Income-tax Act, 1961 | Chapter XX-C
Section 269UA of the Income-tax Act, 1961: Definitions
Section 269UA sets out the meaning of important expressions used in Chapter XX-C, which dealt with the purchase of immovable properties by the Central Government in certain cases of transfer. The definitions covered agreements for transfer, apparent consideration, appropriate authority, immovable property, persons interested and transfer.
Purpose and scope of Section 269UA
The definitions in Section 269UA were intended to determine which property transactions and interests fell within the pre-emptive purchase framework of Chapter XX-C. They must be read with the operative provisions of that Chapter and the cut-off specified by Section 269UP.
Key statutory expressions explained
Agreement for transfer - clause (a)
An agreement for transfer meant an agreement to transfer immovable property, whether or not registered under the Registration Act, 1908. This is a definition for the historical Chapter XX-C scheme, not an exemption from registration requirements under other laws.
Apparent consideration - clause (b)
For direct transfers of land or buildings, the expression addressed the agreed price in a sale, the market value of consideration given in exchange, and premiums, rents and associated payments in leases. For transfers of rights covered by clause (d)(ii), it covered money, non-cash consideration or both. Where applicable, future payments were valued on a discounted basis at the prescribed rate.
Appropriate authority - clause (c)
This meant the authority constituted under Section 269UB to carry out the functions assigned under Chapter XX-C.
Immovable property - clause (d)
The definition included land, buildings or parts of buildings, together with specified assets and rights transferred with them. It also extended to certain rights in land or buildings obtained through shares, membership, agreements or other arrangements, including rights concerning buildings yet to be constructed.
Person interested - clause (e)
This included persons claiming, or entitled to claim, an interest in the consideration payable when property vested in the Central Government under the Chapter.
Transfer - clause (f)
For property covered by clause (d)(i), transfer included sale, exchange and leases for at least 12 years, including qualifying extension periods, as well as certain arrangements involving possession under Section 53A of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882. For rights covered by clause (d)(ii), it extended to transactions enabling transfer or enjoyment of those rights.
Historical statutory text of Section 269UA
The following text reproduces the substantive definitions retained from the original webpage for reference. It should be read subject to the legal status explained above.
In this Chapter, unless the context otherwise requires,-
(a) "agreement for transfer" means an agreement, whether registered under the Registration Act, 1908 (16 of 1908) or not, for the transfer of any immovable property ;
(b) "apparent consideration",-
(1) in relation to any immovable property in respect of which an agreement for transfer is made, being immovable property of the nature referred to in sub-clause
(i) of clause (d), means,-
(i) if the immovable property is to be transferred by way of sale, the consideration for such transfer as specified in the agreement for transfer;
(ii) if the immovable property is to be transferred by way of exchange,-
(A) in a case where the consideration for the transfer consists of a thing or things only, the price that such thing or things would ordinarily fetch on sale in the open market on the date on which the agreement for transfer is made;
(B) in a case where the consideration for the transfer consists of a thing or things and a sum of money, the aggregate of the price that such thing or things would ordinarily fetch on sale in the open market on the date on which the agreement for transfer is made, and such sum;
(iii) if the immovable property is to be transferred by way of lease,-
(A) in a case where the consideration for the transfer consists of premium only, the amount of premium as specified in the agreement for transfer;
(B) in a case where the consideration for the transfer consists of rent only, the aggregate of the moneys (if any) payable by way of rent and the amounts for the service or things forming part of or constituting the rent, as specified in the agreement for transfer;
(C) in a case where the consideration for the transfer consists of premium and rent, the aggregate of the amount of the premium, the moneys (if any) payable by way of rent and the amounts for the service or things forming part of or constituting the rent, as specified in the agreement for transfer, and where the whole or any part of the consideration for such transfer is payable on any date or dates falling after the date of such agreement for transfer, the value of the consideration payable after such date shall be deemed to be the discounted value of such consideration, as on the date of such agreement for transfer, determined by adopting such rate of interest as may be prescribed in this behalf;
(2) in relation to any immovable property in respect of which an agreement for transfer is made, being immovable property of the nature referred to in sub-clause
(ii) of clause (d), means,-
(i) in a case where the consideration for the transfer consists of a sum of money only, such sum;
(ii) in a case where the consideration for the transfer consists of a thing or things only, the price that such thing or things would ordinarily fetch on sale in the open market on the date on which the agreement for transfer is made;
(iii) in a case where the consideration for the transfer consists of a thing or things and a sum of money, the aggregate of the price that such thing or things would ordinarily fetch on sale in the open market on the date on which the agreement for transfer is made, and such sum, and where the whole or any part of the consideration for such transfer is payable on any date or dates falling after the date of such agreement for transfer, the value of the consideration payable after such date shall be deemed to be the discounted value of such consideration, as on the date of such agreement for transfer, determined by adopting such rate of interest as may be prescribed in this behalf;
(c) "appropriate authority" means an authority constituted under section 269UB to perform the functions of an appropriate authority under this Chapter;
(d) "immovable property" means-
(i) any land or any building or part of a building, and includes, where any land or any building or part of a building is to be transferred together with any machinery, plant, furniture, fittings or other things, such machinery, plant, furniture, fittings or other things also. Explanation.-For the purposes of this sub-clause, "land, building, part of a building, machinery, plant, furniture, fittings and other things" include any rights therein;
(ii) any rights in or with respect to any land or any building or a part of a building (whether or not including any machinery, plant, furniture, fittings or other things therein) which has been constructed or which is to be constructed, accruing or arising from any transaction (whether by way of becoming a member of, or acquiring shares in, a co-operative society, company or other association of persons or by way of any agreement or any arrangement of whatever nature), not being a transaction by way of sale, exchange or lease of such land, building or part of a building;
(e) "person interested", in relation to any immovable property, includes all persons claiming, or entitled to claim, an interest in the consideration payable on account of the vesting of that property in the Central Government under this Chapter;
(f) "transfer",-
(i) in relation to any immovable property referred to in sub-clause
(i) of clause (d), means transfer of such property by way of sale or exchange or lease for a term of not less than twelve years, and includes allowing the possession of such property to be taken or retained in part performance of a contract of the nature referred to in section 53A of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 (4 of 1882). Explanation.-For the purposes of this sub-clause, a lease which provides for the extension of the term thereof by a further term or terms shall be deemed to be a lease for a term of not less than twelve years, if the aggregate of the term for which such lease is to be granted and the further term or terms for which it can be so extended is not less than twelve years;
(ii) in relation to any immovable property of the nature referred to in sub-clause
(ii) of clause (d), means the doing of anything (whether by way of admitting as a member of or by way of transfer of shares in a co-operative society or company or other association of persons or by way of any agreement or arrangement or in any other manner whatsoever) which has the effect of transferring, or enabling the enjoyment of, such property.
Effect of Section 269UP on property transactions
Section 269UP, inserted by the Finance Act, 2002 with effect from 1 July 2002, makes the provisions of Chapter XX-C inapplicable to transfers effected on or after that date. A current property transaction should therefore be assessed under the property, registration, stamp-duty and applicable income-tax provisions relevant to that transaction, rather than under the former Chapter XX-C purchase procedure.
Official references
Income Tax Department - Section 269UA; Income Tax Department - Section 269UP; Finance Act, 2002 - Section 100.
Information is provided for general legal reference. Historical transactions may require examination of the law applicable on the relevant date.
