THE AMBALLUR SERVICE CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD NO. 503 vs. THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (APPEALS)

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WP(C)/37488/2022HC KeralaKLHC01080650202223 November 2022Author: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE GOPINATH P.4 pages
AI SummaryRemanded

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court of Kerala, while acknowledging that the petitioner had already filed an appeal (Ext.P3) before the first respondent (Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)) challenging the assessment order (Ext.P1), deemed it appropriate to dispose of the writ petition by directing the Appellate Authority to consider the pending appeal. The Court directed the first respondent to consider and pass appropriate orders on Ext.P3 as expeditiously as possible. Furthermore, the Court ordered that no coercive steps shall be initiated against the petitioner pursuant to Ext.P1 assessment order until the disposal of the appeal. The Court did not decide the merits of the petitioner's claim regarding Section 80P or the applicability of the Mavilayi Service Co-operative Bank Ltd. judgment.

What were the facts?

The petitioner, The Amballur Service Co-operative Bank Ltd. No. 503, a Primary Agricultural Credit Society, received an assessment order dated 30.09.2022 (Ext.P1). The assessment order rejected the petitioner's claim for deduction under Section 80P, stating there was no evidence that the petitioner satisfied the ingredients of a Primary Agricultural Credit Society as defined under the Kerala Co-operative Societies Act. The petitioner challenged this assessment order before the first respondent, the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), National Faceless Appeal Centre, Delhi. The petitioner argued that the Supreme Court's judgment in Mavilayi Service Co-operative Bank Ltd. and others v. Commissioner of Income Tax and another [2021 (1) KLT 485] governed the matter and rendered the assessment incorrect. The appeal (Ext.P3) was pending before the first respondent.

What were the issues?

1. Whether the assessment order dated 30.09.2022 (Ext.P1) is liable to be set aside on the ground that the petitioner's claim for deduction under Section 80P was rejected without considering the applicability of the Supreme Court's judgment in Mavilayi Service Co-operative Bank Ltd. and others v. Commissioner of Income Tax and another [2021 (1) KLT 485]? (Question of law and fact, concerning Section 80P of the Income Tax Act). Assessee's Contentions: The petitioner contended that the Supreme Court's judgment in Mavilayi Service Co-operative Bank Ltd. and others v. Commissioner of Income Tax and another [2021 (1) KLT 485] governs the field and renders the assessment order incorrect. The petitioner has already preferred an appeal (Ext.P3) before the first respondent. Revenue's Contentions: The judgment does not record any specific contentions made by the revenue in this writ petition.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 80P

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

Cause title — parties, addresses and appearances
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE GOPINATH P. WEDNESDAY, THE 23RD DAY OF NOVEMBER 2022 / 2ND AGRAHAYANA, 1944 WP(C) NO. 37488 OF 2022 PETITIONER: THE AMBALLUR SERVICE CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD NO. 503, MANNAMPETTA, P.O. VARAKKARA, ALAGAPPANAGAR, THRISSUR - 680 302, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY. BY ADV P.C.SASIDHARAN RESPONDENTS: 1 THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (APPEALS), NATIONAL FACELESS APPEAL CENTRE, DELHI – 110 001. 2 THE PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX, O/O THE PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX, AYAKAR BHAVAN, MANACHIRA, KOZHIKODE, KERALA – 673 001. 3 THE INCOME TAX OFFICER WARD 2(1), THRISSUR, OFFICE OF THE INCOME TAX OFFICER, THRISSUR-680 001. BY ADV CHRISTOPHER ABRAHAM, INCOME TAX DEPARTMENT THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 23.11.2022, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: WP(C) NO. 37488 OF 2022 2

JUDGMENT Petitioner is a Primary Agricultural Credit Society registered under the Kerala Co-operative Societies Act, 1969. Ext.P1 order of assessment was issued against the petitioner on 30.09.2022. In the assessment order, petitioner's claim for deduction under Section 80P was rejected on the ground that there was no evidence to show that petitioner satisfied the ingredients of the Primary Agricultural Credit Society as contemplated under the Kerala Co-operative Societies Act.

2.

While assailing the assessment order before the 1st respondent, petitioner has sought to canvas that the judgment of the Supreme Court in Mavilayi Service Co- operative Bank Ltd. and others v. Commissioner of Income Tax and another [2021 (1) KLT 485] now governs the field thereby rendering the assessment itself as incorrect.

3.

Since the petitioner has already preferred an appeal as Ext.P3 and the same is pending consideration before the 1st respondent, I deem it fit that this writ petition be disposed of directing the Appellate Authority to consider the appeal in a time bound manner.

WP(C) NO. 37488 OF 2022 3

4.

Accordingly, there will be a direction to the 1st respondent to consider and pass appropriate orders on Ext.P3, as expeditiously as possible.

5.

Till the disposal of the appeal, no coercive steps shall be initiated against the petitioner pursuant to Ext.P1 assessment order. The writ petition is disposed of as above. GOPINATH P. JUDGE DK

WP(C) NO. 37488 OF 2022 4

Appendix — schedule of exhibits
APPENDIX OF WP(C) 37488/2022 PETITIONER EXHIBITS Exhibit P1 THE TRUE COPY OF THE ASSESSMENT ORDER DURING THE ASSESSMENT YEAR 2020-2021 DATED 30/09/2022 Exhibit P2 THE TRUE COPY OF THE DEMAND NOTICE DATED 30/09/2022 Exhibit P3 THE TRUE COPY OF THE APPEAL DATED 26/10/2022 PREFERRED BEFORE THE FIRST RESPONDENT Exhibit P4 THE TRUE COPY OF THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT RECEIPT OF INCOME TAX FORMS SHOWING THE FILING OF THE APPEAL ON 26/10/2022 Exhibit P5 THE TRUE COPY OF THE STAY PETITION DATED 25/10/2022 FILED BY THE PETITIONER BEFORE THE 1ST RESPONDENT Exhibit P6 THE TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT IN W.A.NO.1536 OF 2019 DATED 1/7/2019 Exhibit P7 THE TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT IN W.P(C) NO.14282/2021 DATED 19/7/2021 Exhibit P8 THE TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT IN W.P(C) NO. 34067/2022 DATED 27/10/2022

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