1967 (6) TMI 17 - HC - Income Tax

Court rules damages for breach of contract not speculative receipt under Income-tax Act

The High Court ruled against the assessee, holding that the sum received as damages for breach of contract was not a speculative receipt under Explanation ... Amount was sought to be set off against certain unabsorbed speculative loss, brought forward from earlier years, on the theory that the amount of difference obtained from the Japanese company was a speculative profit - held that transaction did not fall within the meaning of speculative transaction as in Expln. 2 to the third proviso to s. 24(1) - so ITO rightly disallowed the claim Issues Involved:1. Whether the sum of Rs. 22,627 was a speculative receipt within the meaning of Explanation 2 to section 24(1) of the Indian Income-tax Act, 1922.2. Whether the amount could be assessed as a business receipt.Issue-Wise Detailed Analysis:Issue 1: Speculative ReceiptThe primary issue was whether the sum of Rs. 22,627 received by the assessee as a result of a breach of contract could be considered a speculative receipt under Explanation 2 to section 24(1) of the Indian Income-tax Act, 1922. The assessee, a private limited company, had a contract with a Japanese company to supply 52,000 long tons of Indian iron ore. The contract was partially fulfilled, but the Japanese company defaulted on a portion of the contract, leading to the assessee claiming damages for the breach. The Income-tax Officer, Appellate Assistant Commissioner, and Tribunal had differing views on whether the receipt was speculative.The Tribunal held that since the transaction was settled otherwise than by actual delivery, it was speculative. However, the Tribunal's interpretation was challenged by the revenue, arguing that the receipt was damages for breach of contract, not speculative profit.Issue 2: Business ReceiptThe second issue was whether the amount received could be assessed as a business receipt. The Income-tax Officer and Appellate Assistant Commissioner treated the amount as damages for non-fulfillment of the contract, not as speculative profit. The Tribunal, however, considered it speculative and directed that it be set off against speculative losses.Judgment Analysis:The High Court analyzed the language of Explanation 2 to section 24(1) and previous judgments to determine whether the receipt was speculative. The Court noted that a speculative transaction is defined as one settled otherwise than by actual delivery or transfer of the commodity. The Court examined the facts and concluded that the contract was not settled but breached, leading to a claim for damages.The Court referred to sections 63 and 73 of the Indian Contract Act and sections 56 and 57 of the Indian Sale of Goods Act to explain the consequences of breach of contract. The Court held that the receipt was damages for breach of contract, not a speculative transaction. The nature of the contract did not imply it was speculative, and since the contract was not settled but breached, the transaction could not be characterized as speculative under Explanation 2.The Court disagreed with the Tribunal's interpretation and upheld the revenue's stand that the receipt was damages for breach of contract. The Court concluded that the transaction did not fall within the meaning of speculative transaction as defined in Explanation 2.Conclusion:The High Court answered the question in the negative, ruling against the assessee. The Commissioner of Income-tax was entitled to costs. The judgment clarified that damages for breach of contract do not constitute speculative transactions under Explanation 2 to section 24(1) of the Indian Income-tax Act, 1922.