Judgment

HEGDE J. : This is an appeal by certificate, granted by the High Court of Calcutta under S. 66A (2) of the Indian Income-tax Act, 1922 (to be hereinafter referred to as the Act) against the decision of that Court in a reference under S. 66(1) of that Act.

2. The two questions of law referred to the High Court by the tribunal are: (1) Whether S. 16(3) of the Act was ultra vires the Central Legislature and (2) Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the income arising to the three minor sons of the assessee by the virtue of their admission to the benefits of the partnership of M/s. Ajitmal Kanhaiyalal was rightly included in the total income of the assessee under S. 16(3)(a)(iv) of the Act.

3. The assessee at whose instance those questions were referred did not press for an answer in respect of question No.1. Therefore that question was not dealt with by the High Court. Hence we need not go into that question. The High Court answered the second question in favour of the assessee.

4. The facts necessary for the purpose of deciding the point in dispute as set out in the statement of the case submitted by the tribunal are as follows:

5. The assessee Shri Ajitmal Parekh was a partner of the firm M/s. Ajitmal Kanhaiyalal having 7 annas share therein. He continued to be a partner of that firm till July 1, 1954 which was the last date of the accounting year of the firm, relevant for the assessment year 1955-56. On July 1, 1954, the assessee retired from the firm. Thereafter he gifted to each of his four sons Rs. 75,000. Out of his four sons, three were minors at that time. There was a reconstitution of the firm with effect from July 2, 1954 as evidenced by the partnership deed dated July 5, 1954. The major son of the assessee became a partner of the reconstituted firm and his minor sons were admitted to the benefits of that partnership in the reconstituted firm. The major son had 2 annas share. His three minor brothers were admitted to the benefits of the partnership, each one of them having 2 annas share. In the assessment year 1956-57, the Income-tax Officer held that the income arising to he minors by virtue of their admission to the benefits of the partnership came within the purview of S. 16(3)(a)(iv) of the Act. He included that income in the total income of the assessee for that year. In appeal the Appellate Assistant Commissioner substantially upheld the order of assessment made by the Income-tax Officer but he held that the minors were entitled to only 1-9 pies share in the firm. The assessee took up the matter in appeal to the Income-tax Appellate Tribunal. The tribunal upheld the decision of the Appellate Assistant Commissioner.

6. On the facts found by the tribunal, that High Court came to the conclusion that answer to question No. 2 should be in the negative and in favour of the assessee.

7. The tribunal found that the capital invested by the minors in the firm came from the gift made in their favour by their father, the assessee. That finding was not open to question before the High Court nor did the High Court depart from that finding. But on an interpretation of S. 16(3)(a)(iv) the High Court opined that the answer to the question must be in favour of the assessee. Section 16(3)(a)(iv) reads:

"In computing the total income of any individual for the purpose of assessment, there shall be included (a) so much of the income of a wife or minor child of such individual as arises directly or indirectly .......

(iv) from assets transferred directly or indirectly to the minor child, not being a married daughter by such individual otherwise than for adequate consideration."

8. Before any income of a minor child can be brought within the scope of S. 16(3)(a)(iv), it must be established that the said income arose directly or indirectly from assets transferred directly or indirectly by its father. There is no dispute that the assessee had transferred to each of his minor sons, a sum of Rs. 75,000. It may also be t