PRINCIPAL COMMISSIONER OF IN vs. M/S.JUBILEE PLOT AND HOUSING

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TCA/994/2019HC Madras02 March 2021Bench: Hon`ble Mr Justice T. S. SIVAGNANAM4 pages
AI SummaryWithdrawn

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court did not decide the substantial questions of law on their merits. Instead, the Court noted the submission by the Revenue's counsel regarding CBDT Circular No.17/2019, which mandates that appeals shall not be filed or pursued if the tax effect does not exceed Rs.1,00,00,000/-. As the tax effect in these appeals was stated to be less than this monetary limit, the Court dismissed the appeals as withdrawn. The Court explicitly stated that the substantial questions of law were kept open for determination in appropriate cases. Therefore, there was no finding on the merits of the issues raised, and no operative directions were issued concerning the deduction under Section 80IB(10) or the conditions thereof. No issue was expressly left undecided as the appeals were disposed of on a procedural ground.

What were the facts?

The Revenue (Commissioner of Income Tax, Central - II, Chennai) filed three appeals (T.C.A.Nos.994 to 996 of 2019) before the High Court of Judicature at Madras against a common order dated 19.01.2010 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Chennai. The ITAT's order pertained to the assessment years 2002-03, 2004-05, and 2005-06, concerning the assessee, Shri S. Ravi. The appeals were admitted on substantial questions of law. Subsequently, the Revenue brought to the court's notice CBDT Circular No.17/2019, which stipulates that appeals should not be filed or pursued if the tax effect does not exceed Rs.1,00,00,000/-. The Revenue submitted that the tax effect in these appeals was below this threshold.

What were the issues?

The High Court had to decide two substantial questions of law: 1. Whether the ITAT was correct in holding that the sanction of the Panchayat President for dividing agricultural lands into plots and for constructing separate units constituted approval for a housing project under Section 80IB(10), and whether the minimum area requirement of 1 acre was met. 2. Without prejudice to the first question, whether the ITAT was correct in upholding the deletion of disallowance of deduction under Section 80IB(10) by the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), despite the assessee not satisfying the condition that each residential unit should not exceed a built-up area of 1500 sq. ft. for the housing project at Valar Nagar, Uthangudi, Madurai. The Revenue argued that the ITAT erred in its findings regarding the approval for the housing project and the satisfaction of area requirements. The Revenue also contended that the condition regarding the built-up area of residential units was not met by the assessee. The judgment does not record specific arguments from the assessee's side on these issues, other than the fact that the ITAT had previously deleted the disallowance.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 80IB(10),Section 260A

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

T.C.A.Nos.994 to 996 of 2019 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 18.08.2022 CORAM : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE R. MAHADEVAN AND THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE MOHAMMED SHAFFIQ T.C.A.Nos.994 to 996 of 2019 Commissioner of Income Tax, Central - II, Chennai. ... Appellant in all TCAs Versus Shri S.Ravi ... Respondent in all TCAs Appeals preferred under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, against the order dated 19.01.2010 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, “A” Bench, Chennai, in I.T.A.Nos. 1784, 1785 and 1786/Mds/2008. For Appellant : Mr.M.Swaminathan Senior Standing Counsel M/s.V.Pushpa, Standing Counsel in all TCAs Page 1/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis T.C.A.Nos.994 to 996 of 2019 For Respondent : died

COMMON JUDGMENT (Judgment of the Court was delivered by R.MAHADEVAN, J.) These tax case appeals have been filed by the appellant / Revenue, challenging the common order dated 19.01.2010 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, “A” Bench, Chennai, in I.T.A.Nos. 1784, 1785 and 1786/Mds/2008, relating to the respective assessment years 2002-03, 2004-05 and 2005-06.

2.By order dated 14.12.2010, this court admitted the aforesaid tax case appeals on the following substantial questions of law: “(i) Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Income-tax Appellate Tribunal was right in holding that the sanction of the Panchayat President for division of agricultural lands into plots and another sanction for building separate units would amount to approval for any housing project as required under Section 80IB (10) and in further holding that the condition of the minimum area of 1acre for the project was satisfied? and (ii) Without prejudice to the preceding question, whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal was right in confirming the order of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) deleting the disallowance of Page 2/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis T.C.A.Nos.994 to 996 of 2019 deduction under Section 80IB(10) claimed by the assessee in respect of the 'housing project' at Valar Nagar, Uthangudi, Madurai even though the condition that each residential unit should not have built- up area of more than 1500sq.ft. was not satisfied by the assessee?" 3. When the matters were taken up for consideration, the learned counsel for the appellant / Revenue brought to the notice of this court the Circular No.17/2019 dated 08.08.2019 issued by the Central Board Direct Taxes, wherein, it is stipulated that appeals shall not be filed/pursued by the Department before the High Court in cases where the tax effect does not exceed Rs.1,00,00,000/- (Rupees One Crore). It is also submitted that the tax effect in these appeals is less than the threshold limit. 4. In the light of the aforesaid submissions made by the learned counsel for the appellant / Revenue, the present appeals, wherein, the tax effect is said to be less than the monetary limit imposed, are dismissed as withdrawn, keeping open the substantial questions of law for determination in appropriate cases. No costs. (R.M.D., J.) (M.S.Q., J.) 18.08.2022 Internet : Yes

Index : Yes / No Page 3/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis T.C.A.Nos.994 to 996 of 2019 R. MAHADEVAN, J. and MOHAMMED SHAFFIQ, J. av To 1. The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, “A” Bench, Chennai. 2. The Commissioner of Income Tax, Central - II, Chennai.

3.

The Deputy Commissioner of Income-tax, Central Circle - II, Madurai-625 002. 4. The Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)-II, Madurai. T.C.A.Nos.994 to 996 of 2019 18.08.2022 Page 4/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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