THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME T vs. M/S AMBATTUR CLOTHING LTD.,
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court dismissed the appeal filed by the Revenue. The dismissal was based on the Revenue's submission that the appeal was not being pursued due to a low tax effect, as per CBDT Circular No. 17/2019, which raised the monetary limit for appeals to the High Court to Rs. 1 Crore. The Court noted that the tax effect in this case was below the prescribed threshold. Consequently, the substantial questions of law framed for the appeal were left open. The Revenue was granted liberty to mention the case for restoration if the tax effect was found to be above the threshold limit, allowing the appeal to be heard and decided on merits. No costs were awarded.
What were the facts?
The Revenue, represented by the Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai, filed an appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, against an order dated June 12, 2015, passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Chennai 'B' Bench. The appeal pertains to the assessment year 2007-08 and concerns the assessee, M/s. Ambattur Clothing Ltd., Chennai. The High Court admitted the appeal on three substantial questions of law. However, during the hearing, the Revenue submitted that it did not wish to pursue the appeal due to a low tax effect, citing CBDT Circular No. 17/2019 which increased the monetary limit for filing appeals before the High Court to Rs. 1 Crore. The tax effect in this case was stated to be below this threshold.
What were the issues?
The High Court was to decide three substantial questions of law: 1. Whether the Tribunal was correct in treating the factory building as a capital asset, given its use for business purposes from assessment year 1983-84 to 2005-06. 2. Whether the Tribunal's order was invalid for setting aside the Assessing Officer's invocation of Section 50 for a depreciable asset that formed part of a block of assets. 3. Whether the Tribunal's finding was proper, considering the assessee claimed depreciation on land for approximately 22 years, and the assets were part of a block of assets for which indexation benefits were granted from the land's sale value. The Revenue argued that the factory building, used for business, should not be treated as a capital asset and that Section 50 should have been applied to a depreciable asset forming part of a block of assets. The Revenue also questioned the propriety of the Tribunal's finding regarding depreciation on land and indexation benefits. The judgment does not record specific arguments from the assessee on these points.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
TCA.No.24 of 2016 In the High Court of Judicature at Madras Dated : 30.8.2019 Coram : The Honourable Mr.Justice T.S.SIVAGNANAM and The Honourable Mrs.Justice V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN Tax Case Appeal No.24 of 2016 The Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai ...Appellant Vs M/s.Ambattur Clothing Ltd., Chennai-58. ...Respondent APPEAL under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order dated 12.6.2015 made in ITA.No.1435/Mds/2014 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai 'B' Bench for the assessment year 2007-08. For Appellant: Mr.T.Ravikumar, SSC and Mrs.R.Hemalatha, SSC For Respondent: Mr.R.Sivaraman Judgment was delivered by
T.S.Sivagnanam,J
We have heard Mr.T.Ravikumar and Mrs.R.Hemalatha, learned Senior Standing Counsel appearing for the appellant – Revenue and Mr.R. Sivaraman, learned counsel appearing for the respondent – assessee. 1/4 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.24 of 2016 2. This appeal, filed by the Revenue under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 is directed against the order dated 12.6.2015 made in ITA.No. 1435/Mds/2014 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai 'B' Bench for the assessment year 2007-08. 3. The appeal was admitted on 01.2.2016 on the following substantial questions of law : “i. Whether on the facts and in the circumstances, the Tribunal was right in treating the factory building as a capital asset especially when the building was used for a business purpose from the asset year 1983-84 onward till the asset year 2005-06 ? ii. Is not the finding of the Tribunal bad by setting aside the order of the Assessing Officer, who had invoked Section 50 for a depreciable asset, since the said asset was used for the purpose of business forming part of block of assets? and iii. Whether the finding of the Tribunal is proper especially when the assessee had claimed depreciation on the land nearly 22 years and the assets formed part of block of assets for which, the benefit of indexation was granted from the sale value of the land ?" 4. The learned Senior Standing Counsel for the appellant submits that 2/4 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.24 of 2016 the above appeal is not pursued by the Revenue on account of the low tax effect in terms of Circular No.17/2019 dated 08.8.2019 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 appeal is 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 appeal to be heard and decided on merits. No costs. (T.S.S.J.) (V.B.S.J.) 30.8.2019 Speaking (or) Non Speaking Order Index : Yes (or) No Internet: Yes (or) No To The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai 'B' Bench. RS 3/4 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.24 of 2016 T.S.SIVAGNANAM,J AND V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN,J RS TCA.No.24 of 2016 30.8.2019 4/4 http://www.judis.nic.in
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