Gain/loss on sale of shares - legal nature of the transaction -...

Gain/loss on sale of shares - legal nature of the transaction - As per companies Act shareholder and company both are two separate legal person capable of holding property of any kind in their own name. The land in question was held by M/s ARGHPL and not by the shareholder i.e. Assessee company. By being shareholder, the assessee cannot be said to be the owner of the land held by impugned company for the reason that a company is perpetual succession not affected by incoming and outgoing of its shareholder. Therefore, to our understanding what can be transferred by the assessee being shareholder is only the shares, held by it. Thus the transfer of share by the assessee cannot be equated with transfer of land which is not held by it. - AT