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Interpretation of Section 23(5)(a) of the Indian Income-tax Act in the assessment year 1938-39. Analysis: The case involved a reference made by the Income-tax Appellate Tribunal regarding the applicability of Section 23(5)(a) introduced in the Indian Income-tax Act in 1939 to the assessment year 1938-39. The Tribunal held the section applicable, contrary to the views of the Income-tax Officer and the Appellate Assistant Commissioner. The dispute arose from the assessment of a firm, P.M. Bagchi & Co., where the tax authorities claimed certain income had escaped assessment under Section 34. The assessment was eventually made for the year 1938-39, with the contention being whether the income of the firm should be assessed or the share of profits of each partner as per Section 23(5)(a) introduced in 1939. The crux of the matter was the retrospective application of the 1939 Amendment Act, particularly Section 23(5)(a), which changed the method of assessing partnership income. The amendment shifted the tax liability from the firm to individual partners, impacting the revenue collection method. The Income-tax Officer and the Appellate Assistant Commissioner argued against applying the 1939 Act to the assessment year 1938-39, citing potential revenue loss due to the change in tax rates applicable to partnership income. On the other hand, the applicant contended that the 1939 Amendment Act, specifically Section 23(5)(a), was procedural in nature and did not affect the government's revenue rights. The applicant argued that the amendment merely streamlined the tax assessment process without altering the overall tax liability. The applicant highlighted the difference in assessment methods pre and post the 1939 Act, emphasizing that the revenue collected remained consistent despite the change in assessment procedures. The Court analyzed the impact of the 1939 Amendment Act on partnership income taxation and concluded that the amendment was procedural, affecting the tax collection mechanism rather than the tax liability itself. The Court noted that the amendment simplified the tax assessment process by directly taxing individual partners' shares of profits, eliminating the need for refunds as in the previous method. Therefore, the Court held that the retrospective effect could be given to the amendment, affirming the Tribunal's decision that the 1939 Act applied even to the assessment year 1938-39. Justice Banerjee concurred with the Chief Justice's decision, upholding the applicability of Section 23(5)(a) in the given circumstances.
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