THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME T vs. ASVINI FISHERIES LTD
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court did not decide the substantial questions of law on merits. The Revenue submitted that the appeal was not being pursued due to a low tax effect, as per CBDT Circular No. 17/2019, which increased the monetary limit for filing appeals before the High Court to Rs. 1 Crore. The tax effect in this case was stated to be below this threshold. Consequently, the High Court dismissed the appeal on the grounds of low tax effect. The substantial questions of law were left open, and liberty was granted to the Revenue to seek restoration of the appeal if the tax effect was found to be above the threshold limit. No costs were awarded.
What were the facts?
The Revenue, Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai, filed an appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, against the order dated December 18, 2015, passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Chennai 'B' Bench. The appeal pertained to the assessment year 2009-10 and concerned the treatment of losses arising from forward contracts in foreign exchange derivatives. The ITAT had ruled that such losses were not speculative. The amount in dispute is not explicitly stated, but the appeal was admitted on substantial questions of law. The Revenue later sought to withdraw the appeal due to low tax effect, citing CBDT Circular No. 17/2019.
What were the issues?
The Tribunal had to decide three substantial questions of law: 1. Whether the loss on account of a forward contract in foreign exchange derivatives is a speculative loss, as per Section 43(5) of the Income Tax Act. 2. Whether the finding that losses on forward contracts in Forex Derivatives up to the amount of export turnover should be treated as business loss is proper. 3. Whether the Tribunal's finding is proper, given that Section 43(5) provides exclusion only for transactions done through recognized stock exchanges, and the assessee's transactions with banks are not covered by any exemptions. The Revenue argued that the ITAT's findings were incorrect. The assessee's contentions are not recorded in the judgment. The Revenue's argument was based on the interpretation of Section 43(5) and its exemptions.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
TCA.No.603 of 2016 In the High Court of Judicature at Madras Dated : 16.6.2020 Coram : The Honourable Mr.Justice T.S.SIVAGNANAM and The Honourable Mrs.Justice PUSHPA SATHYANARAYANA Tax Case Appeal No.603 of 2016 The Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai ...Appellant Vs M/s.Asvini Fisheries Ltd., Chennai-96 ...Respondent APPEAL under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order dated 18.12.2015 made in ITA.No.2246/Mds/2014 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai 'B' Bench for the assessment year 2009-10. For Appellant: Mr.T.Ravikumar, SSC & Mrs.R.Hemalatha, SSC For Respondent: Mr.R.Vijayaraghavan for M/s.Subbarayar Aiyer Padmanabhan Judgment was delivered by
T.S.Sivagnanam,J
We have heard Mr.T.Ravikumar and Mrs.R.Hemalatha, learned Senior Standing Counsel appearing for the appellant – Revenue and Mr.R.Vijayaraghavan, learned counsel appearing on behalf of M/s.Subbaraya 1/4 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.603 of 2016 Aiyer Padmanabhan, learned counsel on record for the respondent. 2. This appeal, filed by the Revenue under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (for short, the Act) is directed against the order dated 18.12.2015 made in ITA.No.2246/Mds/2014 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai 'B' Bench (for brevity, the Tribunal) for the assessment year 2009-10. 3. The appeal has been admitted on 23.8.2016 on the following substantial questions of law : “1. Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was correct in holding that the loss on account of forward contract in foreign exchange derivatives is not a speculative loss? 2. Is not the finding of the Tribunal bad by holding that the loss on forward contract in Forex Derivatives upto the amount of export turnover is to be treated as business loss? And 3. Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the finding of the Tribunal is proper especially when the Act provides exclusion only to those transaction done through recognized stock exchanges and the assessee's transaction with the bank are not covered by any of the exemptions provided under Section 43(5) of 2/4 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.603 of 2016 the Income Tax Act?" 4. The learned Senior Standing Counsel for the appellant submits that the above appeal is not pursued by the Revenue on account of the low tax effect in terms of Circular No.17/2019 dated 08.8.2019 issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes. By the said Circular, the monetary limit for filing or pursuing an appeal before the High Court has been increased to Rs.1 Crore. It is further submitted that the tax effect in this case is less than the threshold limit. 5. In the light of the said submissions, the above tax case appeal is dismissed on account of the low tax effect. The substantial questions of law framed are left open. In the event the tax effect is above the threshold 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. 16.6.2020 To The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai 'B' Bench. RS 3/4 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.603 of 2016 T.S.SIVAGNANAM,J AND PUSHPA SATHYANARAYANA,J RS TCA.No.603 of 2016 16.6.2020 4/4 http://www.judis.nic.in
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