PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF vs. M/S. INDIAN STITCHES PVT LTD
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court dismissed the appeal filed by the Revenue on the ground of low tax effect, citing CBDT Circular No. 17/2019. The Court noted that the Revenue's counsel submitted that the appeal was not being pursued due to the tax effect being below the enhanced monetary limit for appeals before the High Court, which is Rs. 1 Crore. Consequently, the substantial questions of law framed 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 threshold limit. No costs were awarded. The specific findings of the Tribunal on the forex derivative loss were not adjudicated upon by the High Court.
What were the facts?
The Revenue, Principal Commissioner of Income Tax 3, Coimbatore, filed an appeal under Section 260A of the Income-tax Act, 1961, against an order dated 29.06.2017 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Chennai Bench. The appeal pertained to assessment year 2009-10 and challenged the ITAT's decision to delete the disallowance of forex derivative loss. The assessee is M/s. Indian Stitches Pvt. Ltd., Tirupur. The appeal was admitted on 06.02.2018. The Revenue's counsel appeared, but the assessee did not appear.
What were the issues?
The Tribunal had to decide three substantial questions of law: 1. Whether the Tribunal was correct in deleting the disallowance of forex derivative loss by treating it as a trading loss. 2. Whether the Tribunal was justified in holding the loss on derivative transactions as trading loss, overlooking that without actual delivery, such transactions fall under speculative transactions as per Section 43(5). 3. Whether the Tribunal was justified in holding that the forex derivative transactions had proximity to export turnover, implying they were covered by the proviso to Section 43(5), despite the proviso requiring transactions to be in respect of goods manufactured or traded by the assessee. The Revenue argued that the Tribunal erred in classifying the forex derivative loss as a trading loss. They contended that since no actual delivery took place, the transactions should be considered speculative under Section 43(5). Furthermore, they argued that the proviso to Section 43(5) concerning hedging was misapplied as the transactions were not directly related to the assessee's goods or merchandise. The judgment records no arguments from the assessee.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
T.C.A.No.808 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.808 of 2017 Principal Commissioner of Income Tax 3, No.63, Race Course Road, Coimbatore. .. Appellant -vs- M/s.Indian Stitches Pvt. Ltd., 24/64, Asher Nagar, 60 Feet Road, Gandhi Road, Tirupur-641 603. PAN: AABCI 1268C .. Respondent Appeal under Section 260A of the Income-tax Act, 1961, against the order dated 29.06.2017, made in I.T.A.No.1222/Mds/2015 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal 'A' Bench, Chennai for the assessment year 2009-10. For Appellant : Mr.T.R.Senthil Kumar, Senior Standing Counsel : assisted by Ms.K.G.Usharani, Standing Counsel For Respondent : No appearance ****** 1/5 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.808 of 2017 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 29.06.2017, made in I.T.A.No.1222/Mds/2015 on the file of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal 'A' Bench, Chennai for the assessment year 2009-10. 2.The appeal has been admitted on 06.02.2018, on the following substantial questions of law:- “(i) Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Appellate Tribunal is correct in deleting the disallowance of forex derivative loss arising on account of loss on forex derivative transactions by treating it as a trading loss? (ii) Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal is justified in law in holding that the loss on derivative transactions is trading loss thereby over viewing the fact that when no actual delivery has taken place, the transactions in question fall within the definition of speculative transaction as per section 43(5) of the Income Tax Act? And 2/5 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.808 of 2017 (iii) Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal is justified in law in holding that the forex derivative transactions of the assessee have proximity to the export turnover thereby impliedly ruling that the issue is covered by proviso (a) to Section 43(5), when the proviso clearly mandates that to be categorised as hedge, the transactions should only be in respect of goods or merchandise manufactured or traded by the assessee?” 3.Heard Mr.T.R.Senthil Kumar, learned Senior Standing Counsel assisted by Ms.K.G.Usharani, learned Standing Counsel for the appellant. 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 3/5 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.808 of 2017 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 Index : Yes/No Speaking/Non-Speaking Order abr To 1.M/s.Indian Stitches Pvt. Ltd., 24/64, Asher Nagar, 60 Feet Road, Gandhi Road, Tirupur-641 603. 2.The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal 'A' Bench, Chennai. 4/5 http://www.judis.nic.in T.C.A.No.808 of 2017 T.S.Sivagnanam, J. and V.Bhavani Subbaroyan, J. (abr) T.C.A.No.808 of 2017 29.08.2019 5/5 http://www.judis.nic.in
More judgments on Section 43(5)
- Kamal Ramprasad Gupta, Mumbai vs Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax, Circle…ITA 3458/MUM/2026[2016-17]Status: Disposed31 Aug 2026AY 2016-17
- The Principal Commissioner of Income Tax… vs Nk Proteins Pvt. LtdTAXAP/449/20254 Aug 2026
- Income Tax Officer, Ward-41(3)(1), Mumbai vs Ajit H Loladiya HUF, MumbaiITA 987/MUM/2026[2012-13]Status: Disposed10 Jul 2026AY 2012-13
- Raag Vihar Apartments Private Limited… vs DCIT Circle 16(1), C. R. Building, DelhiITA 8774/DEL/2025[2015-16]Status: Disposed10 Jul 2026AY 2015-16
- Dy.Commissioner of Income Tax, Mumbai vs Motilal Oswal Financial Services Limited…ITA 7971/MUM/2025[2014]Status: Disposed7 Jul 2026
Recent GST High Court judgments
Search GST case law →- M/S.Sri Satya Sai Constructions vs. The State Of Andhra PradeshAndhra Pradesh · 27 Oct 2026
- Anisha Busa vs. Sibar Institute Of Dental SciencesAndhra Pradesh · 27 Oct 2026
- M/S.Sri Satya Sai Constructions vs. The State Of Andhra PradeshAndhra Pradesh · 27 Oct 2026
- M/S. Sikka Motors PVT LTD vs. Union Of INDIA & Anr.Delhi · 27 Oct 2026
- Shri Yaras Suresh Babu Prabhu Kumar vs. The Union Of INDIATelangana · 27 Oct 2026