PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX vs. VENUS INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEVELOPERS LIMITED

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TAXAP/703/2018HC GujaratGJHC24037942201826 June 2018Bench: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE M.R. SHAH,HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A.Y. KOGJE3 pages
AI SummaryDismissed

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court dismissed the appeal on both proposed questions of law. Regarding the expenses incurred towards GIHED (Question 2-[A]), the Court noted that similar disallowances for the assessee for Assessment Years 2008-09 and 2009-10 had been deleted by the ITAT and had attained finality. Therefore, no substantial question of law arose on this issue. Concerning the interest expenses (Question 2-[B]), the Tribunal had observed that the assessee had surplus interest-free funds and that the advances were made in the ordinary course of business. The High Court agreed with the Tribunal and the CIT(Appeals), finding no error in the deletion of disallowances. Consequently, no substantial question of law arose on this issue either. The Court found itself in complete agreement with the views of the CIT(Appeals) and the Tribunal.

What were the facts?

The Revenue, represented by the Principal Commissioner of Income Tax, filed an appeal before the High Court of Gujarat at Ahmedabad against an order passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Ahmedabad 'A' Bench, dated February 23, 2018. The appeal pertains to Assessment Year 2011-12. The ITAT had deleted certain disallowances made by the Assessing Officer. The appeal challenges two specific issues decided by the ITAT: the allowability of expenses incurred towards GIHED and the disallowance of interest expenses on funds advanced by the assessee. The High Court heard the arguments of the Revenue's counsel and reviewed the ITAT's order.

What were the issues?

The High Court was required to decide the following questions of law: 1. Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Appellate Tribunal was right in law and facts in not appreciating that expenses of Rs.40,92,252/- incurred towards GIHED were capital in nature, akin to an increase in brand value as a whole? (Section 37 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, implicitly relevant for capital vs. revenue expenditure). 2. Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Appellate Tribunal was right in law and facts in not appreciating that interest expenses of Rs.9,99,000/- were not allowable under Section 36(1)(iii) since the assessee could not explain the expediency for advancing such funds at a lower rate than the rate at which it had taken loans from others? Assessee's Contentions: Not recorded in the judgment. Revenue's Contentions: The Revenue argued that expenses towards GIHED were capital in nature and that interest expenses on advances were not allowable due to lack of explanation for the lower lending rate.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 36(1)(iii)

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

C/TAXAP/703/2018 ORDER IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD R/TAX APPEAL NO. 703 of 2018 ================================================================ PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX Versus VENUS INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEVELOPERS LIMITED ================================================================ Appearance: MR MANISH R BHATT, SENIOR ADVOCATE assisted by MRS MAUNA M BHATT(174) for the PETITIONER(s) No. 1 for the RESPONDENT(s) No. 1 ================================================================ CORAM: HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.R. SHAH and HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE A.Y. KOGJE

Date : 26/06/2018

ORAL ORDER (PER : HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.R. SHAH) 1. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the impugned judgment and order passed by the learned Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Ahmedabad ‘A’ Bench dated 23.02.2018 in ITA No.1916/Ahd/2015 for Assessment Year 2011-12, the Revenue has preferred the present appeal with the following proposed questions of law:- “2-[A] Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the Appellate Tribunal was right in law and on facts in not appreciating that for expenses of Rs.40,92,252/- incurred towards GIHED were capital in nature akin to increase in brand value as a whole? Page 1 of 3

C/TAXAP/703/2018 ORDER [B] Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the Appellate Tribunal was right in law and on facts in not appreciating that u/s 36(1) (iii) interest expenses of Rs.9,99,000/- were not allowable since assessee could not explain the expediency for advancing such funds at lower rate than the rate on which it had taken loan from others?” 2. Heard Shri Manish Bhatt, learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the Revenue and considered and gone through the impugned judgment and order passed by the learned Tribunal. 3. Now, so far as proposed Question No.2-[A] is concerned, at the outset, it is required to be noted that in the case of the very assessee for Assessment Years 2008-09 and 2009-10, similar disallowance for expenses incurred towards GIHED came to be deleted and the said decision has been confirmed by the learned Tribunal and the same has attained finality. 4. In view of the above, no substantial question of law arises so far as proposed Question No.2-[A] is concerned. Hence, present appeal deserves to be dismissed and it is accordingly dismissed so far as proposed Question No.2-[A] is concerned. 5. Now so far as proposed Question No.2-[B] is Page 2 of 3

C/TAXAP/703/2018 ORDER concerned, it is required to be noted that and as noted by the learned Tribunal, the assessee was already having interest free surplus fund and that advances were made in the ordinary course of business. Considering the fact that the assessee was already having interest free surplus fund (as observed by the learned Tribunal in paras-18 to 21 of the impugned order), it cannot be said that the learned Tribunal has committed any error when the learned Tribunal deleted the disallowances made by the Assessing Officer. 6. We are in complete agreement with the view taken by the learned CIT (Appeals) as well as the learned Tribunal. No substantial question of law arises so far as proposed Question No.2-[B] is concerned. Under the circumstances, present appeal qua proposed Question No.2- [B] also stands dismissed. 7. Under the circumstances, the appeal stands dismissed. (M.R. SHAH, J) (A.Y. KOGJE, J) SHITOLE Page 3 of 3

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