KRISHAK BHARTI COOPERATIVE LTD vs. ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX
What did the High Court hold?
The Delhi High Court disposed of the appeal in terms of the judgment of a coordinate bench in ITA No. 205/2010, which had held that lease premium paid to the Noida Authority is a capital expenditure. The Court acknowledged that the issues of law and fact concerning lease deeds with Noida, Vishakhapatnam, and Tuticorin Authorities were similar to the case decided in ITA No. 205/2010. However, the Court clarified that the final outcome of the disputes between the parties would be subject to the judgment of the Supreme Court in SLP (Civil) No. 35813/2012 and other connected appeals. Therefore, the ITAT's order was not directly upheld or overturned but was to abide by the pending Supreme Court decision.
What were the facts?
The assessee, Krishak Bharti Cooperative Ltd., filed an appeal before the Delhi High Court challenging an order dated December 29, 2021, passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) for Assessment Year 2011-12. The appeal pertains to the ITAT's rejection of the assessee's claim for amortization of lease premium paid to the Noida Authority, Vishakhapatnam Authority, and Tuticorin Authority. The assessee contended that the ITAT erred in classifying this payment as capital expenditure instead of revenue expenditure, arguing that no ownership was created and it merely enabled the business to operate after paying a nominal rent.
What were the issues?
1. Whether the lease premium paid to the Noida Authority, Vishakhapatnam Authority, and Tuticorin Authority constitutes revenue expenditure or capital expenditure, turning on the interpretation of the lease deeds and the nature of the expenditure under Section 37 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Assessee's Contentions: - The ITAT erred in rejecting the claim for amortization of lease premium. - The ITAT failed to appreciate the true meaning and effect of the lease deed terms. - The lease amount paid should be considered revenue expenditure as no ownership was created by the lump sum premium payment. - The expenditure did not lead to an addition to the capital structure but only enabled the appellant to carry on its business. Revenue's Contentions: - In a similar case involving lease premium paid to the Noida Authority (ITA No. 205/2010, Krishak Bharati Cooperative Ltd. vs. Deputy CIT), a predecessor Division Bench had held such expenditure to be capital expenditure. Rejoinder by Assessee: - The judgment in ITA No. 205/2010 is pending challenge before the Supreme Court in SLP (Civil) No. 35813/2012.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
$~20 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + ITA 236/2022 and CM APPL. Nos. 33148-49/2022 KRISHAK BHARTI COOPERATIVE LTD ..... Appellant Through : Ms. Surekha Raman and Mr.Purushottam Kumar Jha, Advocates. versus ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX ..... Respondent Through : Mr. Abhishek Maratha, Senior Standing Counsel for the Revenue. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MANMOHAN HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE MANMEET PRITAM SINGH ARORA O R D E R % 29.07.2022 CM APPL. 33148-49/2022 (for exemption) Exemptions allowed, subject to all just exceptions. Accordingly, these applications stand disposed of. ITA 236/2022 Present Income Tax Appeal has been filed challenging the Order dated 29th December, 2021 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (‘ITAT’) in ITA 2342/Del./2017 for Assessment Year 2011-12. Learned Counsel for the Appellant states that the ITAT erred in rejecting the claim for amortization of lease premium paid to the Noida Authority, Vishakhapatnam and Tuticorin Authority, on the ground that such This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 15/06/2026 at 01:59:42
payment amounts to a Capital expenditure rather than a Revenue Expenditure. She states that the ITAT has failed to appreciate the true meaning and effect in law of the terms of the lease deed executed between the Appellant and Lease hold Authorities namely Noida, Vishakhapatnam and Tuticorin. She submits that the ITAT was not justified in holding that the lease amount paid would amount to a Capital Expenditure rather than a Revenue Expenditure especially when no ownership was created by payment of lump sum premium. She also states that ITAT has erred in not appreciating that there is no addition to the capital structure but only enables the Appellant to carry on its business after paying nominal rent and hence lease premium paid is revenue expenditure. Issue notice. Mr. Abhishek Maratha, learned Senior Standing Counsel for Revenue accepts notice. He states that in a similar case, where the appellant had paid lease premium to the Noida Authority, the learned Predecessor Division Bench in ITA No. 205/2010 Krishak Bharati Cooperative Ltd. vs. Deputy CIT and connected appeals has held that the said expenditure is capital expenditure. In rejoinder, learned counsel for the appellant states that the judgment and order passed in ITA No.205/2010 is pending challenge in SLP (Civil) No. 35813/2012 and other connected appeals before the Supreme Court. Admittedly, the issues of law and fact in the lease deeds executed between the appellant as well as the Noida Authority, Vishakhapatnam and Tuticorin Authorities are similar to the case decided by the learned Predecessor Division Bench in ITA No. 205/2010. This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 15/06/2026 at 01:59:42
Consequently, the present appeal is disposed of in terms of the judgment of the learned Coordinate Bench in ITA No. 205/2010. However, it is made clear that the final result qua the disputes between parties will abide by the judgment of the Supreme Court in SLP (Civil) No. 35813/2012 and other connected appeals. MANMOHAN, J MANMEET PRITAM SINGH ARORA, J JULY 29, 2022 j This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 15/06/2026 at 01:59:42
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