THE DY.C.I.T.(ASSTT.) vs. M/S. ADANI EXPORTS

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TAXAP/607/2003HC GujaratGJHC24026371200330 November 2013Author: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE M.R. SHAH,HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE R.P.DHOLARIA3 pages
AI SummaryPartly Allowed

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court noted that Tax Appeal No. 608 of 2003, concerning the deduction under Section 80HHC, was ordered to be heard with another appeal where a similar issue was decided. The Court referred to the Supreme Court's decision in CIT v. Lakshmi Machine Works (2007) 290 ITR 667 (SC), which held that brokerage, commission, interest, rent, excise duty, and sales tax do not form part of the total turnover for the purpose of Section 80HHC benefits and are to be deducted from the total turnover. Following this precedent, the Court dismissed Tax Appeal No. 608 of 2003 in favor of the assessee. Consequently, as the disallowance under Section 80HHC made by the Assessing Officer was to be deleted, the issue raised in Tax Appeal No. 607 of 2003 regarding the validity of reopening became academic. Therefore, Tax Appeal No. 607 of 2003 was ordered to be disposed of without a decision on its merits.

What were the facts?

The Revenue has filed two appeals against a common judgment and order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) dated November 29, 2002. Tax Appeal No. 607 of 2003 challenges the ITAT's decision to allow the assessee's appeal, holding that the reopening of assessment proceedings for assessment year 1990-91 under Section 147 read with Section 148 of the Income Tax Act was bad in law and consequently quashed the same. Tax Appeal No. 608 of 2003 challenges the ITAT's direction to the Assessing Officer to exclude interest and commission from the total turnover for computing deduction under Section 80HHC of the Act. The ITAT had confirmed the order of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) on this issue.

What were the issues?

1. Whether the Hon'ble Appellate Tribunal is right in law and on facts in reversing the order of the learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) and holding that the assessment was not validly reopened under section 147 r.w.s 148 and cancelled accordingly? (Question of law and fact, concerning Section 147 and Section 148 of the Income Tax Act). 2. Whether the Hon'ble Appellate Tribunal is right in law and on facts in confirming the order of the Learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) and directing the Assessing Officer to exclude the interest and commission from the total turnover for computing deduction under Section 80HHC of the I.T Act? (Question of law and fact, concerning Section 80HHC of the Income Tax Act). Assessee's Contentions: Not recorded in the judgment. Revenue's Contentions: The Revenue argued that the ITAT erred in holding the reopening of assessment invalid and in directing the exclusion of interest and commission from total turnover for Section 80HHC deduction. The Revenue relied on the decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in CIT v. Lakshmi Machine Works.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 147,Section 148,Section 80HHC

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

Cause title — parties, addresses and appearances
O/TAXAP/607/2003 JUDGMENT IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD TAX APPEAL  NO. 607 of 2003 With  TAX APPEAL NO. 608 of 2003   FOR APPROVAL AND SIGNATURE:     HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.R. SHAH ­ Sd/­  and HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R.P.DHOLARIA ­ Sd/­  ============================================ A Whether Reporters of Local Papers may be allowed to see  the judgment ? NO 2. To be referred to the Reporter or not ? NO 3. Whether their Lordships wish to see the fair copy of the  judgment ? NO 4. Whether this case involves a substantial question of law as to  the interpretation of the constitution of India, 1950 or any  order made thereunder ? NO 5. Whether it is to be circulated to the civil judge ? NO ============================================= THE DY.C.I.T.(ASSTT.)....Appellant(s) Versus M/S. ADANI EXPORTS....Opponent(s) ============================================= Appearance: MRS MAUNA M BHATT, ADVOCATE for the Appellant(s) No. 1 MRS SWATI SOPARKAR, ADVOCATE for the Opponent(s) No. 1 ============================================= CORAM: HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.R. SHAH and HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R.P.DHOLARIA  Date : 30/11/2013

ORAL JUDGMENT (PER : HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.R. SHAH)

1.0.

As both these appeals arise out of the impugned common judgment   and   order   passed   by   the   learned   Income   Tax   Appellate Tribunal (hereinafter referred to as the ‘ITAT”) and between the same parties, these appeals are disposed of by this common judgment an O/TAXAP/607/2003 JUDGMENT order.

2.0.

Feeling   aggrieved   and   dissatisfied   with   the   impugned judgment and order passed by th learned ITAT dated 29.11.2002 passed in ITA No.4975/AHD/95, by which, the learned ITAT has allowed the said appeal preferred by the assessee by holding that the reopening of the assessment proceedings with respect to the assessment year 1990­91 was bad in law  and consequently quashed and set aside the same, Revenue has preferred present appeal with the following substantial question of law. “Whether the Hon’ble Appellate Tribunal is right in law and   on   facts   in   reversing   the   order   of   the   learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) and holding that the assessment was not validity reopened under section 147 r.w.s 148 and cancelled accordingly?”

3.0.

Feeling   aggrieved   and   dissatisfied   with   the   impugned judgment and order passed by the learned ITAT dated   29.11.2002 passed in ITA No.5124/AHD/95, by which, learned ITAT directed the Assessing Officer to exclude the interest and commission from the total turnover for computing deduction under Section 80HHC of the Act, the Revenue has preferred present appeal with the following substantial question of law. “Whether the Hon’ble Appellate Tribunal is right in law and on facts in confirming the order of the Learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) and directing the Assessing Officer to exclude the interest and commission from the total turnover for computing deduction under Section 80HHC of the I.T Act?”

4.0.

At the outset, it is required to be noted that Tax Appeal No. 608 of 2003 was ordered to be heard along with Tax Appeal No.4 of 2000, in which similar substantial question of law was framed. The said O/TAXAP/607/2003 JUDGMENT Tax Appeal No. 4 of 2000 came up for hearing before the Division Bench and   by   judgment   and   order   dated   30.07.2007   and   considering   the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of  CIT v. Lakshmi Machine Works  reported in (2007)  290  ITR 667 (SC),  the Division Bench has dismissed the said appeal and held the aforesaid issue against the revenue.

5.0.

In view of the above and even considering the decision of the   Hon’ble  Supreme  Court  in   the  case  of  Lakshmi   Machine   Works (supra), by which, the issue has been decided in favour of the assessee that brokerage, commission, interest, rent etc, excise duty and sales tax also do not form part of the total turnover for the purpose of benefit under Section 80HHC of the Act as they are to be deducted from total turnover. In view of the above and following view taken by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Lakshmi Machine Works (supra), Tax Appeal No. 608 of 2003 deserves to be dismissed. Consequently, when disallowance  under Section 80HHC made by the Assessing Officer is to be deleted, the issue raised in Tax Appeal No.607 of 2003 become academic and therefore, the same is not required to be gone into. Under the   circumstances,     Tax  Appeal   No.  607   of  2003   is   required  to   be disposed of.

6.0.

In view of the above and for the reasons stated above, Tax Appeal No. 608 of 2003 is dismissed and Tax Appeal No. 607 of 2003 is ordered to be disposed of in view of dismissal of Tax Appeal No. 608 of 2003 on merits. No costs. sd/­ (M.R.SHAH, J.) sd/­ (R.P.DHOLARIA,J.) Kaushik

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