THE VATANAPPALLY SERVICE CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD NO. F 211 vs. THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (APPEALS)

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WP(C)/37019/2022HC KeralaKLHC01079565202221 November 2022Author: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE GOPINATH P.4 pages
AI SummaryRemanded

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court of Kerala did not decide the merits of the appeal. Instead, it directed the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) (1st respondent) to consider and pass appropriate orders on the pending appeal (Ext.P3) expeditiously, within a period of 2 months from the date of receipt of a copy of the judgment. The Court also ordered that no coercive steps shall be initiated against the petitioner pursuant to the assessment order (Ext.P1) until the disposal of the appeal. The primary focus was on ensuring a time-bound resolution of the appeal, rather than adjudicating the correctness of the assessment or the applicability of the Supreme Court's ruling.

What were the facts?

The petitioner, The Vatanappally Service Co-operative Bank Ltd., a Primary Agricultural Credit Society, is challenging an assessment order (Ext.P1) issued by the Income Tax Officer (3rd respondent). 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 per the Kerala Co-operative Societies Act. The petitioner argues that the Supreme Court's judgment in Mavilayi Service Co-operative Bank Ltd. v. Commissioner of Income Tax; 2021 (1) KLT 485 now governs the field and renders the assessment incorrect. An appeal (Ext.P3) against the assessment order is pending before the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) (1st respondent). The petitioner filed a writ petition seeking a time-bound disposal of this appeal.

What were the issues?

1. Whether the assessment order rejecting the claim for deduction under Section 80P is incorrect in light of the Supreme Court's judgment in Mavilayi Service Co-operative Bank Ltd. v. Commissioner of Income Tax; 2021 (1) KLT 485? (Question of law) Assessee's Contention: The petitioner contends that the Supreme Court's judgment in Mavilayi Service Co-operative Bank Ltd. v. Commissioner of Income Tax; 2021 (1) KLT 485 governs the field and renders the assessment order incorrect. The petitioner relies on this judgment to support its claim for deduction under Section 80P. Revenue's Contention: The judgment does not record any specific contentions from the revenue regarding this issue. However, the assessment order itself rejected the deduction on the ground that the petitioner did not satisfy the ingredients of a Primary Agricultural Credit Society as contemplated under the Kerala Co-operative Societies Act.

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. MONDAY, THE 21ST DAY OF NOVEMBER 2022 / 30TH KARTHIKA, 1944 WP(C) NO. 37019 OF 2022 PETITIONER: 1 THE VATANAPPALLY SERVICE CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD NO. F 211 P.O.THRITHALLUR , THRISSUR - 680 619, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY., PIN - 680619 BY ADV P.C.SASIDHARAN RESPONDENTS: 1 THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (APPEALS) NATIONAL FACELESS APPEAL CENTRE, ROOM NO. 356, C.R. BUILDING, IP ESTATE, DELHI- 110002., PIN - 110002 2 THE PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX O/O THE PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX, AYAKAR BHAVAN, MANANCHIRA, KOZHIKODE, KERALA - 673001. , PIN - 673001 3 THE INCOME TAX OFFICER WARD 1 & TPS, CITY PLAZA, INCOME TAX OFFICE, WEST NADA, GURUVAYOOR, KERALA - 680 101., PIN - 680101 BY ADV CHRISTOPHER ABRAHAM, INCOME TAX DEPARTMENT THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 21.11.2022, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: WPC No.37019 of 2022 2 JUDGMENT Dated this the 21st day of November, 2022 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. 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 3rd respondent, petitioner has sought to canvas that the judgment of the Supreme Court in Mavilayi Service Co-operative Bank Ltd. v. Commissioner of Income Tax; 2021 (1) KLT 485 now governs the field thereby rendering the assessment itself as incorrect. 3. Since the petitioner has already preferred an WPC No.37019 of 2022 3 appeal as Ext.P3 and the same is pending consideration before the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) (1st respondent), I deem it fit that this writ petition be disposed of directing the 1st respondent to consider the appeal in a time bound manner. 4. Accordingly, there will be a direction to the 1st respondent to consider and pass appropriate orders on Ext.P3, as expeditiously as possible within a period of 2 months from the date of receipt of a copy of this

judgment.

5.

Till the disposal of the appeal, no coercive steps shall be initiated against the petitioner pursuant to Ext.P1. The writ petition is disposed of as above. GOPINATH P. JUDGE SKP/21-11

WPC No.37019 of 2022 4 APPENDIX OF WP(C) 37019/2022 PETITIONER’S EXHIBITS: EXHIBIT P1 THEOF THE ASSESSMENT ORDER DURING THE ASSESSMENT YEAR 2020-2021 DATED 24/09/2022 EXHIBIT P2 THEOF THE DEMAND NOTICE DATED 24/09/2022 EXHIBIT P3 THEOF THE APPEAL DATED 22/10/2022 EXHIBIT P4 THEOF THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT RECEIPT OF INCOME TAX FORMS SHOWING THE FILING OF THE APPEAL ON 22/10/2022 EXHIBIT P5 THEOF THE STAY PETITION DATED 21/10/2022 FILED BY THE PETITIONER BEFORE THE 1ST RESPONDENT EXHIBIT P6 THEOF THE JUDGMENT IN W.A.NO.1536 OF 2019 DATED 1/7/2019 EXHIBIT P7 HEOF THE JUDGMENT IN W.P(C) NO.14282/2021 DATED 19/7/2021 EXHIBIT P8 THEOF THE JUDGMENT IN W.P(C) NO. 34067/2022 DATED 27/10/2022 RESPONDENTS' EXHIBITS:NILP.A.TO JUDGE

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