Money received by the JMM MPs and Shibu Soren in JMM Bribary Case for voting in favour of Narasimha Rao government in 1993 is liable to be taxed ;Delhi HC [Read the Judgment]

The Delhi High Court held that the money allegedly received by three former Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MPs and party chief Shibu Soren for voting in favour of the P V Narasimha Rao government in 1993 was liable to be taxed.

A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and V Kameswar Rao set aside the decision of the income tax appellate tribunal (ITAT) which held that the money received by the JMM MPs is not liable to be taxed. Revenue, Commissioner of Income Tax, hadfiled an appeal which challenging the tribunal's order in the Delhi High Court.

The substantial question of law before the Delhi High Court were:

"(i) Did the Tribunal fall into error in holding that the amount brought to tax by the Assessing Officer (AO) is not undisclosed income?

(ii) Did the Tribunal fall into error in setting-aside the findings of lower authorities that the amounts deposited by the assessees with the bank were not taxable as income?"

Undisclosed income includes any money, bullion, jewellery or other article, valuable article or thing or even income based on entry in books of accounts and other documents of transactions, which had not been or would not have been disclosed.This was further amended on 1^st July 1995 and expanded to include any false expenditure, deduction or allowance claimed under the Finance Act but was found to be false.

The legal position as elucidated in A. R. Enterprises, the Supreme Court has observed :-

"Hence, the computation of "undisclosed income" for the purposes of Chapter XIV-B has to be construed in terms of the "total income" received, accrued, arisen; or which is deemed to have been received, accrued or arisen in the previous year, and is computed according to the provisions of the Act. According to section 139(1) of the Act, every person who is assessable under the Act, must file a return declaring his or her total income during the previous year on or before thedue date, for assessment under section 143 of the Act."

The High Court held that the money was bribe money which was "undisclosed income" and thus taxable. The MPs have already been acquitted of the charge of accepting bribe by the Supreme Court which held that the MPs' could not be held liable to any proceedings in any court in respect of anything said or any vote given by them in Parliament or any committee thereof (Article 105 Constitution of India).

The Court answered both of the above questions in favour of the Income Tax Department. The court further held:

We also pass an order of remand for decision on other issues and merit. Observations made in this decision are for the purpose of deciding the present appeal, and additions and other issues on merits will be examined as per the facts and material on record.

To cut short any delay, parties are directed to appear before the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal on 15th December, 2014, when a date of hearing will be fixed.

Read the Judgment here