Login
  • Bookmark
  • PDF
  • Share
  • CaseIQ

Shri Ram Prakash Mah... v. DCIT Central Circle,...

Income Tax Appellate Tribunal
Feb 20, 2020
Smart Summary (Beta)

Case Summary: ITA No.918/JP/2019 — Shri Ram Prakash Mahawar vs DCIT, Central Circle, Alwar

Factual and Procedural Background

This appeal by the assessee (Shri Ram Prakash Mahawar) is directed against the order of the learned CIT(A)-4, Jaipur dated 25-04-2019 for Assessment Year 2016-17. A search and seizure under section 132 of the Income-tax Act was carried out on 14-10-2015 in the case of Data Group, during which the assessee (and his family members) were covered. Gold and silver jewellery valued at a total of Rs. 32,71,895/- were found from the residential premises of the assessee (gold items valued at Rs. 31,38,245/- and silver items valued at Rs. 1,33,650/-).

The Assessing Officer (AO) made an addition of Rs. 9,76,895/- on account of unexplained jewellery. The AO allowed benefit under CBDT Instruction No. 1916 dated 11-05-1994 to the extent of 850 grams for the family, but denied the assessee's claim that 343.328 grams of gold were purchases supported by bills and recorded in books, treating that quantity as part of the 850 grams allowed as per the CBDT instruction. The learned CIT(A) partly confirmed the AO: he rejected the claim that the 343.328 gms should be entirely treated as explained for the purposes of avoiding addition, but held that the value of those items should be taken as per the purchase bills (leading to an upheld amount of Rs. 4,57,404/-). The learned CIT(A) also granted part relief on silver items by treating 50% of the silver found as reasonable holding of the family.

The appeal reached the Income-tax Appellate Tribunal (Bench including Vijay Pal Rao, JM), which pronounced its order in open court on 20/02/2020.

Legal Issues Presented

  1. Whether the 343.328 grams of gold jewellery, supported by purchase bills and recorded in the books of account of the assessee and family members, should be treated as explained jewellery and therefore excluded from addition despite the grant of reasonable possession under CBDT Instruction No. 1916/1994.
  2. Whether valuation for the purpose of addition should be at the prevailing market rate adopted by the AO (Rs. 2,700 per gram) or at the actual cost of acquisition as shown in the purchase bills and books of account.
  3. Whether 50% of the silver items found (value Rs. 1,33,650/-) is a reasonable holding of the assessee's family and therefore not liable to be treated as unexplained for the purposes of addition.

Arguments of the Parties

Appellant's Arguments (as advanced by the assessee's authorized representative)

  • The assessee produced purchase bills and recorded purchases totaling 343.328 gms of gold in the books of account for himself and family members; these purchases were found during the search and should be treated as explained jewellery.
  • CBDT Instruction No. 1916 dated 11-05-1994 grants a reasonable possession threshold (850 gms for the family) for jewellery received on social/customary occasions; this instruction does not deprive the assessee of the right to rely on documentary evidence of actual purchases made over time and recorded in the books.
  • The AO's valuation by applying the then-prevailing rate of Rs. 2,700 per gram is incorrect in respect of jewellery which has been purchased and recorded at lower actual cost; the correct value for the 343.328 gms is the cost reflected in the purchase bills (Rs. 4,57,404/-), and the assessee should not suffer an addition on that ground.
  • With respect to silver, the assessees' position was that the silver jewellery items of Rs. 1,33,650/- represent reasonable possession in view of the family's status and standing; therefore sustaining an addition of 50% is not justified.

Respondent's Arguments (as advanced by the Departmental Representative)

  • Once the AO granted the benefit of 850 grams of jewellery as reasonable under CBDT Instruction No. 1916/1994, any jewellery within that limit cannot be separately allowed as explained jewellery (i.e., the reasonable possession covers acquisitions by family members without distinguishing mode of acquisition).
  • The CBDT Instruction treats reasonable possession as inclusive of all forms of acquisition by family members; therefore purchases falling within the 850 gram benchmark cannot be additionally accepted as explained to avoid addition.
  • The AO made a total addition of Rs. 9,76,895/-; the learned CIT(A) sustained Rs. 4,57,404/- on unexplained jewellery and 50% of the silver items — the Revenue considered aspects of the CIT(A)'s factual treatment to be incorrect but essentially relied on the AO's approach and the lower authorities' orders.

Table of Precedents Cited

No precedents were cited in the provided opinion.

Court's Reasoning and Analysis

The Tribunal examined the documentary and book-record material produced by the assessee for the 343.328 grams of gold jewellery. The Tribunal found "no dispute" that the 343.328 gms represented purchases made by the assessee over time and were supported by purchase bills found during the search and recorded in the balance sheet/books of account of the assessee and family members.

The Tribunal then analyzed the interplay between (a) CBDT Instruction No. 1916 dated 11-05-1994, which prescribes specified quantities to be treated as reasonable holding of jewellery for family members (on account of customary/social acquisitions), and (b) documentary evidence of actual purchases recorded in books and supported by bills. The Tribunal reasoned that the CBDT Instruction's purpose is to treat a specified quantity as reasonable possession that need not be further explained; however, the Instruction does not displace or absorb jewellery which is otherwise explained by documentary proof of acquisition and recorded in the books. In other words, where jewellery is explained by purchase bills and recorded in books—and the AO does not dispute those purchases—that jewellery cannot be treated as unexplained merely because the family also falls within the CBDT Instruction's reasonable possession quantity.

On valuation, the Tribunal noted that the AO had applied the prevailing market rate of Rs. 2,700 per gram to value the entire jewellery and thereby arrived at a higher addition. The learned CIT(A), by contrast, had taken the cost of acquisition as reflected in the purchase bills for the 343.328 gms and valued that quantity at Rs. 4,57,404/-. The Tribunal found no error or illegality in the CIT(A)'s adoption of actual cost for those items and concluded the AO's valuation approach—ignoring documented acquisition cost—was not correct in respect of the explained purchases.

As to silver items, the Tribunal accepted the learned CIT(A)'s factual conclusion that 50% of the silver items found (aggregate value Rs. 1,33,650/-) constituted a reasonable holding of the assessee's family given their status and standing. The Tribunal observed that, in the absence of competing material, it would not interfere with that factual conclusion and therefore upheld the CIT(A)'s treatment of silver items.

Holding and Implications

HOLDING: The appeal is partly allowed.

- The Tribunal deleted the addition sustained by the learned CIT(A) in respect of unexplained gold jewellery to the extent of 343.328 grams (value as per purchase bills and books: Rs. 4,57,404/-). The Tribunal held that jewellery supported by purchase bills and recorded in books cannot be treated as unexplained simply because the family was granted reasonable possession under CBDT Instruction No. 1916/1994.

- The Tribunal upheld the learned CIT(A)'s factual conclusion regarding silver items: 50% of the silver items (from total silver value Rs. 1,33,650/-) was considered a reasonable holding of the family and that aspect of the CIT(A)'s order was sustained.

Implications: The direct effect on the parties is that the addition relating to the explained gold purchases (343.328 gms) as valued in the purchase bills (Rs. 4,57,404/-) is deleted, while the CIT(A)'s treatment of silver items (50% treated as reasonable) stands. The tribunal did not purport to lay down any new judicial precedent; its conclusions are fact-specific and rest on acceptance of documentary evidence and the interpretation that CBDT Instruction No. 1916 does not negate separately explained acquisitions.

Order pronounced: 20/02/2020. Bench Members recorded in the order: Vijay Pal Rao (Judicial Member) and Vikram Singh Yadav (Accountant Member).

Distribution / Formalities Noted in the Order

A copy of the Tribunal order was forwarded to: (1) The Appellant - Shri Ram Prakash Mahawar, Alwar; (2) The Respondent - The DCIT, Central Circle, Alwar; (3) CIT(A); (4) CIT; (5) DR, ITAT, Jaipur.

Note: This summary is prepared exclusively from the content of the provided opinion. No information has been added beyond what appears in the decision text.

Show all summary ...

PER VIJAY PAL RAO, JM This appeal by the assessee is directed against the order of ld. CIT(A) -4, Jaipur dated 25-04-2019 for the Assessment Year 2016-17. The assessee has raised the following ground.

1. That the AO has erred in law as well as on the facts and circumstances of the case in making an addition of Rs. 9,76,895/- on account of unexplained jewellery found at the time of search and the ld. CIT(A) has erred in sustaining the sum of Rs. 4,57,404/- out of the same whereas the ITA No.918/JP/2019 Shri Ram Prakash Mahawar vs DCIT, Central Circle, Alwar assessee is having every reason and justification for deletion of the same. 2.1 The assessee is an individual and derives income from salary and other sources. Search and seizure action u/s 132 of the Act was carried out on 14-10-2015 in the case of Data Group and the assessee was also covered by the said search and seizure action. During the course of search, gold and silver jewellery valued at Rs. 32,71,895/- were found from the residential premises of the assessee. The bifurcations of gold and silver jewellery value are as under:- Gold jewellery items Rs. 31,38,245/- Silver jewellery items Rs. 1,33,650/- Total Rs. 32,71,895/- In the course of assessment proceeding, the assessee claimed benefit of CBDT Instruction No. 1916 dated 11-05-1994 to the extent of 850 gms. of jewellery in the hands of his wife, daughter and himself. The AO accepted the said claim and allowed the benefit to the extent of 850 gms. of jewellery. The assessee also claimed that gold jewellery of 343.328 gms. were purchased from time to time and recorded in the books of account and balance sheet of the assessee and his family members. The purchases of the said jewellery are also supported by purchase bills ITA No.918/JP/2019 Shri Ram Prakash Mahawar vs DCIT, Central Circle, Alwar found during the course of search. However, the AO denied the said claim of the assessee in giving the benefit of purchases made on the ground that this quantity of 343.328 gms.of gold jewellery is already the part of 850 gms. jewellery allowed as per CBDT Instruction No. 1916 dated 11-05-1994. The assessee challenged the action of the AO before the ld. CIT(A) and the ld. CIT(A) in principle confirmed the order of the AO to the extent of not granting the benefit of jewellery of 343.328 gms. explained by the assessee vide purchase bills and the same were recorded in the books of account of the assessee. However, the ld. CIT(A) has held that valuation of the said jewellery would be the cost of jewellery as reflected in the purchase bills and thereby Rs. 4,57,404/- was upheld as against the addition made by the AO by taking prevailing rate of gold at Rs. 2700/- per gram. The ld. CIT(A) has also granted part relief in respect of the addition made by the AO on account of unexplained silver items by holding that 50% of silver items found during the course of search is a reasonable holding of the assessee family by considering the status and standing of the family. Aggrieved by the impugned order of the ld. CIT(A), the assessee has filed the present appeal. ITA No.918/JP/2019 Shri Ram Prakash Mahawar vs DCIT, Central Circle, Alwar 2.2 Before us, the ld.AR of the assessee submitted that the assessee during the course of search has explained the jewellery to the extent of 343.328 gms. purchased by him alongwith bills and vouchers which are also recorded in the books of account of the assessee and his family members. The ld.AR further submitted that the benefit of CBDT Instruction No. 1916 is available to the assessee in respect of jewellery received by various family members on the occasions of marriages and other social & customary occasions. Therefore, the purchases made by the assessee would not form part of the said quantity of 850 gms. of jewellery allowed by the AO as per CBDT Instruction No. 1916 dated 11- 05-1994. The ld.AR of the assessee thus submitted that the quantity of jewellery which is purchased by the assessee and family members from time to time and duly recorded in the books of account as well as supported by purchase bills shall be allowed over and above the quantity of jewellery as per CBDT Instruction No. 1916 dated 11-05-1994. Thus the ld.AR of the assessee submitted that the purchases made by the assessee and shown in the books of account should be considered over and above the reasonable possession as per customs and as allowed by the CBDT Instruction No. 1916 dated 11-05-1994. Therefore, the addition ITA No.918/JP/2019 Shri Ram Prakash Mahawar vs DCIT, Central Circle, Alwar sustained by the ld. CIT(A) to the extent of 343.328 gms. of gold jewellery is liable to be deleted. 2.3 As regards 50% addition sustained by the ld. CIT(A) on account of silver items, the ld.AR of the assessee submitted that silver jewellery items of Rs. 1,33,650/- found during the search and seizure action is reasonable possession by considering the status and standing of the family of the assessee. Therefore, sustaining the addition to the extent of 50% of the value of silver items is not justified. 2.4 On the other hand, the ld. DR submitted that once the AO has granted the benefit of 850 gms. of jewellery by considering the same as reasonable in view of the CBDT Instruction No. 1916 dated 11-05-1994 then the jewellery purchased by the assessee within the said limit of 850 gms. cannot be separately allowed as explained jewellery. Thus the reasonable possession of jewellery as explained in the CBDT Instruction No. 1916 dated 11-05-1994 includes all kinds of acquisition by family/ members of the family and it does not distinguish the mode of acquisition. The ld. DR thus relied on the orders of the lower authorities. Further, the ld. DR submitted that the AO has made total addition of Rs. 9,76,895/- on account of unexplained gold jewellery and silver items. ITA No.918/JP/2019 Shri Ram Prakash Mahawar vs DCIT, Central Circle, Alwar However, the ld. CIT(A) has sustained the addition of Rs. 4,57,404/- on account of unexplained jewellery and 50% value of the silver items which is factually incorrect. 2.5 In rejoinder, the ld.AR of the assessee has pointed out that the AO has made addition by taking the value of jewellery @ 2700/- per gram being prevailing rate as on the date of search whereas the ld. CIT(A) has accepted the value of jewellery to the extent of 343.328 gms. as per cost of acquisition shown in the purchase bills as well as recorded in the books of account of the assessee and his family members. Therefore, the difference in the value of the jewellery is due to incorrect valuation adopted by the AO. 2.6 We have considered the rival submissions as well as the relevant materials available on record. The first issue is regarding the addition sustained by the ld. CIT(A) to the tune of Rs. 4,57,404/- on account of unexplained gold jewellery by rejecting the claim of the assessee being acquisition of the said jewellery by way of purchases made from time to time and also recorded in the books of account of the assessee. There is no dispute regarding the fact that jewellery to the extent 343.328 gms. represents the purchases made by the assessee from time to time which is ITA No.918/JP/2019 Shri Ram Prakash Mahawar vs DCIT, Central Circle, Alwar duly supported by the purchase bills found during the search and seizure action. The said quantity of jewellery is duly recorded in the balance sheet/ books of account of the assessee and his family members. Once the AO has not disputed the purchases made by the assessee of the said quantity of jewellery then the same cannot be treated as unexplained jewellery of the assessee. The AO has denied the benefit of the said quantity of jewellery on the ground that since the benefit of reasonable jewellery to the extent of 850 gms. as per CBDT Instruction No. 1916 dated 11-05-1994 is already granted, therefore, to that extent, no further benefit can be granted. It is pertinent to note that CBDT Instruction No. 1916 dated 11-05-1994 has explained in case of gold jewellery found in the possession of the assessee during the course of search and seizure action and the assessee is not able to explain the same then the quantity prescribed under the said CBDT Instruction No. 1916 in respect of married female member, unmarried female member and male member of the assessee would be treated as a reasonable holding of jewellery on account of acquisition of that much jewellery on various occasions of marriages, other social & customary occasions as prevailing in the society. Therefore, reasonable possession of the jewellery as per the ITA No.918/JP/2019 Shri Ram Prakash Mahawar vs DCIT, Central Circle, Alwar customs prevailing in the society is the basis for allowing the benefit of certain quantity of jewellery explained by the CBDT Instruction No. 1916 dated 11-05-1994 which means that the assessee need not to explain the source of jewellery found in his possession to the extent of specified quantity treated as reasonable possession by family members of the assessee. The said CBDT Instruction No. 1916 allowing the specific quantity as reasonable and need not to be explained, does not include the jewellery which is otherwise explained by proof of documents of acquisition as well as declared/ recorded in the books of account of the assessee. Hence, the quantity of jewellery which is otherwise explained by the assessee by producing the purchase bills as well as recorded in the books of account of the assessee and the AO had not disputed the said explanation then the quantity which is explained otherwise by producing the purchase bills and books of account would not be treated as part of the quantity of reasonable possession as prescribed under the said CBDT Instruction No. 1916 dated 11-05-1994. Therefore, the benefit of CBDT Instruction No. 1916 dated 11-05-1994 will not take away the benefit of the explained jewellery acquired by the assessee. Accordingly, in the facts and circumstance of the case, the quantity of jewellery to the extent ITA No.918/JP/2019 Shri Ram Prakash Mahawar vs DCIT, Central Circle, Alwar of 343.328 gms. has to be allowed separately as explained jewellery and no addition can be made to that extent. 2.6.1 As regards the valuation of gold jewellery, we find that the AO has valued the entire jewellery by applying the prevailing rate of 2700/- per gram and by ignoring the fact of actual cost of acquisition to the extent of 343.328 gms. at Rs. 4,57,404/- as reflected in the purchase bills as well as in the books of account of the assessee. Therefore, we do not find any error or illegality to the extent of value of said jewellery accepted by the ld. CIT(A). Hence, the addition sustained by the ld. CIT(A) on account of unexplained jewellery is deleted. 2.6.2 As regards 50% of the addition on account of silver items sustained by the ld. CIT(A), we find that silver items of Rs. 1,33,650/- were found at the time of search out of which the ld. CIT(A) has considered 50% of the same as reasonable holding of silver items by the assessee, considering the status and standing of the assessee family. Therefore, in the absence of any other material or facts brought before us, we do not find any error or illegality in the order of the ld. CIT(A) by considering 50% of silver items as reasonable and to the extent the order of the ld. CIT(A) is upheld. ITA No.918/JP/2019 Shri Ram Prakash Mahawar vs DCIT, Central Circle, Alwar 3.0 In the result, the appeal of the assessee is partly allowed. Order pronounced in the open court on 20 /02/2020. Sd/- Sd/- foe flag ;kno fot; iky jko (Vikram Singh Yadav) (Vijay Pal Rao) ys[kk lnL;@ Accountant Member U;kf;d lnL;@Judicial Member Tk;iqj@Jaipur fnukad@Dated:- 20 /02/ 2020 *Mishra vkns'k dh izfrfyfi vxzsfkr@Copy of the order forwarded to:

1. vihykFkhZ@The Appellant- Shri Ram Prakash Mahawar, Alwar

2. izR;FkhZ@ The Respondent- The DCIT, Central Circle, Alwar

3. vk;dj vk;qDrvihy ) @ CIT(A),

4. vk;dj vk;qDr@ CIT,

5. foHkkxh; izfrfuf/k] vk;dj vihyh; vf/kdj.k] t;iqj@DR, ITAT, Jaipur