CIT, FARIDABAD vs. M/S LAKHANI RUBBER WORKS FARIDABAD
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court held that the Revenue did not wish to press questions 1 and 2 on account of the Supreme Court's judgment in CIT v. Alom Extrusions Ltd. Therefore, questions 1 and 2 were decided against the Revenue and in favour of the assessee. Regarding question 3, the High Court considered the nature of expenditure on load extension and purchase of a distribution panel. The Court noted that the CIT(A) had found the expenditure to be incurred in the ordinary course of business, recurring in nature, and that only a small part involved replacing or adding to motors or machines. The Tribunal had upheld this view, stating that no asset of enduring nature came into existence and that the expenditure was incurred in the ordinary course of business. The High Court concluded that the question of whether expenditure is capital or revenue is a question of fact, and there was no apparent material on record warranting interference. The findings satisfied the ingredients of revenue expenditure and did not suffer from legal infirmity. Accordingly, question 3 was also answered against the Revenue, upholding the Tribunal's order.
What were the facts?
The Revenue, Commissioner of Income Tax, Faridabad, filed an appeal under Section 260-A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, against an order dated 10.12.2008 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Delhi Bench 'D'. The appeal pertained to the assessment year 2003-04 and challenged the ITAT's confirmation of the CIT(A)'s deletion of additions made by the Assessing Officer. The additions related to late deposit of employees' and employer's contribution to PF, administrative charges, inspection charges, and expenditure on load extension and purchase of a distribution panel. The amount in dispute for the PF contributions and charges was Rs. 13,01,730/- and Rs. 12,86,353/- plus Rs. 52,584/- and Rs. 240/-, respectively. The disputed amount for load extension and panel purchase was Rs. 1,22,964/-.
What were the issues?
The Tribunal had to decide three questions of law: 1. Whether the ITAT was correct in law in confirming the deletion of an addition of Rs. 13,01,730/- made by the Assessing Officer on account of late deposit of employees' contribution to PF, which was disallowed under Section 36(1)(va) and treated as income under Section 2(24)(x) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, contrary to CIT vs. Pamwi Tissues Limited. 2. Whether the ITAT was correct in law in confirming the deletion of an addition of Rs. 12,86,353/- for late deposit of employer's contribution to PF and Rs. 52,584/- + Rs. 240/- for administrative and inspection charges, as payments were not made by the due dates, contravening CIT vs. Pamwi Tissues Limited. 3. Whether the ITAT was correct in law in confirming the deletion of an addition of Rs. 1,22,964/- for expenditure on load extension and purchase of a distribution panel, which had enduring benefits and should have been capitalized. The Revenue argued that the late deposits of PF contributions were not allowable under Section 36(1)(va) and were income under Section 2(24)(x), citing CIT vs. Pamwi Tissues Limited. For the third issue, the Revenue contended that the expenditure on load extension and panel purchase was capital in nature due to its enduring benefits. The Assessee's arguments are not explicitly recorded, but the ITAT's order, as reflected in the High Court's judgment, upheld the CIT(A)'s view that the expenditure was in the ordinary course of business and recurring in nature.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of decision: 30.3.2010 The Commissioner of Income Tax, Faridabad ...Appellant Versus M/s.Lsakhani Rubber Works, Plot No.131, Sector-24, Faridabad ...Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE M.M.KUMAR HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE JITENDRA CHAUHAN Present: Ms.Urvashi Dhugga, Advocate for the appellant.
To be referred to the reporters or not?
Whether the judgment should be reported in the Digest? M.M.KUMAR, J. The instant petition filed by the Revenue under Section 260-A of the Income-tax Act, 1961 is directed against order dated 10.12.2008 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Delhi Bench `D' Delhi (for brevity `the Tribunal') in ITA No.1295(Del) of 2007 in respect of the assessment year 2003-04. The revenue has claimed the following three questions:-
Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Ld. ITAT was right in law in confirming the order of the Ld.CIT(A) in deleting the addition of Rs.13,01,730/- made by the Assessing Officer on account of late deposit of employees' contribution to PF disregarding the fact that the payments were made beyond the due dates and were, therefore, not allowable u/s 36(1)(va) and were to be treated as income u/s 2(24)(x) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, in contravention of the decision in the case of CIT vs. Pamwi Tissues Limited 215 CTR 150(Bom.)?
Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Ld. ITAT was right in law in confirming the order of the Ld. CIT(A) in deleting the addition of Rs.12,86,353/- made by the Assessing Officer on account of late deposit of employer's contribution to PF and Admn. Charges of Rs.52,584/- and Rs.240/- as Insp. charges without appreciating the fact that payments were not made by the assessee within the prescribed “due dates” by which the assessee was Limited 215(CTR) 150 (Bom.)?
Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Ld. ITAT was right in law in confirming the order of the Ld. CIT(A) in deleting the addition of Rs.1,22,964/- made by the Assessing Officer on account of expenditure incurred in connection with load extension (P&E) and purchase of distribution panel (R&M) even though the benefits flowing from extension of load and replacement of old panel were of enduring nature, therefore, the same were capitalised?” Learned counsel for the revenue at the outset states that she does not wish to press question Nos. 1 and 2 on account of a judgment of Hon'ble the Supreme Court rendered in CIT v. Alom Extrusions Ltd., (2009) 319 ITR 306 (SC). Accordingly question Nos. 1 and 2 are decided against revenue and in favour of the assessee-respondent. However, in respect of question No.3, she has submitted that the expenditure incurred in connection with load extension and purchase of distribution panel should be regarded as capital expenditure instead of the revenue expenditure. A perusal of the order passed by the CIT(A) would show that the expenditure has been incurred in the ordinary course of business and only a small part or panel to several motors or machines was replaced and added. The expenditure is recurring in nature and, therefore, has been regarded by the Assessing Officer as revenue expenditure by CIT(A). Accordingly, disallowance of Rs.1,22,964/- has been deleted by CIT(A). On further appeal, the aforesaid view has been upheld in para 6 of the order of the Tribunal. Referring to the purchases of distribution panel on 7.10.2002 and incurring of expenditure on extension of load, the Tribunal has held that no asset of enduring nature had come into existence by incurring such expenditure. It has further been reiterated that the expenditure was incurred in the ordinary course of business. Accordingly, the view of the CIT(Appeals) was upheld. Having heard the learned counsel, we are of the considered view that the question whether expenditure is of capital expenditure or revenue expenditure is necessarily a question of fact. There are various ingredients which constitute the conclusion whether the expenditure is capital in nature or revenue has been gone into and in that regard, we do not find any apparent material on the face of record warranting interference of this Court. All the inputs constituting the revenue expenditure stands satisfied and the findings do not suffer from any legal infirmity. Accordingly, question No.3 is also answered against the revenue by upholding the order of the Tribunal. Accordingly, this appeal fails and the same is dismissed.
(M.M.KUMAR) JUDGE 30.3.2010 (JITENDRA CHAUHAN) mk
JUDGE
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