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Issues Involved:
1. Whether the purchase of 5,300 shares of Edward Textiles Limited was a capital investment or stock-in-trade. 2. The appropriate purchase price of the shares for the purpose of ascertaining the profits. 3. The jurisdiction of the Tribunal in making certain findings and enhancing the assessment. Issue-wise Detailed Analysis: 1. Capital Investment vs. Stock-in-Trade: The Tribunal initially found that the purchase of 5,300 shares of Edward Textiles Limited was a capital investment and not stock-in-trade. This finding was significant because it impacted the valuation of the shares for tax purposes. The Tribunal's finding contradicted the Department's earlier stance, which had consistently treated the shares as stock-in-trade. The Tribunal's decision to classify the shares as a capital investment was made despite the fact that the Department, at all previous stages, had conceded that the shares were stock-in-trade. This classification had serious implications for the assessee, including the potential for reassessment under section 34. 2. Appropriate Purchase Price: The primary dispute was the appropriate purchase price of the shares for calculating the loss. The Income-tax Officer and the Appellate Assistant Commissioner had determined the market value of the shares on 29th March 1948 to be Rs. 715 per share, whereas the assessee claimed the purchase price was Rs. 1,100 per share. The Tribunal, however, introduced a new valuation of Rs. 524-6-0 per share, arguing that this was the value when the shares were first sold on 27th August 1948. This valuation was not previously considered by either the Income-tax Officer or the Appellate Assistant Commissioner and was seen as an enhancement of the assessment, which was outside the Tribunal's jurisdiction. 3. Jurisdiction of the Tribunal: The Tribunal's jurisdiction under section 33(4) was scrutinized. The Tribunal has the authority to pass orders on the appeal, but it cannot travel outside the grounds of the appeal or enhance the assessment without an appeal from the Commissioner. The Tribunal's finding that the shares were capital investments and the valuation at Rs. 524-6-0 per share were beyond the grounds raised in the appeal and were adverse to the assessee. This finding was not within the scope of the appeal, as the only issue was whether the shares should be valued at Rs. 715 or Rs. 1,100 per share. The Tribunal's decision effectively enhanced the assessment, which it was not empowered to do. Conclusion: The High Court concluded that the Tribunal's finding that the shares were capital investments and its valuation at Rs. 524-6-0 per share were beyond its jurisdiction. The Tribunal's finding was adverse to the assessee and did not arise from any question raised in the appeal. Therefore, it was beyond the competence of the Tribunal to give this finding. The High Court answered the amended question in the negative, indicating that the Tribunal's actions were not within its jurisdiction. The appropriate purchase price for the shares was determined to be Rs. 715 per share, not Rs. 1,100, as claimed by the assessee. The Commissioner was ordered to pay three-fourths of the costs of the reference.
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