COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX vs. M/S. C. SUBBA REDDY, HUF

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TCA/721/2017HC Madras29 August 2019Bench: Hon`ble Mr Justice T. S. SIVAGNANAM4 pages
AI SummaryDismissed

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court dismissed the appeals filed by the Revenue. The dismissal was based on the submission by the Revenue that the appeals were not being pursued due to a low tax effect, falling below the threshold limit stipulated in CBDT Circular No.17/2019. The Court noted that the monetary limit for filing or pursuing an appeal before the High Court had been increased to Rs.1 Crore by this circular. Consequently, the substantial questions of law framed earlier 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. No costs were awarded.

What were the facts?

The Revenue, Commissioner of Income-tax, Chennai, filed two appeals (T.C.A.Nos.721 & 722 of 2017) before the High Court of Judicature at Madras. These appeals challenged a common order dated 06.10.2016 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) 'B' Bench, Chennai. The ITAT's order pertained to the assessment years 2011-12 and 2012-13 for the assessee, M/s.C.Subba Reddy, HUF. The appeals were admitted on 22.12.2017, based on substantial questions of law framed by the court. The Revenue later submitted that it was not pursuing these appeals 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 High Court was to decide 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 disallowance made by the Assessing Officer regarding depreciation on a windmill should be allowed? (Question of law) 2. Is not the finding of the Tribunal bad, especially when the vendor, who had sold the windmill to the assessee, had claimed depreciation for more than four years and the Written Down Value (WDV) of the windmill as on the date of sale was only Rs.26.26 lakhs? (Question of mixed law and fact) 3. Whether the Tribunal was right in holding that the disallowance made under Section 14A read with Rule 8D is not proper? (Question of law) The Revenue argued that the appeals were not being pursued due to low tax effect, citing CBDT Circular No.17/2019. The assessee's contentions were not recorded in the judgment.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 260A,Section 14A

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

T.C.A.Nos.721 & 722 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 Nos.721 and 722 of 2017 The Commissioner of Income-tax, Chennai. .. Appellant in both Appeals -vs- M/s.C.Subba Reddy, HUF, Sukrit, 19/1, Third Cross Street, R.A.Puram, Chennai-600 026. PAN: AACHC2523G .. Respondent in both Appeals Appeals under Section 260A of the Income-tax Act, 1961, against the common order dated 06.10.2016, made in I.T.A.Nos.1834 & 1835/Mds/2016 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal 'B' Bench, Chennai for the assessment years 2011-12 and 2012-13 respectively. For Appellant : Mr.T.Ravikumar (In both Appeals) Senior Standing Counsel & : Ms.R.Hemalatha Senior Standing Counsel For Respondent : Mr.A.S.Sriraman for Mr.S.Sridhar (In both Appeals) ****** 1/4 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.Nos.721 & 722 of 2017 COMMON JUDGMENT (Delivered by T.S.Sivagnanam, J.) These appeals filed by the Revenue under Section 260A of the Income- tax Act, 1961 are directed against the common order dated 06.10.2016, made in I.T.A.Nos.1834 & 1835/Mds/2016 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal 'B' Bench, Chennai for the assessment years 2011-12 and 2012-13 respectively. 2.The appeals have been admitted on 22.12.2017, on the following substantial questions of law:- “(i) Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in holding that disallowance made by the Assessing Officer with regard to the depreciation made on windmill is to be allowed? (ii) Is not the finding of the Tribunal bad, especially when the vendor, who had sold the windmill to the assessee, had claimed depreciation for more than four years and the WDV of the windmill as on the date of sale was only Rs.26.26 lakhs? and (iii) Whether the Tribunal was right in holding that disallowance made under Section 14A read with Rule 8D is not proper?” 3.Heard Mr.T.Ravikumar and Ms.R.Hemalatha, learned Senior Standing 2/4 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.Nos.721 & 722 of 2017 Counsel for the appellant – and Mr.A.S.Sriraman, learned counsel for Mr.S.Sridhar, learned Counsel for the respondent. 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 this case is less than the threshold limit. 5.In the light of the said submissions, the above tax case appeals are 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 appeals to be heard and decided on merits. No costs. (T.S.S., J.) (V.B.S., J.) 29.08.2019 abr T.S.Sivagnanam, J. and 3/4 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.Nos.721 & 722 of 2017 V.Bhavani Subbaroyan, J. (abr) To The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal 'B' Bench, Chennai. T.C.A.Nos.721 and 722 of 2017 29.08.2019 4/4 http://www.judis.nic.in

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