PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF IN vs. M/S.SCOPE INTERNATIONAL P LTD

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TCA/572/2019HC Madras14 August 2019Bench: Hon`ble Mr Justice T. S. SIVAGNANAM4 pages
AI SummaryDismissed

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court dismissed the appeal filed by the Revenue. The Court noted that the Revenue had filed an appeal in TCA.No.369 of 2019 in the assessee's own case for the assessment year 2009-10, which was dismissed by this Court on June 19, 2019. The Revenue had not preferred any further appeal against that judgment, and no material was placed to indicate an appeal to the Supreme Court. Therefore, the Court was inclined to follow its earlier decision in the assessee's own case for the preceding assessment year. Consequently, the substantial questions of law were answered against the Revenue. The operative direction was the dismissal of the appeal.

What were the facts?

The Revenue, represented by the Principal Commissioner of Income Tax-6, Chennai, filed an appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, against an order dated March 18, 2019, passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Madras 'B' Bench. The appeal pertains to the assessment year 2012-13 and concerns M/s. Scope International Pvt. Ltd. (now Standard Chartered Global Business Services Private Limited). The core of the dispute revolves around the inclusion of surcharge and cess in the calculation of Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) credit under Section 115JAA of the Act. The Revenue acknowledged that this court had previously dismissed its appeal in TCA.No.369 of 2019, concerning the assessee's own case for assessment year 2009-10, by a judgment dated June 19, 2019.

What were the issues?

1. Whether the Appellate Tribunal was correct in law in directing the inclusion of surcharge and cess in MAT credit under Section 115JAA of the Income Tax Act? 2. Whether the Appellate Tribunal was correct in placing reliance on the decision of the Supreme Court in CIT Vs. K.Srinivasan [reported in (1972) 83 ITR 346], which was rendered in the context of Section 2 of the Act, whereas Section 115JAA of the Act was inserted subsequently with retrospective effect from April 1, 1997? Assessee's Contentions: The judgment does not record specific contentions made by the assessee. However, the fact that the ITAT ruled in favor of the assessee on the inclusion of surcharge and cess implies the assessee argued for their inclusion. Revenue's Contentions: The Revenue argued that the Appellate Tribunal erred in directing the inclusion of surcharge and cess in MAT credit under Section 115JAA. They also contended that the Tribunal's reliance on the Supreme Court decision in CIT Vs. K.Srinivasan was misplaced, as that case dealt with Section 2 of the Act, while Section 115JAA was a later insertion with retrospective effect. The Revenue also sought to introduce a Calcutta High Court decision in Srei Infrastructure Finance Ltd. Vs. DCIT, Circle 11(2), Kolkatta [(2016) 72 Taxmann.com 239] which was not placed before the court earlier.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 260A,Section 115JAA,Section 2

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

TCA.No.572 of 2019 In the High Court of Judicature at Madras Dated : 14.8.2019 Coram : The Honourable Mr.Justice T.S.SIVAGNANAM and The Honourable Mrs.Justice V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN Tax Case Appeal No.572 of 2019 Principal Commissioner of Income Tax-6, Chennai ...Appellant Vs M/s.Scope International Pvt.Ltd. (presently known as Standard Chartered Global Business Services Private Limited), Chennai-34. ...Respondent APPEAL under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order dated 18.3.2019 made in ITA.No.1864/Chny/2018 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras 'B' Bench for the assessment year 2012-13. For Appellant: Mr.T.R.Senthilkumar, SSC assisted by Ms.K.G.Usharani, JSC For Respondent: Mr.SP.Chidambaram Judgment was delivered by

T.S.Sivagnanam,J

We have elaborately heard Mr.T.R.Senthilkumar, learned Senior Standing Counsel, assisted by Ms.K.G.Usharani, learned Junior Standing Counsel appearing for the appellant – Revenue and Mr.SP.Chidambaram, 1/4 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.572 of 2019 learned counsel accepting notice for the respondent – assessee. 2. This appeal, filed by the Revenue under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 is directed against the order dated 18.3.2019 made in ITA.No. 1864/Chny/2018 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras 'B' Bench for the assessment year 2012-13. 3. The Revenue has filed this appeal by raising the following substantial questions of law : “i. Whether the Appellate Tribunal is correct in law in directing the inclusion of surcharge and cess in MAT credit under Section 115JAA of the Income Tax Act ? and ii. Whether the Appellate Tribunal is correct in placing reliance on the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of CIT Vs. K.Srinivasan [reported in (1972) 83 ITR 346], which was rendered in the context of Section 2 of the Act whereas Section 115JAA of the Act was inserted subsequently with retrospective effect from 01.4.1997 ?” 4. It is not disputed by the learned Senior Standing Counsel for the Revenue that in the assessee's own case, the Revenue filed an appeal in TCA.No.369 of 2019 before this Court in respect of the assessment for the year 2009-10 and that the said appeal was dismissed by us by judgment dated 19.6.2019. 5. Mr.T.R.Senthilkumar, learned Senior Standing Counsel for the appellant submits that there is a decision of the Division Bench of the 2/4 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.572 of 2019 Calcutta High Court in the case of Srei Infrastructure Finance Ltd. Vs. DCIT, Circle 11(2), Kolkatta [reported in (2016) 72 Taxmann.com 239], which was not placed before us when the earlier appeal was heard. 6. In any event, the judgment rendered by us in TCA.No.369 of 2019 dated 19.6.2019 in the assessee's own case for the earlier assessment year has become final and the Revenue has not preferred any appeal. There is no material placed before this Court to show that the Revenue has filed an appeal before the Hon'ble Supreme Court against our judgment. Hence, we are inclined to follow the said decision in the assessee's own case for the earlier assessment year. 7. In the light of the above, the above tax case appeal is dismissed. The substantial questions of law are answered against the Revenue. No costs. 14.8.2019 Internet: Yes To The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras 'B' Bench. RS 3/4 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.572 of 2019 T.S.SIVAGNANAM,J AND V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN,J RS TCA.No.572 of 2019 14.8.2019 4/4 http://www.judis.nic.in

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