COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX vs. NAVJIVAN ROLLER FLOUR & PILSE MILLS LTD.

PDF · subscribers
ITR/97/1986HC GujaratGJHC24010721198620 June 2001Author: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANIL R. DAVE,HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE D.A.MEHTA3 pages
AI SummaryPartly Allowed

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court addressed each question referred by the Tribunal. For the question raised by the revenue concerning the applicability of Section 40A(8) to current accounts of directors, their friends, and relatives, the Court referred to its own prior judgment in I.T.R. No. 247/84, which dealt with an earlier assessment year for the same assessee. In that earlier case, a similar question was answered in the negative, favoring the revenue. Therefore, the High Court answered this question in the negative, in favor of the revenue and against the assessee. Regarding the two questions raised by the assessee concerning extra shift allowance, the Court noted that these had been decided in the case of CIT v. Transpek Industry Pvt. Ltd. (194 ITR 581) and by the Supreme Court in South India Viscose Ltd. v. CIT (227 ITR 286). Both these authorities had answered such questions in the negative. Consequently, the High Court answered these two questions in the negative, meaning in favor of the assessee and against the revenue.

What were the facts?

This case involves an Income Tax Reference (ITR) No. 97 of 1986 before the High Court of Gujarat at Ahmedabad. The reference was made by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Ahmedabad Bench 'C', at the instance of both the revenue and the assessee, Navjivan Roller Flour & Pulse Mills Ltd. The court was asked to provide its opinion on specific questions of law arising from the Tribunal's decision. The revenue was represented by learned advocate Shri B.B. Naik, while no one appeared for the assessee despite being duly served. The proceedings pertain to an unspecified assessment year.

What were the issues?

The High Court was asked to decide three questions of law. 1. At the instance of the Revenue: Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in concluding that the provisions of section 40A(8) would not be applicable to the current account of directors, their friends, and relatives? The revenue argued that section 40A(8) should apply. 2. At the instance of the Assessee: a. Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was justified in law in restricting the extra shift allowance on machinery to the number of days, thereby limiting it to Rs. 1,93,920/-? The assessee contended for a broader application of the allowance. b. Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was justified in law in not considering the industry as a whole for extra shift allowance? The assessee argued that the industry-wide context should be considered.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 256(1),Section 40A(8)

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

INCOME TAX REFERENCE No 97 of 1986

For Approval and Signature:

Hon'ble MR.JUSTICE A.R.DAVE and Hon'ble MR.JUSTICE D.A.MEHTA

============================================================ 1. Whether Reporters of Local Papers may be allowed : NO to see the judgements?

2.

To be referred to the Reporter or not? : NO 3. Whether Their Lordships wish to see the fair copy : NO of the judgement?

4.

Whether this case involves a substantial question : NO of law as to the interpretation of the Constitution of India, 1950 of any Order made thereunder?

5.

Whether it is to be circulated to the Civil Judge? : NO -------------------------------------------------------------- COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX Versus NAVJIVAN ROLLER FLOUR & PILSE MILLS LTD. -------------------------------------------------------------- Appearance: MRR BB NAIK for MR MANISH R BHATT for Petitioner NOTICE SERVED for Respondent No. 1

--------------------------------------------------------------

CORAM : MR.JUSTICE A.R.DAVE and MR.JUSTICE D.A.MEHTA

Date of decision: 20/06/2001

ORAL JUDGEMENT (Per : MR.JUSTICE A.R.DAVE)

At the instance of the revenue and the assessee the following questions have been referred to this court by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Ahmedabad Bench 'C' for its opinion under the provisions of sec. 256(1) of the Income-tax Act, 1961. At the instance of the Revenue : "Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in coming to the conclusion that provisions of section 40A(8) would not be applicable on the current account of the Directors, their friends and relatives?"

At the instance of the Assessee :

1.

Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was justified in law in restricting the extra shift allowance on machinery to the extent of number of days and thereby restricting the extra shift allowance to Rs. 1,93,920/-?

2.

Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was justified in law in not considering the industry as a whole for extra shift allowance?"

2.

Learned advocate Shri B.B. Naik has appeared for the revenue whereas nobody as appeared for the assessee, though the assessee has been duly served.

3.

So far as the question which has been referred to this court at the instance of the revenue is concerned, learned advocate Shri B.B. Naik has submittd that the question, which has been referred to this Court, has been squarely answered by this Court in I.T.R. No. 247/84 in the case of the assessee itself. Upon perusal of the judgment delivered on 3.5.1999 in I.T.R. No. 247/84, we find that a similar question was raised for the earlier assessment year and the said question was answered in the negative i.e. in favour of the revenue and against the assessee. In the circumstances, the question which has been referred at the instance of the revenue is answered in the negative i.e. in favour of the revenue and against the assessee.

4.

So far as the two questions which have been referred to this Court at the instance of the assessee

are concerned, it has been submitted by learned advocate Shri Naik that the said questions have been decided in the case of CIT v. Transpek Industry Pvt. Ltd., 194 ITR 581 as well as by the Hon'ble Supreme in South India Viscose Ltd. v. CIT, 227 ITR 286. The said questions have been answered in the negative i.e. in favour of the assessee and against the revenue. In view of the judgment delivered in the case of Transpek Industry (supra) as well as the law laid down by the Supreme Corut in South India Viscose (supra), the said two questions referred to this Court at the instance of the assessee are answered in the negative i.e. against the revenue and in favour of the assessee.

The reference is thus disposed of with no order as to costs.

(A.R. Dave, J.)

(D.A. Mehta, J.) (hn)

More judgments on Section 256(1)

All 755 judgments and leading authorities on Section 256(1) →

Recent GST High Court judgments

Search GST case law →