THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME T vs. M/S.REDINGTON INDIA LTD

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TCA/426/2021HC Madras03 August 2021Bench: Hon`ble Mr Justice T. S. SIVAGNANAM6 pages
AI SummaryRemanded

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court disposed of the appeal without deciding the substantial questions of law. The Court noted that the assessee had availed the Vivad se Vishwas Scheme and filed the necessary declaration (Form-3) and paid the entire tax. Consequently, the Revenue was directed to proceed with considering the Form-3 declaration in terms of the Direct Tax Vivad se Vishwas Act, 2020, and its Rules. The Court clarified that the assessee should not be put in a worse position due to the appeal being entertained after condoning the delay. The substantial questions of law were expressly left open for consideration. No operative directions were issued regarding the merits of the ITAT's order.

What were the facts?

The Revenue, Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai, filed a Tax Case Appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, against an order dated 18.10.2016 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Chennai 'D' Bench. The appeal pertains to Assessment Year 2011-12 and challenges the ITAT's decision in ITA No.1155/Mds/2016, which was an appeal filed by the assessee, M/s. Redington India Ltd. The ITAT had allowed the assessee's appeal. The High Court noted that the assessee had availed the benefit of the Vivad se Vishwas Scheme, filed Form-3 declaration on 15.04.2021, and paid the entire tax. The Revenue's appeal was entertained after condoning the delay to allow the assessee to get comprehensive relief under the scheme.

What were the issues?

The Tribunal had to decide the following substantial questions of law: 1. Whether the Tribunal's finding allowing the claim of trademark license fee paid by the Assessee to its Associate Enterprise was perverse, given that the Associate Enterprise was not the registered owner of the trademark. 2. Whether the Tribunal was correct in not considering that the Assessee had been using the trademark since 1993, while the Associate Enterprise was formed only in 2005. 3. Whether the Tribunal's reasoning and finding that investment made in a subsidiary company should be excluded when calculating disallowance under Rule 8D(2) read with Section 14A was correct, as no such exception is provided in the statute. 4. Whether the Tribunal ought to have applied the decision of the Apex Court in Maxopp Limited, which held that Section 14A disallowance is to be made on investment made in a subsidiary company. Assessee's Contentions: Not recorded in the judgment. Revenue's Contentions: The Revenue argued that the Tribunal's findings on the trademark license fee were perverse. It also contended that the disallowance under Section 14A should include investments in subsidiary companies, citing the Apex Court decision in Maxopp Limited.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 260A,Section 14A

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

T.C.A.No.426 of 2021 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 03.08.2021 CORAM : THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE T.S. SIVAGNANAM AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SATHI KUMAR SUKUMARA KURUP T.C.A. No.426 of 2021 The Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai. ... Appellant Vs. M/s.Redington India Ltd., 95, Mount Road, SPL Guindy House, Guindy, Chennai – 600 032. ... Respondent Tax Case Appeal preferred under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, against the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras, “D” Bench, dated 18.10.2016 in I.T.A.No.1155/Mds/2016, Assessment Year 2011-12. For Appellant : Mr.T.Ravi Kumar Senior Standing Counsel For Respondent : Mr.R.Vijayaraghavan for M/s.Subbaraya Aiyar Padmanabhan

Page 1/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ T.C.A.No.426 of 2021 J U D G M E N T (Judgment was delivered by T.S. SIVAGNANAM, J.) This appeal filed by the Revenue under Section 260-A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 ("the Act" for brevity), is directed against the order, dated 18.10.2016, passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai "D" Bench, in I.T.A.Nos.1155/Mds/2016, for the Assessment Year 2011-12. 2.The Revenue has raised the following substantial questions of law for consideration. “1.Is not the finding of the Tribunal perverse by allowing the claim of trademark, license fee paid by the Assessee to its Associate Enterprise when the facts remains that the Associate Enterprise is not the registered owner of the trademarked? 2.Whether the Tribunal was right in not considering the fact that the Assessee had been using the trademark from 1993 whereas the Associate Enterprise was formed only in the year 2005? Page 2/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ T.C.A.No.426 of 2021 3.Whether the reasoning and finding of the Tribunal that the investment made in the subsidiary company should be excluded while calculating disallowance under Rule 8D(2) read with Sec.14A especially when no such exception is provided under the Statute? 4.Whether the Tribunal ought to have applied the decision of the Apex Court in the case of Maxopp Limited which clearly held that Sec.14A disallowance is to be made on investment made in the subsidiary company?” 3.We have heard Mr.T.Ravi Kumar, learned Senior Standing Counsel for the appellant/Revenue and Mr.R.Vijayaraghavan, learned counsel appearing for the respondent/assessee. 4.We need not labour much to take a decision or answer the substantial questions of law framed for consideration on account of the following events: The Tribunal, by the impugned order dated 18.10.2016, disposed of two appeals, viz., I.T.A.No.1155/Mds/2016 (impugned in this appeal) filed by the respondent/assessee and I.T.A.No.1145/Mds/2016 filed by the Page 3/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ T.C.A.No.426 of 2021 Revenue. As against the order in I.T.A.No.1145/Mds/2016, the Revenue had filed an appeal before this Court in T.C.A.No.323 of 2021, which was disposed of by the Division Bench of this Court on 21.06.2021 on the ground that the assessee has availed the benefit of Vivad se Vishwas Scheme. To be noted that the assessee has paid the entire tax and Form-3 was filed under the said Act on 15.04.2021, which has been received by the Department. The present appeal by the Revenue is against the order, dated 18.10.2016, in I.T.A.No.1155/Mds/2016, which was an appeal filed by the assessee and allowed by the Tribunal and against which, the Revenue are before us. 5.Since the assessee has already filed Form-3 declaration and paid the entire tax, the appellant Department/competent authority is directed to proceed to consider the Form-3 declaration in terms of the provisions of the Direct Tax Vivad se Vishwas Act, 2020 (Act 3 of 2020), read with Direct Tax Vivad se Vishwas Rules, 2020. We make the position clear that the assessee should not be put in a worse off position because we have entertained this appeal after condoning the delay. We have done so because the assessee should be able to get comprehensive relief and the competent Page 4/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ T.C.A.No.426 of 2021 authority under the Act should be able to process the Form-3 declaration filed by the assessee. 6.With these observations, the Tax Case Appeal stands disposed of and the substantial questions of law are left open for consideration. No costs. (T.S.S., J.) (S.S.K., J.)

03.08.2021

mkn Internet : Yes

Index : Yes / No Speaking order / Nonspeaking order To 1.The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai, “D” Bench. 2.The Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai. Page 5/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ T.C.A.No.426 of 2021 T.S. SIVAGNANAM, J. and SATHI KUMAR SUKUMARA KURUP, J. mkn Tax Case Appeal No.426 of 2021 03.08.2021 Page 6/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/

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