PERUR SERVICE CO-OPERATIVE BANK LIMITED NO F 1614 vs. ADDITIONAL/JOINT/DEPUTY/ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX

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WP(C)/12987/2021HC KeralaKLHC01035143202101 October 2021Author: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE BECHU KURIAN THOMAS4 pages
AI SummaryRemanded

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court of Kerala did not decide the merits of the case. Instead, it disposed of the writ petition by directing the Appellate Authority (2nd respondent) to consider and pass appropriate orders on the petitioner's appeal (Ext.P2) expeditiously, within a period of six months from the date of receipt of the judgment. The Court clarified that the Appellate Authority should not insist on the deposit of 20% of the amount in dispute, considering the nature of the petitioner's plea. Furthermore, no coercive steps are to be initiated against the petitioner pursuant to the assessment order (Ext.P1) until the appeal is decided. The specific issue of whether the petitioner satisfied the ingredients of a Primary Agricultural Credit Society and the consequential deduction under Section 80P was left to be decided by the Appellate Authority.

What were the facts?

The petitioner, M/s. Perur Service Co-operative Bank Limited, is a Primary Agricultural Credit Society. The Assessing Officer passed an assessment order on February 24, 2021, rejecting the petitioner's claim for deduction under Section 80P. The reason for rejection was the alleged lack of evidence that the petitioner satisfied the ingredients of a Primary Agricultural Credit Society as defined under the Co-operative Societies Act. The petitioner filed an appeal against this assessment order before the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals). The petitioner contended that the Supreme Court judgment in Mavilayi Service Co-operative Bank and Others v. Commissioner of Income Tax, Calicut and Others [2021 (1) KLT 485] was not considered by the assessing officer, despite the assessment order being passed after this judgment.

What were the issues?

1. Whether the assessing officer erred in rejecting the petitioner's claim for deduction under Section 80P of the Income Tax Act, 1961, by failing to consider the ingredients of a Primary Agricultural Credit Society as contemplated under the Co-operative Societies Act. Assessee's Contentions: - The assessing officer failed to consider the Supreme Court judgment in Mavilayi Service Co-operative Bank and Others v. Commissioner of Income Tax, Calicut and Others [2021 (1) KLT 485] when passing the assessment order, even though the order was issued subsequent to this judgment. Revenue's Contentions: - No specific contentions for the revenue are recorded in the judgment regarding the merits of the assessment order or the appeal.

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 BECHU KURIAN THOMAS FRIDAY, THE 1ST DAY OF OCTOBER 2021 / 9TH ASWINA, 1943 WP(C) NO. 12987 OF 2021 PETITIONER : M/S. M/S.PERUR SERVICE CO-OPERATIVE BANK LIMITED NO F 1614, PERUR, LAKKIDI, OTTAPPALAM – 679 302. -REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY,SRI.SATHISH K. BY ADVS. T.M.SREEDHARAN (SR.) V.P.NARAYANAN NISHA JOHN RESPONDENTS : 1 ADDITIONAL/JOINT/DEPUTY/ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX, INCOME TAX OFFICER,NATIONAL E-ASSESSMENT CENTRE, NEW DELHI-110001. 2 THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX(APPEALS), NATIONAL FACELESS APPEAL CENTRE, NEW DELHI-110001. BY ADVS. SRI.P.K.R.MENON,SENIOR COUNSEL, GOI(TAXES) JOSE JOSEPH, SC, FOR INCOME TAX THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 01.10.2021, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: WP(C) NO. 12987 OF 2021 2 BECHU KURIAN THOMAS, J. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= W.P.(C).No.12987 of 2021 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Dated this the 1st day of October, 2021

JUDGMENT Petitioner is a Primary Agricultural Credit Society registered under the Co-operative Societies Act, 1969. Ext.P1 order of assessment was issued against the petitioner on 24.02.2021. 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 Co-operative Societies Act.

2.

While assailing the assessment order before the 2nd respondent Appellate Authority, petitioner has sought to canvass that the judgment of the Supreme Court in Mavilayi Service Co-operative Bank and Others v. Commissioner of Income Tax, Calicut and Others [2021 (1) KLT 485] was not considered by the assessing officer though the assessment order was rendered subsequent to the Supreme Court judgment.

3.

Since the petitioner has already preferred an appeal as Ext.P2 and the same is pending consideration before the 2nd

WP(C) NO. 12987 OF 2021 3 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.

Accordingly there will a direction to the 2nd respondent to consider and pass appropriate orders on Ext.P2, as expeditiously as possible, at any rate, within a period of six months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. It is clarified that the Appellate Authority shall not insist on deposit of 20% of the amount in dispute considering the nature of the case that has been pleaded by the petitioner. Till such time, no coercive steps shall be initiated pursuant to Ext.P1 assessment order. The writ petition is disposed of as above. BECHU KURIAN THOMAS, JUDGE RKM

WP(C) NO. 12987 OF 2021 4

Appendix — schedule of exhibits
APPENDIX OF WP(C) 12987/2021 PETITIONER'S EXHIBITS : Exhibit P1 TRUE COPY OF THE ASSESSMENT ORDER AND DEMAND NOTICE DATED 24.2.2021 ALONG WITH COMPUTATION OF INCOME ALONG WITH DEMAND OF INCOME TAX FOR AY 2018-19 BY THE 1ST RESPONDENT. Exhibit P2 TRUE COPY OF THE MEMORANDUM OF APPEAL E- FILED DATED 22.03.2021 FOR THE ASSESSMENT YEAR 2018-19 FILED BEFORE THE 2ND RESPONDENT Exhibit P3 TRUE COPY OF THE STAY PETITION DATED 22.06.2021 FILED BY THE PETITIONER FOR AY- 2018-19 BEFORE THE 2ND RESPONDENT.

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