PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX SURAT I vs. M/S GUNJAN EXPORTS

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TAXAP/789/2018HC GujaratGJHC24037764201809 July 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 held that no substantial question of law arises in the present Tax Appeals. The Court noted that the issue of whether interest income from FDR is allowable under Section 10AA is covered against the revenue. The Court referred to its own previous decision in the case of Commissioner of Income Tax vs. Rameshchandra S. Patel (Tax Appeal No. 663/2006), which held that interest on deposit is allowable for the purpose of working out deduction under Section 80IA. Applying the same analogy to Section 10AA, the Court found the issue to be covered. The Court also cited the Supreme Court's decision in ACG Associated Capsules Pvt. Ltd. vs. Commissioner of Income-tax, which was relied upon in the Rameshchandra S. Patel case. Consequently, the appeals were dismissed.

What were the facts?

The appeals concern the assessment years 2011-12 and 2012-13. The revenue (Principal Commissioner of Income Tax, Surat I) is aggrieved by the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Surat Bench, which dismissed the revenue's appeals. The ITAT had confirmed the deletion of a disallowance of Rs. 70,54,454/- in interest income claimed as exempt under Section 10AA of the Income Tax Act by the assessee, M/s Gunjan Exports. The CIT(A) had previously deleted this disallowance. The revenue has filed the present Tax Appeals against the ITAT's decision.

What were the issues?

1. Whether, on the facts and circumstances of the case and in law, the Hon'ble ITAT is justified in upholding the decision of the learned CIT(A) of deleting the disallowance of interest income of Rs. 70,54,454/- claimed exempt under Section 10AA, without appreciating that the interest income is not derived from the export of articles or things manufactured or purchased by the assessee? (Question of law turning on Section 10AA). Assessee's Contention: Not recorded. Revenue's Contention: The interest income from FDR is not derived from the export of articles or things manufactured or purchased by the assessee, and therefore, it is not eligible for exemption under Section 10AA.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 10AA,Section 80IA

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

C/TAXAP/789/2018 JUDGMENT IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD R/TAX APPEAL NO. 789 of 2018 With R/TAX APPEAL NO. 790 of 2018

FOR APPROVAL AND SIGNATURE:

HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.R. SHAH and HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE A.Y. KOGJE ====================================== 1 Whether Reporters of Local Papers may be allowed to see the judgment ? 2 To be referred to the Reporter or not ? 3 Whether their Lordships wish to see the fair copy of the judgment ? 4 Whether this case involves a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of the Constitution of India or any order made thereunder ? ====================================== PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX SURAT I Versus M/S GUNJAN EXPORTS ====================================== Appearance: MR NIKUNT RAVAL, ADVOCATE for MRS KALPANA K RAVAL(1046) for the APPELLANT(s) No. 1 for the RESPONDENT(s) No. 1 ====================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.R. SHAH and HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE A.Y. KOGJE

Date : 09/07/2018

ORAL JUDGMENT (PER : HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.R. SHAH) Page 1 of 3

C/TAXAP/789/2018 JUDGMENT [1.0] As common question of law and facts arise in both these Tax Appeals, they are decided and disposed of by this common judgment and order. [2.0] Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the impugned judgment and order passed by the learned Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Surat Bench, Surat (hereinafter referred to as “the learned Tribunal”) dated 01/02/2018 in ITA No.2860/Ahd/2014 for the Assessment Year 2011-12 and in ITA No.3550/Ahd/2015 for the Assessment Year 2012-13 by which the learned Tribunal has dismissed the said Appeal preferred by the revenue and has confirmed the order passed by the learned CIT(A) deleting the disallowance of the interest income of Rs.70,54,454/- claimed exempt under Section 10AA of the Income Tax Act, revenue has preferred the present Tax Appeal with the following proposed question of law; “Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case and in law, the Hon’ble ITAT is justified in upholding the decision of the learned CIT(A) of deleting the disallowance of Interest income of Rs.70,54,454/- claimed exempt u/s 10AA without appreciating the fact that interest income is not derived from export of such articles or things manufactured or purchased by the assessee?” [3.0] Heard Shri Nikunt Raval, learned advocate appearing on behalf of the revenue. At the outset it is required to be noted that the issue involved in the present Tax Appeals is, whether the income of the assessee from interest from FDR is allowable under Section 10AA of the Income Tax Act or not? Page 2 of 3

C/TAXAP/789/2018 JUDGMENT Apart from the fact that in the case of the very assessee for the Assessment Year 2010-11 such exemption was held allowable, even independently also considering the decision of Division Bench of this Court in the case of Commissioner of Income Tax Vs. Rameshchandra S. Patel rendered in Tax Appeal No.663/2006 by which such interest income on deposit is held to be allowable for the purpose of working of deduction under Section80 IA of the Income Tax Act, applying the same analogy in the facts and circumstances of the case and more particularly the exemption claimed on the amount of interest earned on Fixed Deposit Receipt allowable under Section 10AA of the Act, the issue involved in the present Tax Appeal can be said to have been covered against the revenue. In the aforesaid decision, in the case of Rameshchandra S. Patel (Supra) while holding that the interest on deposit is to be made allowable for the purpose of working of deduction under Section 80 IA of the Income Tax Act, the Division Bench of this Court has considered and relied upon the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of ACG Associated Capsules Pvt. Ltd. Vs. Commissioner of Income-tax reported in [2012] 343 ITR 89(SC). [4.0] In view of the above, no substantial question of law arises in the present Tax Appeals, and therefore, the present Tax Appeals deserve to be dismissed and are accordingly dismissed. (M.R. SHAH, J.) (A.Y. KOGJE, J.) siji Page 3 of 3

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