Commissioner of Income Tax vs. R.K.Investments
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court did not decide the substantial questions of law on merits. Instead, the appeal was dismissed on account of low tax effect, as per CBDT Circular No. 17/2019, which raised the monetary threshold for filing appeals before the High Court to Rs. 1 Crore. The Court noted that the tax effect in this case was below this threshold. Consequently, the substantial questions of law framed were left open. The Revenue was granted liberty to mention the case for restoration if the tax effect was found to be above the threshold limit, allowing for a decision on merits. No costs were awarded. The operative direction was the dismissal of the appeal.
What were the facts?
The Revenue, Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai, filed an appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, against an order dated 27.02.2014 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Chennai 'C' Bench. The appeal pertains to Assessment Year 2005-06 and concerns the assessee, M/s. R.K. Investments. The appeal was admitted on 25.02.2015, raising substantial questions of law regarding the allowability of interest paid on borrowings in earlier years as a deduction from income earned from the purchase and sale of an asset during the assessment year. The Revenue later submitted that it was not pursuing the appeal due to a low tax effect, citing CBDT Circular No. 17/2019 which increased the monetary limit for appeals to the High Court to Rs. 1 Crore.
What were the issues?
The Tribunal had to decide two substantial questions of law: 1. Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in holding that the interest paid on the borrowings during the earlier years is allowable as a deduction from the income earned from purchase and sale of the asset during the year? 2. Whether in the facts and circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in holding that interest paid on the borrowings during the earlier years is allowable as a deduction from the income earned from purchase and sale of the asset during the year when the assessee had not proved that the loan borrowed was actually utilised for the purchase of the asset? The Revenue argued that the interest paid on borrowings in earlier years should not be allowed as a deduction from income earned in the current year, particularly when the assessee had not proven the utilization of the borrowed funds for the purchase of the asset. The assessee's contentions are not explicitly recorded in the judgment, beyond the fact that the ITAT had ruled in their favour, allowing the deduction. The Revenue relied on CBDT Circular No. 17/2019 to withdraw its appeal.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
TCA.No.66 of 2015 In the High Court of Judicature at Madras Dated : 27.08.2019 Coram : The Honourable Mr.Justice T.S.SIVAGNANAM and The Honourable Mrs.Justice V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN Tax Case Appeal No.66 of 2015 Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai. ...Appellant Vs M/s.R.K.Investments, 28/21, De Monte Colony, Alwarpet, chennai - 18. ...Respondent APPEAL under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order dated 27.02.2014 made in ITA.No.1907/MDS/2010 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai 'C' Bench for the assessment year 2005-06. For Appellant : Mr.M.Swaminathan, SSC and Ms.V.Pushpa, SC For Respondent : Mr.R.Venkatanarayanan for M/s.Subbaraya Aiyar Padmanabhan JUDGMENT (Judgment was delivered by T.S.Sivagnanam,J.) We have heard Mr.M.Swaminathan, learned Senior Standing Counsel, and Ms.V.Pushpa, learned Standing Counsel appearing for the appellant/revenue 1/4 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.66 of 2015 and Mr.R.Venkatanarayanan, learned counsel for M/s.Subbaraya Aiyar Padmanabhan, learned counsel appearing 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 27.02.2014 made in ITA.No.1907/MDS/2010 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai 'C' Bench for the assessment year 2005-06. 3.The appeal was admitted on 25.02.2015 on the following substantial questions of law : “1.Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in holding that the interest paid on the borrowings during the earlier years is allowable as deduction from the income earned from purchase and sale of the asset during the year? 2.Whether in the facts and circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in holding that interest paid on the borrowings during the earlier years is allowable as deduction from the income earned from purchase and sale of the asset during the year when the assessee had not proved that the loan borrowed was actually utilised for the purchase of the asset?" 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 2/4 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.66 of 2015 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.) 27.08.2019 cse Speaking (or) Non Speaking Order Index : Yes (or) No To 1.M/s.R.K.Investments, 28/21, De Monte Colony, Alwarpet, chennai - 18. 2.The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai 'C' Bench. 3/4 http://www.judis.nic.in TCA.No.66 of 2015 T.S.SIVAGNANAM,J. AND V.BHAVANI SUBBAROYAN,J. cse TCA.No.66 of 2015 27.08.2019 4/4 http://www.judis.nic.in
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