DCIT, CIR-3(1)(2), AHMEDABAD vs. M/S RAJSHRI PACKAGERS LTD., AHMEDABAD

The captioned appeal has been filed at the instance of the Revenue against the order of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)-9, Ahmedabad (CIT(A)’ in short), dated 25.07.2016 arising in the assessment order dated 05.03.2015 passed by the Assessing [DCIT vs. M/s. Rajshri Packagers Ltd.] A.Y. 2011-12 - 2 - Officer (AO) under s. 143(3) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (the Act) concerning AY 2011-12.

The substantive grounds of appeal raised by the Revenue read as under:-

When the matter was called for hearing, the learned AR for the assessee pointed out in the Revenue’s appeal that the loss arising to the assessee for breach of contract has been held by the AO to be speculative loss by invoking Section 43(5) of the Act which is contrary to law as enunciated judicially by the various Courts. The learned AR for the assessee submitted on facts that the assessee had claimed contract settlement loss of Rs.62,34,974/- and Rs.3,20,77,500/- which represents difference between purchase and sale price at the time of nomination of contract in favour of buyer and seller as applicable. The assessee has not made any delivery of commodity and settled the contract by making payment of difference of amount between sale price and purchase price. The learned AR thus submitted that the amount of loss has been inflicted on the assessee is basically in the nature of damages for breach of contract. It was pointed out that the transaction of sale was not settled by the cross contract of purchase (vice versa) without delivery. In the instant [DCIT vs. M/s. Rajshri Packagers Ltd.] A.Y. 2011-12 - 3 - case, the assessee company in its commercial wisdom decided not to honor contracts i.e. not to deliver the oil but paid the differential amount in monetary consideration and hence, the assessee has settled the contract and paid the consideration for breach of contract at the price lesser than prevailing market rate. In the circumstances, the provisions of Section 43(5) of the Act are not attracted and the loss incurred by the assessee should be regarded as ordinary business loss. The following judicial precedents were relied upon: i. CIT vs. Gora Mal Hari Ram Ltd. (2010) 191 Taxman 94 (Delhi) ii. CIT vs. Jaydwar Textiles (1993) 202 ITR 569 (Bombay) iii. CIT vs. Ambo Agro Products (P.) Ltd. (2018) 95 taxmann.com 345 (Calcutta).

The learned DR for the Revenue relied upon the order of the AO.

We have carefully considered the rival submissions. The limited question that arises for consideration is whether the loss arising on breach of contracts would fall within the definition of speculative transaction as defined in Section 43(5) of the Act or such loss is to be regarded as ordinary business loss. The assessee in the instant case has paid the sum of Rs.3,83,12,474/- towards compensation for breach of contract and claimed it as business loss. The AO held it as speculative loss by treating the transaction as speculative transaction within the meaning of Section 43(5) of the Act. The CIT(A) however held that the contract resulting in payment of compensation did not amount to speculative transaction and directed the AO to allow the amount as business loss. We straightway notice that the Hon’ble Supreme Court in CIT vs. Shantilal (P.) Ltd. (1983) 144 ITR 57 (SC) held that the transaction cannot be described as a ‘speculative transactions’ within the meaning of Section 43(5) of the Act where [DCIT vs. M/s. Rajshri Packagers Ltd.] A.Y. 2011-12 - 4 - there is a breach of contract and on a dispute between the parties, damages were awarded as compensation by an arbitration award. The award of damages for breach of contract is not the same thing as the party to the contract has intended to settle the contract following a breach or nonperformance of the contract. Such payment towards breach is not akin to the word ‘settled’ used in Section 43(5) of the Act. In view of the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court and the decision of various High Courts following the principles laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, we do not see any error in the conclusion drawn by the CIT(A). We thus decline to interfere.

In the result, the appeal of the Revenue is dismissed.