COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX vs. M/S.TTK HEALTHCARE LIMITED
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court dismissed the appeal filed by the Revenue. The dismissal was based on the Revenue's submission that the appeal was not being pursued due to a low tax effect, in accordance with CBDT Circular No. 17/2019. This circular increased the monetary limit for filing or pursuing appeals before the High Court to Rs. 1 Crore. The Court noted that the tax effect in this particular case was below the threshold limit. Consequently, the substantial questions of law framed by the Revenue were left open. The Court granted liberty to the Revenue to seek restoration of the appeal if the tax effect was found to be above the fixed threshold limit, allowing for a decision on merits. No costs were awarded.
What were the facts?
The Revenue, Commissioner of Income Tax, Corporate Circle 3, Chennai, filed an appeal under Section 260A of the Income-tax Act, 1961, against an order dated 05.08.2016 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal ('B' Bench, Chennai). The appeal pertains to assessment year 2011-12 and challenges the Tribunal's decision concerning logo charges and depot service charges paid by the assessee, M/s. TTK Healthcare Limited. The Revenue's appeal was listed for hearing before the High Court of Judicature at Madras.
What were the issues?
The Tribunal was required to decide the following substantial questions of law: 1. Whether logo charges paid by the assessee were revenue in nature, despite being paid continuously for several years and providing an enduring benefit. 2. Whether the Tribunal's finding that logo charges were revenue in nature was flawed, considering the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) clause 3(c) which suggested the partner's contribution would make available the goodwill of the TTK Brand name, implying a capital nature. 3. Whether the Tribunal was correct in deleting the addition made under Section 40A(2) towards depot service charges, which were allegedly above market rates based on payments made to non-related parties for similar services. 4. Whether the Tribunal erred in ignoring the jurisdictional High Court's decision in CIT vs. NEPC India Ltd. (303 ITR 271) on the same issue. The Revenue argued that logo charges were capital in nature due to enduring benefit and the goodwill aspect. The Revenue also contended that depot service charges were excessive compared to market rates. The assessee's arguments are not explicitly recorded in the provided text, but their position would be contrary to the Revenue's contentions.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
T.C.A.No.63 of 2017 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 29.08.2019 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE T.S.SIVAGNANAM and THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN Tax Case Appeal No.63 of 2017 Commissioner of Income Tax, Corporate Circle 3, Chennai. .. Appellant -vs- M/s.TTK Healthcare Limited, No.6, Cathedral Road, Chennai-600 006. PAN: AABCT 3312 J .. Respondent Appeal under Section 260A of the Income-tax Act, 1961, against the order dated 05.08.2016, made in I.T.A.No.683/Mds/2016 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal 'B' Bench, Chennai for the assessment year 2011-12. For Appellant : Mr.M.Swaminathan, Senior Standing Counsel : assisted by Ms.V.Pushpa Standing Counsel For Respondent : Mr.R.Venkatanarayana, for M/s.Subbaraya Aiyar, Padmanabhan & Ramamani JUDGMENT (Delivered by T.S.Sivagnanam, J.) This appeal filed by the Revenue under Section 260A of the Income-tax Act, 1961 is directed against the order dated 05.08.2016, made in 1/4 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.63 of 2017 I.T.A.No.683/Mds/2016 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal 'B' Bench, Chennai for the assessment year 2011-12. 2.The appeal has been filed raising the following substantial questions of law:- “(i) Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case and in law, Tribunal was right and justified in holding that logo charges paid by assessee were revenue in nature even though such payment was continuously made for several years through which it got enduring benefit? (ii) Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case the Tribunal's finding is bad especially when as per clause 3(c) of MOU, the partner's contribution to TTK will make available the goodwill of TTK Brand name and as Joint owner of the assessee company the exploitation could only be treated in the capital nature and not revenue. (iii) Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case and in law, Tribunal was correct and justified in deleting the addition made u/s 40A(2) towards depot service charges even though the same was above market rate as evident from payment made by assessee to non- related parties for similar services? and (iv) Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case and in law, Tribunal erred in ignoring the decision of jurisdictional High Court in CIT – vs- NEPC India Ltd. (303 ITR 271) on the same issue?” 2/4 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.63 of 2017 3.Heard Mr.M.Swaminathan, learned Senior Standing Counsel assisted by Ms.V.Pushpa, learned Standing Counsel for the appellant – and Mr.R.Venkatanarayana, learned counsel, for M/s.Subbaraya Aiyar, Padmanabhan & Ramamani, for the respondent. 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 08.08.2019 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. (T.S.S., J.) (V.B.S., J.) 29.08.2019 abr 3/4 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.63 of 2017 T.S.Sivagnanam, J. and V.Bhavani Subbaroyan, J. (abr) To 1.M/s.TTK Healthcare Limited, No.6, Cathedral Road, Chennai-600 006. 2.The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal 'B' Bench, Chennai. T.C.A.No.63 of 2017 29.08.2019 4/4 http://www.judis.nic.in
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