Madras High Court
D. Syed Amanullah vs Commissioner Of Income-Tax on 8 September, 1998
Equivalent citations: [2000]246ITR698(MAD)
Author: R. Jayasimha Babu
Bench: R. Jayasimha Babu
JUDGMENT R. Jayasimha Babu, J.
1. The assessee claims the benefit under Section 80U of the Income-tax Act, 1961, while he is gainfully employed as a senior assistant in the Central Co-operative Bank Ltd., Madurai Branch. Section 80U(1)(ii) of the Act provides that in computing the total income of an individual, being a resident, who, as at the end of the previous year is subject to or suffers from a permanent physical disability other than blindness, which has "the effect of reducing substantially his capacity to engage in a gainful employment or occupation" the deduction provided for in Section 80U shall be allowed. It is the assessee's own case that he is indeed gainfully employed holding a post of senior assistant. Despite the deformity mentioned the certificate issued by a medical practitioner, viz., the deformity Over the right wrist and fingers, he is able to do his work as an assistant in the bank and earn the salary attached to that post. It is evident that this deformity had not the effect of reducing substantially his capacity to engage in a gainful employment. The only material produced by the assessee was a certificate from the medical practitioner, certifying the existence of the deformity. No other material was referred to or relied on to show that the deformity had affected his capacity to engage in a gainful occupation or employment.
2. The Tribunal, therefore, was right in the view that it took and in denying the benefit to the assessee under Section 80U of the Act for the assessment year 1980-81.
3. We, therefore, answer the question referred to us, viz., "whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Appellate Tribunal is justified and correct in law in holding that the assessee is not entitled to the deduction contemplated by Section 80U of the Income-tax Act, 1961 ?" against the assessee and in favour of the Revenue.