्हेंभेजेगएमालकीबिक्रीकार्गोकोसंभालनना, वितरणआदेशजारीकरननाबिक्रीआयएकत्रकरननाऔरफिरउननकेद्वाराकिएगएखर्चोंऔरअपननेस्वयंकेकमीशननकोकाटटननकेबादउसेभेजनना।"एकएनिमेटटेडडाकघर" काविवरणशायदहीकिसीएजेंटटपरलागूहोसकताहै
यहवर्णनन।
श्रीमित्राइसकेबादअपननीबातबदलतेहैंऔरआग्रहकरतेहैं
Case: TURNER MORRISON & CO. LTD versus COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX, WEST BENGAL [[1953] 1 S.C.R. 520] (1953)
S.C.R. SUPREME OOURT REPORTS
523
obtainable at or above the prices approved by the 1959 Association. Turner Morrison & Company Ltd. are T paid commission at the rate of 2-1£ per cent. generally lviorri;;:~; co., on all the sales except in some cases where It pe1 Ltd. cent. is paid. All handling of the cargoes when they v. arrive at Calcutta and the necessary disbursementsOommissionei· of in connection therewith are carried out and made by Income-tax, Turner Morrison & Company Ltd. The sale proceeds West Bengal. are collected by rrurner Morrison & Company Ltd. Das J. and credited to the account kept in their own name with the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corpora-tion. After deducting the expenses including their commission the balance is remitted by Turner Morrison & Company Ltd. to the Association in Egypt. On these facts the Income-tax Officer treated Turner Morrison & Company Ltd. as the agents of the Association under section 43 of the Indian Income-tax Act and assessed them to income-tax for the two assessment years mentioned above under section 4 (1) (a) or, alternatively, under the first part of section 4 (1) (c). They were also assessed to excess profits tax for the four chargeable accounting periods hereinbefore mentioned.
Turner Morrison & Company Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as the Agents) preferred appeals against the aforesaid assessment orders to the Appellate Assistant Commissioner who, however, dismissed the appeals. The Agents took a further appeal to the Income-tax Appellate Tribunal. The submission of the Agents before the Tribunal was that the asse;:.s-ment under section 4(1) (a) was bad and that the assessment should have been made under section 42 of the Act. The 'l'ribunal, on a co1isideration of the facts, came to the conclusion that the assessment was properly made under section 4( 1) (a) and inci-dentally the Tribunal also came to the conclusion that the alternative contention of the Income-tax author-ities that the assessment should be made under the first part of section 4(1) (c) was also well-founded and that section 42 had no application to the Cfli'i<'. f?8
1968 The result was that the Tribunal confirmed the find-ings of the Income-tax Officer and the Appellate Afon~:;:~ Go., Assistant Commissioner and dismissed the appeals. Ltd. • On the application of the Agents made under v. section 66 (1) of the Act the Appellate Tribunal Commissioner of referred the following questions to the High Court:-west Jnc~nne-tax, Bengal. H (1) 'Whether, m the facts , and circumstances . of this case, the Tribunal was right in holding that Das J. the income, profits and gains derived from the sale of salt in British India are assessable to tax as income, profits and gains received or deemed to be received under section 4(1) (a) ?
And if the answer to .the first question is in the negative, ,-
Whether, in the facts and circumstances of
(2) Whether, in the facts and circumstances of this case, the Tribunal was right in accepting the contention of the Department that the income accrued or arose or is deemed to accrue or arise in India and is assessable to tax as contemplated by section 4 (1) (c)?
(3) ·whether the Tribunal was right in the cir·-cumstances of this c~se in rejecting the contention of the assessee (applicant) that the income, profits and gains am chargeable to tax from the sale of salt in British India under section 42 only?"
'rhe reference came up for disppsal before a Bench of the Calcutta High Court consisting of Sen and Chunder JJ. The learned Judges gave the following answers to the questions:-
" Question (1). The answer is in the affirmative so far as income.tax is assessed. Excess profits tax, however, cannot be levied on this basis.
Case: TURNER MORRISON & CO. LTD versus COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX, WEST BENGAL [[1953] 1 S.C.R. 520] (1953)
ेड()लिमिटट।लॉर्डमैकमिलननकीभाषामें
एजेंटटोंकेकार्यउननकेद्वाराएकत्रकीगईराशिकोमिस्रमेंएसोसिएशननकोप्रेषितकरननेकेमात्रयांत्रिककार्यसेकहींअधिकथे।, , , , उन्हेंसंघकीओरसेमहत्वपूर्णकर्तव्यसौंपेगएथेअर्थात्बिक्रीकेलिएउन्हेंभेजेगएमालकीबिक्रीकार्गोकोसंभालनना, वितरणआदेशजारीकरननाबिक्रीआयएकत्रकरननाऔरफिरउननकेद्वाराकिएगएखर्चोंऔरअपननेस्वयंकेकमीशननकोकाटटननकेबादउसेभेजनना।"एकएनिमेटटेडडाकघर" काविवरणशायदहीकिसीएजेंटटपरलागूहोसकताहै
यहवर्णनन।
श्रीमित्राइसकेबादअपननीबातबदलतेहैंऔरआग्रहकरतेहैं
, , किभलेहीभारतमेंआयलाभऔरलाभप्राप्तहुएहोंरसीदएसोसिएशननद्वारायाउसकीओरसेननहींथी।विवादयहहैकिहालांकि
, एजेंटटोंकोएजेंटटकेरूपमेंवर्णितकियाजाताहैवेवास्तवमेंयाकाननूननमेंऐसेननहींथेऔरकुएंपरनिर्भरतारखीजातीहै।(3) पूर्वपक्षसफेदकाज्ञातमामला।उसपरएकननज़र
मामलास्पष्टरूपसेदिखाएगाकिवहाँव्यक्तिको
, -, जिननकेमालकोएकमूल्यसूचीकेसाथभेजागयाथाउननकेलेननदेननकीप्रक्रियाकेअननुसारवहकिसीभीकीमतपरमाल, ेदेखाबेचननेकाहकदारथाऔरवहमालकेप्रेषककोकेवलसूचीबद्धमूल्यपरभेजताथा।दूसरेशब्दोंमेंहालांकिदलोंनन
एकएजेंसीकागठननकरननेकेरूपमेंउननकाव्यवहार
, हस्ताक्षरकर्ताननेवास्तवमेंमालकोप्रेषककेएजेंटटकेरूपमेंननहींबेचालेकिननअपननेखातेमेंऐसाकियाऔरसूचीबद्धमूल्यसेअधिकप्राप्तकोईभीमूल्यउसकाअपननाथा।
( 1 ) [ 1916 ] आई. एल. आर. 39 मैड, 885।
( 2 ) [ 1931 ] आई. एल. आर. 54 मैड, 691; एल. आर. 58 आई. ए. 239
( 3 ) एल. आर. 6 च.ए. 397।
+
, जोलाभहोताहै।न्यायाधिकरणद्वारापाएगएतथ्योंपर
1953
विद्वाननवकीलकोचुननौतीदेननेकाअधिकारननहींहै, इननकार्यवाहीटटर्नरकेउद्देश्योंकेलिएयहकाफीमॉरिसननएंडकंपननीहै।स्पष्टकरेंकिमालकाआयातननहींकियागयाथा
.लि
अपननेखातेपरएजेंटटऔरवेकभीननहींबनने
वी.
किसीभीस्तरपरखरीदार।वेआयुक्तकोननहींबेचसके
आय-कर,
, किसीभीकीमतपरसामाननजोउन्हेंपसंदथाक्योंकिउन्हेंबेचननापड़ताथा
पश्चिमबंगाल।
उन्हेंएसोसियाद्वाराअननुमोदितमूल्यपरयाउससेऊपरयह।यदिबिक्रीस्वीकृतदरसेअधिकथी
दासजे।अतिरिक्तकीमतकोकभीभीबरकरारननहींरखागयाऔरविनियोजितननहींकियागयाएजेंटटोंद्वाराअपननेस्वयंकेलाभकेरूपमें।श्रीमित्रावहाँयहमाननतेहुएकिएजेंटटोंकेपासथाएसोसिएशननकेएजेंटटोंकेरूपमेंमालबेचाआवश्यकरूपसेभुगताननप्राप्तकरननेकाअधिकारननहींहैकीमतसे।रिलायंसकोबटटविकबननामपररखागयाहै।(1) एकलेखकअननुदाननइसप्रस्तावकेसमर्थननमेंकिबेचननेकाअधिकारअनिवार्यरूपसेएकप्राधिकरणकासंकेतननहींहैमूल्यकाभुगताननप्राप्तकरननेकेलिए।तर्कयहहैकितबयहनिर्धारितकियागयाकिएजेंटटोंकेपासकोईअधिकारननहींथा, रसीदमूल्यप्राप्तकरननेकेलिएयहननहींकहाजासकताहैकिएसोसिएशननद्वारायाउसकीओरसेथा।यहतर्कमननफिरसेव्यवसायकेपाठ्यक्रमकोननजरअंदाजकरताहैजैसाकिपायागयाहैन्यायाधिकरणद्वाराजिसकास्पष्टरूपसेतात्पर्यहैकिअभिकर्ता
बिक्रीआयएकत्रकरनना।
पहलामुख्यतर्ककेसमर्थननमेंआग्रहकियागयातीसराआधारयहहैकिएजेंटटोंद्वाराएकत्रकीगईपूरीराशिएसोसिएशननद्वारा, , , प्राप्यननहींथीक्योंकिएजेंटटइसकेएकहिस्सेकेहकदारथेअर्थात्प्रबंधननकोपूराकरननेमेंउननकेद्वाराखर्चकीगईराशि।
क.
(2) (3) शुल्कऔरउननकाअपननाकमीशनन।कोलकुहौननबननामकेअधिकारपर।ब्रूक्सऔरसैय्यदअलीइमामबननाम।राजासम्राटटश्रीमित्राकातर्कहैकिएजेंटटोंद्वाराएकत्रकीगईबिक्रीआयइतननीपूरीतरहसेएसोसिएशननकेनियंत्रणमेंननहींथीकिवहअपननेस्वयंकेकार्यसेवास्तवमेंपूरीबिक्रीआयप्राप्तकरसके।
(1) [1924] 2 के. बी. 483 थे।इसेमिस्रमेंस्थाननांतरितकरदियागया।यहतर्कस्पष्टरूपसेगलतहै।यहरियायतकिएजेंटट
( 2 ) 2 ैक्सकैस।490 .( 3 ) ( 1925 ) आई. एल. आर. 4 पटट, 210; ए. आई. आर. 1925 पैटट।381 .
528 [1953]सर्वोच्चन्यायालयकीरिपोर्ट
1953 वेअपननेसंवितरणऔरअपननीराशिमेंकटटौतीकरननेकेहकदारहैं।
बिक्रीआयसेमिशननकास्पष्टरूपसेतात्पर्यहैकि
मॉरिसननएंडकंपननीकेलिएटटर्नरननेएसोसिएशननकोबतायाकिबिक्रीसेप्राप्तआयसंबंधितथी।
ए. एस. ओ. एजेंटटद्वारादेयराशिमेंकटटौतीननहींकरसके
.लि
किसीऐसीवस्तुसेसंबंधजोसंबंधितननहींथी
-करकीधारा217, एसोसिएशननकेआयुक्त।भारतीयअननुबंधअधिनियमआयएकएजेंटटकोपश्चिमबंगालकीकिसीभीराशिमेंसेअपननेपासरखननेकाअधिकारदेतीहै।व्यवसायमेंमूलधननकेकारणप्राप्तकियागया।
, एजेंसीकासभीधननउननकेकारण
दासजे।
द्वाराकिएगएअग्रिमोंयाउचितरूपसेकिएगएखर्चोंका
वहइसतरहकेव्यवसायऔरइसतरहकेपारिश्रमिककेसंचालननमें
जोअभिकर्ताकेरूपमेंकार्यकरननेकेलिएउसेदेयहो।
धारा221 एजेंटटकोअपननेपासरखननेकाअधिकारभीप्रदाननकरतीहै।
, प्रधाननकीवस्तुएँकागजातऔरअन्यसंपत्ति
उसकेद्वारातबतकप्राप्तकियाजाताहैजबतककिउसकेलिएदेयराशि
आयोग, संवितरणऔरसेवाओंकेसंबंधमें
.उसीकाभुगताननयाहिसाबउसेकरदियागयाहै।द
अभिकर्ताकोअननुचरऔरग्रहणाधिकारकाअधिकारप्रदाननकियाजाताहै
अभिकर्ताकीओरसेप्राप्तराशिकाभुगताननननकरें
मूलधननकीसंपत्तिजितननीकमहो
Case: TURNER MORRISON & CO. LTD versus COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX, WEST BENGAL [[1953] 1 S.C.R. 520] (1953)
'rhe reference came up for disppsal before a Bench of the Calcutta High Court consisting of Sen and Chunder JJ. The learned Judges gave the following answers to the questions:-
" Question (1). The answer is in the affirmative so far as income.tax is assessed. Excess profits tax, however, cannot be levied on this basis.
Question (2). 'l'he Tribunal was wrong in accepting the contention of the department that the income accrued or arose in India. The Tribunal did not hold that the income is income which should be deemed to accrue or arise in India. The part of the question which states that the Tribunal did so is not iu accordance with fact. We find that the iucome,
· profits and gains must be deemed to have arisen or accrued in India so far as excess profits tax is con-cerned and that section 42(3) of the Income-tax M A c a t pp 1ies to t e evy o excess [. ]h 1 f pro fi ts tax b y virtue . • of section 21 of the Excess Profits Tax Act. Question (3). The Tribunal was was right in reject-in reject-ing the contention that the income, profits and gains are chargeable to tax under section 42 only. They are also chargeable to income-tax as falling within the purview of section 4 (1) (a) of the Income-tax Act as income received in India on behalf of the assessee company. In such a case section 42 of the Income-tax Act would have no application."
1953 T"r"":arr.so" "' 0 o., Ltd. v. Oommissionei· [[0]]Inconie-tax, West Bengal. Das J.
The Tribunal was was right in reject-in reject- Oommissionei· [[0]]1
It will be noticed that the Agents succeeded in their contentions so far as they related to the assessment of e~cess profits tax. The answers given by the High Court, however, went against them in so far as they related to the assessment of income-tax for both the assessment years. The Agents thereafter made two applications to the High Court under section 66A for leave to appeal to this Court in respect of the· income-tax assess-ments for each of the two assessment years. The High Court certified that the cases were fit for app_eal to this Court and granted leave to appeal and directed that the two appeals be consolidated. The Commis-sioner of Income-tax, \Vest Bengal, however, has not preferred any appsial from that part of the judgment of the High Court which sets forth its opinion on the questions in so far as they relate to the assessment of excess profits tax. This appeal is, therefore, con-cerned only with the answers given by the High Court to the questions in so far as they relate to the assessments of income-tax only.
The first main contention urged by Mr. S. Mitra appearing in support of this appeal is that no income, profits and gains were received in India by or on be~ half of the Association. He seeks to make good this contention on a variety of reasons all of which are not quite consistent with each other and some of
SUPREME COUR1' REPORTS [1953)
526
Case: TURNER MORRISON & CO. LTD versus COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX, WEST BENGAL [[1953] 1 S.C.R. 520] (1953)
दासजे।
द्वाराकिएगएअग्रिमोंयाउचितरूपसेकिएगएखर्चोंका
वहइसतरहकेव्यवसायऔरइसतरहकेपारिश्रमिककेसंचालननमें
जोअभिकर्ताकेरूपमेंकार्यकरननेकेलिएउसेदेयहो।
धारा221 एजेंटटकोअपननेपासरखननेकाअधिकारभीप्रदाननकरतीहै।
, प्रधाननकीवस्तुएँकागजातऔरअन्यसंपत्ति
उसकेद्वारातबतकप्राप्तकियाजाताहैजबतककिउसकेलिएदेयराशि
आयोग, संवितरणऔरसेवाओंकेसंबंधमें
.उसीकाभुगताननयाहिसाबउसेकरदियागयाहै।द
अभिकर्ताकोअननुचरऔरग्रहणाधिकारकाअधिकारप्रदाननकियाजाताहै
अभिकर्ताकीओरसेप्राप्तराशिकाभुगताननननकरें
मूलधननकीसंपत्तिजितननीकमहो
प्रिंसिपल।प्रधाननपूर्णस्वामीहोताहैऔरकेहाथोंमेंअपननीसंपत्तियोंपरपूर्णनियंत्रणअभिकर्ताकेवलबादवालेकेवैधानिकअधिकारकेअधीननहैअननुचरऔरग्रहणाधिकार।अतःयहकिसम्पूर्णमामलेमेंअभिकर्ताओंद्वाराप्राप्तबिक्रीआयएसोसिएशननकीओरसेहमारास्वागतकियागयाऔरथा।यहएजेंटटोंकेअधिकारोंकेअधीनन, अंतमेंश्रीमित्राआग्रहकरतेहैंकिसकलबिक्रीआगेबढ़े, वेकेवलऋणथे।वास्तवमेंआयननहींथीक्योंकिखातेमेंआइटटमऔरकईराशियाँथींउसीखातेमेंडेबिटटकियाजाएऔरयदिशेषरहगयाहो, होसकतीहैकोईभीऋणशेषराशिऐसीहीशेषराशिकेऔपचारिकप्रभावकेसाथमुहरकेरूपमेंमाननाजाताहैआय, लाभऔरलाभकाचरित्रऔरसक्षमआय, लाभऔरलाभकेरूपमेंव्यवहारकियाजारहाहैकहाजासकताहैकियहकेवलउसस्तरपरप्राप्तकियागयाथा।,हमेंइसतर्ककेसमर्थननमेंसंदर्भितकियागयाहै, मामलोंमेंकुछटिप्पणियोंकेलिएकेआयुक्तेड(1), (2), शेलैक(1) करबननाम।दमेलबर्नटट्रस्टटलिमिटटरसेलबननाम।एबरदीननटटाउननएंडकाउंटटीबैंकरेरोजर्सपायटट[1914] ए. सी. 1001 पी.1011 .( 2 ) 2 321 पीपर।327 .ैक्सकैस।
एस. सी. आर. सर्वोच्चन्यायालयकीरिपोर्ट
529
1953
& को. वी.(1), भारतकेराज्यसचिवआयुक्तआय-कर, ,बॉम्बेसिटटीबननाम।अग्रवालएंडकंपननी
र्नर
(1), (3), , बॉम्बेगोविंदरामतननसुखरायऔरमॉरिसननएंडकंपननीअन्यमामले।उननकईमामलोंमेंटिप्पणियोंलिमिटटेडकोउननमामलोंकेतथ्योंकेआलोकमेंपढ़ाजाननाचाहिए।
केआयुक्त
औरवहविषयजोतबचर्चामेंथा।तो।
आय-कर,
पश्चिमबंगाल।
(1) , इसमामलेकेतथ्य।मामलामोर्लेबननाम।टटैटटरसलजिसपरश्रीमित्राननेभीभरोसाकियाथास्पष्टरूपसेअलगहै।
दासजे।
, क्योंकिननीलामीकर्ताओंद्वाराप्राप्तबिक्रीआयकादायित्वलावारिसशेषराशिकोभागीदारोंकेखातेमेंस्थाननांतरितकिएजाननेके, बादभीबननारहाऔरइसलिएउन्हेंव्यापारप्राप्तियोंकेरूपमेंननहींमाननाजासकताथा।जिसपर
(
दूसरीओर, ग्रेंजरएंडसननबननामकामामला।विलियमलेननगफ(5) स्पष्टरूपसेदिखाएंगेकिएकएजेंटटद्वाराअपननेविदेशीको1842 41 मूलधननकीओरसेप्राप्तधननकेअंग्रेजीआयकरअधिनियमकीधाराकेअर्थकेभीतरव्यापारलाभकोशामिल337 345)करननेकेरूपमेंमाननाजासकताहै।औरलॉर्डमॉरिसपी।।ननीलपुत्रएंडरसननएंडकंपननीबननामकेमामलोंकीअपील(6) केतहतनिर्णयमेंउद्धृतकईअंश।कोलिन्सऔरतारूबननाम।स्कैननलैननस्पष्टरूपसेइंगितकरताहैकिशुद्धबिक्रीआय, , वहीसकलबिक्रीआयमेंशामिलहै।जैसाकिबैंगलोरवूलेननकॉटटननएंडसिल्कमिल्सकंपननीलिमिटटेडमेंबतायागयाहै, (7) , प्रिंसिपल।आयकरआयुक्तमद्रासआयकरआयुक्तबॉम्बेप्रेसीडेंसीऔरअदननबननाममेंप्रिवीकाउंसिलकेनिर्णयोंमेंनिहित. मेहता(8) है।चुनिलालबीऔरआयुक्त
1
आय-, . एल. (3)कबकरकेनिदेशकमद्रासबननाम।एसमथियास।अतःइसबातपरकोईसंदेहननहींहोसकताकि
!
, , सकलबिक्रीआयभारतमेंएजेंटटोंद्वाराप्राप्तकीजातीथीउन्हेंआवश्यकरूपसेजोभीआयलाभऔरलाभनिष्क्रिययाछिपेहुएयाअन्यथाअंतर्निहितथे, वेप्राप्तहोतेथे।बेशक, अगरहिसाबलेननेपरयहपायाजाएकिकोई(1) [1925] आई. एल. आर. 52 कैलननहींथा।1 पीपर।31 .( 2 ) [ 1952 ] 21 आई. टटी. आर. 293( 6 ) 13 करमामला91.( 3 ) [ 1944] 12 आई. टटी. आर450( 7 ) [ 1950 ] 18 आई. टटी. आर. 423 पी.438 .( 4 ) [ 1938 ] 3 सभीई. आर. 296।( 8 ) ( 1938 ) 65 आई. ए. 332।
( 5 ) [ 1896 ] ए. सी. 325( 9 ) आई. एल. आर. [1939] पागल।178 ; 7 आई. टटी. आर. 48
530
[1953]सर्वोच्चन्यायालयकीरिपोर्ट
1953 वर्षकेदौराननलाभतबप्राप्तिकाप्रश्न
आय, लाभऔरलाभउत्पन्नननहींहोंगेलेकिननयदि
, , आय, र्नरलाभतबआननुपातिकमॉरिसननएंडकंपननीलाभऔरलिमिटटेडकाहिस्साथाजोप्राप्तबिक्रीआयकेकारणथा।V. , भारतमेंएजेंटटोंद्वाराआयलाभऔरलाभथे।इससमयउननकेद्वाराप्राप्तसकलबिक्रीकेआयुक्तआय-कर, आयउन्हेंभारतमेंप्राप्तहुईथीऔरवह
4 (1) (ए) ातेपश्चिमबंगाल।धाराकेप्रावधाननोंकीस्थितिहोननेकेनन
, लाभतुरंतआकर्षितहुएऔरआय
दासजे।
3 , औरइसप्रकारप्राप्तलाभअधिनियमकीधाराकेतहतकरकेलिएप्रभार्यहोगए।हमारीरायमेंकोईननहींहैपहलेमुख्यविवादमेंपदार्थद्वाराजोड़ागया
. श्रीएसमित्रा।
, श्रीमित्राकादूसरामुख्यबिंदुयहहैकियहमाननतेहुएकि
आय, लाभऔरलाभकीप्राप्तिहोतीथी, भारतमेंइसतरहकीआयलाभऔरलाभस्पष्टरूपसेउत्पन्नहुए
,भारतमेंकिसीव्यावसायिकसंबंधकेमाध्यमसेयाउससेऔर
Case: TURNER MORRISON & CO. LTD versus COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX, WEST BENGAL [[1953] 1 S.C.R. 520] (1953)
The first main contention urged by Mr. S. Mitra appearing in support of this appeal is that no income, profits and gains were received in India by or on be~ half of the Association. He seeks to make good this contention on a variety of reasons all of which are not quite consistent with each other and some of
SUPREME COUR1' REPORTS [1953)
526
1953 which may even he mutually destructive. Relying ori T . the decisions in Narasammal v. The Secretary of State Morri:;,;•; 0 0.,•for India([1 ]) and Pondicherry Railway· Company Ltd. Ltd. v. Commissioner of Income-tax, Madras('), Mr. Mitra v, urges that no income, profits and gains were Oommissionm- of "received" in India at all, for the Agents were nothing ;";•;•-taxi but "an animated Post Office". \Ye are bound to '"[9]" " • reject this reasoning as unsound on the same grounds Das J. on which the Privy Council rejected a similar conten-tion in the case of Pondicherry Railway Company Ltd.('). In the language of Lord Macmillan the functions of the Agents far transcended the mere · mechanical act of transmitting the sums collected by them to the Association in .B;gypt. They were entrust-ed with important duties on behalf of the Association, namely, selling of the goods consigned to them for sale, handling the cargoes, issuing delivery orders, collecting the sale proceeds and then to remit the same after deducting the ex~enses incurred by them and their own commission. The description of "an animated Post Office" can hardly apply to an agent of this description.
Mr. Mitra thereupon shifts his ground and urges that even if income, profits and gains were received . in India, the receipt was not by or on behalf of the< Association. 1'he contention is that though the Agents are described as agents, they were not so in fact or in law and reliance is P.laced on the well known case of Ex parte White('). A perusal of that case will clearly show that there the person to whom goods were consigned, together with a price list, was, by their course of dealings, entitled ·to sell the . goods at any price he liked and that he remitted to the consignor of the goods only the listed price. In other words, although the parties looked upon their dealings as constituting an agency the con-signee did not in fact sell. the goods as agent of the consignor but did so on his own account and ·any price realised in excess of the listed price was his own
II) [19t6] l.L.R. 39 Mad, 885, (2/ I 1931jLL.R. ;4 Mad, 691; LR. 58 I.A. 239. (3) L.R. 6 Ch. A. 397·
-
527
profit. On the facts found by the Tribunal, which 1958 the _learned counsel is not entitl~d to . ch.allen.ge Tnrner for the pu.rposes of these proceedmgs, it is q.rnte Morrison & co., clear that the goods were not imported by the Ltd. Agents on their own account and they never became v. a purchaser at any stage. 'l'hey could not sell the Commissioner of goods at any price they liked, for they had to sell Income-tax, . d b h A . !Vest Bengal. t em a h t or a ove t e price b h approve y t e ssoma-tion. If the sale was at a rate above the approved Das J. price the excess was never retained and appropriated by the Agents as their own profits. Mr. Mitra there-upon contends that assuming that the Agents had sold the goods as agents of the Association they did not necessarily have the authority to receive payment of the price. Reliance is placed on Butwick v. Grant(1) in support of the proposition that an autho-rity to sell does not of necessity imply an authority to receive payment of the price. The argument is then formulated that as the Agents had no authority · to receive the price, it cannot be said that the receipt was by or on behalf of the Association. This argu-ment again overlooks the course of business as found by the 'l'ribunal which clearly implies that the Agents were not only agents for selling the s.alt but also for collecting the sale proceeds.
Case: TURNER MORRISON & CO. LTD versus COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX, WEST BENGAL [[1953] 1 S.C.R. 520] (1953)
4 (1) (ए) ातेपश्चिमबंगाल।धाराकेप्रावधाननोंकीस्थितिहोननेकेनन
, लाभतुरंतआकर्षितहुएऔरआय
दासजे।
3 , औरइसप्रकारप्राप्तलाभअधिनियमकीधाराकेतहतकरकेलिएप्रभार्यहोगए।हमारीरायमेंकोईननहींहैपहलेमुख्यविवादमेंपदार्थद्वाराजोड़ागया
. श्रीएसमित्रा।
, श्रीमित्राकादूसरामुख्यबिंदुयहहैकियहमाननतेहुएकि
आय, लाभऔरलाभकीप्राप्तिहोतीथी, भारतमेंइसतरहकीआयलाभऔरलाभस्पष्टरूपसेउत्पन्नहुए
,भारतमेंकिसीव्यावसायिकसंबंधकेमाध्यमसेयाउससेऔर
, धारा42 (1) , इसलिएकेप्रावधाननलागूहोंगेऔरऐसीआयलाभऔरलाभसेनिपटटाजाननाचाहिए।; आयकेरूपमेंलाभऔरलाभजोभारतमेंउपार्जितयाउत्पन्नहोननेवालेमाननेजातेहैंऔरपरिणामस्वरूपऐसे, कुलआयमेंआयलाभऔरलाभहोननाचाहिए।4 (1) (सी) केतहतगैरहैएसोसिएशननकेलिएधारानिवासी।श्रीमित्राआग्रहकरतेहैंकिशुल्ककेतहतधारा3 केअननुसारहोननाचाहिएऔरइसअधिनियमकेप्रावधाननोंकेअधीनन"।जैसे-, धारा4 (1) है।इसप्रकारभीप्रावधाननकेअधीनन",इसअधिनियमकेसिद्धांत।श्रीमित्राकेअननुसारतुरंतधारा42 औरऐसीआयकोआकर्षितकरताहै,लाभऔरलाभधारा42 केअंतर्गतहोननेचाहिए
धारा4 (1) (सी) , 4 (1) (ए), , मेंशामिलऔरदूसराविकल्पयाननीधाराअबलागूननहींहै।दूसरेशब्दोंमेंश्रीमित्राकेतर्कके, धारा4अननुसार
( 1 ) ( क) आय, जाताहैलाभकेरूपमेंएकमृतपत्रबननऔरगैर-निवासीकोहोननेवालेयाउपार्जितहोननेवालेलाभहैंचिंतितहैं।हमइसविषयकोस्वीकारकरननेमेंअसमर्थहैं।
यह।धारा42 .केवलमानितआयकीबातकरतीहै।द
, उसधाराकापूराउद्देश्यभारतमेंउत्पन्नहोननेवालीकुछआयलाभऔरलाभबननाननाहैताकिउन्हेंप्रभारमेंलायाजासके।,आयकीप्राप्ति
, एस. सी. आर. लाभऔरलाभदेयताकीपरीक्षाओंमेंसेएकहैसर्वोच्चन्यायालयरिपोर्ट
531
जहांआय, , लाभऔरलाभवास्तवमेंभारतमेंप्राप्तहोतेहैंराजस्वअधिकारियोंकेलिएअबकल्पननाकासहारालेननाआवश्यक-, (1) हींहैऔरयहहीरामिल्सलिमिटटेडबननाममेंकाफीस्पष्टरूपसेमाननागयाहै।आयकरअधिकारीकाननपुरऔरबुरुगु, (2)ागय्याऔरराजन्नाबननाम।आयकरआयुक्तमद्रासकेआयुक्त।यहनिर्णयमेंभीनिहितहै
1953
.लि
आय-कर, पश्चिमबंगाल।
v.आय-, (3), पांडिचेरीरेलवेकंपननीलिमिटटेडमेंप्रिवीकाउंसिलकरआयुक्तमद्रासजिसकासंदर्भपहलेहीदियाजाचुकाहै।धारा4 (1) (ए), धारा4 (1) (बी) या4 (1) (सी) , केविपरीतकिसीविशेषश्रेणीतकसीमितननहींहै।
दासजे।
-मूल्यांकननकर्ताओंका।धारा4 (1) (ए) सामान्यहैऔरनिवासीयागैरनिवासीव्यक्तिपरलागूहोतीहै।धारा4 (1) कादूसरापरंतुक, हालांकियहकिसीऐसेव्यक्तिकेमामलेसेसंबंधितहैजोसामान्यरूपसेनिवासीननहींहै, यहभीइंगितकरताहैआय, , किलाभऔरलाभजोकरयोग्यक्षेत्रोंकेबिननाऐसेव्यक्तिकोउपार्जितयाउत्पन्नहोतेहैंउन्हेंउसकीकुलआयमेंशामिल4 (1) (ए) 3 केकियाजासकताहैयदिवेकरयोग्यक्षेत्रोंमेंलाएजातेहैंयाप्राप्तकिएजातेहैंऔरधाराकेसाथपठितधारातहतकरकेलिएप्रभार्यहोजातेहैं।यहाँपहलेबताएगएकारणोंसेश्रीमित्राकेइसतर्ककोअस्वीकारकियाजाननाचाहिए।यहहो, वहगैर-लाफकठोरतासेकामकरसकताहैकिहमउच्चन्यायालयकेसाथसमझौतेमेंजोनिर्माणकररहेहैंनिवासियोंकेखिसकताहै, उसआय, लाभऔरभारतकेबाहरव्यावसायिकसंचालननकेलिएसक्षमलाभपरभीभारतमेंप्राप्तहोननेकेरूपमें-आरोपलगायाजासकताहैऔरऐसापरिणामगैरनिवासीव्यापारियोंकोभारतमेंव्यापारकरननेसेरोकसकताहै।येवास्तवमेंगंभीरविचारहैं, लेकिननन्यायालयोंकोक़ाननूननकाअर्थसरलभाषाऔरउसकेसंदर्भकेअननुसारनिकालननाहोगाऔरयदिइसकेपरिणामस्वरूपकोईअप्रियपरिणामसामननेआतेहैंतोइसेसुधारननायारोकननाइसन्यायालयकेअलावाअन्यप्राधिकरणकाकामहै।
!
श्रीमित्राद्वाराआग्रहकियागयाअंतिममुख्यबिंदुयहहैकिजैसेहीटटर्नरमॉरिसननएंडकंपननीलिमिटटेडकोधारा43 केतहत, धारा42 (1) एजेंटटकेरूपमेंमाननागयाकेप्रावधाननोंकोतुरंतआकर्षितकियागया।इसकथननकेसमर्थननमेंश्रीमित्राइंपीरियल[1946] 14 आई. टटी. आर. 417 मेंदिएगएनिर्णयोंपरनिर्भरहैं।423. ( 2 ) [ 1949 ] 17 आई. टटी. आर. 194
( 3 ) ( 1931 ) आई. एल. आर. 54 पागल।691 ; एल. आर., 58 आई. ए. 239 ।69 पश्चिमबंगाल।
532 [1953]सर्वोच्चन्यायालयकीरिपोर्ट
1953
ोबैकोकंपननीऑफइंडियालिमिटटेडबननामकेसचिव
(1), आय-,भारतकाराज्यकरआयुक्त
र्नर
, मेयर() ेड(2) औरमॉरिसननएंडकंपननीबॉम्बेबननाममेटट्रोगोल्डविननइंडियालिमिटट
() -,कैल्टटेक्सइंडियालिमिटटेडबननाम।आयकरआयुक्त
.लि
ी(3), धारा43बॉम्बेसिटटजहाँयहअभिनिर्धारितकियागयाहैकि
42 -कर,आयुक्तकेवलधाराकोप्रभावीबननाननेकेलिएएकतंत्रहै।आय
धारा43 यहकहननाकिवास्तवमेंकेवलतंत्रकेलिएहै
दासजे।
प्रत्यक्षरूपसेअर्जितयाउत्पन्नहोननेवालेलाभयालाभया
Case: TURNER MORRISON & CO. LTD versus COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX, WEST BENGAL [[1953] 1 S.C.R. 520] (1953)
The third ground urged in support of the first main contention is that the entire amounts collected by the Agents were not receivable by the Association, for the agents were entitled to a portion of it, namely, the amount spent by them in meeting the handling charges and their own commission. On the authority of Oolqtthoun v. Brooks(2) and Saiyid Ali Imam v. King-Emperor(3) Mr. Mitra contends that the sale proceeds collected by the Agents were not so completely under the control of the Association that it could by an act of its own have the entire sale proceeds actually transferred to it in Egypt. This argument is obviously fallacious. The concession that the Agents were (r) [1924] 2 K.B. 483. • (2) 2 Tax Cas. 490.
(3J (1925) I.L.R. 4 Pat, 210; A.LR. 1925 Pat, 381,
528 SUPREME COURT - REPORTS [1953]
l95B entitled to deduct their disbursements and their com-T mission out of the sale proceeds clearly implies that Morri:::~ co., th~ sale proceeds belonged to the Association, for the Ltd. Agents could not deduct the dues ·by the Asso-v. ciation from something which did not belong to the Oommissfoner of Association. Section 217 of the Indian Contract Act West Income-ta•1• Benga • gives to receive on account o t e prmmpa m t e · d an agent the right f h to retain, out of any sum · · 1 · h b usmess · Das J. of the agency, all moneys due to himself in respect of advances made or expenses properly incurred by him in conducting such business and such remunera-tion as may be payable to him for acting as agent. Section 221 also confers a right on the agent to retain the goods, papers and other property of the principal received by him until the amount due to him for commission, disbursements and services in respect of the same has been paid or accounted for to him. The right of retainer and lien conferred on the agent does not make the amount received by the agent on behalf of the principal any the less the property of the principal. The principal is the full owner and has complete control over his properties in the hands of the agent subject only to the latter's statutory right of retainer and lien .. It follows, therefore, that the entire sale proceeds received by the Agents in the case be-fore us were received on behalf of the Association and belonged to i~ subject to the rights of the Agents. Finally, Mr. Mitra urges that the
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