COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX vs. M/S.ARUN TEXTILES PVT LTD.,

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TCA/1171/2015HC Madras18 June 2020Bench: Hon`ble Mr Justice T. S. SIVAGNANAM4 pages
AI SummaryDismissed

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court dismissed the appeal filed by the Revenue on account of low tax effect, in line with CBDT Circular No. 17/2019. The Court noted that the monetary limit for filing or pursuing an appeal before the High Court has been increased to Rs. 1 Crore and that the tax effect in this case was below this threshold. Consequently, the substantial questions of law framed were left open. The Revenue was granted liberty to mention the case for restoration if the tax effect was found to be above the threshold limit, allowing the appeal to be heard and decided on merits. No decision was made on the merits of the substantial questions of law.

What were the facts?

The Revenue, Commissioner of Income Tax, filed an appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, against an order dated June 19, 2015, passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) 'D' Bench, Chennai. The appeal pertained to assessment year 2010-11. The assessee is M/s. Arun Textiles Pvt. Ltd. The appeal was admitted on December 9, 2015. The respondent-assessee was served but did not appear before the High Court. The Revenue sought to withdraw the appeal due to low tax effect, citing CBDT Circular No. 17/2019, which increased the monetary limit for appeals to the High Court to Rs. 1 Crore.

What were the issues?

The Tribunal had to decide the following substantial questions of law: 1. Whether the proceeds realized by the assessee from the sale of Certified Emission Reduction (CER) credits, earned through Clean Development Mechanism in its wind energy operations, constitute a capital receipt and are therefore not taxable? 2. Whether the sale of Carbon Credits is to be considered a capital receipt and not liable for tax under any head of income as per the Income Tax Act, 1961? 3. Whether the ITAT was correct in holding that there is no cost of acquisition or production for obtaining Carbon Credits, without considering that their generation is intrinsically linked to the machinery and processes used in the assessee's production process? The Revenue argued that the ITAT erred in its findings. The assessee did not present any arguments before the High Court as they were served but did not appear.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 260A

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

TCA.No.1171 of 2015 In the High Court of Judicature at Madras Dated : 18.06.2020 Coram : The Honourable Mr.Justice T.S.SIVAGNANAM and The Honourable Mrs.Justice PUSHPA SATHYANARAYANA Tax Case Appeal No.1171 of 2015 Commissioner of Income Tax, No.63, Race Course Road, Coimbatore. ...Appellant -vs- M/s.Arun Textiles Pvt. Ltd., No.80, Perumal Koil Street, Tirupur-641 604. PAN: AAB CA 8982 D ...Respondent APPEAL under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order dated 19.06.2015 made in I.T.A.No.2174/Mds/2015 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal 'D' Bench, Chennai for the assessment year 2010-11. For Appellant : Mr.T.R.Senthil Kumar, Senior Standing Counsel & Ms.K.G.Usha Rani, Standing Counsel For Respondent : Served – No appearance 1/4 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.1171 of 2015 Judgment was delivered by

T.S.Sivagnanam,J.

We have heard Mr.T.R.Senthil Kumar, learned Senior Standing Counsel and Ms.K.G.Usha Rani, learned Standing Counsel appearing for the appellant- Revenue. 2. This appeal, filed by the Revenue under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 is directed against the order dated 19.06.2015 made in I.T.A.No.2174/Mds/2015 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal 'D' Bench, Chennai for the assessment year 2010-11. 3. The appeal was admitted on 09.12.2015, on the following substantial questions of law:- “1. Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in holding that the proceeds realized by the assessee on sale of Certified Emission Reduction Credit, which the assessee had earned on the Clean Development Mechanism in its wind energy operations, is a capital receipt and not taxable? 2. Whether, in the facts and circumstances of the case and in law, the Appellate Tribunal is correct in holding that sale of Carbon Credits is to be considered as Capital Receipt and not liable for tax under any head of income under Income Tax Act, 1961? 3. Whether, in the facts and circumstances of the case and in law, ITAT is correct in holding that there is no cost of acquisition or cost of production to get entitlement 2/4 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.1171 of 2015 for the Carbon Credits, without appreciating that generation of Carbon Credits is intricately linked to the machinery and processes employed in the production process by the assessee?” 4. The learned Senior Standing Counsel for the appellant submits that the above appeal is not pursued by the Revenue on account of the low tax effect in terms of Circular No.17/2019 dated 08.8.2019 issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes. By the said Circular, the monetary limit for filing or pursuing an appeal before the High Court has been increased to Rs.1 Crore. It is further submitted that the tax effect in this case is less than the threshold limit. 5. In the light of the said submissions, the above tax case appeal is dismissed on account of the low tax effect. The substantial questions of law framed are left open. In the event the tax effect is above the threshold limit fixed in the said circular, liberty is granted to the Revenue to make a mention to this Court to restore the appeal to be heard and decided on merits. (T.S.S., J.) (P.S.N., J.) 18.06.2020 Internet: Yes abr T.S.SIVAGNANAM,J AND 3/4 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.1171 of 2015 PUSHPA SATHYANARAYANA, J. abr To The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal 'D' Bench, Chennai. TCA.No.1171 of 2015 18.06.2020 4/4 http://www.judis.nic.in

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