M/S. TIDEL PARK LTD vs. THE ADDITIONAL COMMISSIONER

PDF · subscribers
TCA/281/2018HC Madras15 July 2021Bench: Hon`ble Mr Justice M.DURAISWAMY6 pages
AI SummaryWithdrawn

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court did not decide the substantial questions of law framed for consideration. Instead, the Court noted the enactment of the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Act, 2020, and was informed that the assessee had availed benefits under this Act, having been issued Form-3. Consequently, the assessee sought permission to withdraw the appeal. The Court observed that no useful purpose would be served by keeping the appeal pending. The appeal was dismissed as withdrawn, with liberty granted to the assessee to restore the appeal in the event the ultimate decision on their declaration filed under Section 4 of the Vivad Se Vishwas Act is not in their favour. The substantial questions of law were left open.

What were the facts?

The assessee, M/s. Tidel Park Ltd., filed an appeal before the High Court of Judicature at Madras against an order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) dated February 19, 2016, pertaining to the assessment year 2005-06. The appeal was admitted on substantial questions of law concerning the eligibility for deduction under Section 80IA of the Income Tax Act, 1961, specifically regarding interest and other income related to its Software Technology Park (STP) business. During the pendency of the appeal, the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Act, 2020, was enacted. The assessee informed the court that it had availed the benefits under this Act and sought to withdraw the appeal. The High Court noted that the assessee had been issued Form-3 under the Vivad Se Vishwas Act.

What were the issues?

1. Whether the Tribunal was correct in law in holding that the assessee is not entitled to deduction under Section 80IA in respect of interest income and other income directly related to the business of a Software Technology Park? The assessee contended that the entire income was derived from developing, running, and maintaining the STP, which was approved and notified as per Section 80IA(4)(iii) read with Rule 18C. Therefore, no part of the income should be excluded when computing the relief under Section 80IA. The revenue's contentions are not recorded in the judgment. 2. Whether, on the facts and circumstances, the Tribunal was correct in law in restricting the claim of deduction under Section 80IA when the entire income was derived from the approved STP business? This question is intrinsically linked to the first, focusing on the restriction of the deduction claim.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 80IA,Section 260A

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

Tax Case Appeal No.281 of 2018 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 15.07.2021 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE M. DURAISWAMY AND THE HON'BLE MRS.JUSTICE R. HEMALATHA Tax Case Appeal No.281 of 2018 M/s.Tidel Park Ltd., 4, Rajiv Gandhi Salai, Taramani, Chennai – 600 113.

... Appellant Vs.

The Additional Commissioner of Income Tax, Company Range – III, Chennai – 600 034. ... Respondent

Tax Case Appeal filed under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras "D" Bench, dated 19.02.2016 passed in I.T.A.No.1233/Mds/2014. For Appellant : Mr.Vikram Vijayaraghavan for M/s.Subbaraya Aiyar Padmanabhan

For Respondent : Mrs.V.Pushpa Standing Counsel

Page 1/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ Tax Case Appeal No.281 of 2018 J U D G M E N T (Delivered by M.DURAISWAMY, J.) This appeal filed by the assessee under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 ('the Act' for brevity), is directed against the order dated 19.02.2016 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras "D" Bench, ('the Tribunal' for brevity) in I.T.A.No.1233/Mds/2014 for the assessment year 2005-06. The above appeal has been admitted on the following substantial questions of law : “1.Whether the Tribunal was right in law in holding that the assessee is not entitled to deduction u/s.80IA in respect of interest income and other income which are directly related to the business of Software Technology Park? 2.Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in law in restricting the claim of deduction u/s.80IA when the entire income was derived only from developing, running and maintaining of Software Technology Park (STP) which was approved by the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion and notified by the Central Board of Direct Taxes in terms of Sec.80IA(4)(iii) of the Act r/w. Rule 18C of the IT Rules and hence no part of the same can be excluded while Page 2/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ Tax Case Appeal No.281 of 2018 computing the relief under Section 80IA?” 2. We have heard Mr.Vikram Vijayaraghavan for M/s.Subbaraya Aiyar Padmanabhan, learned counsel appearing for the appellant/ assessee and Mrs.V.Pushpa, learned Standing Counsel for the respondent/Revenue. 3. It may not be necessary for this Court to decide the Substantial Questions of Law framed for consideration on account of certain subsequent developments. The Government of India enacted the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Act, 2020 (Act 3 of 2020) to provide for resolution of disputed tax and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. The Act of the Parliament received the assent of the President on 17th March 2020 and published in the Gazette of India on 17th March 2020. 4. We are informed by the learned counsel for the appellant/ assessee that the assessee had already been issued with Form-3 on 29.04.2021 and the learned counsel for the appellant seeks permission of this Court to withdraw the appeal. Page 3/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ Tax Case Appeal No.281 of 2018 5. In the light of the fact that the assessee has already availed the benefit under the Act, no useful purpose would be served in keeping the appeal pending. At the same time, the interest of the assessee in the event the order to be passed by the Department under the Act is not in favour of the assessee, is to be safeguarded. Accordingly, the Tax Case Appeal stands dismissed as withdrawn on the ground that the assessee has already been issued with Form-3 and the Department shall process the application at the earliest in accordance with the said Act and communicate the decision to the assessee at the earliest. As observed, the assessee is given liberty to restore the appeal in the event the ultimate decision to be taken on the declaration filed by the assessee under Section 4 of the said Act is not in favour of the assessee. If such a prayer is made, the Registry shall entertain the prayer without insisting upon any application to be filed for condonation of delay in restoration of the appeal and on such request made by the assessee by filing a Miscellaneous Petition for Restoration, the Registry shall place such petition before the Division Bench for orders. Page 4/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ Tax Case Appeal No.281 of 2018 6. With this observation, these Tax Case Appeal stands dismissed as withdrawn with the aforementioned liberty, and consequently, the Substantial Questions of Law are left open. No costs. [M.D., J.] [R.H., J.] 15.07.2021 (1/2)

Index : Yes/No

Internet : Yes

mkn To 1. Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras "D" Bench 2.The Additional Commissioner of Income Tax, Company Range – III, Chennai – 600 034. Page 5/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ Tax Case Appeal No.281 of 2018 M. DURAISWAMY, J. and R. HEMALATHA, J. mkn Tax Case Appeal No.281 of 2018

15.07.2021 (1/2) Page 6/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/

More judgments on Section 80IA

All 1,796 judgments and leading authorities on Section 80IA →

Recent GST High Court judgments

Search GST case law →