Valuer registration under Wealth Tax rules requires prescribed property-related qualifications; unrelated engineering credentials were held insufficient.

Statutory registration as a valuer of immovable properties under the Wealth Tax Act and Rules required the prescribed civil engineering, architecture or town planning qualification, or an equivalent qualification clearly recognised for that field. Reliance on the word "or" in the qualification clause was rejected, and an engineering qualification in electronics and communications, even with membership of the Institute of Engineers, was held insufficient. The Court also referred to expert opinion and the amended rule on qualifications, holding that the statutory standards could not be diluted. The rejection of the application for registration was therefore upheld.

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Issues: Whether the petitioner satisfied the statutory qualifications for registration as a valuer of immovable properties under the Wealth Tax Act and the Wealth Tax Rules.

Analysis: The claimed reliance on the word "or" in the qualification clause was not accepted. The governing scheme required the prescribed civil engineering, architecture or town planning qualification or an equivalent qualification clearly recognised for the relevant field. The petitioner's engineering qualification in electronics and communications, together with membership of the Institute of Engineers, was held insufficient for registration as a valuer of immovable properties. The Court also relied on the expert opinion and the amended rule governing qualifications, and held that the statutory requirements could not be diluted.

Conclusion: The petitioner did not possess the requisite qualification or experience for registration, and the rejection of the application was upheld.

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