Capital-gains computation requires verified acquisition cost, while a registered sale deed establishes taxable transfer unless cogent evidence displaces it.
Capital gains arise where a registered sale deed effects transfer and records consideration, unless cogent evidence displaces the recorded transaction or its taxability. Unsupported assertions of coercion or non-receipt of consideration do not negate transfer. Section 292BA cures omission of the Document Identification Number from an assessment order where a valid number is otherwise generated and communicated. Section 292BB deems service of a notice where the taxpayer participates without timely objection. An additional ground requiring fresh factual investigation is not admissible merely as a legal issue. Although the assessment and chargeability remain sustainable, long-term capital gains require recomputation after verification of the cost of acquisition and related components.
Issues: (i) Whether the additional ground alleging non-compliance with the e-proceedings requirement under CBDT Circular No. 27/2019 dated 26.09.2019 was admissible; (ii) Whether the assessment order was barred by limitation on the allegation that it was backdated; (iii) Whether omission to quote the Document Identification Number in the assessment order invalidated the assessment; (iv) Whether the assessment was invalid for want of issue or service of notice under Section 143(2) of the Income-tax Act, 1961; (v) Whether capital gains arose from transfer of the property under the registered sale deed; (vi) Whether the computation of long-term capital gains required fresh verification.
Issue (i): Whether the additional ground alleging non-compliance with the e-proceedings requirement under CBDT Circular No. 27/2019 dated 26.09.2019 was admissible.
Analysis: The Circular contained exceptions and exclusions whose applicability depended on foundational facts not available from the existing record. An additional ground can be admitted where it raises a pure question of law on facts already on record, but not where its resolution requires fresh factual investigation.
Conclusion: The additional ground was not admitted for adjudication (against the assessee).
Issue (ii): Whether the assessment order was barred by limitation on the allegation that it was backdated.
Analysis: The assessment order bore the date 31.12.2019, and the corresponding DIN was electronically communicated on that date. Receipt of the physical copy on 06.01.2020 did not establish that the order had been made after the limitation prescribed by Section 153(2) of the Income-tax Act, 1961. The allegation of backdating lacked credible supporting evidence.
Conclusion: The assessment order was not shown to be time-barred or backdated (against the assessee).
Issue (iii): Whether omission to quote the Document Identification Number in the assessment order invalidated the assessment.
Analysis: A valid DIN was generated and separately communicated on the date of the assessment order. Section 292BA of the Income-tax Act, 1961, retrospectively effective from 01.10.2019, cures a mistake, defect, or omission concerning quotation of DIN where the assessment order is referenced by that number in any manner. The statutory curative provision prevailed over the consequence asserted under CBDT Notification No. 19 of 2019 dated 14.08.2019.
Conclusion: The absence of DIN in the body of the assessment order did not invalidate the assessment (against the assessee).
Issue (iv): Whether the assessment was invalid for want of issue or service of notice under Section 143(2) of the Income-tax Act, 1961.
Analysis: Notice under Section 143(2) was issued on 16.08.2019. The assessee participated in the assessment proceedings without raising an objection concerning non-service, delayed service, or improper service before completion of the assessment. Section 292BB of the Income-tax Act, 1961 therefore deemed the notice to have been duly served and precluded the objection at the appellate stage.
Conclusion: The assessment was not invalid for want of issue or service of notice under Section 143(2) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (against the assessee).
Issue (v): Whether capital gains arose from transfer of the property under the registered sale deed.
Analysis: The registered sale deed effected a transfer within Section 2(47) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 and recorded a stated sale consideration. The subsequent assertion that the deed was executed under coercion and that consideration was not actually received was unsupported by cogent and convincing evidence and did not displace the recorded transfer or its taxability under Section 45 of the Income-tax Act, 1961.
Conclusion: Long-term capital gains were chargeable on the property transfer (against the assessee).
Issue (vi): Whether the computation of long-term capital gains required fresh verification.
Analysis: The cost of acquisition adopted in the assessment lacked an explained basis, and neither side could satisfactorily justify it. Since correct cost of acquisition and other relevant components are fundamental to capital-gains computation, fresh verification with an opportunity to furnish documentary evidence was necessary.
Conclusion: Computation of long-term capital gains was restored for fresh determination of the correct cost of acquisition and other relevant components (in favour of the assessee).
Final Conclusion: The assessment and chargeability of capital gains remain sustainable, while the quantum of long-term capital gains must be recomputed after fresh verification.