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Issues Involved:
1. Whether the petitioners constituted an association of individuals within the meaning of Section 3 of the Indian Income Tax Act. 2. Whether the association can be said to be the owner of the property within the meaning of Section 9 of the Income Tax Act. 3. If not treated as owners, whether the association can be assessed under Section 12 of the Income Tax Act in respect of the income derived from the property. Detailed Analysis: Issue 1: Whether the petitioners constituted an association of individuals within the meaning of Section 3 of the Indian Income Tax Act. The court examined the definition and scope of "association of individuals" under Section 3 of the Indian Income Tax Act, 1922. The term "association of individuals" is not explicitly defined in the Act. However, the court interpreted it to include any combination of individuals for a common purpose, such as the efficient and profitable management of property. The court noted that the petitioners had joined together in the purchase and management of the Norton Buildings property, and had remained joint owners with an agreement to share the income or profits derived from it. This combination for the purpose of earning income qualified them as an "association of individuals." The court referenced the judgment in the Pondicherry Railway Company's case, which emphasized that profits attract tax upon their existence, regardless of subsequent distribution. Thus, the court concluded that the petitioners constituted an association of individuals within the meaning of Section 3 of the Act. Issue 2: Whether the association can be said to be the owner of the property within the meaning of Section 9 of the Income Tax Act. The court considered whether the association could be regarded as the owner of the property under Section 9 of the Income Tax Act. Section 9(1) stipulates that tax is payable by an assessee in respect of the bona fide annual value of property of which they are the owner. The court observed that despite the individual members having specified shares, the property remained under the ownership of the association as long as the current arrangement persisted. The court held that the association, in this case, was the owner of the property within the meaning of Section 9 of the Act. The court noted that the petitioners did not contest this point, and therefore, the answer to this issue was affirmative. Issue 3: If not treated as owners, whether the association can be assessed under Section 12 of the Income Tax Act in respect of the income derived from the property. Given the affirmative answers to the first two issues, the court found it unnecessary to address the third issue. However, it was noted that if the association could not be treated as the owner of the property, the income derived from it would still be assessable under the residuary Section 12 of the Act. This section covers income not falling under any specific head mentioned in Section 6 of the Act, thereby ensuring that the income derived from the property would still be subject to taxation. Conclusion: The court concluded that the petitioners constituted an association of individuals within the meaning of Section 3 of the Indian Income Tax Act. Consequently, the association could be regarded as the owner of the property under Section 9 of the Act. Therefore, the joint assessment on them was rightly made, and the reference was answered accordingly.
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