COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX vs. THE VIRUDHUNAGAR DISTRICT CENTRAL CO-OPERATIVE BAN
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court, while acknowledging the substantial questions of law raised by the Revenue, ultimately dismissed the appeal. This decision was based on a submission by the Revenue's learned Standing Counsel, citing CBDT's Circular No. 9 of 2024 dated 17.09.2024. According to this circular, the tax effect in the present case was below the monetary limit prescribed for filing appeals. Consequently, the Court decided to dispose of the appeal without adjudicating on the merits of the substantial questions of law. The Court explicitly stated that the substantial questions of law were kept open for adjudication at an appropriate stage. No costs were awarded, and the connected miscellaneous petition was closed.
What were the facts?
The Revenue, Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai, filed a Tax Case Appeal before the High Court of Judicature at Madras, challenging an order passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Chennai. The ITAT's order, dated 12.05.2023 in ITA No. 540/Chny/2022, was against the assessee, The Virudhunagar District Central Co-operative Bank Limited. The appeal concerns the deductibility of provisions created for standard assets under the Income Tax Act, 1961. The Revenue's appeal was filed under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
What were the issues?
The Tribunal had to decide the following substantial questions of law: 1. Whether the ITAT was right in holding that a revision order under Section 263 was liable to be set aside because the issue was debatable, even though standard assets were admitted to be recoverable? 2. Whether the ITAT was right in holding that a provision created for standard assets is deductible under Section 36(1)(viia) of the Income Tax Act, 1961? 3. Whether the ITAT was right in not appreciating that standard assets are performing and recoverable, not bad debts, thus making provisions for them not deductible under Section 36(1)(viia)? 4. Whether the ITAT was right in allowing deduction under Section 36(1)(viia) on provisions against standard assets, based on the expectation of future bad debts? The Revenue argued that standard assets are recoverable and not bad debts, and therefore provisions for them should not be deductible. The assessee's contentions are not explicitly detailed in the provided text, but the ITAT's decision implies they argued for the deductibility of such provisions.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
T.C.A.No.246 of 2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 05.11.2024 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE R.SURESH KUMAR AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE C.SARAVANAN Tax Case Appeal No.246 of 2024 and C.M.P.Nos.23092 of 2024 Commissioner of Income Tax Chennai. .... Appellant Vs. The Virudhunagar District Central Co-operative Bank Limited 104/1, Madurai Road, Post Box No.8 Virudhunagar 626 001. .... Respondent ----- Tax Case Appeal filed under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, 'A' Bench Chennai, dated 12.05.2023 made in I.T.A.No.540/Chny/2022. For Appellant : Mr.J.Narayanaswamy Senior Standing Counsel ----- J U D G M E N T (Delivered by R.SURESH KUMAR, J.) This Tax Case Appeal has been filed by the Revenue calling in question the correctness of the order passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai by raising the following substantial questions of law: https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis T.C.A.No.246 of 2024 1. Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the appellate Tribunal was right in holding that the order of revision u/s.263 is liable to be set aside on the ground that the issue is debatable even though it is admitted that the standard assets are recoverable in nature. 2. Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the appellate Tribunal is right in holding that provision created for standard assets is liable for deduction under Section 36(1)(viia) of the Income Tax Act, 1961? 3. Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the appellate Tribunal is right in not appreciating that standard assets are considered as performing and recoverable assets and are not in the nature of bad debts and hence the provision created for standard assets is not allowable as deduction under Section 36(I)(viia) of the Income Tax Act, 1961? 4. Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the appellate Tribunal is right in allowing deduction u/s.36(1)(viia) on the provisions created against the standard assets on the ground that assessee has actually created a valid provision on the expectation that the assets may become bad in future? 2. It is brought to our notice by the learned Standing Counsel for the appellant Revenue that in the instant case, as per the CBDT's Circular No.9 of https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis T.C.A.No.246 of 2024 2024 dated 17.09.2024 the tax effect is said to be less than the monetary limit imposed and therefore, the appeal can be disposed of, keeping the substantial questions of law raised in this appeal open for adjudication at a later point of time. 3. Recording the aforesaid submission made by the learned Standing Counsel for the appellant Revenue, this Tax Case Appeal is dismissed for low tax effect, keeping open the substantial questions of law for adjudication at appropriate stage. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. (R.S.K.,J.) (C.S.N.,J.) 05.11.2024 NCS : Yes/No 3/4 KST To The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal 'A' Bench, Chennai. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis T.C.A.No.246 of 2024 R.SURESH KUMAR, J. AND C.SARAVANAN, J. KST T.C.A.No.246 of 2024 05.11.2024 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
More judgments on Section 36(1)(viia)
- M/S Malwa Gramin Bank Now Known As Punjab… vs DCIT, SangrurITA 283/CHANDI/2019[2015-16]Status: Disposed29 Sept 2026AY 2015-16
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- Rajasthan Marudhara Gramin Bank, Jodhpur vs DCIT, Circle-1, JaipurITA 1248/JPR/2025[2018-19]Status: Disposed28 Sept 2026AY 2018-19
- State Bank of India, Mumbai vs ACIT-Circle- 2(2)(1), MumbaiITA 3429/MUM/2018[2013-14]Status: Disposed11 Sept 2026AY 2013-14
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