SAHYADRI S.S.K. LTD.,,SATARA vs. INCOME-TAX OFFICER,,

The appeal of the assessee in ITA No. 2288/PUN/2014 is time barred by 101 days. The assessee has filed an application seeking condonation of

Shri M.K. Kulkarni appearing on behalf of the assessee submitted that the assessee is engaged in manufacturing of white sugar. The ld. Counsel for the assessee submitted that the Common issue raised in both the appeals by the assessee is against addition on account of payment of excess sugarcane price paid by the assessee to the farmers, i.e. the price over and above the Statutory Minimum Price (SMP) fixed by State Government for purchase of cane. The ld. Counsel submitted that the issue raised in present appeals by the assessee has already been considered and adjudicated by the Co-ordinate Bench of Tribunal in bunch of appeals with the lead case DCIT vs. Vasant Rao Dada Patil SSK Ltd., ITA Nos.50 to 52/PUN/2012 for the assessment years 1992-93, 1994-95 & 1996-97, respectively vide order dated 20.03.2019. The Tribunal has restored the issue back to the file of Assessing Officer for de-novo adjudication.

Shri Uodal Raj Singh representing the Department fairly submitted that the issue of excess cane price paid by the assessee sugar factories to the farmers has been restored back to the file of Assessing Officer by the Tribunal in bunch of appeals. Therefore, this issue can also be restored to the file of Assessing Officer with similar directions.

Both sides heard. Orders of the authorities below perused. The assessee is a Co-operative Society engaged in manufacturing of sugar. The assessee is purchasing sugarcane from its members and non-members. The assessee has made payment for purchase of sugar cane from farmers at price higher than the Fixed and Remunerative Price (FRP) of the Government. The authorities below have disallowed the difference between the price paid by the assessee and FRP fixed by the Government. The Co- ordinate Bench of Tribunal in the case of DCIT vs. Vasant Rao Dada Patil SSK Ltd. (supra) has restored this issue back to the file of Assessing Officer to be decided in the light of judgment rendered by Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of CIT Vs. Tasgaon Taluka S.S.K. Ltd. reported as 103 taxmann.com 57. We deem it appropriate to restore this issue back to the file of Assessing Officer with similar directions. The issue is allowed for statistical purpose.

The second issue in appeal for assessment year 2010-11 is sale of sugar at concessional rate to the members. This issue was also considered by the Tribunal in the case of DCIT Vs. Vasant Rao Dada Patil SSK Ltd. (supra). The Co-ordinate Bench has restored the issue to Assessing Officer for de-novo adjudication on the touchstones of the factors highlighted by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in the case of Commissioner of Income

In the result, both the appeals of assessee are allowed for statistical purpose.