PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX, VADODARA-4 vs. THE PANCHMAHAL DIST. CO-OPERATIVE MILK(SIC) UNION LTD

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TAXAP/1308/2018HC GujaratGJHC24061389201803 December 2018Bench: HONOURABLE MS. JUSTICE HARSHA DEVANI,HONOURABLE DR. JUSTICE A. P. THAKER3 pages
AI SummaryDismissed

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court held that the impugned order passed by the ITAT does not give rise to any question of law, much less a substantial question of law. The reasoning for this decision is based on the High Court's own prior order dated 22.10.2018 in Tax Appeal Nos. 1266 of 2018 and 1267 of 2018, which affirmed the ITAT's decision in the case of Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. In that prior case, the High Court had held that the expenditure was general in nature, aimed at improving fertility practices amongst milk animals by addressing infertility issues. Such expenditure was considered to be for the purpose of business and not relatable to any tangible returns. Therefore, for the reasons recorded in the earlier judgment, the present appeals were dismissed.

What were the facts?

The assessee is The Panchmahal Dist. Co-operative Milk Union Ltd. and the revenue is the Principal Commissioner of Income Tax, Vadodara-4. The appeals by the revenue are directed against a common order dated 13.04.2018 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) for assessment years 2008-09, 2010-11, and 2011-12. The ITAT had confirmed the deletion of a disallowance of Rs.1,12,57,956/- made by the assessing officer as capital expenditure. The ITAT's decision was based on the order of the CIT (Appeals), which in turn followed a previous decision of the Tribunal in the case of Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. This earlier decision was subsequently upheld by the High Court of Gujarat.

What were the issues?

1. Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the learned ITAT has erred in law and on facts in confirming the deletion of disallowance of Animal Breeding & Co-operative Development Expenses of Rs.1,12,57,956/- made by the assessing officer as capital expenditure? Assessee's contentions: The judgment does not record specific contentions made by the assessee before the High Court. However, it is implied that the assessee supported the ITAT's order. Revenue's contentions: The revenue, through its learned senior standing counsel, reiterated the grounds stated in the memorandum of appeal and relied on the reasoning adopted by the Assessing Officer in the assessment order.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 260A

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

C/TAXAP/1307/2018 ORDER IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD R/TAX APPEAL NO. 1307 of 2018 With R/TAX APPEAL NO. 1308 of 2018 With R/TAX APPEAL NO. 1309 of 2018 ================================================================ PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX, VADODARA-4 Versus THE PANCHMAHAL DIST. CO-OPERATIVE MILK(SIC) UNION LTD =============================================================== Appearance: MR.VARUN K.PATEL(3802) for the APPELLANT for the RESPONDENT(s) No. 1 ================================================================ CORAM: HONOURABLE MS.JUSTICE HARSHA DEVANI and HONOURABLE DR.JUSTICE A. P. THAKER

Date : 03/12/2018

ORAL COMMON ORDER (PER : HONOURABLE MS.JUSTICE HARSHA DEVANI) 1. All these appeals filed by the revenue under section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as “the Act”) are directed against the common order dated 13.04.2018 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Ahmedabad Bench “A” (hereinafter referred to as “the Tribunal”) in ITA No.2519/Ahd/2015, ITA No.3036/Ahd/2013 and ITA No.2759/Ahd/2013 for assessment years 2008-09, 2010-11 and 2011-12 respectively, by proposing the following common question stated to be a substantial question of law: “Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the learned ITAT has erred in law and on facts in confirming the deletion of disallowance of Animal Page 1 of 3

C/TAXAP/1307/2018 ORDER Breeding & Co-operative Development Expenses of Rs.1,12,57,956/- made by the assessing officer as capital expenditure?” 2. Mr. Varun Patel, learned senior standing counsel reiterated the grounds stated in the memorandum of appeal and has also relied on the reasoning adopted by the Assessing Officer in the assessment order. 3. A perusal of the impugned order passed by the Tribunal reveals that in paragraph 3.6 thereof, the Tribunal has noted that the CIT (Appeals) has followed the decision of the first appellate authority in the case of Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. relevant to assessment year 2008- 09, which was carried before the Tribunal and was decided in favour of the assessee in ITA No.1977/Ahd/2012 read with Miscellaneous Application No.118/Ahd/2017. The Tribunal maintaining the parity with the decision of the Coordinate Bench, has accordingly found no reason to interfere with the order passed by the Commissioner (Appeals). 4. The decision of the Tribunal in the case of Gujarat Co- operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. came to be carried in further appeal before this court in Tax Appeal No.1266 of 2018 and Tax Appeal No.1267 of 2018. This court vide order dated 22.10.2018, affirmed the orders passed by the Tribunal by holding that the expenditure was general in nature and aimed at improving the practices for better fertility amongst milk animals by addressing the issues which caused infertility. The expenditure, therefore, was for the purpose of its business and would not be co-relatable to any tangible returns which can be Page 2 of 3

C/TAXAP/1307/2018 ORDER expected out of such expenditure. 5. In the above premise, for the reasons recorded in the order dated 22.10.2018 passed by this court in Tax Appeal No.1266 of 2018 and Tax Appeal No.1267 of 2018, this court is of the view that the impugned order passed by the Tribunal does not give rise to any question of law, much less a substantial question of law. 6. The appeals, therefore, fail and are accordingly dismissed. (HARSHA DEVANI, J) (A. P. THAKER, J) B.U. PARMAR Page 3 of 3

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