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Issues Involved:
1. Whether the assessment should be made on the footing that the business belonged to a Hindu undivided family or to a firm. 2. Whether the deed of partnership dated February 12, 1933, created a genuine firm entitled to registration under Section 26-A of the Indian Income-tax Act, 1922. 3. The applicability and interpretation of Section 25-A of the Indian Income-tax Act, 1922. 4. The legal effectiveness of the steps taken to vest interests in the immovable assets of the business to the wife and sons. Detailed Analysis: 1. Ownership of Business: The core issue was whether the business profits should be assessed as belonging to a Hindu undivided family or a firm. The family, identified as Sher Gill Jats, traditionally followed custom over general Hindu law. The written instrument dated February 12, 1933, described as an "agreement of partnership," involved the father, mother, and three sons. The High Court needed to determine if the business was part of the joint family property or a firm formed by the family members. 2. Genuine Firm and Registration under Section 26-A: The Income-tax Officer initially allowed the registration of the firm under Section 26-A, but the Commissioner of Income-tax later set aside this decision, questioning the genuineness of the firm. The High Court was asked to determine if the partnership deed created a genuine firm entitled to registration. The High Court and the Commissioner both explored whether the partnership agreement was executed with real intent or merely to evade tax liabilities. The judgment emphasized that deciding the genuineness of the firm is a factual determination, which the Commissioner had not conclusively addressed. 3. Applicability and Interpretation of Section 25-A: The High Court and the Commissioner examined Section 25-A, which deals with the assessment of Hindu undivided families that have undergone partition. The High Court initially agreed with the Commissioner that the family could not claim the factory as a partitioned asset without a proper registered instrument if it was self-acquired property. However, the judgment clarified that Section 25-A does not prohibit members of an undivided Hindu family from entering into a partnership regarding partitioned joint property. The section is relevant only when the Hindu undivided family ceases to exist at the time of assessment, not when it continues to exist with different assets. 4. Legal Effectiveness of Vesting Interests: The judgment evaluated whether the steps taken to vest interests in the immovable assets of the business to the wife and sons were legally effective. The High Court initially rejected the argument that no immovable property was divided by the father, emphasizing that the partnership agreement implied a share in the immovables. The judgment required a factual determination of whether the factory land and buildings were self-acquired or joint family property and whether the father had the right under customary law to partition or transfer these assets. The Commissioner had not made necessary factual findings regarding the nature of the property and the customary law governing the family. Conclusion: The judgment concluded that the High Court had not justified a negative answer to the question of whether a genuine firm was created. The case was remanded to the High Court to exercise its powers under sub-section (4) of Section 66 of the Indian Income-tax Act, 1922, to specify the necessary factual findings. The High Court was directed to determine the nature of the property, the customary law, and the actual transactions that took place to decide the genuineness of the firm and the appropriate assessment. The respondent was ordered to pay the appellant's costs of the appeal, with costs incurred in the High Court to be determined at the final disposal of the reference.
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