PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF vs. M/S. KAYARAM HOTEL PVT LTD.,
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court dismissed the appeals filed by the Revenue on account of low tax effect, as per CBDT Circular No. 17/2019, which increased the monetary limit for filing appeals before the High Court to Rs. 1 Crore. The Court noted that the tax effect in these appeals was below the threshold limit. Consequently, the substantial questions of law framed were left open. The Revenue was granted liberty to make a mention to the Court to restore the appeals if the tax effect was found to be above the fixed threshold limit, allowing them to be heard and decided on merits. No costs were imposed. The specific findings on the substantial questions of law were not adjudicated upon due to the dismissal on procedural grounds.
What were the facts?
The Revenue (Principal Commissioner of Income Tax 4, Chennai) filed four appeals (T.C.A.Nos.196 to 199 of 2017) before the High Court of Judicature at Madras against the common order dated 01.06.2016 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), 'A' Bench, Chennai. These appeals pertained to assessment years 2003-04, 2010-11, 2006-07, and 2009-10. The assessee is M/s. Kayaram Hotel Pvt. Ltd. The appeals challenged the ITAT's decision regarding the classification of rental receipts for tax purposes. The High Court heard arguments from both the Revenue and the Assessee.
What were the issues?
The Tribunal had to decide two substantial questions of law: 1. Whether the Appellate Tribunal was right in not following the Supreme Court's latest decision dated 28.09.2015 in the assessee's own case, reported in [2015] 63 taxamann.com 301 (SC), and instead following an earlier judgment dated 09.04.2015 in the case of Chennai Properties & Investments Ltd? 2. Whether the Tribunal was right in directing the assessing officer to assess 75% of the rental receipts under the head 'Income from House Property' and the balance 25% under the head 'Income from Business', when the assessee was not engaged in any business activity, and such bifurcation was made without any rationale? Assessee's contentions: Not recorded in the judgment. Revenue's contentions: The Revenue argued that the ITAT erred in not following the Supreme Court's latest decision in the assessee's own case and in bifurcating rental receipts without any business activity or rationale. The Revenue also submitted that the appeals were not being pursued due to low tax effect, citing CBDT Circular No. 17/2019.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
T.C.A.Nos.196 to 199 of 2017 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 29.08.2019 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE T.S.SIVAGNANAM and THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN Tax Case Appeal Nos.196 to 199 of 2107 Principal Commissioner of Income Tax 4, No.121, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai. .. Appellant in all Appeals -vs- M/s.Kayaram Hotel Pvt. Ltd., 2, Harrington Road, Chennai-600 031. PAN: AAB CK 8077 D .. Respondent in all Appeals Appeals under Section 260A of the Income-tax Act, 1961, against the common order dated 01.06.2016, made in I.T.A.Nos.402/Mds/2013, 1095/Mds/2014, 2215/Mds/2015 and 2216/Mds/2016 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal 'A' Bench, Chennai for the assessment years 2003-04, 2010-11, 2006-07 and 2009-10 respectively. For Appellant : Mr.Karthik Ranganathan, Senior Standing Counsel : assisted by Mr.S.Rajesh, Standing Counsel For Respondent : Mr.A.S.Sriraman for Mr.S.Sridhar COMMON JUDGMENT (Delivered by T.S.Sivagnanam, J.) These appeals filed by the Revenue under Section 260A of the Income- tax Act, 1961 are directed against the common order dated 01.06.2016, made in I.T.A.Nos.402/Mds/2013, 1095/Mds/2014, 2215/Mds/2015 and 1/4 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.Nos.196 to 199 of 2017 2216/Mds/2016 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal 'A' Bench, Chennai for the assessment years 2003-04, 2010-11, 2006-07 and 2009-10 respectively. 2.The appeals have been filed raising the following substantial questions of law:- “(i) Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case and in law, Appellate Tribunal was right in not following the latest decision of the Supreme Court dated 28.09.2015 in assessee's own case reported in [2015] 63 taxamann.com 301 (SC) and following the earlier judgment dated 09.04.2015 in the case of Chennai Properties & Investments Ltd? and (ii) Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case and in law, Tribunal was right in directing the assessing officer to assess 75% of the rental receipts to be assessed under the head 'Income from House Property' and balance 25% under the head 'Income from Business' when assessee was not engaged in any business activity and such bifurcation made without any rationale?” 3.Heard Mr.Karthik Ranganathan, learned Senior Standing Counsel assisted by Mr.S.Rajesh, learned Standing Counsel for the appellant – and Mr.A.S.Sriraman, learned counsel for Mr.S.Sridhar, learned Counsel for the respondent. 2/4 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.Nos.196 to 199 of 2017 4.The learned Senior Standing Counsel for the appellant submits that the above appeals are not pursued by the Revenue on account of the low tax effect in terms of Circular No.17/2019, dated 08.08.2019 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 appeals are 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 appeals to be heard and decided on merits. No costs. (T.S.S., J.) (V.B.S., J.) 29.08.2019 Index : Yes/No Speaking/Non-Speaking Order abr 3/4 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.Nos.196 to 199 of 2017 T.S.Sivagnanam, J. and V.Bhavani Subbaroyan, J. (abr) To 1.M/s.Kayaram Hotel Pvt. Ltd., 2, Harrington Road, Chennai-600 031.
2.The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal 'A' Bench, Chennai. T.C.A.Nos.196 to 199 of 2017 29.08.2019 4/4 http://www.judis.nic.in
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