COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX -II vs. OM BHOLE TRANSPORT AND CONSTRUCTION

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TAXAP/309/2013HC GujaratGJHC24022754201315 July 2013Author: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE M.R. SHAH,HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE MS. JUSTICE SONIA GOKANI3 pages
AI SummaryRemanded

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court, after hearing both the Revenue and the assessee, noted that the assessee did not dispute the Revenue's submission. The Court considered its own decision in Tax Appeal No. 905 of 2012 and allied appeals. For the reasons stated in that judgment, the High Court quashed and set aside the impugned ITAT order dated September 21, 2012, specifically concerning Questions A and B. The matter was remanded to the ITAT to consider these two questions afresh on merits. The appeal was allowed to this extent.

What were the facts?

The Revenue filed a Tax Appeal challenging an order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) dated September 21, 2012. Initially, the Revenue proposed four questions of law. However, by an order dated April 8, 2013, the Division Bench of the High Court decided to consider only two of these questions, namely (A) and (B), against the Revenue, and issued notice for final disposal. The appeal pertains to assessment years not explicitly stated. The dispute involves additions made by the Assessing Officer on account of disallowance of expenditure under Section 40(a)(ia) and other expenses.

What were the issues?

1. Whether the ITAT was justified in deleting the additions of Rs. 22,18,322 and Rs. 1,68,528 made by the Assessing Officer on account of disallowance of expenditure under Section 40(a)(ia) of the Income Tax Act, relying on the decision in Merilyn Shipping & Transporters? (Question A) 2. Whether Section 40(a)(ia) can be invoked only to disallow expenditure shown as 'payable' on the balance sheet date, or also for expenditure that became payable during the previous year and was paid within that year? (Question B) Assessee's Contention: Not recorded in the judgment. Revenue's Contention: The Revenue argued that Questions A and B are squarely covered by the decision of this Court in Commissioner of Income Tax Vs. Sikandarkhan N. Tunvar, Tax Appeal No. 905 of 2012, where the matter was remanded to the ITAT for fresh consideration of these questions.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 40(a)(ia)

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

Cause title — parties, addresses and appearances
O/TAXAP/309/2013 JUDGMENT IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD TAX APPEAL  NO. 309 of 2013   FOR APPROVAL AND SIGNATURE:    HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.R. SHAH ­sd/­ and HONOURABLE MS JUSTICE SONIA GOKANI ­sd/­ ============================================= A Whether Reporters of Local Papers may be allowed to see  the judgment ? YES 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 ============================================= COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX ­II....Appellant(s) Versus OM BHOLE TRANSPORT AND CONSTRUCTION....Opponent(s) ============================================= Appearance: MR MANAV A MEHTA, ADVOCATE for the Appellant(s) No. 1 MR TUSHAR P HEMANI, ADVOCATE for the Opponent(s) No. 1 ============================================= CORAM: HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.R. SHAH and HONOURABLE MS JUSTICE SONIA GOKANI  Date : 15/07/2013

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

1.0.

Present   Tax   Appeal   has   been   preferred   by   the   Revenue challenging the impugned judgment and order passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, D Bench, Ahmedabad dated 21.9.2012. 2. 0. At the outset, it is required to be noted that initially the O/TAXAP/309/2013 JUDGMENT revenue proposed the following questions  of law. “(A) Whether the facts and circumstances of the case and in law, the Hon’ble ITAT   is   justified   in   deleting   the   addition   of   Rs.22,18,322   and Rs.1,68,528 made by the Assessing Officer on account of disallowance of expenditure u/s 40(a)(ia) of the Act relying the decision of the Speicial Bench in the case of Merilyn Shipping & Transporters? (B) Whether section 40(a)(ia) of the Income Tax Act can be invoked only to disallow expenditure of the nature referred to therein, which is shown as ‘payable’ as on the date of the balance sheet or it can be invoked also to disallow such expenditure which became payable at any time during the relevant previous year and was actually paid within the previous year? (C) Whether the facts and circumstances of the case and in law, the Hon’ble ITAT   is   justified   in   deleting   the   addition   of   Rs.3,04,257/­   and Rs.62,320/­ made by the Assessing Officer on account of disallowance of Labour Charges Exp. And Repairs & Maintenance expenses? (D) Whether the facts and circumstances of the case and in law, the Hon’ble ITAT   is   justified   in   deleting   the   addition   made   on   account   of Disallowance out of Diesel & Oil Expenses of Rs.2,21,301/­ made  by the AO?”

3.0.

However, by order dated 8.4.2013 the Division Bench held the proposed question nos. C and D against the Revenue and issued notice for final disposal for considering only two questions i.e. question nos. A and B. Under the circumstances, this Court is required to consider the questions A and B only.

4.

0 Shri   Manav   Mehta,   learned   counsel   of   the   appellant­ revenue has vehemently submitted that so far as question nos. A and B is concerned, it is squarely covered by the decision of the Division Bench of this Court in the case of Commissioner of Income Tax Vs. Sikandarkhan O/TAXAP/309/2013 JUDGMENT N. Tunvar in Tax Appeal No.905 of 2012 and other allied appeals and the Division Bench has remanded the matter to the Appellate Tribunal to consider the aforesaid two questions afresh.

5.0.

Ms. Vaibhavi Parikh, learned advocate for the respondent assessee is not disputing the above.

6.0.

Having heard Shri Mehta, learned counsel for the Revenue and   Ms.   Vaibhavi   Parikh,   learned   counsel   for   the   assessee   and considering the decision of this Court in Tax Appeal No.905 of 2012 and other allied Tax Appeals and for the reasons stated in the said judgment and order, the impugned judgment and order passed by the ITAT dated 21.9.2012 is hereby quashed and set aside so far as aforesaid questions no. A and B is concerned and the matter is remanded to the ITAT to consider the aforesaid two questions afresh in accordance with law and on merits. Present appeal is allowed to the aforesaid extent. sd/­ (M.R.SHAH, J.) sd/­ (MS SONIA GOKANI, J.) Kaushik

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