COMMISSIONR OF INCOME TAX-I LUDHIANA vs. M/S GETRAG HI-TECH GEARS (INDIA) PVT LTD.

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ITA/22/2012HC Punjab & HaryanaPHHC01099294201227 July 2012Author: MR. JUSTICE AJAY KUMAR MITTAL,MR. JUSTICE GURMEET SINGH SANDHAWALIA3 pages
AI SummaryRemanded

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court noted that a similar issue for the earlier assessment year 2005-06 concerning the same assessee was decided by the Court in ITA No. 763 of 2010 (Commissioner of Income Tax-I, Ludhiana v. M/s Getrag Hi-Tech Gears (India) Pvt. Ltd.) on March 27, 2012. In that case, the High Court had set aside the ITAT's order and remanded the matter back to the Tribunal for a fresh decision. The Court had clarified that its observations were not on the merits of the controversy but were influenced by the fact that the Tribunal had followed a view from the Rajasthan High Court concerning an earlier assessment year, and the provisions of Section 10B had been drastically amended, with the amended provision potentially applying. The learned counsel for the assessee did not dispute this fact. Consequently, the High Court set aside the impugned order dated 28.7.2011 and decided the present appeal in the same terms, disposing of the appeal.

What were the facts?

The Revenue, Commissioner of Income Tax-I, Ludhiana, filed an appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, against the order dated 28.7.2011 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) for the assessment year 2006-07. The ITAT had allowed deduction under Section 10B of the Act on certain items of income, holding them to be directly related to profits derived from the industrial undertaking's export business. These items included sundry creditors written back, exchange rate differences, sale of empties and miscellaneous scrap, and scrap sale. The Revenue contended that these incomes were not directly related to export profits, citing the Supreme Court decision in CIT v. Sterling Food. The Revenue also questioned the ITAT's reliance on its own prior order for assessment year 2005-06, especially since an appeal was pending before the High Court.

What were the issues?

1. Whether, on the facts and circumstances, the ITAT was justified in law in allowing deduction under Section 10B of the Income Tax Act, 1961, on sundry creditors written back (Rs. 4,25,654/-), exchange rate difference (Rs. 12,29,174/-), sale of empties and miscellaneous scrap (Rs. 5,65,188/-), and scrap sale (Rs. 36,91,553/-), holding them to be directly related to profits derived from the industrial undertaking's export of articles or things, contrary to the Assessing Officer's view and the decision in CIT v. Sterling Food. 2. Whether, on the facts and circumstances, the ITAT was justified in law in relying on its own order in ITA No. 838/Chandi/2009 for assessment year 2005-06, holding income from the aforementioned items as profits of business entitled to Section 10B deduction, despite the Revenue having filed an appeal against that order. Assessee's contentions: Not recorded in the judgment. Revenue's contentions: The items of income were not directly related to profits derived from the industrial undertaking from export of articles or things, as per the decision in CIT v. Sterling Food. The ITAT's reliance on its own prior order was unjustified as an appeal was pending before the High Court.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 260A,Section 10B

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

-1- IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of Decision: 27.7.2012 Commissioner of Income Tax-I, Ludhiana ....Appellant. Versus M/s Getrag Hi-Tech Gears (India) Pvt. Ltd. ...Respondent. CORAM:- HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AJAY KUMAR MITTAL. HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G.S. SANDHAWALIA. PRESENT: Mr. Rajesh Katoch, Advocate for the appellant. Mr. S.K. Mukhi, Advocate for the respondent. AJAY KUMAR MITTAL, J.

1.

This appeal has been preferred by the revenue under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (in short “the Act”) against the order dated 28.7.2011 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chandigarh Bench “A”, Chandigarh (hereinafter referred to as “the Tribunal) in ITA No. 128/CHD/2011, for the assessment year 2006-07, claiming the following substantial question of law:- (i) Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case, the Hon'ble Income Tax Appellate Tribunal is justified in law in allowing deduction u/s 10B of the Income Tax Act, 1961 on the following items of income holding that they are directly related to the profits 'derived from' industrial undertaking from export of articles or things:- (a) Sundry creditors written back Rs.4,25,654/- -2- (b) Exchange rate difference Rs.12,29,174/- (c) Sale of empties and Misc. Rs.5,65,188/- scrap. (d) Scrap sale Rs.36,91,553/- whereas the same are not directly related to the profits 'derived from' industrial undertaking from export of articles or things as held by the Assessing Officer in view of the decision of Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of CIT v. Sterling Food reported at 237 ITR 579? (ii) Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case, the Hon'ble Income Tax Appellate Tribunal is justified in law in relying upon its own order passed in ITA No. 838/Chandi/2009 in assessee's own case for the Assessment Year 2005-06 holding that income from the above items being profits of business are entitled to benefit of deduction claimed u/s 10B of the Act, whereas the Revenue has filed appeal before the Hon'ble P&H High Court against the said order?

2.

We have heard learned counsel for the parties.

3.

Learned counsel for the revenue submitted that the issue in respect of the same assessee relating to the earlier assessment year 2005-06 was considered by this Court in ITA No. 763 of 2010 (Commissioner of Income Tax-I, Ludhiana v. M/s Getrag Hi-Tech Gears (India) Pvt. Ltd.) decided on March 27, 2012, wherein this Court while setting aside the order passed by the Tribunal had remanded the -3- matter to the Tribunal to decide the same afresh. This Court held as under:- “Accordingly, impugned order dated 29.01.2010 (A-3) is set aside. The matter is remanded back to the Tribunal to decide the matter afresh. However, we make it clear that any observation made in this order shall not be construed as expression of opinion on the merit of the controversy because we have been principally influenced for setting aside the impugned order because the Tribunal has followed the view of Rajasthan High Court, which was expressed in respect of the earlier assessment year and the provisions of Section 10-B of the Act have drastically amended. The amended provision would apply to the case in hand. The parties through their counsel are directed to appear before the Tribunal on Ist May, 2012.”

4.

Learned counsel for the assessee has not disputed the aforementioned fact.

5.

In view of the above, the order dated 28.7.2011 is set aside and the present appeal is decided in the same terms. The appeal stands disposed of accordingly. (AJAY KUMAR MITTAL) JUDGE July 27, 2012 (G.S. SANDHAWALIA) gbs JUDGE

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