THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME T vs. M/S.NEYVELI LIGNITE CORPORA

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TCA/130/2016HC Madras17 April 2021Bench: Hon`ble Mr Justice M.DURAISWAMY6 pages
AI SummaryWithdrawn

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court did not decide the substantial questions of law framed for consideration. This was due to subsequent developments, specifically the enactment of the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Act, 2020. The learned counsel for the assessee submitted that the assessee had availed the Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme and had been issued Form-3 on March 8, 2021. Recording this submission, the Court found that nothing further survived for adjudication in the appeals. Therefore, the Tax Case Appeals were disposed of without delving into the merits of the substantial questions of law. No costs were awarded.

What were the facts?

The Revenue filed two Tax Case Appeals (Nos. 130 and 131 of 2016) before the High Court of Judicature at Madras, challenging orders passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Chennai 'A' Bench, dated June 26, 2015. These appeals pertained to assessment years 2002-03 and 2000-01, respectively. The appeals were admitted on March 8, 2016, based on substantial questions of law. The assessee, M/s. Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd., had approached the Tribunal concerning deductions under Section 80IA and the allowability of expenses for rejuvenation of BWEs and life extension of thermal power stations. The High Court heard arguments from both the Revenue and the assessee.

What were the issues?

The Tribunal had to decide on the following substantial questions of law: 1. Whether the Tribunal was justified in allowing 100% deduction under Section 80IA by relying on an amendment made by the Finance Act, 1999, despite the assessee commencing operations in 1994-95 when the law was different? 2. Whether the Tribunal's finding was invalid by applying amended provisions retrospectively, contradicting the principle of strict interpretation of machinery provisions? 3. Whether the rejuvenation of BWEs and life extension programme of the thermal power station were allowable expenses as current repairs, even though incurred after the plant and machinery's life span and not amounting to preservation? 4. Whether expenditure on rejuvenation of BWEs and LEPs was allowable as revenue expenditure, especially when the assessee had capitalized it? Assessee's Contentions: The assessee submitted that they had availed the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme, 2020, and had been issued Form-3 on March 8, 2021. Revenue's Contentions: The Revenue argued that the Tribunal erred in its findings on the allowability of deductions and expenses, citing the position of law at the time of commencement of operations and the nature of the expenditure.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 80IA,Section 260A

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

Tax Case Appeal Nos.130 and 131 of 2016 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 17.04.2021 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE M. DURAISWAMY AND THE HON'BLE MRS.JUSTICE R. HEMALATHA Tax Case Appeal Nos.130 and 131 of 2016 Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai. ... Appellant in all appeals Vs. M/s.Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd., Neyveli – 607 801.

... Respondent in all appeals Tax Case Appeals in Nos.130 and 131 of 2016 filed under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai "A" Bench, dated 26.06.2015, passed in I.T.A.Nos.529/Mds/2006 and 222/Mds/2009 respectively. For Appellant : Mr.T.Ravikumar Senior Standing Counsel in all appeals For Respondent : Mrs.G.Janane for M/s.Lakshmi Kumaran in all appeals Page 1/6 http://www.judis.nic.in Tax Case Appeal Nos.130 and 131 of 2016 C O M M O N J U D G M E N T (Delivered by M.DURAISWAMY, J.) The above appeals filed by the Revenue under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 ('the Act' for brevity), are directed against the order, dated 26.06.2015, passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai "A" Bench, ('the Tribunal' for brevity) in I.T.A.Nos.529/Mds/2006 and 222/Mds/2009 for the assessment years 2002-03 and 2000-01 respectively. 2.The above appeals have been admitted on 08.03.2016 on the following Substantial Questions of Law: Common questions of law in T.C.A.Nos.130 and 131 of 2016 : 1.Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was justified in relying on the amendment to Section 80IA made by Finance Act, 1999, while allowing 100% deduction, even though the assessee had commenced its operation in the year 1994-95, when the position of law was different? 2.Is not the finding of the Tribunal bad by applying the amended provisions of law by extending the benefit retrospectively, which goes against the principle of strict interpretation of machinery provisions?” Page 2/6 http://www.judis.nic.in Tax Case Appeal Nos.130 and 131 of 2016 T.C.A.No.131 of 2016 : “3.Whether, on the facts and circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was justified in holding that the rejuvenation of the BWEs and life extension programme of thermal power station are allowable expenses as current repairs, even though the said expenditure was incurred after the life span of the plant and machinery, which does not amount to preservation of an already existing machinery? 4.Whether, on the facts and circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in holding that the expenditure incurred in rejuvenation of BWEs and LEPs are allowable as revenue expenditure, especially when the assessee had capitalized the same in the books of account?” 3. We have heard Mr.T.Ravikumar, learned Senior Standing Counsel for the appellant/Revenue and Mrs.G.Janane for M/s.Lakshmi Kumaran, learned counsel for the respondent/assessee. 4. It may not be necessary for this Court to decide the Substantial Questions of Law framed for consideration on account of certain Page 3/6 http://www.judis.nic.in Tax Case Appeal Nos.130 and 131 of 2016 subsequent developments. The Government of India enacted the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Act, 2020 (Act 3 of 2020) to provide for resolution of disputed tax and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. The Act of the Parliament received the assent of the President on 17th March 2020 and published in the Gazette of India on 17th March 2020. 5.Learned counsel for the respondent/assessee submitted that the assessee had availed the Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme and that the respondent/assessee had already been issued with Form–3 on 08.03.2021.

6.Since the respondent/assessee had been issued with Form-3, nothing survives for adjudication in the above appeals. Recording the submission made by the learned counsel for the respondent/assessee, the above Tax Case Appeals stand disposed of. No costs. [M.D., J.] [R.H., J.] 17.04.2021 mkn (2/2) Page 4/6 http://www.judis.nic.in Tax Case Appeal Nos.130 and 131 of 2016

Index : Yes/No

Internet : Yes

To 1. Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai "A" Bench 2.The Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai. Page 5/6 http://www.judis.nic.in Tax Case Appeal Nos.130 and 131 of 2016 M. DURAISWAMY, J. and R. HEMALATHA, J. mkn T.C.A.Nos.130 and 131 of 2016

17.04.2021 (2/2) Page 6/6 http://www.judis.nic.in

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