State of Madras vs Moulvie Estate, Nagalur

Veeraswami, J.—The question is, whether the sum of Rs. 4,200 paid out to the managing partner of the firm is deductible as an expenditure

u/s 5(e) of the Madras Agricultural Income Tax Act, 1955. The firms consists of nine partners and has been during the assessment year 1963-64 a

2/9th share. In consideration of his services as managing partner of the firm, he was paid a total remuneration of Rs. 4,200 for the year. It was

sought to be deducted as salary. The departmental officers took the view that a managing partner could in no sense be described as a servant of

the firm and disallowed the amount. The Tribunal was of an expenditure wholly and exclusively laid out for the purpose of the land.

We think the Tribunal, view is correct. The question is not whether the managing partner was a servant. He may or may not be that; but the

point is, whether he was not entitled to be remunerated for the services he rendered to the firm which pursued agricultural operations, in this case a

coffee estate. Factually, there is no dispute that he did render such service and it is not stated that he was bound to bestow it except for

remuneration. But if he had not supervised the agricultural operations of the firm, it would have been necessary to engage a third party for the

purpose, in which case salary would have to be paid. The test for an allowance of the expenditure is always whether it has been incurred in the

previous year and the expenditure was laid out or incurred wholly and exclusively for the purpose of the land. Literally, these requisites are satisfied

in this case u/s 5(e).

Commissioner of Income Tax v. B. S. Mines Co. on a close examination does not appear to militate against the view we have taken. The head

note which says that the salaries paid to the partners of a firm are not admissible as deductions in the computation of the profits of a firm are not

Income Tax purpose, dose not appear to be precise. If we may say so with respect, the judgment itself is very cryptic and how it was formed is

not clear. But, from the statement of the case, it would seem that the revenues point of view was that, having regard to the amounts paid out as

salaries to the partners, they represent not salaries in the real sense of the term, but additional shares of the profits of the partners as compared with

the share, of the sleeping partner. It is a problem to be answered in each case, whether what is sought to be claimed as an allowance is a real

expenditure laid out for the purpose of the business, in the instant case for the purpose of the land. If the expenditure, in comparison with the total

profits, is excessive or is a device to escape tax, it will obviously be disallowed and included in the chargeable profits. In M/s. Jugal Kishore

Baldeo Sahai v. Commissioner of Income Tax the Supreme Court held that the salary or remuneration paid to karta of the family to manage the

family business under a valid agreement was allowable as a business expenditure. The court observed :

... if a remuneration is paid to the karta of the family under a valid agreement which is bona fide and in the interest of, and expedient for, the

business of the family and the payment is genuine and not excessive, such remuneration must be held to an expenditure laid out wholly and

exclusively for the purpose of the business of the family and must be allowed as expenditure u/s 10(2) (xv) of the Act (income tax Act, 1922).

In our opinion, though the principle was applied in that case to the karta of a Hindu undivided family, it is with equal force applicable to a

registered firm assessed to tax under the provisions of the Madras Agricultural Income Tax Act.

The tax case is dismissed with costs. Counsels fee Rs. 100.