DON BOSCO'S MADONNA CO-OPERATIVE HOUSING SOCIETY LIMITED,MUMBAI vs. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (EXEMPTION) , MUMBAI

This is an appeal preferred by the assessee co-operative society against the order of the Ld. Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)/NFAC, Delhi dated 17.06.2022 for the Assessment Year 2020-21 wherein the assessee has raised the grounds of appeal against the disallowance of deduction claimed u/s 80P of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (hereafter “the Act”) on the interest income derived by the assessee to the tune of Rs.2,63,560/- from Saraswat Co-operative Bank Ltd, and Greater Bombay Co-operative Bank Ltd.

Brief facts are that the assessee Co-operative Society is registered under Maharashtra State Co-operative Societies Act 1960 and had filed its return of income which was processed by CPC, 2 A.Y. 2020-21 Don Bosco’s Madonna Co-operative Housing Society Ltd. Bangalore wherein the AO was pleased to disallow the claim of deduction of Rs.2,63,558/- u/s 80P(2)(d) of the Act, the interest income derived from Fixed Deposits held with Saraswat Co-operative Bank & Greater Bombay Co-operative Bank. Aggrieved, the assessee preferred an appeal before the Ld. CIT(A) who was pleased to confirm the same on the reason that the principle of mutuality does not apply. Aggrieved, the assessee is before us.

Heard both the parties and perused the records. It is undisputed that the assessee is a Cooperative Society which has derived interest income on its fixed deposit to the tune of Rs.2,63,558/- from Saraswat Co-operative Bank & Greater Bombay Co-operative Bank; and assessee claimed deduction of the same u/s 80P(2)(d) of the Act which was disallowed by the AO/Ld. CIT(A). The question before this Tribunal is whether the assessee’s claim of deduction of this interest income u/s 80P(2)(d) of the Act is allowable or not. For that let us have a look at the relevant provision, viz. Section 80P(2)(d) of the Act which falls under Chapter VIA (Deduction in respect of certain income). Deduction in respect of income of Co-operative Society. “80P(2)(d) (1). Where in the case of an assessee being a co-operative society, the gross total income includes any income referred to in sub-section (2), there shall be deducted, in accordance with and subject to the provisions of this section, the sums specified in sub-section (2), in computing the total income of the assessee.

From a bare reading of Sec. 80P(2)(d), it can be discerned that interest income derived by an assessee co-operative society from its investments held with any other co-operative society shall be deducted in computing its total income. So, what is relevant for claim of deduction under Sec. 80P(2)(d) is that the interest income should have been derived from the investments made by the assessee co-operative society with any other co-operative society. So if the interest income is derived by a co-operative society from its investments made with any other co-operative society, the claim of deduction under Sec. 80P(2)(d) of the Act is a valid claim. Further the term “co-operative society” had been defined under Sec. 2(19) of the Act, as under:- “(19) “Co-operative society” means a cooperative society registered under the Co-operative Societies Act, 1912 (2 of 1912), or under any other law for the time being in force in any state for the registration of co-operative societies;”

Further, it is noted that though the co-operative banks pursuant to the insertion of sub-section (4) to Sec. 80P of the Act would no more be entitled for claim of deduction under Sec. 80P of the Act, but as a cooperative bank continues to be a co-operative society registered 4 A.Y. 2020-21 Don Bosco’s Madonna Co-operative Housing Society Ltd. under the Co-operative Societies Act, 1912 (2 of 1912), or under any other law for the time being in force in any State for the registration of co-operative societies, therefore, the interest income derived by a co- operative society from its investments held with a co-operative bank would be entitled for claim of deduction under Sec.80P(2)(d) of the Act. As far as the reliance placed made by the Ld. AR in support of the claim of deduction u/s 80P(2)(d) of the Act as well as the reliance placed by the Ld. DR for supporting the order of the Ld. CIT(A), it is noted that the case laws cited by both the parties have been taken note by this Tribunal in the case of M/s. Rema Sahakari Karkhana Ltd. Pune Bench (ITA. No. 1249/Pun/2018 dated 07.01.2022) wherein the Tribunal has held as under: - “9. In so far the judicial pronouncements that have been relied upon by the ld. A.R are concerned; we find that the issue that a co-operative society would be entitled for claim of deduction under Sec. 80P(2)(d) on the interest income derived from its investments held with a co-operative bank is covered in favour of the assessee in the following cases: (i). M/s Solitaire CHS Ltd. vs. Pr. CIT, dated 29.11.2019 ( ITAT “G” Bench, Mumbai); (ii). Majalgaon Sahakari SAkhar Karkhana Ltd. Vs. ACIT, Circle-3, Aurangabad, ITA No, 308/Pun/2018 (ITAT Pune) M/s Rena Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd. Vs. Pr. CIT-2, Aurangabad ITA No. 1249/Pun/2018 – A.Y 2013-14 7 (iiii). Kaliandas Udyog Bhavan Pemises Co-op. Society Ltd. Vs. ITO, 21(2)(1), Mumbai 5 A.Y. 2020-21 Don Bosco’s Madonna Co-operative Housing Society Ltd. We further find that the Hon'ble High Court of Karnataka in the case of Pr. Commissioner of Income Tax and Anr. Vs. Totagars Cooperative Sale Society (2017) 392 ITR 74 (Karn) and Hon’ble High Court of Gujarat in the case of State Bank Of India Vs. CIT (2016) 389 ITR 578 (Guj), had held, that the interest income earned by the assessee on its investments with a co-operative bank would be eligible for claim of deduction under Sec. 80P(2)(d) of the Act. Still further, we find that the CBDT Circular No. 14, dated 28.12.2006 also makes it clear beyond any scope of doubt that the purpose behind enactment of sub-section (4) of Sec. 80P was that the co-operative banks which were functioning at par with other banks would no more be entitled for claim of deduction under Sec. 80P(4) of the Act. Although, in all fairness, we may herein observe that the Hon'ble High Court of Karnataka in the case of Pr. CIT Vs. Totagars co-operative Sale Society (2017) 395 ITR 611 (Karn), as had been relied upon by the ld. D.R before us, had held, that a co-operative society would not be entitled to claim deduction under Sec. 80P(2)(d); but then, the Hon'ble High Court in the case of Pr. Commissioner of Income Tax and Anr. Vs. Totagars Cooperative Sale Society (2017) 392 ITR 74 (Karn) and Hon’ble High Court of Gujarat in the case of State Bank of India Vs. CIT (2016) 389 ITR 578 (Guj), had observed, that the interest income earned by a co-operative society on its investments held with a co-operative bank would be eligible for claim of deduction under Sec.80P(2)(d) of the Act. Backed by the aforesaid conflicting judicial pronouncements, we may herein observe, that as held by the Hon'ble High Court of Bombay in the case of K. Subramanian and Anr. Vs. Siemens India Ltd. and Anr (1985) 156 ITR 11 (Bom), where there is a 6 A.Y. 2020-21 Don Bosco’s Madonna Co-operative Housing Society Ltd. conflict between the decisions of non-jurisdictional High Court‟s, then a view which is in favour of the assessee is to be preferred as against that taken against him. Accordingly, taking support from the aforesaid judicial pronouncement of the Hon‟ble High Court of jurisdiction, we respectfully follow the view taken by the Hon'ble High Court of Karnataka in the case of Pr. Commissioner of Income Tax and Anr. Vs. Totagars Cooperative Sale Society (2017) 392 ITR 74 (Karn) and that of the Hon’ble High Court of Gujarat in the case of State Bank Of India Vs. CIT (2016) 389 ITR 578 (Guj), wherein it was observed that the interest income earned by a co-operative society on its investments held with a co-operative bank would be eligible for claim of deduction under Sec.80P(2)(d) of the Act.”

Therefore, in the light of the discussion, this Tribunal is of the view that the assessee Co-operative Society’s claim for deduction of Rs. 2,63,558/- (FD Interest) from Saraswat Cooperative Bank Ltd and Greater Bombay Co-operative bank is allowable deduction u/s 80P(2)(d) of the Act. Therefore, the appeal of the assessee is allowed; and AO is directed to allow the claim of deduction of Rs. 2,63,558/-