Holding

The membership right is a personal, non‑transferable privilege that vests in the exchange on death or default and is not property, so it cannot be attached under Section 281B nor be subject to a garnishee notice under Section 226(3).

Summary

The Ahmedabad Stock Exchange sought to dispose of the membership of its deceased member, Rajesh Shah, after his heirs declared they could not meet his liabilities. The Exchange declared him a deemed defaulter and exercised its right under the Exchange Rules to vest the membership in the Exchange and sell it. The Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax issued a provisional attachment under Section 281B of the Income Tax Act on the deceased's stock exchange card and margin deposits, and later served a garnishee notice under Section 226(3) on the Exchange. The Supreme Court examined the nature of the membership right under the Stock Exchange (Regulation) Rules and held that it is a personal, non‑transferable privilege, not a property right that can be attached. Consequently, no amount was due from the Exchange, and the provisions of Sections 281B and 226(3) could not be invoked. The Court set aside the attachment order and garnishee notice, allowing the Stock Exchange's appeal.

Issues considered

The membership right in a stock exchange is a property right capable of attachment under Section 281B of the Income Tax Act.
Whether a garnishee notice under Section 226(3) of the Income Tax Act can be issued against the stock exchange for amounts due from a deceased member.
Whether, upon death or default of a member, the right of nomination vests in the exchange pursuant to the Stock Exchange Rules, rendering the membership non‑transferable.

Legislation cited

Income Tax Act, 1961s. 159(3), s. 226(3), s. 281B
Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956

Subjects

stock exchange membershippersonal privilegenon‑transferable rightattachment ordergarnishee noticeIncome Tax Actproperty rightdefaulternomination

Judgment

THESTOCKEXCHANGE,AHMEDABAD A
v.
-1r
ASSTT. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX, AHMEDABAD

MARCH2, 2001

[S.P. BHARUCHA, N. SANTOSH HEGDE AND Y.K. SABHARWAL, JJ.] B

Stock Exchange Rules, 1957 (Ahmedabad)-Rules 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 15, 16,
50, 51, 53, 54, Appendix C:

Stock Exchange-Membership-Nature of-Held, right ofmembership is
merely a personal privilege granted to a member-Membership non-transfer-
c
able and incapable of alienation by the member or his legal representatives and
heirs except to the limited extent as provided in rules on fulfilment of conditions
provided therein-Death or default of a member-Consequence of-Held, the
member's right of nomination ceases and it vests in the Exchange absolutely
free of all rights, claims or interests of such member or any person claiming D
through such member.

Death of a member-Provisional attachment order by Income Tax De-
partment in respect of Stock Exchange Card in the name of deceased and
margin money and security deposits kept by him with the Stock Exchange-A
garnishee notice for an amount due also issued to the Stock Exchange- E
Legality of-Heirs and legal representatives of the deceased member having
already informed the Stock Exchange that they were unable to meet his liabili-
ties-Membership right having vested in Stock Exchange, it was disposed of in
exercise of the right of nomination-Held, the membership right in question
was not the property of the assessee and therefore could not be attached- F
Fu11her, no garnishee notice could be issued as no amount on account of the
deceased was due from or held by the Stock Exchange-Income Tax Act,
1961-Sections 281B, 226(3)-Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956.

Deceased was a member of a Stock Exchange. Ou his death, his heirs
and legal representatives informed the Stock Exchange that they were G
unable to meet the liabilities of the deceased. Pursuant thereto, the Gov-
erning Board of the Stock Exchange passed a resolution declaring the
deceased as a deemed defaulter. It was further resolved that his member·
-~
ship rights vested in Stock Exchange he disposed of by inviting offers. The
same were disposed of in due course. H
255
256 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2001] 2 S.C.R.

A In the meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax issued a
provisional attachment order under Section 281B of the Income Tax Act,
1961 in respect of Stock Exchange Card in the name of the deceased and
margin money and security deposit• kept by him with the Stock Exchange.
Later on, a garnishee notice under Section 226(3) of the Income Tax Act,
1961 was also issued to the Stock Exchange.
B
The aforesaid orders of provisional attachment and the garnishee
notice were challenged unsuccessfully by the Stock Exchange in a writ
petition before High Court. Hence the present appeal.

Allowing the appeal, the Court
c
HELD : 1.1. The membership right in question was not the property
of the assessee and, therefore, it could not he attached under Section 281B
of the Income Tax Act. No amount on account of the deceased was due
from or held by the Stock Exchange and, therefore, Section 226(3) could
notbeinvoked.[262-C-D]
D
1.2. On a plain and combined reading of the Stock Exchange (Regu-
lation) Rules, it is clear that right of membership is merely a personal
privilege granted to a member, it is non-transferable and incapable of
alienation by the member or his legal representatives and heirs except to
E the limited extent as provided in the rules on fulfilment of the conditions
provided therein. The nomination wherever provided for is also not auto-
matic. It is hedged by Rules. On right of nomination vesting in the Stock
Exchange under the Rules, that right belongs to the Stock Exchange abso-
lutely. [261-B-D]

F Official Assignee of Bombay v. K.R. P. Shroff& Ors., AIR (1932) PC
186 and Vinay Bubna v. Stock Exchange, Mumbai & Ors., [1999] 6 SCC 215,
referred to.

1.3, Rule 9 of the Securities Contracts" (Regulations) Act, 1956 stipu-
lates that both in case of death or default of a member, his right of
G nomination shall cease and vest in ~he Exchange. The heirs and legal
representatives of the deceased member had informed the Stock Exchange
that they were unable to meet the liabilities of the deceased and the appro-
priate decision in that behalf may be taken by the Stock Exchange. Under
these circumstances the Governing Board exercised the right of nomina-
H tion in respect of membership of the deceased which had vested in the
STOCK EXCHANGE'· ASSTT. COMMR. OF INCOME TAX [Y.K SABHARWAL, J.] 257
Stock Exchange. [261-E; 262-A-C] A

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No. 1727 (NT) of
1998.

From the Judgment and Order dated 17.1.1998 in SCA 9089/95 of the
High Comt of Gujarat at Ahmedabad. B

WITH

Civil Appeal No. 7571 of 1999.

K.N. Raval, Additional Solicitor General, Ashok H. Desai, Ramesh P. C
Bhatt, Dr. V. Gauri Shankar, Chirag M. Shroff, M.N. Shrof, Ranbir Chandra,
Ms. Neera Gupta, B.V.B. Das, for Ms. Sushma Suri for the appearing parties.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

Y.K. SABHARWAL, ,J. The Stock Exchange, Ahmedabad, the appel- D
!ant, admitted Rajesh Shah as its member on 19th Februaty, 1988. He <lied
on 7th February, 1994. On 12th February, 1994, heirs and legal representatives
of Rajesh Shah wrote to the Stock Exchange tliat they are unable to meet the
liabilities of the deceased. The Governing Board of the Stock Exchange is
said to have passed a resolution dated 12th February, 1994 declaring Rajesh
E
Shah, the deceased member, as a deemed defaulter and further resolving tliat
his 1nembership rights vested in Stock Exchange be disposed of by inviting
offers within a minimum floor price of Rs. 25 lakhs.

A provisional attachment order dated 15th February, 1994 under Section
281 B of the Income Tax Act, 1961 was issued by tl1e Assistant Cnmmissioner F
of Income Tax (Respondeni) in respect of Stock Exchange card in the name
of Rajesh Shah and margin money and security deposits kept by him with
the Stock Exchange. The Stock Exchange on 16th February, 1994 issued
advertisement inviting claims from the member creditors and constituents of
Rajesh Shah to lodge their claims with it within 30 days of the advertisement
and also invited offers for purchase of membership with a minimum floor G
price of Rs. 25 lakhs. In respect of the order of provisional attachment, the
stand of Stock Exchange is that under its Rules, Bye-laws and Regulations
,
~ .,.. on the death or default of a member, member's right of nomination ceases
and it vests in the exchange and belongs absolutely to the exchange free
of all rights, claims or interests of such member or any person claiming H
258 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2001] 2 S.C.R.
A through such member and the Governing Board is entitled to deal with or
dispose of such right of membership as it may think fit. On 5th December,
1994, tl1e Governing Board of the Stock Exchange passed resolution disposing
.,..-
of membership iight of deceased Rajesh Shah vested in the Stock Exchange
in favour of UT! Security Ltd. for Rs. 27 lakhs. A garnishee notice dated 14th
June, 1995 under Section 226(3) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 in the. sum
B
of Rs. 12,24,887 was also issued to the Executive Director, Stock Exchange
by the respondent. In reply thereto, the Stock Exchange reiterated the stand
that no amount was due from it to Rajesh Shall or his legal heirs and the
exchange does not hold auy m0ney for and on behalf of Rajesh Shah or *'
his legal heirs. The plea of the Stock Exchange was not acceptable to the
c respondent.

Under the aforesaid circumstances, the appellant-Stock Exchange filed
a writ petition in the High Court challenging the orders of provisional attach-
ment and the garnishee notice. The writ petition has been dismissed by tlie
High Court which judgment is under challenge in this appeal.
D
Under Section 281 B, provisional attachment for the purpose of protect-
ing the Interests of the revenue can be ordered in respect of any property
belonging to the assessee. The legal representatives of the deceased shall, for
the purposes of the Income Tax Act, be deemed to be an assessee [Section
159(3)]. The question for dete1mination is as to the nature of the rights of
E
the deceased or his legal representatives in the Stock Exchange Card. On the
facts of the case, whether the said card was the property belonging to the
assessee and after his denlise devolved upon his legal representatives and heirs
or it was a personal permission in favour of the deceased and right of nomi·
nation of the legal representative and heirs after his deatl1 has ceased and the
F said right ha" vested in the Exchange, is the point in issue. The High Court
has held that there was a property element in the right of membership of Stock
Exchange and, therefore, the same could be attached and, thus, writ petition "-
was dismissed.

In order to decide the point, it is necessary to examine the Rules relating
G to the membership of the Stock Exchange. The appellant-Stock Exchange is
a recognised Stock Exchange under Securities Contracts (Regulations) Act,
1956 and has been established with the object, inter alia, to support and
protect, in the public interest, the character and status of brokers and dealers .... ~

and to further their interests and that of the public interested in securities and
H to maintain high standards of commercial honour and integrity. Rule 5 pro-
y

STOCK EXCHANGE v. ASSTT. COMMR. OF INCOME TAX [YK. SABHARWAL, !.] 259
vides that the membership shall constitute a personal pennission from the A
-~ Exchange to exercise the rights and privileges attached thereto subject to the
Rules, Bye-Laws and Regulations. Rule 6 provides that right of membership
is inalienable. Subject to the provisions of the Rules, under Rule 7 the right
of nomination has been given to a member which right is personal and non-
transferable. Rule 11 provides that a member of not less than 7 years' standing
B
who desires to resign may nominate a person eligible under the Rules for
admission in his place. Under proviso to Rule ll(a), a member of less than
7 years' standing who desires to resign may with the sanction of the Gov-
erning Board nominate his own son eligible nnder the Rules for admission
to membership of the Exchange as a candidate for admission in his plac·e.
Under Rule 11 (b), however, the legal representatives of a deceased member c
or his heirs or the persons mentioned in Appendix C to the Rules may with
the sanction of the Governing Board nominate any person eligible under tl1e
Rules for admission to membership of the exchange as a candidate for ad-
mission in place of the deceased member. In considering such nomination the
Governing Board shall be guided so far as practicable by the instruct.ions set
D
out in Appendix C. Rajesh Shal1 before his death was a member of less than
7 years' standing.

Rule 9 deals with right of nomination of deceased or defaulter member.
It provides that "On the death or default of a member his right of nomination
shall cease and vest in the Exchange." Rule 10 provides that "When a right of E
membership is forfeited to or vests in the Exchange under any Rule, Bye-Law
or Regulation or the Exchange for the time being in force it shall belong
absolutely to the Exchange free of all rights, claims or interest of such
member or any person claiming tlu·ough such member and the Governing
Board shall be entitled to deal with or dispose of such right of membership
as it may think fit." Rule 15 stipulates that the Governing Board shall not F
approve a nomination unless the nominating member or in the case of a
deceased member, his legal representatives or heirs or persons mentioned in
Appendix C or any other person on his behalf shall have paid and satisfied
in full the dues of the Exchange and liabilities relating to contracts.
G
Rule 16 comes into play when tl1e Governing Board exercises right of
nomination in respect of a membership vesting in the Exchange. It provides
that in such a case the consideration received therefor shall be applied to the
following purposes and in the following order of priority namely :

"Dues of Exchange and clearing House : H
260 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2001) 2 S.C.R.

A (i) first - tl1e payment of such subscriptions. debts, fines, fees,
charges and other monies as shall have been detetmined by the ,.-
Governing Board to be due to the Exchange or to tl1e Clearing
House by the former member whose right of membership vests
'
in the Exchange;

B Liabilities relating to Contracts

(ii) second - the payment of such debts, liabilities, obligations and
claims arising out of any contracts made by such fonner mem-
ber subject to the Rules, Bye-laws and Regulations of the
Exchange as shall have been admitted by the Governing Board:
c Provided that if tl1e 3lllount available be insufficient to pay and
satisfy alf such debts, liabilities, obligations and claims in full
they shall be paid and satisfied pro rata, and

Surplus
D (iii) tl:tird - tl1e payment of the surplus if any lo the funds of the
Exchange: Provided that the Exchange in general meeting may
all its absolute discretion direct that such surplus be disposed of
or applied in such other maimer as it may deem fit."

Rule 50 provides that when a member dies all subscriptions, debts, fines,
E fees, charges and other monies as shall have been determined by the Gov-
erning Board to be due by him to the Exchange or to the Clearing House
and all debts, liabilities, obligations and claims arising out of any contracts
made by him subject to Rules, Bye-laws and Regulations of the Exchange
as shall have been admitted by the Governing Board shall be paid and satisfied
F in full before his legal representatives or heirs or the persons mentioned in
Appendix C are allowed to exercise the right of nomination. Rule 51 provides
that if the legal representatives of a deceased 1nember or his heirs or the
persons mentioned in Appendix C or any other person on his behalf do not
or are unable to pay and satisfy his dues, debts, liabilities, obligations and
claims as provided in the Rules, Bye-laws and Regulations of the Exchange,
G the Governing Board shall exercise the right of nomination in respect of such
membersl:tip and the consideration received therefore shall be applied in the
marmer provided in the Rules. Rule 53 stipulates that a member who is declared
a defaulter shall at once cease to be a member of the Exchange and as such
cease to enjoy any of the rights and privileges of membership but the rights
H of his creditor members against him shall remain unimpaired and under Ruic
STOCK EXCHANGE'· ASSTT. COMMR. .OF INCOME TAX [YK. SABHARWAL, !.] 261
54 a member's right of membership shall lapse to and vest in the Exchange A
immediately he is declared a defaulter.

The Stock Exchange Rules, Bye-laws and Regulations have been ap-
proved by the Government of India nnder the Securities Contracts (Regula-
tions) Act, 1956. There is no challenge to these Rules. The question whether
right of membership confers upon the member any right of prope1ty is, B
therefore, to be examined within the framework of the Rules, Bye-laws and
Regulations of Exchange. On a plain and combined reading of the Rules, it
is clear that right of membership is merely a personal privilege granted to a
member, it is non-transferable and incapable of alienation by the member or
his legal representatives and heirs except to the limited extent as provided in c
the rules on fulfillment of conditions provided therein. The nomination wherever
provided for is also not automatic. It is hedged by Rules. On right of nomi-
nation vesting in the Stock exchange nnder the Rules, that right belongs to
the Stock Exchange absolutely. The consideration received by the Stock
Exchange on exercise of the right of nomination vesting in it, is lo be applied
in the manner provided in Rule 16. D

In O.fficial Assignee ~f Bombay v. K.R.P Shroff & O"., AIR (1932) PC
186, the Privy Council considering somewhat similar rules held tl1at a member
who has lost his membership for being a defaulter loses all interests botl1 in
the property of the association and in his card. No interest is reserved in the E
defaulter's card except to members of the association who have suffered by
his lapse or to tl1e Association itself. The contention urged on behalf of the
respondent that Rajesh Shah could not be declared a defaulter after his death.
and, therefore, on his purported default the question of membership vesting
in the Stock Exchange would not arise need not be gone into in the present case,
for that, Rule 9 stipulates that both in case of death or default of a member his F
right of nomination shall cease and vest in tl1c Exchange. In the case in hand,
pn the death of Rajesh Shah, his right of nomination ceased and vested in the
Exchange and his legal representatives and heirs did not exercise the right of
nomination by expressing their inability to meet the liabilities of the deceased.
G
In Vinay Bubna v. Stock Exchange, Mumbai & Or.<., [1999] 6 SCC 215,
on consideration of similar Rules in respect of Bombay Stock Exchange this
~ . .,.. Court held that membership of the Stock.Exchange is a personal permission
from the Exchange to exercise the rights and privileges attached thereto. It
is not a private asset. That was a case of defaulter but in principle it would
make no different as nnder Rules both in the case of the death or default of H
262 SUPREME COURT REPORTS · [2001] 2 S.C.R.
A a member, his right of nomination ceases and vests in the Stock Exchange.

111e heirs and legal representatives of Rajesh Shah, as already noticed,
had informed the Stock Exchange that they were unable to meet the liabilities
of the deceased and the appropriate decision in that behalf may be taken by
the Stock Exchange. It is evident that they did not exercise the right of
B nomination nnder Rule 11 read with Appendix C. They did not pay or satisfy
the dnes and claims as required under Rule 15. Under these circumstances the
Governing Board exercised the right of nomination in respect of membership
of Rajesh Shah which had vested in the Stock Exchange.

In the present case Rule 16 was properly applied by the Stock Ex-
c change. The membership right in question was not the property of the assessee
and, therefore, it could not be attached nnder Section 28 IB of the Income Tax
Act. No amount on account ofRajesh Shah was due from or held by the Stock
Exchange and, therefore, Section 226(3) could not be invoked. We are unable
to sustain the judgment under appeal holding that in substance the right of
D membership or membership card was a right of property which could be
attached nnder Section 28 IB of the Income Tax Act.

For the aforesaid reasons, we allow the appeal, set aside the impugned
I
judgment and quash the order of provisional attaclunent dated 14th Febmaiy,
1994 and garnishee notice dated 14th June, 1995 issued nnder Section 226(3)
E of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

In view of the above, Civil Appeal No. 7511 of 1999 is dismissed. In the
facts and circmnstances of the case, the parties are left to bear their own costs.

M.P. C.A. No. 1727/98 allowed.
F C.A. No. 7511/99 dismissed.