THE COMMISSIONER OF vs. M/S.SUNDARAM FASTERNERS

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TCA/169/2018HC Madras04 December 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. The dismissal was based on the submission made by the Revenue's counsel and the Circular No.17/2019 dated 08.08.2019 issued by the CBDT. This circular stipulates that appeals before the High Court should have a monetary limit of Rs.1 crore. As the tax effect in the present appeals was less than this limit, the Court found no reason to entertain them. 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 is found to be above the prescribed limit in the circular. No costs were awarded.

What were the facts?

The Revenue (Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai) filed three Tax Case Appeals (TCA.Nos.169, 170, and 171 of 2018) before the High Court of Judicature at Madras. These appeals challenged orders dated 15.07.2016 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Madras 'D' Bench. The ITAT orders pertained to assessment years 2005-06, 2003-04, and 2005-06, concerning M/s. Sundaram Fasteners Limited. The appeals were admitted on 10.04.2018. The ITAT had allowed the assessee's appeal and partly allowed the Revenue's appeals, leading to the present appeals by the Revenue.

What were the issues?

1. Whether the loss of one unit can be set off against the profit of other units for the purpose of deduction under Section 80IB of the Income Tax Act, 1961? (Question of law) 2. Whether the Tribunal erred in law in holding that the assessee was entitled to deduction of interest on funds borrowed for the purpose of the assessee's business, when the funds so borrowed were advanced to the wholly owned subsidiary of the assessee? (Question of mixed law and fact) Assessee's arguments: Not recorded in the judgment. Revenue's arguments: The learned Senior Standing Counsel for the appellant (Revenue) submitted that the tax effect in these cases is less than Rs.1 crore. He relied on Circular No.17/2019 dated 08.08.2019 issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), which fixes the monetary limit for filing appeals before the High Court at Rs.1 crore. Therefore, the Revenue contended that these appeals should be dismissed.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 80IB,Section 260A

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

T.C.A.Nos.169 & 171 of 2018 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 04.12.2019 CORAM : THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.KIRUBAKARAN and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE P.VELMURUGAN T.C.A.Nos.169 to 171 of 2018 Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai. ... Appellant (in all the appeals) Vs M/s.Sundaram Fasteners Limited, 98A, Dr.Radhakrishnan Salai, Chennai 600 004. PAN: AAACS8779D ... Respondent (in all the appeals) PRAYER in TCA.No.169 of 2018: Appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras “D” Bench, dated 15.07.2016 passed in ITA.No.956/Mds/2011. PRAYER in TCA.No.170 of 2018: Appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras “D” Bench, dated 15.07.2016 passed in ITA.No.1009/Mds/2011. PRAYER in TCA.No.171 of 2018: Appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order of the Income Tax Appellate 1/6 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.Nos.169 & 171 of 2018 Tribunal, Madras “D” Bench, dated 15.07.2016 passed in ITA.No.1010/Mds/2011. For Appellant :Mr.J.Narayanaswamy (in all the appeals) Senior standing counsel For Respondent :Mr.Venkata Narayanan for M/s.Subbaraya Aiyar Padmanabha Ramamani (in all the appeals) C O M M O N J U D G M E N T (Judgment of the Court was delivered by N.KIRUBAKARAN, J) These Tax Case Appeals have been preferred by the Revenue against the order dated 15.07.2016 passed in ITA.No.956, 1009 & 1010/Mds/2011 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai 'D' Bench for the assessment years 2005-06, 2003-04 & 2005- 06 respectively. 2.ITA No.956/Mds/2011 has been filed by the assessee and ITA Nos.1009 & 1010/Mds/2011 have been filed by the revenue. The Tribunal has allowed the assessee's Appeal and partly allowed the revenue's Appeals. Against which the present Appeals have been filed. 3.TCA.No.169 of 2018 was admitted on 10.04.2018 on the 2/6 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.Nos.169 & 171 of 2018 following substantial question of law : “Whether the loss of one unit can be set off against the profit of other units for the purpose of deduction under Section 80IB of the Income Tax Act, 1961?"

4.TCA.Nos.170 & 171 of 2018 were admitted on 10.04.2018 on the following substantial questions of law : “Whether the Tribunal erred in law in holding that the assessee was entitled to deduction of interest on funds borrowed for the purpose of the assessee's business, when the funds so borrowed were advanced to the wholly owned subsidiary of the assessee?" 5.Mr.J.Narayanaswamy, 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 is 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 cases have to be dismissed. 3/6 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.Nos.169 & 171 of 2018 6.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 7.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, these Tax Case Appeals are dismissed on account of tax effect. However, the substantial questions of law framed is 4/6 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.Nos.169 & 171 of 2018 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) 04.12.2019 sai 5/6 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.Nos.169 & 171 of 2018 N.KIRUBAKARAN, J. and P.VELMURUGAN

, J.

sai To 1.The Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai. 2.Income Tax Appellate Tribunal 'D' Bench, Chennai. T.C.A.Nos.169 to 171 of 2018 Dated : 04.12.2019 6/6 http://www.judis.nic.in

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