2006 (2) TMI 499
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
.... irrelevant considerations and factors. 2.(a) On the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the learned CIT(A) erred in confirming the disallowance made by the Assessing Officer for loss of Rs. 5,40,00,000 on sale of 60,00,000 shares of Mafatlal Burlington Industries Limited treating the impugned transaction as sham. (b) The learned CIT(A) failed to appreciate that the loss incurred by the appellant on sale of shares of Mafatlal Burlington Industries Ltd. was genuine and is supported by sufficient materials and evidences on record. (c) In reaching to the conclusion and confirming such addition, the learned CIT(A) omitted to consider relevant factors, considerations, principles and evidences while he was overwhelmed, influenced and prejudiced by irrelevant considerations and factors. 3.(a) On the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the learned CIT(A) erred in upholding the view of the Assessing Officer that the amount worth Rs. 1,99,50,554 received from British Asia Pacific Holding (P.) Ltd. on transfer of shares of Gujarat Gas Company Limited was assessable under the head 'Income from other sources' as against correct head of 'Capital gains' s....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
.... record. The said amount was also shown by the assessee in its balance sheet as 'due from partnership firm' in which the assessee-company is a partner. A copy of the balance sheet of the assessee as on 31st March, 2000 was also placed before the Assessing Officer. The shares transferred were reduced by the assessee from his investment accounts. The investment schedule and the balance sheet was also placed before the Assessing Officer. 5. During the course of assessment proceedings, the Assessing Officer required the assessee to furnish details of capital loss on sale of aforesaid 22 lakh shares of NOCIL and also to furnish information whether the above shares were purchased/sold through a recognized stock broker, if yes, then to produce particulars of above brokers along with its bill, contract note, confirmation of account and payment proof. The assessee vide letter dated 5th September, 2002 furnished before the Assessing Officer details of the capital loss on sale of 22 lakh shares of NOCIL and submitted that out of 22 lakh shares, the date of purchase of 9,000 shares was 19th August, 1994. The assessee has purchased 3,90,000 shares of Polythin Industries Ltd., i.e., PIL and sub....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....transferred in the name of the partnership firm. However, the beneficial ownership of shares was M/s. Sumish Associates and these facts were also recognized by the NOCIL in their letter dated 11th October, 2001 addressed to various stock exchanges. Copy of the letter was filed before the Assessing Officer. With regard to sale consideration of NOCIL shares, it was submitted that it was transferred at a total consideration of Rs. 2,64,00,000 at the rate of Rs. 12 per share, at the prevailing market price. Copy of the statement showing market price as on 6th March, 2000 was filed before the Assessing Officer. It was also explained that since shares were continued to be held in the name of the assessee, who was a partner in the firm, no transfer deed was required to be executed. The sale consideration of Rs. 2,64,00,000 was duly credited to the partners current account in the books of account of M/s. Sumish Associates. The Assessing Officer further asked the assessee to furnish the distinctive number of shares, details of pledge of NOCIL shares which were sold to M/s. Sumish Associates and distinctive number of bonus shares of NOCIL in the name of the assessee. Consequent upon the asse....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....oes not prohibit sale of immovable property. The charge created over the property moves to the buyer along with the property. Similar has been the case here. Both the purchaser and seller agreed to the transactions of sale of shares in pledged conditions and since such transaction is permitted under law, it cannot be doubted by the department. A reliance was also placed on the order of the Tribunal in the case of Mafatlal Holdings Ltd. [IT Appeal No. 2935 (Mum.) of 2002] in which the Tribunal has categorically held that there is no bar in transferring the shares in pledged conditions. With regard to the necessary intimation to the respective companies it was contended that M/s. ICICI and M/s. Bajaj Auto Limited were duly informed by the assessee. The CIT(A) re-examined the issue, but was not convinced with it and he confirmed the disallowance. 9. Now, the assessee has preferred an appeal before us with the submissions that CIT(A) has ignored the order of the Tribunal in the case of Mafatlal Holdings Ltd. (supra) in which under similar set of facts the transaction in sale of shares was considered to be genuine and the claim of loss suffered by the assessee was allowed. 10. During ....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....ed that the shares were transferred to M/s. Sumish Associates at the market price and in support of this claim, a statement showing market price of NOCIL shares in Bombay Stock Exchange for the period from 6th March, 2000 to 21st March, 2000 was filed before the Assessing Officer vide letter dated 23rd December, 2002. Copy of the same is also placed on record. It was further contended that as per the provisions of section 45(3), the profit and gain arising from transfer of a capital asset from a partner of a firm to the firm shall be chargeable to tax as his income of the previous year in which such transfer took place. In such a case, cost recorded in the books of the firm for such capital asset shall be deemed to be the full value of consideration. With regard to the registration of a firm it was contended that the registration with the Registrar of Firms is not compulsory. Even otherwise any registration can be made at a later stage. With regard to the observation of the Assessing Officer that assessee has surrendered its right in NOCIL to the lender, it is submitted that it has not surrendered all the rights in the share of NOCIL to the lender. It simply pledged the shares by g....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....ct of reducing the tax burden of the assessee's, must be looked upon with disfavour. Their Lordships of the Apex Court has also observed that they are unable to agree with the submission that an act which is otherwise valid in law can be treated as non-est merely on the basis of some underlying motive supposedly resulting in some economic detriment or prejudice to the national interest, as perceived by the respondents. The learned counsel for the assessee further contended that McDowell & Co. Ltd.'s case (supra) did not lay down any principle of its own to deal with tax avoidance device. No doubt, the Hon'ble Supreme Court did use strong language against tax avoidance, but the same were in context of artificial tax devices adopted to defeat a taxing statute. Their Lordships of the Apex Court who delivered the judgment in McDowell & Co. Ltd.'s case (supra) recognized the tax planning within the four corners of law is still legal and valid. 12. The learned counsel for the assessee further contended that the Tribunal has adjudicated identical issue in the similar set of facts in the case of Mafatlal Holdings Ltd. (supra) and held the transaction to be genuine and allowed a claim of c....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....nsideration for transfer was credited by M/s. Sumish Associates to the assessee's current account as a partner and the shares were also shown in the balance sheet of M/s. Sumish Asso- ciates as on 31st March, 2000 under the head "Investments". The balance sheet of M/s. Sumish Associates as on 31st March, 2000 along with its investment schedule is placed on record. In the assessee's balance sheet, the consideration was shown to be due from partnership firm i.e., M/s. Sumish Associates. It is also undisputed fact that at the time when the shares were transferred in favour of M/s. Sumish Associates, it was pledged with ICICI Limited and Bajaj Auto Limited through pledge agreement. Despite the transfer of these shares by the assessee in favour of M/s. Sumish Associates, these shares remained in the name of the assessee being one of the partner in M/s. Sumish Associates. It is also not disputed that the shares were sold at the prevailing market rate. These transactions were considered by the Revenue as sham for the following reasons : (i)The said transactions were entered upon between the group concern. (ii)Physical delivery of NOCIL shares were not given to M/s. Sumish Associates as ....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....was duly informed regarding this fact. Partnership firm i.e., M/s. Sumish Associates were recognized as a beneficial owner of these shares in the record of NOCIL. With regard to the transfer of money from M/s. Sumish Associates to the assessee, it is noticed that money was not transferred, but, necessary entries were passed in the books of account of the assessee as well as of the partnership firm and in the partnership firm, the consideration amount was shown in the name of partner under the head "Partners Current Account". Likewise, in the books of the assessee, this amount was shown to be recovered from the partnership firm. According to provisions of section 20 of the Sales of Goods Act, if the goods are identified and parties intend to pass the property to the buyer, the payments can be deferred. But, in the instant case, necessary entries were made in the books of account. Only the physical payment of sale consideration was deferred. We have carefully examined the various provisions of law and we find that the transactions entered upon by the assessee are not hit by any provisions of any relevant law. 16. During the course of hearing, our attention was also invited to the or....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....gistered with the Registrar of Firms. Therefore, this is an unregistered firm. The Assessing Officer also found that the original partnership deed dated 12-10-1995 between Sushripada Investment P. Ltd. and Suvin Taxchem P. Ltd. was not registered with the Registrar of firms. The Assessing Officer also noticed that as on 31-3-1996, the capital of the partners of the firm was of Rs. 5,000 each and the total assets of the firm was Rs. 10,154. According to him the firm did not carry out any business activity during the year and there was a loss transferred to the partners current account amounting to Rs. 746 only. Further as on 31-3-1997, the total assets had remained at Rs. 10,154 and during the year, the assessee company had carried out no activity and as per the profit and loss account, the loss was Rs. 100 only. As per the balance sheet as on 31-3-1998, the firm had received capital of Rs. 1,00,000 from Mafatlal Finance Co. Ltd. and Rs. 5,000 from Mafatlal Holding Ltd. The firm had shown investment of Rs. 1,34,16,530 equity shares of Rs. 10 each of NOCIL full paid. As per the profit and loss account, the firm had received Rs. 2,450.23 as profit on sale of investments. Thus, accordi....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....further noticed that in the balance sheet as on 31-3-1998 of the assessee company under schedule 6, under the heading 'loans and advances' the assessee-company has shown this amount as an advance receivable, from M/s. Arvi Associates. Thus, according to the Assessing Officer, this amount cannot be stated as the capital contribution of the assessee- company and the same was an afterthought of the assessee company. The Assessing Officer, therefore, concluded that there was no introduction of the capital by the assessee-company in Arvi Associates in the shape of transfer of subject shares of NOCIL. 23. Regarding the sale of shares, the Assessing Officer had observed that the transfer deed of shares was not produced by the assessee. The shares had not been sold through stock exchange. The shares transferred continued to remain in the name of original holder even after the shares had been sold twice, once to assessee-company by Sushmita Holdings and Mishapar Investments and secondly to M/s. Arvi Associates by the assessee-company. The Assessing Officer had also observed that 1,30,000 shares were held by Sushmita Holdings Ltd. on behalf of the Mafatlal Holdings Ltd. Further 30 lakh shar....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
.... (ii)Adjusted long-term/short-term capital loss on transfer of NOCIL shares 21,33,53,989 Net long-term/short-term capital loss to be carried forward 6,63,42,188 The department has disallowed the loss of Rs. 21,33,53,989 claimed by the assessee-company on the basis that the assessee was not owning the shares which it has transferred to the firm M/s. Arvi Associates. Thus, according to the department the transfer of shares was not valid and the assessee-company is not entitled to benefit of section 45(3) of the Act. On the other hand, the assessee-company submitted that the transfer of NOCIL shares to the firm Arvi Associates was as per the provisions of law, therefore, the assessee-company is entitled to the benefit of section 45(3) of the Act. 44. The Assessing Officer has challenged the genuineness of the sale transactions of the shares under consideration for various reasons. The first reason is regarding the registration of the firm M/s. Arvi Associates with the Registrar of Firms. In the case of Dulichand Laxminarayan v. CIT [1956] 29 ITR 535 (SC), the Hon'ble Supreme Court held that section 4 of the Indian Partnership Act, 1932, clearly requires the presence of three ele....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....wever, at the same time, the entire amount of consideration was credited to the current account of the assessee-company in the books of the said firm. The learned counsel also rightly pointed out that there is no requirement under any law relating to sale of goods or even of immovable property that the purchase consideration has necessarily got to be paid in cash. The meaning of word 'paid' has been defined in section 43(2) of the Act as follows : 'The word 'paid' is defined to mean the amounts actually paid or incurred according to the method of accounting followed by the assessee, for the purpose of computing profits or gains under the head 'profits or gains of business or profession'.' In the present case, the assessee is following mercantile system of accounting, and hence crediting the amount of the assessee in the books of the firm and debiting the account of the firm in the books of the assessee is sufficient for the purpose of actual payments towards sale of the shares to the firm. The learned counsel has also rightly pointed out that there is no requirement under the law that in case of transfer of an asset by a partner to the firm in which he is a partner, the amount of....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
.... consideration of the said capital asset for computing the chargeable capital gains. In the present case, in the books of the firm the value of the capital assets have been recorded at the amounts at which it is shown to have been sold, in accordance with the provisions of section 45(3) for the purpose of computation of capital gains/loss on the transaction. The aforesaid amount recorded in the books of account of the firm have to be considered to be the full value of the consideration of the shares transferred. 46. The genuineness of the sale transactions of the shares is also challenged by the department on the basis that the shares under consideration have not been transferred in the name of M/s. Arvi Associates and they still continue to be either in the name of assessee-company or M/s. Mishapar Investments Ltd. In this connection the learned counsel explained that the shares purchased by the assessee-company from M/s. Mishapar Investments Ltd. and sold to M/s. Arvi Associates stood pledged with the bank and financial institutions by M/s. Mafatlal Holdings Ltd., therefore, the shares could not be transferred either to the assessee-company or to M/s. Arvi Associates. We find fo....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....e of shares, therefore, the transaction of sale is not genuine is also without any basis. The transaction of sale of shares was between two independent parties and had not been carried out in a recognized stock exchange as it was not necessary that dealing in shares should be through any recognized broker of Stock Exchange. The learned counsel rightly invited our attention to the provisions of section 108 of the Companies Act which provides that the shares of listed company shall be freely transferable hence it was not necessary that the transactions under consideration should have been carried through a recognized Stock Exchange or broker. The learned Departmental Representative could not produce any evidence before us to contradict the arguments of the learned counsel. The department has also not supported the findings of the Assessing Officer and the learned CIT(A) with any material on record or any court case wherein it has been stated that the transactions of shares of a listed company should be through a broker of a Stock Exchange or such transactions should be carried out only in a recognized Stock Exchange. In our opinion, it is not a mandatory condition that the transactio....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....xamine the share certificates, they could have summoned the concerned bankers and other financial institution with whom the shares have been pledged by resorting to the provisions of section 131 of the Act for producing such documents. The approach of the department in this connection appears to be quite casual. Under the circumstances, the department has not brought any evidence on record to prove that the transaction of sale of shares is not genuine. 49. The learned CIT(A) referred to the provisions of Companies Act and has contended that the transactions were not genuine in shares because the transfer deeds were not executed in respect of the shares sold by the assessee-company. In this connection, we would like to refer to some of the provisions of Sale of Goods Act. Section 2(4) of the Sale of Goods Act, 1930 pertaining to definitions reads as follows : '"Document of title of goods" includes a bill of lading, dock-warrant, warehouse keeper's certificate, wharefingers' certificate, railway receipt, warrant or order for the delivery of goods and any other document used in the ordinary course of business as proof of the possession or control of goods, or authorizing or purporti....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....0 and contended that the sale becomes final only when there is a transfer of property. Section 5(2) of the aforesaid Sale of Goods Act reads as under : 'Subject to the provisions of any law for the time being in force a contract of sale may be made in writing or by word of mouth, or partly in writing and partly by word of mouth or may be implied from the conduct of the parties.' Thus, in view of the above provisions of Sale of Goods Act, even an oral contract would also suffice for the purpose of sale of shares. In the present case, the transactions have been confirmed by the transferee and necessary accounting entries had duly been given effect to in the books of both the assessee-company as well as the transferee. Moreover, the transferee had become a beneficial owner of the shares and this fact had been reported to the Government and also to the Stock Exchanges. The evidence regarding this was also filed before the tax authorities (supra). In addition to the formalities of transfer of the shares, between the assessee-company and the purchaser and also the entries in their respective books of account, even the company concerned i.e. NOCIL and SEBI also took note of the benefici....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....ange. Thus, the ownership of 228 lakh shares of NOCIL by the assessee-company cannot be doubted. Therefore, the shares of NOCIL owned by the assessee were in a deliverable State. Therefore, in the present case, there was an unconditional contract for sale of specific shares, which were in deliverable State, therefore, the shares as per the provisions of section 20 of Sale of Goods Act, 1930, were passed on to M/s. Arvi Associates as soon as there was contract between the assessee company and M/s. Arvi Associates. The shares remained no longer of the ownership of Mafatlal Holdings Ltd. Dividend on the shares after the sale transaction has been passed on to M/s. Arvi Associates, thus confirming the fact of sale. Therefore, the reference to the abovesaid provisions of the Sale of Goods Act by the learned Departmental Representative is not relevant to support the case of the department moreover, these provisions support the contention of the learned counsel. 52. We also find substance in the arguments of the learned counsel that the transfer of shares is guided solely by the provisions of Sale of Goods Act, 1930 and the Companies Act merely provides for the mechanism in which such sha....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....hat whether the shares if sold in the open market would have fetched more price by way of premium. The department has not produced any evidence to support their case. The department has also not contradicted the contention of the learned counsel that the shares were transferred by the assessee-company at the prevailing market rate on the relevant date. The opinion expressed by the departmental authorities cannot be considered unless they are based on some evidence. The assessee-company has furnished documentary evidence in support of the genuineness of the sale transactions. It was also brought to our notice that the department has accepted the purchase of the shares in similar conditions of remaining shares pledged by M/s. Mafatlal Industries Ltd. as genuine. Therefore, the department cannot indulge in double standards to call the sale of shares in the same condition to be bogus. There is nothing wrong in carrying on the transactions of shares between the members of the group provided all legal requirements are complied with. The department has not brought any evidence on record to prove that any of such legal requirements was lacking in the present case. The department in fact ha....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....nce Act, 1987 with effect from 1-4-1988. The Hon'ble Supreme Court in the above case held that when a partner contributes his capital asset to the firm, the capital gain tax will not be leviable since the value of the consideration is not ascertainable. The new sub-section (3) of section 45 has statutorily superceded to the effect of the said judgment. Therefore, the ratio of the above judgment and similar other judgments would apply only up to assessment year 1987-88. Under the circumstances, the above judgment is not relevant to the facts of the present case as the assessment year under consideration is 1998-99. The Calcutta High Court decision in the case of Sumitra Devi Jalan (supra) pertains to wealth tax. The assessee had acquired shares of a company but transfer of the shares had not been registered in the name of the assessee in the share register. The Hon'ble Calcutta High Court held that pending registration of the shares in the books of the company, the shares could not be considered to be belonging to the assessee. Therefore, this decision was under the wealth tax and main question before the Hon'ble Court was to decide about the ownership of the shares i.e., whether th....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....ex Court have categorically held that judicial discipline and proprietary demands that a Bench of two Judges should follow a decision of a Bench of three Judges. But, if a Bench of two Judges concludes that earlier judgment of three Judges is so very incorrect that in no other circumstances, can it be followed, the proper course for it to adopt, is to refer the matter to a Bench of three Judges setting out the reasons why it could not agree with the earlier judgment. If, then the Bench of three Judges also comes to a conclusion that the earlier judgment of the Bench of 3 Judges is incorrect, reference to Bench of five learned Judges is justified. The only situation when a two Judge Bench may refer a matter directly to a Constitution Bench is where the provision of clause (3) of Article 145 are attracted. In the case of Sayaji Iron & Engg. Co. v. CIT [2002] 253 ITR 749 their Lordships of the Gujarat High Court have held that there was no reason for the Tribunal to take a different view when such disallowances were deleted by it all along in the past and the said decision was not challenged. In the case of Dy. CIT v. Reliance Industries Ltd. [2004] 88 ITD 273 (Mum.), the Special Benc....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
.... legal steps as non-est based upon some hypothetical assessments of the 'real motive' of the assessee. Court must deal with what is tangible in an objective manner and cannot afford to change the will-o-the-wisp. There is no change in the fiscal jurisprudence in India. The judgment of the Apex Court in the case of McDowell & Co. Ltd. (supra) was also examined by the Madras High Court and Their Lordship have commented upon it and concluded that decision in McDowell & Co. Ltd.'s case (supra) cannot be read as laying down that every attempt at tax planning is illegitimate and must be ignored or that every transaction or arrangement which is perfectly permissible under law, which has effect of reducing the tax burden of the assessee must be looked upon with disfavour. Keeping in view the totality of the facts and circumstances of the case, in the light of the Order of the Tribunal in the case of Mafatlal Holdings Ltd. (supra) and of the judicial pronouncements, we are of the opinion that the transactions entered upon by the assessees are legally permissible transactions and it cannot be doubted only for the reasons that assessee transacted in shares among the group concerns and suffere....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
.... of Gujarat Gas Company Limited. As per clause 9.2 of the agreement dated 2nd July, 1997, the assessee had right to require the purchaser i.e., British Gas Asia Pacific Holdings (P.) Ltd. to acquire the remaining shares of Gujarat Gas Company Limited from the assessee. Pursuant to such right given in the agreement dated 2nd July, 1997, the assessee along with other companies entered into share purchase agreement dated 5th March, 1999 with the British Gas Asia Pacific Holdings (P.) Ltd. for selling remaining shares i.e., 6,41,150 shares of the assessee. Clause 2 of the agreement dated 5th March, 1999 deals with the consideration for sales of above shares and it reads as under : "As consideration for sale of transfer of shares by Mishapur & Vishadeep, B.G. Shall pay to Mishapur & Vishadeep the price per share computed as under : Rs. 270 + interest at Rs. 27 computed @ Rs. 8 per annum of 2 per cent above the Re-prime landing rate from time to time of Barlacys, Plc. Mumbai for the period commencing from September 26, 1997 till the date of payment of consideration as contemplated herein, such interest to accrue from day to day." 23. During the course of assessment proceedings, the As....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....stments in other companies, as such, the interest received even on sale consideration of shares, can only be treated as business income and not income from other sources. The financing activity is also one of the major activity of the assessee-company. It was further contended that the Assessing Officer has wrongly co-related clause 10.1 of the agreement dated 2nd July, 1997 and the sale consideration for the sale of 6,41,150 shares whereas the clause 10.1 is applicable in the case of purchaser defaults in payment of any sum due as per the agreement dated 2nd July, 1997. The shares were not sold vide agreement dated 2nd July, 1997. They were sold pursuant to agreement dated 5th March, 1999 and as per clause 2 of the agreement dated 5th March, 1999 the sale consideration is to be computed as Rs. 270 + interest thereon from 20th September, 1997. The provision of 2 per cent of interest on Rs. 270 was made in order to arrive at a total consideration amount at the time of sale of shares as it was considered to be in the nature of price escalation. The CIT(A) re-examined the issue, but, was not convinced with the contention of the assessee and he confirmed the order of the Assessing Offi....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....its primary document relating to sale of shares which gives right to the parties to enforce the transactions of sales at a price stipulated in this agreement. It was also made very clear through this agreement, if sale of shares is delayed, the sale consideration would be determined by invoking the provisions of clause 10.8 of this agreement. Since the sales of shares were delayed and were effected through an agreement dated 5th March, 1999, the consideration stipulated in this agreement is the real sale consideration of sale of share and the interest determined on Rs. 270 is not interest in real sense, but, is a part of sale consideration. As such, the assessee has rightly computed the capital gain on sale of these shares. 26. The learned DR on the other hand has placed heavy reliance upon the order of the lower authorities. 27. Having carefully examined the orders of the lower authorities, in the light of rival submissions, we are of the view that the main controversy revolves around a core issue whether the sale of shares were effected through an agreement dated 2nd of July, 1997 or it was effected through agreement dated 5th March, 1999. Copy of the agreement dated 2nd July, ....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....ficates and executed share transfers in blank for the 25,65,000 sale shares to be deposited thereunder, the Purchaser agrees to advance the sum of Rs. 35,00,00,000 by way of an advance payment against the consideration payable for the Sale Shares under this clause 4 (the 'Deposit'). On satisfaction of the condition precedent referred to in the previous sentence, the Purchaser will instruct the remittance of the Deposit into a designated account in the name of the Purchaser with Barclays Bank Pic. Bombay (the 'Designated Account'). Following receipt of the Deposit into the Designated Account, the Purchaser will at the direction of MIL (by notice in writing) instruct Barclays Bank Pic. to pay the amount of the Deposit to such account with a scheduled bank in India as MIL shall instruct. Payment in accordance with MIL's directions as aforesaid will be a good discharge to the Purchaser of its obligation to pay the Deposit and the Purchaser will not be bound to see to the application thereof as between the Vendors. 4.2.2 The Deposit shall become immediately due and payable to the Purchaser in the event that : 4.2.2.1 the conditions precedent contained in clause 5.1 have not all been s....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....commencing not later than 1st December, 1999 at the price and on terms which are no less favourable to the Company than the contract between Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation Limited, Niko Resources Limited and the Company dated 6th June, 1997. 4.3 Wherever in this Agreement provision is made for the payment by one party to another, such payment shall be effected by banker's draft drawn payable in Bombay and drawn on any scheduled bank reasonably acceptable to the payee and the payer and having an office in Bombay. Payment of such sum shall be a good discharge to the payer of its obligation to make such payment. Payment to each of the Vendors shall be by separate banker's draft in accordance with their respective entitlements as set out in column (4) of Part 1 of Schedule 1 net of their proportionate share of the Deposit. 5. Conditions : 5.1 Conditions precedent Completion of the sale and purchase of the Sale Shares under this Agreement is conditional upon the satisfaction of the following conditions for the benefit of the Purchaser : 5.1.1 the Purchaser having received an appropriate approval of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board through the Secretariat of Industrial As....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....onditional one. If the parties to the contract are required to fulfil certain conditions, the contract may not be called to be unconditional and property would not immediately pass on execution of an Agreement. 29. From a careful reading of this agreement dated 2nd July, 1997 in the light of the provisions of section 20 of Sales of Goods Act and other provisions of Act, we find that it was a formal agreement between the parties with regard to sale of shares, but it was to be enforced on fulfilment of certain conditions by the respective parties. No evidence has been placed before us in order to prove that through this agreement either of the parties have acted upon or payment was passed to the assessee or delivery of the shares were effected including the transfer deeds. Unless and until it is proved that through this agreement respective parties have made the compliance of the conditions imposed thereon and only delivery part and payment was deferred through this agreement, it cannot be held that the property passes to the purchaser and sales of shares were effected. If the sales of shares are not effected through this agreement, the amount paid over and above Rs. 270 per share c....