MANU/SC/1246/2017

Equivalent Citation: AIR2017SC 4856, (2017)299C TR(SC )105, [2017]398ITR260(SC ), 2017(12)SC ALE13, (2017)10SC C 764,
[2017]251TAXMAN10(SC )

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

Civil Appeal Nos. 9178, 9179 and 9180 of 2012
Decided On: 20.09.2017
Appellants: Union of India (UOI) and Ors.
Vs.
Respondent: Tata Tea Co. Ltd. and Ors.
Hon'ble Judges/Coram:
A.K. Sikri and Ashok Bhushan, JJ.
Counsels:
For Appearing Parties: S. Ganesh, K. Radhakrishnan, Sr. Advs., Ruby Singh Ahuja,
Vishal Gehrana, Shubham Saigal, Arvind Chari, Manik Karanjawala, Arjit Prasad, Gargi
Khanna, Anil Katiyar, B.V. Balaram Das, S. Sukumaran, Anand Sukumar, Bhupesh
Kumar Pathak and Meera Mathur, Advs.
Case Category:
DIRECT TAXES MATTERS - MATTERS UNDER INCOME TAX ACT, 1961
JUDGMENT
Ashok Bhushan, J.
1 . The constitutional validity of Section 115-O of the Income Tax Act, 1961
(hereinafter referred to as '1961, Act') as inserted by Finance Act, 1997 is in issue in
these appeals. The Civil Appeal No. 9178 of 2012 and Civil Appeal No. 9180 of 2012
have been filed by the Union of India against the common judgment dated
28.07.2006 of Calcutta High Court by which judgment although, Calcutta High Court
has upheld the constitutionality of Section 115-O, but a rider has been put that
additional income tax to be charged Under Section 115-O can only be on 40 per cent
of income which is taxable under Income Tax Act. The Civil Appeal No. 9179 of 2012
has been filed by the writ Petitioner who had also challenged the constitutional
validity of Section 115-O before the Gauhati High Court which writ petition has been
dismissed vide judgment and order dated 22.06.2007. The Gauhati High court had
also noted the judgment of Calcutta High Court dated 28.07.2006 as referred to
above. All the appeals have been heard together and are being decided by this
common judgment.
2. The facts giving rise to Civil Appeal No. 9178 of 2012 and 9180 of 2012 needs to
be briefly noted. Several writ petitions were filed before the Calcutta High Court
questioning the vires of Section 115-O of the 1961 Act. The Petitioner's case in the
writ petition is that the Petitioner is a Tea Company which cultivate tea in gardens
and processes it in its own factory/plants for marketing the same. The cultivation of
tea is an agricultural process although, the processing of tea in the factory is an
industrial process. The agricultural income is within the legislative competence of the
State and not in the legislative competence of the Parliament. Section 115-O imposes
tax on the dividend distributed by the company which is nothing but imposing the tax
on agricultural income of the writ Petitioner. The Petitioner M/s. Tata Tea Company
Ltd. and Ors. filed a Writ Petition No. 1699 of 2000 where the vires of Section 115-O

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 was challenged. The writ petition was dismissed by learned Single Judge vide its
judgment dated 20.9.2001 against which judgment, appeals were filed before the
Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court. Division Bench vide its judgment dated
28.7.2006 disposed of the appeals, setting aside the judgment of the learned Single
Judge. Operative portion of the judgment of the Division Bench is as follows:
We are, however, in agreement with Dr. Pal on a limited issue. We are of the
view that Rs. 50/- as a whole could not be taxes at the prescribed rate of
additional tax. Such additional tax would be levied on Rs. 201- being 40% of
Rs. 50/-. Hence, at the end of the day the company would have to pay
income tax at the prescribed rate on Rs. 40/- as well as additional income tax
at the prescribed rate on Rs. 20/-.
Result
The judgment and order of the learned Single Judge is set aside. We hold that
the provision of Section 115-O is constitutional and we have given the proper
interpretation of the subject Section as observed hereinafter.
The appeals are disposed of accordingly without any order as to costs.
3 . Union of India questioning the said judgment has come up in Civil Appeal No.
9178 of 2012 and Civil Appeal No. 9180 of 2012.
4. In Writ Petition(C) No. 3827 of 2000, the writ Petitioner has been carrying on the
business of growing green tea leaves in its tea gardens and manufacturing black tea
out of the same and thereafter selling the black tea in India and also outside India.
The writ Petitioner challenged the constitutional validity of Section 115-O sub Clause
(1) and sub Clause (3) in so far as it purports to levy the income tax on the profit
which is decided to be distributed as dividend thereby imposing an additional
income-tax even on the portion of the composite income which represents
agricultural income and which is also to be made available for the distribution of
dividend and, therefore, transgresses the limits of legislative power. The Parliament
has no competence to levy income tax on agricultural income.
5 . The writ petition has been dismissed by the Division Bench of the Gauhati High
Court vide judgment dated 22.06.2007 against which, the Civil Appeal No. 9179 of
2012 has been filed by the writ Petitioner.
6. We have heard, Shri S. Ganesh, learned senior Counsel for the Appellant in Civil
Appeal No. 9179 of 2012. Shri Arijit Prasad, learned Counsel has appeared on behalf
of the Union of India. We also heard learned Counsel appearing for the Respondent in
Civil Appeal No. 9178 of 2012 and Civil No. 9180 of 2012. The parties shall
hereinafter be referred to as described in the respective writ petitions.
7 . Learned Counsel appearing for the writ Petitioners submitted that Section 115-O
imposes additional tax on the dividend distributed by the Company which distribution
arises out of the income received from agriculture, 60 per cent of the income is the
agricultural income which is exempt from tax. The Parliament has no legislative
competence to tax the agricultural income and Section 115-O of the 1961 Act
transgresses the legislative field which is assigned to the State Legislature under List
II Entry 46 of Seventh Schedule of the Constitution. At the best, the amount of
dividend distributed by the Company to the extent of 40 per cent on which income
tax is charged can only be subject to additional tax. The Parliament cannot touch the
agricultural income.

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 8. The above submission has been refuted by the learned Counsel appearing for the
Union of India. He submitted that dividend which is decided to be distributed by the
Company to its shareholders no longer remains an agricultural income. The Company
is being asked to pay additional tax on the amount of dividend distributed by it and
not on its agricultural income. It is contended that the Parliament has full legislative
competence to enact Section 115-O. Both, the Calcutta High Court and Gauhati High
Court have rightly held that provisions of Section 115-O is intra vires.
9. We have considered the submissions and perused the records.
10. Finance Act, 1997 inserted a new Chapter XIID in the 1961, Act with heading
"special provisions relating to tax on distributed profits on domestic companies".
Section 115-O, Sub-sections (1), (2) and (3) as it was inserted by Finance Act, 1997
is as follows:
115-o. Tax on distributed profits of domestic companies.--(1)
Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provision of this Act and
subject to the provisions of this section, in addition to the income-tax
chargeable in respect of the total income of a domestic company for any
assessment year, any amount declared, distributed or paid by such company
by way of dividends (whether interim or otherwise) on or after the 1st day of
June, 1997, whether out of current or accumulated profits shall be charged to
additional income-tax (hereafter referred to as tax on distributed profits) at
the rate of ten per cent.
(2) Notwithstanding that no income-tax is payable by a domestic company on
its total income computed in accordance with the provisions of this Act, the
tax on distributed profits Under Sub-section (1) shall be payable by such
company.
(3) The principal officer of the domestic company and, the company shall be
liable to pay the tax on distributed profits to the credit of the Central
Government within fourteen days from the date of--
(a) declaration of any dividend; or
(b) distribution of any dividend; or
(c) payment of any dividend, whichever is earliest.
11. The vires of the above provisions of the 1961, Act was challenged before the
High Court. The main plank of attack of learned Counsel for the writ Petitioners is,
lack of legislative competence in the Parliament to enact Section 115-O so as to
impose additional income tax. The 'income out of which dividend is declared,
distributed or paid is an agricultural income to the extent of 60%, tax on which can
only be imposed by State legislature. The Parliament has transgressed its legislative
power in enacting Section 115-O.
1 2 . Part XI of the Constitution of India Chapter I contains provisions relating to
distribution of legislative powers. Article 246 provides for subject-matter of laws
made by the Parliament and by the Legislatures of States. Article 246 of the
Constitution of India is as follows:
246. Subject-matter of laws made by Parliament and by the
Legislatures of States.- (1) Notwithstanding anything in Clauses (2) and
(3), Parliament has exclusive power to make laws with respect to any of the

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 matters enumerated in List I in the Seventh Schedule (in this Constitution
referred to as the "Union List")
(2) Notwithstanding anything in Clause (3), Parliament, and, subject to Clause
(1), the Legislature of any State also, have power to make laws with respect
to any of the matters enumerated in List III in the Seventh Schedule (in this
Constitution referred to as the "Concurrent List")
(3) Subject to Clauses (1) and (2), the Legislature of any State has exclusive
power to make laws for such State or any part thereof with respect to any of
the matters enumerated in List II in the Seventh Schedule (in this Constitution
referred to as the 'State List')
(4) Parliament has power to make laws with respect to any matter for any
part of the territory of India not included in a State notwithstanding that such
matter is a matter enumerated in the State List.
1 3 . Sub-clause (1) of Article 246 begins with non obstante Clause that is
"Notwithstanding anything in Clauses (2) and (3), Parliament has exclusive power to
make laws with respect to any of the matters enumerated in List I in the Seventh
Schedule". The State as per Clause (3) of Article 246 "Subject to Clauses (1) and (2)
of Article 246 has exclusive power to make laws for such State or any part thereof
with respect to any of the matters enumerated in List II in the Seventh Schedule".
14. Entry 82 of List I reads:
82. Taxes on income other than agricultural income.
15. List II that is State List contains Entry 46 which reads:
46. Taxes on agricultural income.
16. Agricultural income has been defined in Article 366 of the Constitution of India,
Sub-clause (1) of which is to the following effect:
(1) "agricultural income" means agricultural income as defined for the
purposes of the enactments relating to Indian income-tax;
17. The definition of agricultural income was contained in Income-tax Act, 1922. In
the Income-tax Act, 1961 agricultural income has now been defined in Section 2(1A).
The words agricultural income as used in the legislative entries, thus, has to be given
the meaning as contained in Income-tax Act, 1961. The entries in the Seventh
Schedule are not powers but fields of legislature. The words in the respective entries
have to be given the widest scope of their meaning, each general word should extend
to ancillary or subsidiary matter which can be comprehended in it. As per Entry 82,
Union/Parliament, thus, has full power to legislate in the field of "taxes on income".
The subject excluded from its field are agricultural income. The word income has also
been defined in the Income-tax Act in Section 2(24) which is to the following effect:
2(24) "income" includes-
(i) profits and gains;
(ii) dividend;
xxx xxx xxx xxx

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 18. The definition given in 1961, Act of the word 'income' is an inclusive definition.
The pivotal question to be answered in these appeals is as to whether the provisions
of Section 115-O which contains a provision imposing additional tax on the dividends
which are declared, distributed or paid by a company are within the fold of legislative
field covered by Entry 82 of List I or it relates to legislative field assigned to State
legislature under Entry 46 List II that is tax on agricultural income.
1 9 . For answering the above, we need to recapitulate the principles of statutory
interpretation of the legislative entries contained in Seventh Schedule of the
Constitution. Prior to enforcement of the Constitution, the Government of India Act,
1935 contained the Seventh Schedule containing three legislative lists, namely, List
I-Federal Legislative List, List II -- Provincial Legislative List and List III-Concurrent
Legislative List.
2 0 . I n A.L.S.P.P.L. Subrahmanyan Chettiar v. Muttuswami Goundan
MANU/FE/0004/1940 : AIR 1941 FC 47, the Federal Court had considered the
principles of statutory-interpretation of legislative lists contained in the Government
of India Act, 1935. Madras Agriculturists Relief Act, 1938 was enacted by Madras
legislature. The 1938 Act applies to debts payable by an 'agriculturist' at the
commencement of the Act. Debt was defined as any liability in cash or kind, whether
secured or unsecured, due from an agriculturist, whether payable under a decree or
order of a civil or revenue court or otherwise. The Federal Legislature had an
exclusive power to legislate with respect to cheques, bills of exchange, promissory
notes and other like instruments (List I, No. 28). The challenge was raised to 1938
Act before the Madras High Court by the Appellant on the ground that State
legislature has no competence to enact the legislation which had effect of discharging
debt including the debts based on the promissory notes. The Chief Justice, Gwyer
speaking for the Court held that, however, carefully and precisely lists of legislative
subjects are defined, it is practically impossible to ensure that they never overlap.
Laying down the principle to be adopted in a case where subject in one list, touches
also on a subject in another list, following was held:
It must inevitably happen from time to time that legislation, though
purporting to deal with a subject in one list, touches also on a subject in
another list, and the different provisions of the enactment may be so closely
intertwined that blind adherence to a strictly verbal interpretation would result
in a large number of statutes being declared invalid because the Legislature
enacting them may appear to have legislated in a forbidden sphere. Hence the
Rule which has been evolved by the Judicial Committee whereby the
impugned statute is examined to ascertain its "pith and substance", or its
"true nature and character", for the purpose of determining whether it is
legislation with respect to matters in this list or in that: (1881) 7 AC 96;
(1882) 7 AC 829; (1899) AC 580; 1930 AC 111; 1940 AC 513. In my
opinion, this Rule of interpretation is equally applicable to the Indian
Constitution Act, On this point I find myself in agreement with the Madras
High Court, and I dissent from the contrary view which appears to have been
taken in a recent case by the High Court at Patna: 3 FLJ HC 119.
It is clear that the pith and substance of the Madras Act, whatever it maybe,
cannot at any rate be said to be legislation with respect to negotiable
instruments or promissory notes; and it seems to me quite immaterial that
many, or even most, of the debts with which it deals are in practice evidenced
by or based upon such instruments. That is an accidental circumstance which
cannot affect the question. Suppose that at some later date money-lenders
were to adopt a different method of evidencing the debts of those to whom

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 they lend money; how could the validity or invalidity of the Act vary with
moneylenders' practice? I am of opinion therefore that the Act cannot be
challenged as invading the forbidden field of List I, for, it was not suggested
that it dealt with any item in that List other than No. 28.
2 1 . The Privy Council in Prafulla Kumar Mukherjee and Ors. v. Bank of
Commerce, Limited Khulna, MANU/PR/0096/1947 : Vol. 74 1946-47 Indian
Appeals 23, had considered principles of statutory interpretation and the doctrine of
pith and substance. The vires of the Bengal Money Lenders Act, 1940 came for
consideration. It was held that the provincial legislature was in pith and substance -
"money lending and money lenders". It held that legislature did not trench the
legislative field earmarked for Federal legislation. The Privy Council referring to the
observation of Sir Maurice Gwyer, C.J. held following:
(2).... No doubt experience of past difficulties has made the provisions of the
Indian Act more exact in some particulars, and the existence of the
Concurrent List has made it easier to distinguish between those matters which
are essential in determining to which list particular provisions should be
attributed and those which are merely-incidental. But the overlapping of
subject-matter is not avoided by substituting three lists for two, or even by
arranging for a hierarchy of jurisdictions. Subjects must still overlap, and
where they do the question must be asked what in pith and substance is the
effect of the enactment of which complaint is made, and in what list is its true
nature and character to be found. If these questions could not be asked,
much beneficent legislation would be stifled at birth, and many of the subjects
entrusted to provincial legislation could never effectively be dealt with.
(3) Thirdly, the extent of the invasion by the provinces into subjects
enumerated in the Federal List has to be considered. No doubt it is an
important matter, not, as their Lordships think, because the validity of an Act
can be determined by discriminating between degrees of invasion, but for the
purpose of determining what is the pith and substance of the impugned Act.
Its provisions may advance so far into Federal territory as to show that its
true nature is not concerned with provincial matters, but the question is not,
has it trespassed more or less, but is the trespass, whatever it be, such as to
show that the pith and substance of the impugned Act is not money lending
but promissory notes or banking? Once that question is determined the Act
falls on one or the other side of the line and can be seen as valid or invalid
according to its true content. This view places the precedence accorded to the
three lists in its proper perspective....
22. This Court has time and again emphasised that in the event of any overlapping is
found in two Entries of Seventh Schedule or two legislations, it is the duty of the
Court to find out its true intent and purpose and to examine the particular legislation
in its pith and substance. In Kartar Singh v. State of Punjab,
MANU/SC/1597/1994 : 1994 (3) SCC 569, paragraphs 59, 60 and 61 following has
been held:
59....But before we do so we may briefly indicate the principles that are
applied for construing the entries in the legislative lists. It has been laid down
that the entries must not be construed in a narrow and pedantic sense and
that widest amplitude must be given to the language of these entries.
Sometimes the entries in different lists or the same list may be found to
overlap or to be in direct conflict with each other. In that event it is the duty
of the court to find out its true intent and purpose and to examine the

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 particular legislation in its 'pith and substance' to determine whether it fits in
one or other of the lists. [See Synthetics and Chemicals Ltd. v. State of U.P.;
India Cement Ltd. v. State of T.N."
60. This doctrine of 'pith and substance' is applied when the legislative
competence of a legislature with regard to a particular enactment is
challenged with reference to the entries in the various lists i.e. a law dealing
with the subject in one list is also touching on a subject in another list. In
such a case, what has to be ascertained is the pith and substance of the
enactment. On a scrutiny of the Act in question, if found, that the legislation
is in substance one on a matter assigned to the legislature enacting that
statute, then that Act as a whole must be held to be valid notwithstanding any
incidental trenching upon matters beyond its competence i.e. on a matter
included in the list belonging to the other legislature. To say differently,
incidental encroachment is not altogether forbidden.
23. Further in Union of India and Ors. v. Shah Govedhan L. Kabra Teachers'
College, MANU/SC/0882/2002 : 2002 (8) SCC 228 in paragraph 7 following was laid
down:
7. It is further a well-settled principle that entries in the different lists should
be read together without giving a narrow meaning to any of them. Power of
Parliament as well as the State Legislature are expressed in precise and
definite terms. While an entry is to be given its widest meaning but it cannot
be so interpreted as to override another entry or make another entry
meaningless and in case of an apparent conflict between different entries, it is
the duty of the court to reconcile them. When it appears to the court that
there is apparent overlapping between the two entries the doctrine of "pith
and substance" has to be applied to find out the true nature of a legislation
and the entry within which it would fall. In case of conflict between entries in
List I and List II, the same has to be decided by application of the principle of
"pith and substance". The doctrine of "pith and substance" means that if an
enactment substantially falls within the powers expressly conferred by the
Constitution upon the legislature which enacted it, it cannot be held to be
invalid, merely because it incidentally encroaches on matters assigned to
another legislature. When a law is impugned as being ultra vires of the
legislative competence, what is required to be ascertained is the true
character of the legislation. If on such an examination it is found that the
legislation is in substance one on a matter assigned to the legislature then it
must be held to be valid in its entirety even though it might incidentally trench
on matters which are beyond its competence. In order to examine the true
character of the enactment, the entire Act, its object, scope and effect, is
required to be gone into. The question of invasion into the territory of another
legislation is to be determined not by degree but by substance. The doctrine
of "pith and substance" has to be applied not only in cases of conflict
between the powers of two legislatures but in any case where the question
arises whether a legislation is covered by particular legislative power in
exercise of which it is purported to be made.
24. As noted above Entry 82 of List I embraces entire field of "tax on income". What
is excluded is only tax on agricultural income which is contained in Entry 46 of List
II. Income as defined in Section 2(24) of the 1961, Act is the inclusive definition
including specifically "dividend". Dividend is statutorily regulated and under the
Article of association of companies are required to be paid as per the Rules of the
companies to the shareholders. Section 115-O pertains to declaration, distribution or

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 payment of dividend by domestic company and imposition of additional tax on
dividend is thus clearly covered by subject as embraced by Entry 82. The provisions
of Section 115-O cannot be said to be directly included in the field of tax on
agricultural income. Even if for the sake of argument it is considered that the
provision trenches the field covered by Entry 46 of List II, the effect is only incidental
and the legislation cannot be annulled on the ground of such incidental trenching in
the field of the State legislature. Looking to the nature of the provision of Section
115-O and its consequences, the pith and substance of the legislation is clearly
covered by Entry 82 of List I.
25. We, thus, repel the argument of the learned Counsel for the writ Petitioners that
provision of Section 115-O is beyond the legislative competence of the Parliament.
26. As noticed above, the Gauhati High Court has dismissed the writ petition whereas
the Calcutta High Court while upholding the vires of Section 115-O has put a rider
that the additional tax as levied by Section 115-O on the dividend declared,
distributed or paid additional tax shall be only to the extent of 40% which is taxable
income of the Tea Co. Learned Counsel for the writ Petitioners has referred to Rule 8
of the Income Tax Rules, 1962. Rule 8 deals on the subject "income from the
manufacture of tea". Rule 8 is as follows:
Income from the manufacture of tea.
8. (1) Income derived from the sale of tea grown and manufactured by the
seller in India shall be computed as if it were income derived from business,
and forty per cent of such income shall be deemed to be income liable to tax.
(2) In computing such income an allowance shall be made in respect of the
cost of planting bushes in replacement of bushes that have died or become
permanently useless in an area already planted, if such area has not
previously been abandoned, and for the purpose of determining such cost, no
deduction shall be made in respect of the amount of any subsidy which,
under the provisions of Clause (30) of Section 10, is not includible in the total
income.
2 7 . There cannot be any dispute regarding computation of income of Tea Co.,
manufacture of tea, as provided in Rule 8. The question to be considered is as to
when a company in its Annual General Meeting declares dividend which is distributed
and paid to its shareholders whether on the dividend so declared tax liability shall be
only upto 40% as has been held by the Calcutta High Court ?
28. This Court in Mrs. Bacha F. Guzdar, Bombay v. Commissioner of Income
Tax, Bombay MANU/SC/0072/1954 : AIR 1955 SC 74, had occasion to consider the
nature of an income in the hands of shareholders of company consequent to payment
of dividend amount. The Appellant in the above case was paid dividend by two Tea
companies of which she was shareholder. The income received by the Appellant was
held taxable by the Revenue Authority which was also upheld by the High Court. In
paragraph 2 of the judgment question referred to the High Court was noticed which
was to the following effect:
2. The question referred by the Tribunal to the High Court of Judicature at
Bombay was stated thus:
Whether 60% of the dividend amounting to Rs. 2,750 - received by
the Assessee from the two Tea companies is agricultural income and
as such exempt Under Section 4(3)(viii) of the Act.

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 Chagla, C.J. and Tendolkar J., who heard the reference, answered the
question in the negative by two separate but concurring judgments dated 28,
March, 1952.
29. In paragraph 6 of the following was stated by this Court
6. In order, however, that dividend may be held to be agricultural income it
will be incumbent upon the Appellant to show that, within the terms of the
definition, it is rent or revenue derived from land which is used for agricultural
purposes. Mr. Kolah, for the Appellant, contends that it is revenue derived
from land because 60% of the profits of the company out of which dividends
are payable are referable to the pursuit of agricultural operations on the part
of the company. It is true that the agricultural process renders 60% of the
profits exempt from tax in the hands of the company from land which is used
for agricultural purposes but can it be said that when such company decides
to distribute its profits to the shareholders and declares the dividends to be
allocated to them, such dividends in the hands of the shareholders also
partake of the character of revenue derived from land which is used for
agricultural purposes ?
Such a position if accepted would extend the scope of the vital words
'revenue derived from land' beyond its legitimate limits. Agricultural income as
defined in the Act is obviously intended to refer to the revenue received by
direct association with the land which is used for agricultural purposes and
not by indirectly extending it to cases where that revenue or part thereof
changes hands either by way of distribution of dividends or otherwise. In fact
and truth dividends is derived from the investment made in the shares of the
company and the foundation of it rests on the contractual relations between
the company and the shareholder. Dividend is not derived by a shareholder
by his direct relationship with the land.
There can be no doubt that the initial source which has produced the revenue
is land used for agricultural purposes but to give to the words 'revenue
derived from land' the unrestricted meaning apart from its direct association
or relation with the land, would be quite unwarranted. For example, the
proposition that a creditor advancing money on interest to an agriculturist and
receiving interest out of the produce of the lands in the hands of the
agriculturist can claim exemption of tax upon the ground that it is agricultural
income within the meaning of Section 4, Sub-section (3) (viii), is hardly
statable.
The policy of the Act as gathered from the various sub-clauses of Section
2(1) appears to be to exempt agricultural income from the purview of
Income-tax Act. The object appears to be not to subject to tax either the
actual tiller of the soil or any other person getting land cultivated by others
for deriving benefit therefrom, but to say that the benefit intended to be
conferred upon this class of persons should extend to those into whosoever
hands that revenue falls, however remote the receiver of such revenue may
be, is hardly warranted.
3 0 . I n The Commissioner of Income-Tax, Calcutta v. Nalin Behari Lal
Singha, etc., MANU/SC/0201/1969 : 1969 (2) SCC 310, this Court held that
dividend distributed by a company being a share of its profits declared as
distributable among the shareholders, is not impressed with the character of the
profits from which it reaches the hands of the shareholder. Following was stated in

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 paragraph 3:
3... Dividend distributed by a company being a share of its profits declared as
distributable among the shareholders, is not impressed with the character of
the profits from which it reaches the hands of the shareholder.
3 1 . Learned Single Judge of the Calcutta High Court relying on judgment of this
Court in Mrs. Bacha F Guzdar (supra) has dismissed the writ petition. The Division
Bench of the Calcutta High Court, however, held that Single Judge's decision relying
on Mrs. Bacha F Guzdar (supra) was not correct preposition of law.
3 2 . This Court in Mrs. Bacha F Guzdar (supra) was considering the nature of
dividend income in the hands of shareholders. Under the Income-tax Act, 1961
earlier the dividend was taxable at the hands of shareholder. By Finance Act, 1997 it
was made taxable in the hand of company when additional tax was imposed.
33. This Court, however, while considering the nature of dividend in the above case
held that although when the initial source which has produced the revenue is land
used for agricultural purposes but to give to the words 'revenue derived from land',
apart from its direct association or relation with the land, an unrestricted meaning
shall be unwarranted. Again as noted above Nalin Behari Lal Singha (supra)
observation was made that shares of its profits declared as distributable among the
shareholders is not impressed with the character of the profit from which it reaches
the hands of the shareholder. We, thus, find substances in the submission of the
learned Counsel for the Union of India that when the dividend is declared to be
distributed and paid to company's shareholder it is not impressed with character of
source of its income.
34. The provisions of Section 115-O are well within the competence of Parliament.
To put any limitation in the said provision as held by the Calcutta High Court that
additional tax can be levied only on the 40% of the dividend income shall be altering
the provision of Section 115-O for which there is no warrant. The Calcutta High Court
having upheld the vires of Section 115-O no further order was necessary in that writ
petition.
35. In view of the foregoing discussion, Civil Appeal Nos. 9178 and 9180 of 2012 are
allowed and Civil Appeal No. 9179 of 2012 is dismissed.
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