PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX VADODARA 1 vs. SHREEJI ASSOCIATES

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TAXAP/865/2018HC GujaratGJHC24035836201817 July 2018Bench: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE M.R. SHAH,HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A.Y. KOGJE6 pages
AI SummaryDismissed

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court held that the learned Tribunal had rightly deleted the disallowance of the claim under Section 80IB(10) of the Act and was in complete agreement with the Tribunal's view. The Court reasoned that although part sale consideration might have been received during the assessment year after the insertion of clauses (e) and (f), the residential units were sold prior to the insertion of these clauses. At the time of sale, the assessee could not have foreseen the amendment. Therefore, the assessee did not violate the provisions as they stood at the time of the transaction. The Court found no interference called for in the facts of the case. The operative direction was to dismiss the appeals.

What were the facts?

The assessee, Shreeji Associates, claimed a deduction of Rs. 1,66,58,005 under Section 80IB(10) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, for Assessment Year 2010-2011. The Assessing Officer disallowed this deduction, finding that the assessee had violated clauses (e) and (f) of Section 80IB(10) by allotting more than one residential unit to individuals and to members of the same family. The assessee argued that most units were booked before the insertion of these clauses. The CIT (Appeals) restricted the disallowance to five residential units where breaches were found. Both the assessee and the revenue appealed to the ITAT. The ITAT deleted the entire disallowance, leading to the present appeals by the revenue.

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 deleting the entire disallowance of deduction under Section 80IB(10) of the Act, despite the assessee having violated the provisions of clauses (e) and (f) of Section 80IB(10) by allotting more than residential units to an individual and also to members of the same family? Assessee's contentions: Not recorded in the judgment. Revenue's contentions: The revenue contended that since most of the sale consideration was paid during the assessment year, particularly after the insertion of clauses (e) and (f) of Section 80IB(10) with effect from 01.04.2010, these clauses should be applicable, and therefore, the assessee should not be entitled to the deduction claimed.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 80IB(10)

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

C/TAXAP/864/2018 ORDER IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD R/TAX APPEAL NO. 864 of 2018 With R/TAX APPEAL NO. 865 of 2018 ================================================================ PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX VADODARA 1 Versus SHREEJI ASSOCIATES ================================================================ Appearance: MR.VARUN K.PATEL(3802) for the PETITIONER(s) No. 1 for the RESPONDENT(s) No. 1 ================================================================ CORAM: HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.R. SHAH Sd/- and HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE A.Y. KOGJE Sd/-

Date : 17/07/2018

COMMON ORAL ORDER (PER : HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.R. SHAH) 1. As common question of fact and law arises in both the Appeals and as such arise out of the impugned common order passed by the learned Tribunal, both the Appeals are decided and disposed of by this common order. 2. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the impugned common order passed by the learned Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Ahmedabad “A” Bench dated 28.06.2017 passed in ITA No.2187/AHD/2014 (Assessee’s Appeal) and ITA No.1788/Ahd/2013 Page 1 of 6

C/TAXAP/864/2018 ORDER (Revenue’s Appeal) for the Assessment Year : 2010- 2011, by which the learned Tribunal has disallowed the said Appeal preferred by the Assessee and dismissed the Appeal preferred by the Revenue and has deleted the entire disallowance for deduction under Section 80IB(10) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to in short as ‘the Act’), the Revenue has preferred the present Tax Appeals with the following proposed question of law :- “(a) Whether on the facts and in circumstances of the case, the learned ITAT has erred in law and on facts in deleting the entire disallowance of deduction under section 80IB(10) of the Act even though the assessee had violated the provisions of clause (e) & (f) of section 80IB(10) of the Income Tax Act by allotting more than residential units to an individual and also to members of the same family?” 3. The Assessee filed the return of income for the Assessment Year : 2010-2011 declaring the total income at Nil after claiming deduction of Rs.1,66,58,005/= under Section 80IB(10) of the Act. That during the assessment proceedings, the Assessing Officer noticed that more than one residential unit was alloted to an individual. It was further noticed that many residential units were alloted to members of the same family. Page 2 of 6

C/TAXAP/864/2018 ORDER Therefore, the Assessing Officer was of the opinion that the assessee had violated the provisions of sub-sections (e) and (f) of Section 80IB(10) of the Act. Therefore, a show-cause notice was issued to the assessee and the assessee was directed to show-cause as to why their claim of deduction under Section 80IB(10) of the Act should not be disallowed? The assessee responded to the same stating that most of the units were booked prior to the insertion of the clauses (e) and (f) which were inserted vide Finance Act, 2009 with effect from 01.04.2010. However, the Assessing Officer did not accept the said submission mainly on the ground that most of the amount towards sale consideration was paid during the year under consideration more particularly, after the insertion of clauses (e) and (f) of Section 80IB(10) of the Act. Therefore, the Assessing Officer disallowed the deduction claimed under Section 80IB(10) of the Act of the assessee and accordingly, added Rs.1,66,58,005/= to the total income of the assessee. 4. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the disallowance of the deduction claimed under Section 80IB(10) of the Page 3 of 6

C/TAXAP/864/2018 ORDER Act, the assessee preferred an Appeal before the learned CIT (Appeals). Assuming that amendment under Section 80IB(10) of the Act and more particularly, insertion of clauses (e) and (f) of Section 80IB(10) of the Act shall be made applicable in that case also, the breach was with respect to five residential units and therefore, the learned CIT (Appeals) restricted the disallowance under Section 80IB(10) of the Act with respect to those 5 residential units for which, the breach was found and therefore, restricted the disallowance to the aforesaid extent. 5. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the order of the learned CIT (Appeals), both the Revenue as well as the Assessee were before the learned Tribunal. That by the impugned order, the learned Tribunal allowed the Appeal preferred by the Assessee and has dismissed the Appeal preferred by the Revenue by deleting the entire disallowance of the deduction claimed under Section 80IB(10) of the Act and hence, the Revenue is before this Court by way of the present Appeals with the aforesaid proposed question of law. Page 4 of 6

C/TAXAP/864/2018 ORDER 6. We have heard learned Advocate Mr. Varun K. Patel appearing on behalf of the appellant – Revenue, at length. 7. It is mainly contended on behalf of the Revenue that most of the amount of the sale consideration were paid during the year under consideration and more particularly, after insertion of clauses (e) and (f) of Section 80IB(10) of the Act. Therefore, sub-sections (e) and (f) of Section 80IB(10) of the Act shall be applicable and therefore, the assessee shall not be entitled to deduction as claimed under Section 80IB(10) of the Act. However, considering the material on record it appears that the residential units were sold prior to the insertion of clauses (e) and (f) of Section 80IB(10) of the Act. 8. It may be that the part sale consideration might have been received during the year under consideration, more particularly, after insertion of clauses (e) and (f) of Section 80IB(10) of the Act, however, as rightly observed by the learned Tribunal, at the time, when the residential units were sold by the Assessee, i.e. prior to insertion of clauses (e) and (f) of Section 80IB(10)of the Page 5 of 6

C/TAXAP/864/2018 ORDER Act, the assessee did not visualize the amendment which is likely to come and/or insertion of sub-sections (e) and (f) of Section 80IB(10) of the Act. 9. Under the circumstances, the learned Tribunal has rightly deleted the disallowance of the claim under Section 80IB(10) of the Act. We are in complete agreement with the view taken by the learned Tribunal and in the facts of the case, no interference of this Court is called for. 10. Therefore, the present Appeals deserve to be dismissed and are accordingly dismissed. Sd/- (M.R. SHAH, J) Sd/- (A.Y. KOGJE, J) Caroline Page 6 of 6

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