AVINISSERY SERVICE CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD,THRISSUR vs. THE INCOME TAX OFFICER WARD 2(1),THRISSUR, THRISSUR

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ITA 577/COCH/2025Status: DisposedITAT Cochin28 August 2025AY 2017-18Bench: SHRI INTURI RAMA RAO (Accountant Member), SHRI RAHUL CHAUDHARY (Judicial Member)1 pages
AI SummaryAllowed

What did the Tribunal hold?

The Tribunal observed that the appellant is a primary agricultural credit cooperative society and does not hold a banking license. Therefore, section 80P(4) of the Act is not applicable. The Supreme Court's decision in Mavilayi Service Co-Operative Bank Ltd. v. CIT was found to be squarely applicable.

What were the facts?

The appellant, a cooperative society, filed its return for AY 2017-18 disclosing nil income after claiming deduction under section 80P of the Act. The AO denied this deduction, assessing total income at Rs. 3,29,44,690/-. The CIT(A) upheld the AO's order, relying on a Supreme Court decision.

What were the issues?

Whether the appellant society is eligible for deduction under section 80P of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 80P,Section 80P(4),Section 143(3),Section 250

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Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, COCHIN BENCH :: COCHIN

Before: SHRI INTURI RAMA RAO, AM& SHRI RAHUL CHAUDHARY

For Appellant: Shri Alan P. Dev, CA
For Respondent: Smt. Leena Lal, Sr. DR
Hearing: 22.08.2025Pronounced: 28.08.2025

Assessment Years :2017-18 Avinissery Service Co-op. Bank Ltd., .......... Appellant Anakallu P.O. Avinissery, Thrissur, Kerala-680309 [PAN: AACAA 0093 Q] vs. Income Tax Officer .......... Respondent Ward-2(1), Thrissur. Appellant by: Shri Alan P. Dev, CA Respondent by: Smt. Leena Lal, Sr. DR Date of Hearing: 22.08.2025 Date of Pronouncement: 28.08.2025 O R D E R

Per Inturi Rama Rao, AM:

1.

This is an appeal filed by the Assessee-cooperative society directed against the order passed by the learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)/ NFAC, Delhi [for short, ‘Ld. CIT(A)] dated 27.09.2024, u/s.250 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (for short, 'the Act') for Assessment Year (AY) 2017-18.

2.

Brief facts of the case are that appellant is a cooperative society registered under the Kerala Co-operative Societies Act, 1969. It is classified as primary agricultural credit cooperative society. It is engaged in the business of accepting deposits from Avinissery Service Co-op. Bank Ltd. member and providing credit facilities to its member. The return of income for the A.Y. 2017-18 was filed on 30/03/2018 disclosing nil income after claiming deduction under section 80P of the Act. Against the said return of income, the assessment was completed by the ITO, Ward-2(1), Thrissur (for short, ‘AO’) vide order dated 17/12/2019 passed under section 143(3) of the Act at a total income of Rs. 3,29,44,690/-. While doing so, the AO denied the deduction claimed under section 80P of the Act following various judicial precedents of Hon'ble Kerala High Court.

3.

Being aggrieved by the above assessment order, an appeal was filed by the appellant before the Ld. CIT(A), who vide impugned order dismissed the appeal placing reliance on the decision of Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Totgars’ Cooperative Sale Society Ltd. vs. ITO [322 ITR 283 (SC)].

4.

Aggrieved by the order of Ld. CIT(A), the appellant is in appeal before this Tribunal.

5. We heard rival contentions and perused the material on record. The solitary issue that arises for our consideration is that whether the appellant society is eligible for deduction under section 80P of the Act or not. Admittedly, the appellant is a cooperative society, duly registered under the Kerala Cooperative Society Act, 1969. It is classified as Primary Agricultural Credit Cooperative Society and it does not enjoy any banking licence. Therefore, the provisions of sub-section (4) of section 80P have no application to the appellant Avinissery Service Co-op. Bank Ltd. society. The ratio laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Mavilayi Service Co-Operative Bank Ltd. v. CIT [(2021) 431 ITR 01 (SC)] is squarely applicable to the facts of the present case. The ratio of the decisions relied upon the lower authorities,had been overruled by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Mavilayi Service Co-Operative Bank Ltd (supra). Therefore, we direct the AO to allow deduction claimed by the Assessee under section 80P of the Act. Thus, the grounds raised by the appellant stand allowed.

5.

In the result, appeal filed by the assessee stands allowed. Order pronounced in open Court on 28th August, 2025.

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