PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF vs. M/S.SHRIRAM CITY UNION FINAN

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TCA/428/2018HC Madras20 January 2020Bench: Hon`ble Mr Justice N. KIRUBAKARAN5 pages
AI SummaryDismissed

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court dismissed the Tax Case Appeal on the ground of tax effect. The Court noted the submission by the revenue that the tax effect was less than Rs.1 crore and referred to CBDT Circular No.17/2019 dated 08.08.2019, which sets the monetary limit for filing appeals before the High Court at Rs.1 crore. While dismissing the appeal on this procedural ground, the Court explicitly stated that the substantial question of law framed in the appeal was left open. The revenue was granted liberty to mention the case for restoration if the tax effect is found to be above the limit fixed in the circular, to be heard and decided on merits. No costs were awarded.

What were the facts?

The appeal was filed by the Principal Commissioner of Income Tax against an order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) dated 07.06.2017 in ITA No.506/Mds/2016. The ITAT had partly allowed the assessee's appeal against the order of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals). The assessment year in question is 2012-13. The assessee is M/s.Shriram City Union Finance Co.Ltd. The appeal was admitted on a substantial question of law concerning the disallowance under Section 14A read with Rule 8D. The revenue argued that the tax effect was less than Rs.1 crore, making the appeal not maintainable as per CBDT Circular No.17/2019.

What were the issues?

1. Whether the Appellate Tribunal was correct in holding that the Assessing Officer had not recorded his satisfaction before making a disallowance under Section 14A read with Rule 8D of the Income Tax Rules, despite the Assessing Officer having dealt with the matter in the assessment order? Assessee's contentions: Not recorded. Revenue's contentions: The revenue argued that the tax effect in the present appeal is less than Rs.1 crore. Reliance was placed on Circular No.17/2019 dated 08.08.2019 issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), which prescribes a monetary limit of Rs.1 crore for filing appeals before the High Court. Therefore, the appeal should be dismissed on this ground.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 14A,Section 260A

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

T.C.A.No.428 of 2018 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 20.01.2020 CORAM : THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.KIRUBAKARAN and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE P.VELMURUGAN T.C.A.No.428 of 2018 Principal Commissioner of Income Tax, No.121, Nungambakkam High Road, Chennai 600 034.

... Appellant Vs M/s.Shriram City Union Finance Co.Ltd., No.4, Mookambika Complex, Lady Desika Road, Mylapore, Chennai - 600 004. PAN: AAACS 7703H ...Respondent PRAYER: Tax Case Appeal filed under Section 260A of Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order dated 07.06.2017 in I.T.A.No.506/Mds/2016 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal Chennai 'B' Bench for the assessment year 2012-13. For Appellant : Mr.J.Narayanasamy, Senior Standing Counsel.

1/5 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.428 of 2018 J U D G M E N T (Judgment of the Court was delivered by N.KIRUBAKARAN, J) This tax case appeal has been filed against the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal

dated 07.06.2017 in I.T.A.No.506/Mds/2016 in partly allowing the appeal filed by the assessee against the order of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) by which the appeal filed by the assessee was partly allowed. 2.Heard Mr.J.Narayanasamy, learned Senior Standing Counsel for the appellant. 3.This tax case appeal is admitted on the following substantial question of law: "Whether the Appellate Tribunal was correct holding that the Assessing Officer has not recorded his satisfaction before making disallowance Section 14A read with Rule 8D of the Income Tax Rules, whereas the Assessing Officer has dealt the same at page 24 in the assessment order?"

2/5 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.428 of 2018 4. Mr.J.Narayanasamy, learned Senior Standing Counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant would submit that the tax effect in this case is less than Rs.1 crore and is covered by Circular No.17/2019 dated 08.08.2019 issued by the Director, Central Board of Direct Taxes, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, Delhi. As per the said circular, the monetary limit to file an appeal before the High Court is fixed at Rs.1 crore. In this case, tax effect is less than Rs.1 crore and therefore, the appeal has to be dismissed. 5.This Court perused the circular dated 08.08.2019 and Paragraph No.2 of the Circular, which prescribes monetary limit for filing appeal. Paragraph No.2 is usefully extracted as follows: "2.As a step towards further management of litigation, it has been decided by the Board that monetary limits for filing of appeals in income-tax cases be enhanced further through amendment in Para 3 of the Circular mentioned above and accordingly, the table for monetary limits specified in Para 3 of the Circular shall read as follows: 3/5 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.428 of 2018 S.No. Appeals / SLPs in Income-tax matters Monetary Limit (Rs.) 1. Before Appeallate Tribunal 50,00,000 2. Before High Court 1,00,00,000 3. Before Supreme Court 2,00,00,000" 6.In view of the submissions made by the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant and also in view of the Circular No.17/2019 dated 08.08.2019 issued by the Director, Central Board of Direct Taxes, Delhi, this Tax Case Appeal is dismissed on account of tax effect. However, the substantial question of law framed is left open. In the event the tax effect is above the 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.

(N.K.K.,J.) (P.V.,J.) 20.01.2020 ay To Principal Commissioner of Income Tax, No.121, Nungambakkam High Road, Chennai 600 034. 4/5 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.428 of 2018 N.KIRUBAKARAN, J. and P.VELMURUGAN, J. ay T.C.A.No.428 of 2018 Dated:20.01.2020 5/5 http://www.judis.nic.in

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