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Issues involved: Determination of whether the surplus from the sale of land should be treated as capital gains or income from an adventure in the nature of trade.
Summary: The case involved a private limited company engaged in film production and distribution, which also had the authority to acquire and sell lands. The company purchased a plot of land with a studio in 1950, later applied for a layout sanction in 1963, and eventually sold portions of the land in 1969 to discharge debts. The tax authorities treated the surplus from land sales as capital gains, while the company argued it should be considered income from an adventure in the nature of trade. The Assessing Officer (AO) considered the surplus as capital gains, but the Appellate Authority Commissioner (AAC) viewed it as income from an adventure in the nature of trade. The Revenue appealed to the Tribunal, which upheld the AO's decision. The company then sought a reference to the High Court on the matter. The High Court analyzed the facts, noting the company's original intent to use the land for film production, the subsequent financial difficulties leading to the decision to sell the land, and the timing of the layout approval and sale. The Court concluded that the sale was to discharge debts, not part of a trade venture, as evidenced by the motive behind the sale and the timing of events. Therefore, the surplus from the land sale was deemed as capital gains, affirming the Tribunal's decision. In conclusion, the High Court ruled in favor of treating the surplus from the land sale as capital gains, agreeing with the Tribunal's findings. The Court awarded costs to the Revenue and the counsel's fee.
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