KARAKULAM SERVIC E CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY B BIJUKUMAR vs. THE INCOME TAX OFFICER
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court directed the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (3rd respondent) to consider and pass orders on the petitioner's applications for condoning the delay and the stay petition expeditiously, preferably within a period of two months. The Court did not decide on the merits of the appeal or the underlying tax dispute regarding Section 80P or the interest income. The operative direction is solely to expedite the procedural steps before the ITAT. The core issues of the allowability of Section 80P deduction and the treatment of interest income remain to be decided by the ITAT.
What were the facts?
The petitioner, Karakulam Service Co-operative Bank Ltd., a Primary Agricultural Credit Co-operative Society, filed returns for assessment years 2012-13 to 2017-18 after receiving notices under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act. The petitioner claimed 100% deduction under Section 80P, resulting in nil income. The assessing authority initially disallowed the Section 80P exemption and passed assessment orders on December 20, 2019, under Section 143(3) read with Section 147. The petitioner appealed to the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals). The CIT(A), following the Supreme Court's decision in Mavilayi Service Co-operative Bank Ltd. v. CIT, allowed the deduction under Section 80P(2)(a)(i) but disallowed interest income on deposits. Aggrieved, the petitioner filed further appeals before the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) along with delay condonation and stay petitions.
What were the issues?
1. Whether the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (3rd respondent) should be directed to expeditiously consider and pass orders on the petitioner's applications for condoning the delay of 39 days and the stay petition, in light of the impending recovery of tax based on the CIT(A)'s order dated 28.08.2023. Assessee's Contention: The petitioner argued that the ITAT had not yet decided their delay condonation and stay petitions, and they were facing threats of tax recovery. They sought a direction for the ITAT to consider these applications expeditiously. Revenue's Contention: The judgment does not record any specific contentions from the revenue regarding the ITAT's delay in passing orders or the stay petition. The revenue is represented by counsel, but their arguments on this specific procedural matter are not detailed in the provided text.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Heard together (3 matters)
Read from the judgment's own cause title. This page is filed under one of them.
WP(C) NO. 44181 OF 2023 PETITIONER: KARAKULAM SERVICE CO OPERATIVE BANK LTD REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY B BIJUKUMAR AGED 50 YEARS KP-1/382 KARAKULAM VILLAGE, KARAKULAM PO, NEDUMANGAD TALUK, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695564 BY ADVS. DIVYA RAVINDRAN ALAN PRIYADARSHI DEV RESPONDENTS: 1 THE INCOME TAX OFFICER WARD 2 (3) AAYAKKAR BHAVAN, THIRUVANANATHAPURM, PIN - 695003 2 THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (APPEALS) NATIONAL FACELESS APPEAL CENTRE, INCOME TAX DEPARTMENT, M INISTRY OF FINANCE, JAHARLAL STADIUM , DELHI, PIN - 110003 3 THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL COCHIN BENCH, 1ST FLOOR, BLOCK CI & C-II, KENDRIYA BHAWAN, OPP. CSEZ, PIN - 682037 BY ADV ADV. P.G. JAYASHANKAR PGJ P.G. JAYASHANKAR-SC THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 09.01.2024, ALONG WITH WP(C).554/2024, 44199/2023 AND CONNECTED CASES, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
WP(C) NO. 554 OF 2024 PETITIONER: KARAKULAM SERVICE CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY B BIJUKUMAR AGED 50 YEARS KP-1/382, KARAKULAM P O, NEDUMANGAD, TRIVANDRUM, PIN - 695564 BY ADVS. DIVYA RAVINDRAN ALAN PRIYADARSHI DEV RESPONDENTS: 1 THE INCOME TAX OFFICER WARD 2(3), AAYAKKAR BHAVAN THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695003 2 THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (APPEALS) NATIONAL FACELESS APPEAL CENTRE, INCOME TAX DEPARTMENT, MINISTRY OF FINANCE, JAWAHARLAL STADIUM, DELHI, PIN - 110003 3 INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL COCHIN BENCH, 1ST FLOOR, (BLOCK C-I & C-II), KENDRIYA BHAVAN, OPP. CSEZ, KAKKANAD, COCHIN, PIN - 682037 BY ADV ADV. P.G. JAYASHANKAR PGJ THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
WP(C) NO. 44199 OF 2023 PETITIONER: KARAKULAM SERVICE CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY B BIJUKUMAR AGED 50 YEARS KP-1/382, KARAKULAM P O, NEDUMANGAD, TRIVANDRUM, PIN - 695564 BY ADVS. DIVYA RAVINDRAN ALAN PRIYADARSHI DEV RESPONDENTS: 1 THE INCOME TAX OFFICER WARD 2(3), AAYAKKAR BHAVAN THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695003 2 THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (APPEALS) NATIONAL FACELESS APPEAL CENTRE, INCOME TAX DEPARTMENT, MINISTRY OF FINANCE, JAWAHARLAL STADIUM, DELHI, PIN - 110003 3 INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL COCHIN BENCH, 1ST FLOOR, (BLOCK C-I & C-II), KENDRIYA BHAVAN, OPP. CSEZ, KAKKANAD, COCHIN, PIN - 682037 BY ADV ADV. P.G. JAYASHANKAR PGJ THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
WP(C) NO. 44244 OF 2023 PETITIONER: KARAKULAM SERVIC E CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY B BIJUKUMAR AGED 50 YEARS KP-1/382, KARAKULAM POST OFFICE, NEDUMANGADU, TRIVANDRUM, PIN - 695564 BY ADVS. DIVYA RAVINDRAN ALAN PRIYADARSHI DEV RESPONDENTS: 1 THE INCOME TAX OFFICER WARD 2(3), AAYAKAR BHAWAN, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695003 2 THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (APEALS) NATIONAL FACELESS APPEAL CENTRE, INCOME TAX DEPARTMENT, MINISTRY OF FINANCE, JAWAHARLAL STADIUM, DELHI, PIN - 110003 3 INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL COCHIN BENCH, 1ST FLOOR, BLOCK NO C-I & C-II) KENDRIYA BHAWAN, OPP: CSEZ. KAKKANAD, COCHIN, PIN - 682307 BY ADV ADV. P.G. JAYASHANKAR PGJ THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
JUDGMENT Dated this the 9th day of January, 2024 These writ petitions involved common question of law and facts and therefore, same are taken together and decided accordingly.
The petitioner society claims to be a Primary Agricultural Credit Co-operative Society. The petitioner filed return of its income for the assessment year 2012-13 to 2017- 18 after notice under Section 148 of the Income Tax Act was issued. The petitioner claimed declared nil income after claiming 100% deduction under Section 80P of the Income Tax Act. However, the assessing authority did not accept the claim of the petitioner for exemption under Section 80P of the Income Tax Act and vide assessment orders dated 20.12.2019 under Section 143(3) read with Section 147 of the Income Tax Act is allowed the exemption under Section 80P. Aggrieved by the said assessment orders, the petitioner had filed appeals before the 2nd respondent. The 2nd respondent following the judgment of the Supreme Court in the case of Mavilayi Service Co-operative Bank Ltd. V. Commissioner of Income Tax, Calicut [2021] 123 taxmann.com 161 (SC), allowed the deduction claimed by the petitioner under Section 80P(2)(a)(i) of the Income Tax Act. However, the 2nd respondent did not allow the interest income received by the petitioner on deposits. Aggrieved by the said order dated 28.08.2023 passed by the 2nd respondent on appeals, the petitioner had preferred further appeal before the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal in Ext.P3 along with applications for condoning the delay of 39 days as well as the stay petition.
Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the 3rd respondent has not taken decision on the application for condoning the delay as well as the stay petition and the petitioner is being threatened by recovery of tax in accordance with the order passed by the 2nd respondent dated 28.08.2023. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the 3rd respondent may be given direction to consider and pass orders on the applications for condoning the delay as well as the stay petition, expeditiously.
Considering the said prayer, these writ petitions stand disposed of with direction to the 3rd respondent to consider and pass orders on applications for condoning the delay as well as the stay petition expeditiously, preferably within a period of two months. DINESH KUMAR SINGH AP JUDGE
Appendix — schedule of exhibits
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