THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX, AURANGABAD. vs. SHANKAR SAHAKARI SAKHAR KARKHANA LTD.

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ITXA/253/2007HC Bombay17 September 2007Bench: HON'BLE SHRI JUSTICE F.I. REBELLO, HON'BLE SHRI JUSTICE J.P. DEVADHAR3 pages
AI SummaryDismissed

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court held that all three questions of law were covered by its previous decisions. For the first two questions, the Court referred to its judgment in CIT vs. Manjara Shetkari Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd. (Income Tax Appeal No. 318 of 2007, decided on August 14, 2007), which was in favour of the assessee. For the third question, the Court referred to its judgment in CIT vs. Samarth Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd. (Income Tax Appeal No. 273 of 2007, decided on September 17, 2007), which was also in favour of the assessee. Consequently, all questions were answered in favour of the assessee and against the revenue. The appeal was disposed of accordingly, with no order as to costs.

What were the facts?

The Commissioner of Income-tax (Revenue) filed an appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, against an order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) dated January 5, 2006, pertaining to assessment year 1999-2000. The assessee is Shankar Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd. The appeal was admitted on three reframed questions of law by consent of both parties. The High Court of Bombay was hearing this appeal.

What were the issues?

The Tribunal had to decide the following three questions of law: 1. Whether Section 40A(2)(a) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, is applicable to a co-operative society. 2. Whether additional payment over the statutory minimum price (SMP) for sugarcane was cane price, not a diversion of profit, and thus allowable as business expenditure under Section 37(1) of the Income Tax Act, 1961. 3. Whether advances paid to harvesting and transporting contractors were in the nature of business interest, not a diversion of borrowed funds for non-business purposes, and therefore, the disallowance of the interest part was justified, even though the advances were not in the normal course of business, lacked specific contractual obligation, and were made out of borrowed funds attracting significant interest. The assessee contended that Section 40A(2)(a) was not applicable and that additional payments for sugarcane and advances to contractors were legitimate business expenses. The revenue contended that Section 40A(2)(a) was applicable, the additional payments were diversions of profit, and the advances were diversions of borrowed funds for non-business purposes.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 260A,Section 40A(2)(a),Section 37(1)

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY ORDINARY ORDINARY ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION INCOME TAX APPEAL NO.253 OF 2007 INCOME TAX APPEAL NO.253 OF 2007 INCOME TAX APPEAL NO.253 OF 2007 The Commissioner of Income-tax Aayakar Bhavan, Near Holi Cross High School, Cantonment,Aurangabad. ..Appellant. V/s. Shankar Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd. Kusum Nagar, Waghalwada, Tal. Biloli, Dist. Nanded ..Respondent. Mr.B.M.Chatterjee with Mrs.P.P.Bhosale for appellant. Mr.S.N.Inamdar with A.K.Jasani for respondent. CORAM : F.I.REBELLO CORAM : F.I.REBELLO CORAM : F.I.REBELLO AND AND AND J.P.DEVADHAR, JJ. J.P.DEVADHAR, JJ. J.P.DEVADHAR, JJ. DATED : 17TH SEPTEMBER, 2007. DATED : 17TH SEPTEMBER, 2007. DATED : 17TH SEPTEMBER, 2007.

ORAL JUDGMENT (PER J.P.DEVADHAR, J.) ORAL JUDGMENT (PER J.P.DEVADHAR, J.) ORAL JUDGMENT (PER J.P.DEVADHAR, J.) 1. This appeal is filed by Commissioner of Income Tax under section 260 A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order of the ITAT dated 5/1/2006 relating to the assessment year 1999-00. 2. By consent, the appeal is admitted on the following reframed questions of law:- 1. Whether the Appellate Tribunal was right in law in holding that provisions of Section 40A(2) (a) are not applicable to a co-operative Society ? 2. Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Appellate Tribunal was right in holding that the additional payment over and above the statutory minimum price (SMP) was cane price and not diversion of profit and as such CNR No : HCBM020045682007 Uploaded on - 21/08/2020 Downloaded on - 28/10/2026 06:02:19

-= : 2 : =- allowable as business expenditure under section 37(1) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 ? 3. Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the Tribunal was justified in holding that advances paid to harvesting and transporting contractors was in the nature of business interest of the assessee society and thereby deleting the disallowance of interest part, even though such advance was not made in the normal course of business and was made without any specific contractual obligation and out of borrowings on which assessee is giving huge interest to financial institutions. Thus, it was nothing but a diversion of borrowed funds for non business purpose ? 3. Counsel on both the sides agree that the first two questions of law are covered by the decision of this Court in the case of C.I.T. V/s. Manjara Shetkari Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd. in Income Tax Appeal No.318 of 2007 decided on 14th August, 2007 in favour of the assessee and against the revenue. 4. Counsel on both the sides agree that the question No.3 is answered against the revenue and in favour of the assessee by the decision of this Court in the case of Commissioner of Income Tax V/s. Samarth Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd. in Income Tax Appeal No. 273 of 2007 decided on 17th September, 2007. Accordingly, all the questions are answered in favour of the assessee and against the revenue. 5. Appeal disposed of accordingly with no order as to costs. Uploaded on - 21/08/2020 Downloaded on - 28/10/2026 06:02:19

-= : 3 : =- (J.P.DEVADHAR, J.) (J.P.DEVADHAR, J.) (J.P.DEVADHAR, J.) (F.I.REBELLO, J.) (F.I.REBELLO, J.) (F.I.REBELLO, J.) Uploaded on - 21/08/2020 Downloaded on - 28/10/2026 06:02:19 Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

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