PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF vs. M/S.CRAFTSMAN AUTOMATION PVT
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court dismissed the appeals filed by the Revenue. The primary reason for dismissal was that the tax effect in these appeals was below the monetary threshold of Rs. 50,00,000/- stipulated in CBDT Circular No. 3 of 2018, which governs the Department's decision to pursue matters. The Revenue failed to point out any distinguishing features that would render the circular inapplicable. Consequently, the Court held that the Revenue could not pursue these appeals due to the low tax effect. The substantial questions of law were left open, and the appeals were dismissed without costs. The Revenue was granted liberty to seek restoration if the tax effect was later found to be above the threshold limit. No finding was given on the merits of the substantial questions of law.
What were the facts?
The Revenue, identified as the Principal Commissioner of Income Tax 1, Coimbatore, filed two Tax Case Appeals (Nos. 56 & 57 of 2018) against the common order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Chennai 'B' Bench, dated May 12, 2017. These appeals challenged the ITAT's decisions for Assessment Years 2004-05 and 2003-04, respectively. The respondent in both appeals is M/s. Craftsman Automation Pvt. Ltd. The appeals were filed under Section 260-A of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The High Court noted that the tax effect in these appeals was below the threshold limit stipulated in CBDT Circular No. 3 of 2018.
What were the issues?
The Tribunal had to decide two substantial questions of law: 1. Whether the ITAT was correct in upholding the chartered engineer's certificate when its criteria and method were applicable only to textile mills and not relevant to the assessee, who produces various non-homogeneous products using different types of machines? This question turns on the applicability of the chartered engineer's certificate to the assessee's specific business operations. 2. Whether the ITAT was justified in law by considering the chartered engineer's certificate for arriving at the installed capacity when the report was a 'post mortem' report, making it practically impossible for an expert to accurately estimate capacity increase from 2002-03 to 2003-04, seven years later in 2009? This question concerns the evidentiary value and timeliness of the chartered engineer's report. The Revenue argued that the chartered engineer's certificate was inappropriate for the assessee's diverse manufacturing activities and that the report was a post-mortem analysis, making it unreliable for estimating past capacity increases. The judgment does not record specific arguments from the assessee.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 07.06.2019 CORAM : THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE T.S.SIVAGNANAM and THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN Tax Case Appeal Nos.56 & 57 of 2018 Principal Commissioner of Income Tax 1, No.63, Race Course Road, Coimbatore. ...Appellant in both the appeals
-vs- M/s.Craftsman Automation Pvt. Ltd., No.15, LML Colony, Pappanaickenpalayam, Coimbatore – 641 018. ...Respondent in both the appeals Tax Case Appeals filed under Section 260-A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 are directed against the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal Chennai 'B' Bench, dated 12.05.2017 in ITA No.19/Mds/2012 & ITA No.1835/Mds/2012 for the Assessment years 2004-05 and 2003-04 respectively. For Appellant : Mr.T.R.Senthil Kumar, SSC assited by Mrs.K.G.Usha Rani (in both the appeals) For Respondent : Mr.A.S.Sriraman (in both the appeals) http://www.judis.nic.in 2 COMMON JUDGMENT [Common Judgement of the Court was made by T.S.Sivagnanam, J.] These Tax Case Appeals by the appellant/Revenue are directed against the common order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal Chennai 'B' Bench, dated 12.05.2017 in ITA No.19/Mds/2012 & ITA No.1835/Mds/2012 for the Assessment years 2004-05 and 2003-04 respectively. 2.Heard Mr.T.R.Senthil Kumar, learned Senior Standing Counsel for the appellant/Revenue in both the appeals and Mr.A.S.Sriraman, learned counsel for the respondent/assessee in both the appeals. 3.These Appeals have been filed raising the following Substantial Questions of Law: "(i)Whether, on the facts and circumstances of the case, the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal was right in upholding the chartered Engineer's certificate when the criteria and method adopted by the chartered Engineer is applicable for textile mills only, which is not applicable and relevant to the present case where the assessee is involved in production of various non-homogeneous products using different types of machines? http://www.judis.nic.in 3 (ii) Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Appellate Tribunal was justified in law in holding that the Chartered Engineer's certificate is to be taken into consideration for arriving at the installed capacity when the report under consideration itself was only a post mortem report as it is practically impossible for any expert in the field to give a correct estimate on the capacity increase from the period 2002-03 to the period 2003-04, after even seven years, i.e., in the year 2009?” 4.We have perused the order of Assessment as well as the common order passed by the Commissioner of Income Tax and we find that the tax effect in these appeals are lesser than the threshold limit mentioned in Circular No.3 of 2018, dated 11.07.2018, issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes, which fixes the monetary limit as Rs.50,00,000/- for the Department to pursue the matters. Furthermore, the Revenue has not been able to point out any distinguishing features, by which the Circular No.3 of 2018, dated 11.07.2018, cannot be applied. http://www.judis.nic.in 4 T.S.Sivagnanam, J. and V.Bhavani Subbaroyan, J. mrm 5.Thus, for the above reasons, the Revenue cannot pursue these Appeals in view of the low tax effect. Hence, these Appeals are dismissed and the Substantial Questions of Law, framed for consideration, are left open. No costs. The Revenue is at liberty to seek for restoration of appeals, if at a later point of time, it is found that the tax effect is above the threshold limit. [T.S.S., J.] [V.B.S., J.] mrm 07.06.2019 Index: Yes/No To Income Tax Appellate Tribunal Madras 'B' Bench. Tax Case Appeal No.56 & 57 of 2018 http://www.judis.nic.in
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