COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX vs. ALL INDIA SKIN & HIDE TANNERS

T.C.A.Nos.186 to 188 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.186 to 188 of 2018 and C.M.P.Nos.3200 & 3201 of 2018 Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai. ... Appellant (in all the appeals) Vs M/s.All India Skin & Hide Tanners & Merchants Association, 43/53, Raja Muthiah Road, Periamet, Chennai 600 003. PAN: AAATA0492J ... Respondent (in all the appeals) PRAYER in TCA.No.186 of 2018: Appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras “B” Bench, dated 23.09.2016 passed in ITA.No.1240/Mds/2016. PRAYER in TCA.No.187 of 2018: Appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras “B” Bench, dated 23.09.2016 passed in ITA.No.1241/Mds/2016. 1/6 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.Nos.186 to 188 of 2018 PRAYER in TCA.No.188 of 2018: Appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras “B” Bench, dated 23.09.2016 passed in ITA.No.1242/Mds/2016. For Appellant :Mr.J.Narayanaswamy (in all the appeals) Senior standing counsel 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 23.09.2016 passed in ITA.No.1240 to 1242/Mds/2016 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai 'B' Bench for the assessment years 2010-11 to 2012-13. 2.The impugned order is filed by the Revenue aggrieved by the orders of the CIT(A), dated 29.01.2016 in ITA Nos.37, 38 & 11/CIT (A)-17/13-14/14-15/15-16 under Section 143(3) r.w.s 250 (6) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, where the Tribunal rejected the plea of the Revenue and dismissed the Appeals. 2/6 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.Nos.186 to 188 of 2018 3.These Appeals are admitted on the following substantial question of law : “(i)Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Hon'ble ITAT was right in law in holding that the Society is eligible for exemption u/s.11 of the I.T.Act, in complete disregard to the facts of the case and the provisions of newly inserted provisos of Section 2(15) of the I.T. Act? (ii)Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Hon'ble ITAT was right in law in holding that the activities of the assessee society are governed under “principles of mutuality” even though the Society is registered u/s.12AA of the Income Tax Act as a “charitable entity” and has been claiming that status all along, more so when Kerala High Court in the case of M/s.Investors Club Trichur vs. CIT 318 ITR 427 (Ker.) has clearly held that a “charitable institution” cannot raise the “plea of mutuality”? (iii)Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the order of the Hon'ble ITAT was not against principle of “judicial consistency” in as much as it was passed in disregard of the findings of its earlier order in ITA No.2749, 2750 and 2751/Mds/1994 for A.Ys.1998-99, 1990-91 & 1991-92, where a clear finding had been given that the assessee's activities are in the nature of 3/6 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.Nos.186 to 188 of 2018 “advancement of objects of general public utility” and such decision had already reached finality?"

4.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. 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 4/6 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.Nos.186 to 188 of 2018 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, these Tax Case Appeals are dismissed on account of 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. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petitions are closed. (NKKJ) (PVJ) 04.12.2019 sai 5/6 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.Nos.186 to 188 of 2018 N.KIRUBAKARAN, J. and P.VELMURUGAN

, J.

sai To 1.The Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai. 2.Income Tax Appellate Tribunal 'B' Bench, Chennai. T.C.A.Nos.186 to 188 of 2018 Dated : 04.12.2019 6/6 http://www.judis.nic.in