PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF vs. M/S.FARIDA SHOES PVT,LTD.,

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TCA/150/2018HC Madras20 November 2019Bench: Hon`ble Mr Justice N. KIRUBAKARAN6 pages
AI SummaryDismissed

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court dismissed the Tax Case Appeals filed by the Revenue on the ground of low tax effect. The Court referred to Circular No.17/2019 dated 08.08.2019, which specifies a monetary limit of Rs.1 crore for filing appeals before the High Court. Since the tax effect in these cases was below this limit, the appeals were dismissed. However, the Court explicitly stated that the substantial questions of law framed were left open. Liberty was granted to the Revenue to mention the case before the Court to restore the appeals for hearing and decision on merits if the tax effect was found to be above the prescribed limit. No costs were awarded. The judgment does not provide findings on the merits of the substantial questions of law.

What were the facts?

The Revenue (Principal Commissioner of Income Tax-2) filed two appeals (T.C.A.Nos.150 & 151 of 2018) before the High Court of Judicature at Madras against the orders of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) dated 08.01.2016. These ITAT orders had dismissed the Revenue's appeals against the orders of the CIT(A) for the assessment years 2011-12 and 2012-13. The appeals before the High Court were admitted on three substantial questions of law. During the hearing, the Revenue contended that the appeals should be dismissed as the tax effect was less than Rs.1 crore, which was the monetary limit for filing appeals before the High Court as per CBDT Circular No.17/2019 dated 08.08.2019.

What were the issues?

1. Whether the Tribunal erred in law in holding that in computing disallowance under Section 14A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 read with Rule 8D(ii) of the Income Tax Rules, 1962, interest pertaining to loss taken for business purposes would have to be excluded? 2. Whether the Tribunal erred in deleting the proportionate disallowance of foreign travel expenses of a Director? 3. Whether the decision of the Tribunal is vitiated by an error with regard to the provisions of the Income Tax Act under which addition and/or disallowance were made by the Assessing Officer? Assessee's Contentions: The judgment does not record any specific contentions made by the assessee (M/s.Farida Shoes Pvt. Ltd.) regarding the substantial questions of law. The assessee was represented by Mr. Philip George. Revenue's Contentions: The Revenue, represented by Mr. Karthik Ranganathan, Senior Standing Counsel, argued that the appeals should be dismissed as the tax effect in these cases was less than Rs.1 crore. This limit is stipulated in Circular No.17/2019 dated 08.08.2019 issued by the CBDT, which sets the monetary limit for filing appeals before the High Court.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 14A,Section 260A

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

T.C.A.Nos.150 & 151 of 2018 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 19.11.2019 CORAM : THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.KIRUBAKARAN and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE P.VELMURUGAN T.C.A.Nos.150 & 151 of 2018 Principal Commissioner of Income Tax-2 No.108, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Chennai 600 034. ... Appellant (in both appeals) Vs M/s.Farida Shoes Pvt. Ltd., No.151/4, Mount Poonamallee Road, Ramapuram, Chennai 89. PAN: AAACF 0496Q ... Respondent (in both appeals) PRAYER in T.C.A.No.150 of 2018: Appeal under Section 260A of Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal Madras “A” Bench, dated 08.01.2016 in ITA.No.2102/Mds/2015. PRAYER in T.C.A.No.151 of 2018: Appeal under Section 260A of Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal Madras “A” Bench, dated 08.01.2016 in 1/6 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.Nos.150 & 151 of 2018 ITA.No.2103/Mds/2015. For Appellant :Mr.Karthik Ranganathan Senior standing counsel (in both appeals) For Respondent :Mr.Philip George (in both appeals) J U D G M E N T (Judgment of the Court was delivered by N.KIRUBAKARAN, J) The Appeals have been preferred by the Revenue against the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal “A” Bench, Chennai, dated 08.01.2016 in ITA.Nos.2102 & 2103/Mds/2015 for the Assessment years 2011-12 & 2012-13. 2.The orders of the CIT(A) in ITA No.7 & 243/CIT(A)-6/14-15 dated 18.05.2015 were challenged before the Tribunal by the Revenue in ITA Nos.2102 & 2103/Mds/2015. The Appellate Tribunal rejected the contention of the Revenue and dismissed the same. Against the order of the Appellate Tribunal only, present appeals have been filed. 3.These appeals were admitted on 10.04.2018 on the following substantial questions of law : 2/6 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.Nos.150 & 151 of 2018 “(i).Whether the Tribunal erred in law in holding that in computing disallowance under Section 14A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 read with Rule 8D(ii) of the Income Tax Rules, 1962, interest pertaining to loss taken for business purposes would have to be excluded? (ii).Whether the Tribunal erred in deleting the proportionate disallowance of foreign travel expenses of a Director? (iii).Whether the decision of the Tribunal is vitiated by an error with regard to the provisions of the Income Tax Act under which addition and/or disallowance were made by the Assessing Officer?" 4.Mr.Karthik Ranganathan, learned Senior Standing Counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant would submit that the tax effect in these cases are less than Rs.1 crore and are covered by Circular No.17/2019 dated 08.08.2019 issued by the Director, Central Board of Direct Taxes, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, Delhi. As per the said circular, the monetary limit to file an appeal before the High Court is fixed at Rs.1 crore. In these cases, tax effect is less than Rs.1 crore and therefore, these 3/6 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.Nos.150 & 151 of 2018 cases have to be dismissed. 5.This Court perused the circular dated 08.08.2019 and Paragraph No.2 of the said Circular, which prescribes monetary limit for filing appeal is usefully extracted as follows: 2.As a step towards further management of litigation, it has been decided by the Board that monetary limits for filing of appeals in income-tax cases be enhanced further through amendment in Para 3 of the Circular mentioned above and accordingly, the table for monetary limits specified in Para 3 of the Circular shall read as follows: S.No. Appeals / SLPs in Income- tax matters Monetary Limit (Rs.) 1. Before Appeallate Tribunal 50,00,000 2. Before High Court 1,00,00,000 3. Before Supreme Court 2,00,00,000 6.In view of the submissions made by the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant and also in view of the Circular No.17/2019 dated 08.08.2019 issued by the Director, Central Board of Direct Taxes, Delhi, the Tax Case Appeals are dismissed on account of 4/6 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.Nos.150 & 151 of 2018 tax effect. However, the substantial questions of law framed is left open. In the event the tax effect is above the limit fixed in the said circular, liberty is granted to the Revenue to make a mention to this Court to restore the appeals to be heard and decided on merits. No costs. (NKKJ) (PVJ) 20.11.2019 sai To 1.The Principal Commissioner of Income Tax-2 No.108, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Chennai 600 034. 2.Income Tax Appellate Tribunal 'A' Bench, Chennai. 5/6 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.Nos.150 & 151 of 2018 N.KIRUBAKARAN, J. and P.VELMURUGAN

, J.

sai T.C.A.Nos.150 & 151 of 2018 Dated : 20.11.2019 6/6 http://www.judis.nic.in

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