PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF IN vs. M/S.TVH ENERGY RESOURCES PVT

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TCA/465/2019HC Madras23 February 2021Bench: Hon`ble Mr Justice T. S. SIVAGNANAM6 pages
AI SummaryRemanded

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court noted that after the ITAT's impugned order, the Revenue filed a miscellaneous petition before the ITAT, highlighting incorrect figures regarding share capital and non-interest-bearing funds. The ITAT, by an order dated 30.08.2019, allowed the miscellaneous petition and remitted the matter back to the Assessing Officer. The ITAT observed that both parties agreed that the interest-bearing fund advanced to the sister concern was Rs. 4.41 crores (Rs. 74.59 crores - Rs. 70.18 crores), and accordingly, the interest disallowance had to be made on this amount. The ITAT remitted the matter to the Assessing Officer to determine the interest. The assessee's counsel informed the High Court that the assessee accepted the ITAT's order dated 30.08.2019 and did not prefer any appeal. Consequently, the High Court held that there was no necessity to answer the substantial questions of law framed for consideration in the appeal. The appeal was disposed of, and the substantial questions of law were left unanswered.

What were the facts?

The Revenue filed an appeal before the High Court against an order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) for Assessment Year 2012-13. The ITAT had deleted an addition made by the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) concerning the diversion of interest-bearing funds to a sister concern without charging interest, and also deleted an addition of Rs. 7,60,22,100/- made under Section 69C. Subsequently, the Revenue filed a miscellaneous petition before the ITAT, pointing out incorrect figures regarding share capital and non-interest-bearing funds. The ITAT, by an order dated 30.08.2019, allowed the miscellaneous petition and remitted the matter back to the Assessing Officer for re-adjudication, specifically to determine interest on Rs. 4.41 crores.

What were the issues?

The substantial questions of law before the High Court were: 1. Whether the Tribunal was correct in deleting the enhancement of addition on account of the assessee diverting interest-bearing funds to its sister concern without charging interest, by holding that such additions can only be made if interest-bearing funds are deployed outside the business without recovering interest, without considering the business purpose? 2. Whether the Tribunal was legally justified in not appreciating the principle laid down in CIT vs. Abhishek Industries Ltd. while deleting the interest disallowance? 3. Whether the Tribunal was correct in deleting the addition of Rs. 7,60,22,100/- made under Section 69C, without following its earlier decision in the assessee's own case for AY 2011-12, where the case was remitted back to the Assessing Officer? 4. Whether the Tribunal was legally right in not appreciating the ratio of the Supreme Court's decision in Radhasoami Satsung vs. CIT, regarding not changing a fundamental aspect found in earlier assessment years? Assessee's contentions: Not recorded. Revenue's contentions: The Revenue argued that the Tribunal erred in deleting the additions related to interest-bearing funds and Section 69C, and that the Tribunal failed to appreciate relevant case law and its own precedents. The Revenue also filed a miscellaneous petition highlighting factual errors in the original ITAT order.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 69C,Section 260A

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

T.C.A.No.465 of 2019 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 23.02.2021 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE T.S.SIVAGNANAM and THE HONOURABLE MS.JUSTICE R.N.MANJULA T.C.A.No.465 of 2019 Principal Commissioner of Income Tax Central 1, No.108, Nungambakkam High Road, Chennai-600 034. .. Appellant/Respondent

-vs- M/s.TVH Energy Resources Pvt. Ltd., No.16/17, 3rd Cross Street, TVH Novella, RA Puram, Chennai-600 028. PAN: AAC CT 8802 G .. Respondent/Appellant Appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order dated 08.11.2018, made in I.T.A.No.3183/Chny/2017 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal 'D' Bench, Chennai for the assessment year 2012-13. For Appellant : Mr.T.R.Senthil Kumar, Senior Standing Counsel assisted by Ms.K.G.Usha Rani, Junior Standing Counsel For Respondent : Mr.G.Baskar 1/6 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.465 of 2019 JUDGMENT (Judgment of the Court was delivered by T.S.Sivagnanam, J.) This appeal by the Revenue, filed under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as “the Act”), is directed against the order dated 08.11.2018, made in I.T.A.No.3183/Chny/2017 passed the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal 'D' Bench, Chennai (for brevity “the Tribunal”) for the assessment year 2012-13. 2.The appeal was admitted on 16.07.2019, on the following substantial questions of law:- “i. Whether the Tribunal is correct in law in deleting the enhancement of addition by the CIT(A) on account of the assessee diverting interest bearing funds to its sister concern without charging interest by holding that only if interest bearing funds are deployed outside the business of the assessee without recovering interest, such additions can be made without giving any finding as to the business purpose of the assessee in diverting such interest bearing funds? ii. Whether, on the facts and circumstances of the case and in law, the Tribunal was legally justified in not appreciating the principle laid down in the case of CIT vs. 2/6 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.465 of 2019 Abhishek Industries Ltd., [reported in 286 ITR 1 (P&H)] while deleting the interest disallowance? iii. Whether the Tribunal was correct in law in deleting the addition of Rs.7,60,22,100/- made under Section 69C of the Act without following its earlier decision in the assessee's own case for the earlier assessment year 2011-12 wherein the case was remitted back to the Assessing Officer for re-adjudication? and iv. Whether the Tribunal was legally right in not appreciating the ratio of the Hon'ble Supreme Court's decision in the case of Radhasoami Satsung vs. CIT [reported in 193 ITR 321] to the effect that where a fundamental aspect permeating through the different assessment years has been found as a fact one way or the other and parties have allowed that position to be sustained by not challenging the order, it would not be at all appropriate to allow the position to be changed in a subsequent year?” 3.Heard Mr.T.R.Senthil Kumar, learned Senior Standing Counsel assisted by Ms.K.G.Usha Rani, learned Junior Standing Counsel for the appellant/Revenue and Mr.G.Baskar, learned counsel for the respondent/assessee. 3/6 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.465 of 2019 4.It may not be necessary for this Court to examine the factual position, in the light of the subsequent development. After the appeal was disposed of by the Tribunal by the impugned order dated 08.11.2018, the Revenue filed miscellaneous petition in M.P.No.94/Chny/2019 before the Tribunal on the ground that the figures adopted by the Tribunal in respect of share capital were incorrect and thereby, the working of non-interest bearing funds is also incorrect. Pointing out the above, the Revenue prayed for fresh adjudication of the matter. 5.The Tribunal heard the Revenue as well as the assessee and by order dated 30.08.2019, allowed the miscellaneous petition filed by the Revenue and remitted the matter back to the file of the Assessing Officer with specific observations. The operative portion of the order reads as follows:- “6.Admittedly, the assessee has advanced only Rs.74,59,89,006/-. The assessee had non-interest bearing funds of Rs.70.18 crores, which includes share capital at Rs.52.10 crores and reserves & surplus of Rs.18.08 crores. By filing detailed written submissions by the ld. Counsel for the assessee, both parties have duly agreed that the interest 4/6 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.465 of 2019 bearing fund advanced to sister concern was only Rs.4.41 crores [74.59 crores - 70.18 crores]. Accordingly, interest disallowance has to be made on the amount of Rs.4.41 crores. Thus, we remit the matter back to the file of the Assessing Officer to determine the interest only. Accordingly, the order of the Tribunal stands rectified.” 6.We are informed by Mr.G.Baskar, learned counsel for the assessee that the assessee has accepted the order passed by the Tribunal dated 30.08.2019, and the assessee has not preferred any appeal. 7.In the light of the above, there would not be any necessity to answer the substantial questions of law framed for consideration in this appeal. 8.Accordingly, the appeal stands disposed of and the substantial questions of law are left. No costs.

(T.S.S., J.) (R.N.M., J.) 23.02.2021 Index: Yes/ No Speaking Order : Yes/ No abr 5/6 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.465 of 2019 T.S.Sivagnanam, J. and R.N.Manjula, J. (abr) To The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal 'D' Bench, Chennai. T.C.A.No.465 of 2019 23.02.2021

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