COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX II vs. M/S.iNAUTIX TECHNOLOGIES IND
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court dismissed the appeals filed by the Revenue as withdrawn. This decision was based on the submission by the Revenue's counsel that the appeals were not being pursued due to a low tax effect, falling below the threshold limit of Rs.1 crore as per CBDT Circular No.17/2019. The Court explicitly stated that the substantial questions of law framed were left open. Liberty was granted to the Revenue to seek restoration of the appeals if the tax effect was found to be above the threshold limit, allowing for a hearing and decision on the merits. No costs were imposed.
What were the facts?
The Revenue, Commissioner of Income Tax-II, filed two appeals (T.C.A.Nos.676 & 677 of 2016) against the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Chennai, dated 19.06.2015. These appeals pertained to Assessment Year 2008-09 and challenged the ITAT's decision in I.TA.Nos.2277 & 2625/Mds/2014. The appeals were admitted by the High Court of Judicature at Madras on 26.09.2016, based on substantial questions of law concerning the disallowance of expenditure under Section 14A of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The assessee in these appeals is M/s.iNautix Technologies India Pvt. Ltd.
What were the issues?
The Tribunal had to decide two substantial questions of law: 1. Whether, on the facts and circumstances of the case, the Appellate Tribunal was right in law in treating 2% of the exempt income as the expenditure to be disallowed under Section 14A of the Income Tax Act for A.Y. 2008-09, which is against the statute? 2. Is not the finding of the Appellate Tribunal bad in law when the statute prescribes for the disallowance under Section 14A to be in accordance with Rule 8D of the Income Tax Rules with effect from Assessment Year 2008-09 onwards? The Revenue argued that the appeals were not being pursued due to low tax effect, citing CBDT Circular No.17/2019 which increased the monetary limit for appeals to the High Court to Rs.1 crore. The Revenue stated that the tax effect in these cases was below this threshold. The judgment does not record any specific arguments from the assessee regarding the merits of the disallowance under Section 14A.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
T.C.A.Nos.676 & 677 of 2016 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATE: 02.03.2021 CORAM: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.DURAISWAMY AND THE HON'BLE MRS.JUSTICE T.V.THAMILSELVI T.C.A.Nos.676 & 677 of 2016 Commissioner of Income Tax – II, No.121, Nungambakkam High Road, Chennai – 600 034. ... Appellant in both TCAs Vs. M/s.iNautix Technologies India Pvt. Ltd., 10th Floor, Tidal Park, No.4, Canal Bank Road, Taramani, Chennai – 600 113. ... Respondent in both TCAs Appeals preferred under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, against the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Madras, "D" Bench, dated 19.06.2015 in I.TA.Nos.2277 & 2625/Mds/2014 Assessment Year 2008-09. For Appellant : Mr.Karthick Ranganathan, (in both TCAs) Senior Standing Counsel For Respondent : Mrs.N.V.Lakshmi (in both TCAs) for Mr.N.V.Balaji Page 1/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ T.C.A.Nos.676 & 677 of 2016 COMMON JUDGMENT (Judgment was delivered by M.DURAISWAMY, J.) We have heard Mr.Karthick Ranganathan, learned Senior Standing Counsel for the appellant/Revenue and Mrs.N.V.Lakshmi, learned counsel for the respondent/assessee. 2.The appeals, filed by the Revenue under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (for short, the Act) is directed against the order dated 19.06.2015 made in I.TA.Nos.2277 & 2625/Mds/2014 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai, "D" Bench (for brevity, the Tribunal) for the Assessment Year 2008-09. 3.The appeals were admitted on 26.09.2016 on the following substantial questions of law: “1)Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case, the Appellate Tribunal was right in law in treating 2% of the exempt income as the expenditure to be disallowed under Section 14A of the Income Page 2/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ T.C.A.Nos.676 & 677 of 2016 Tax Act for the A.Y. 2008-09 which is against the statute? 2)Is not the finding of the Appellate Tribunal is bad in law when the statute prescribes for the disallowance under Section 14A is in accordance with Rule 8D of the Income Tax Rules with effect from Assessment year 2008-09 onwards?” 4.The learned Senior Standing Counsel for the appellant submits that the above appeals are 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 these cases are less than the threshold limit. 5.In the light of the said submissions, the above Tax Case Appeals are dismissed as withdrawn on account of the Low Tax Effect. The substantial questions of law framed are left open. In the event the tax effect in this case is above the threshold limit fixed in the said Page 3/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ T.C.A.Nos.676 & 677 of 2016 Circular, liberty is granted to the Revenue to make a mention to this Court to restore the appeals to be heard and decided on merits. No costs.
Index : Yes/No [M.D., J.] [T.V.T.S., J.] Internet : Yes 02.03.2021 va
To The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai, "D" Bench Page 4/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ T.C.A.Nos.676 & 677 of 2016 M.DURAISWAMY, J. and T.V.THAMILSELVI, J. va T.C.A.Nos.676 & 677 of 2016 02.03.2021 Page 5/5 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/
More judgments on Section 14A
- Blacksoil Capital Private Limited (As… vs DCIT, Circle-1(1), HyderabadITA 2217/HYD/2026[2017-18]Status: Disposed9 Oct 2026AY 2017-18
- Hiral Construction, Mumbai vs ITO Ward 42(1)(2), MumbaiITA 8431/MUM/2025[2017-18]Status: Disposed8 Oct 2026AY 2017-18
- The Dy DIT (It) 1(2), Mumbai vs M/S Citi Bank N.A, MumbaiITA 4981/MUM/2007[2002-2003]Status: Disposed8 Oct 2026AY 2002-2003
- M/S. Citi Bank N.A., Mumbai vs The Addl DIT (It) RG-1, MumbaiITA 4970/MUM/2007[2002-2003]Status: Disposed8 Oct 2026AY 2002-2003
- M/S American Express Bank Ltd., Mumbai vs The Jt DIT (It)1(1), MumbaiITA 9414/MUM/2004[2000-2001]Status: Disposed8 Oct 2026AY 2000-2001
Recent GST High Court judgments
Search GST case law →- M/S Rentex Polymers Private Limited vs. Assistant Commissioner Of Central Goods And Services TaxDelhi · 29 Oct 2026
- M/S Maa Shila Traders vs. The State Of BiharPatna · 29 Oct 2026
- M/S Ashish Enterprises vs. Assistant Commissioner Gsto Ward No. 86Delhi · 29 Oct 2026
- M/S. Bhanwal Trading And Company vs. The Union Of INDIARajasthan · 28 Oct 2026
- M/S. Saraswati Enterprises vs. State Of RajasthanRajasthan · 28 Oct 2026