There are no specific case-laws or notifications in this regard, and hence the issue is still debatable.
The builders have been given liability to deduct TDS @ 10% over the compensation amount u/s. 194A. And as such mostly it is argued to be interest income in the hand of purchaser, to be charged under income from other sources. But it is counter argued in two ways as follows:
1. The judgement of Hon’ble Supreme court in the case of CIT vs M/s Saurashtra Cement Limited 2010-TIOL-49-SC-IT , the compensation paid to assessee was awarded as Capital Asset, as the loss was of capital nature.
Most of the cases of the compensation given by builders are built over the judgement take the compensation as Capital asset, and reduce the cost of aquisition of the property to that amount. Based on the view the compensation is non-taxable.
2. But It may not be loss of capital nature in all cases, and when the assessee has been paying additional interest on housing loan for delay of possession, the compensation given is to compensate that additional cost. The same view is supported in Real Estate Regulation Act, 2016; wherein the builders will have to compulsorily pay interest little more than base rate of home loan interest.
The irony in this case is, the compensation has been indirectly assessed to tax, by way of deduction from rebate on home loan interest.