AIRBNB PAYMENTS INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED,GURUGRAM, HARYANA vs. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX, CIRCLE 1(1), GURUGRAM, HARYANA, GURUGRAM, HARYANA

4. The identical submissions of the parties have been considered by us in the case of Teva Pharmaceutical & chemical Industries India Private Limited Vs. Assessment Unit, Income Tax Department/DCIT in vide order dated 19/01/2026. The Co-ordinate Bench of the Tribunal while and rejecting the preliminary objection raised by the Revenue and also the request of the Department for deferring the hearing of the Appeal, held as under:- “3. The Ld. Senior Counsel for the Assessee also relied on the several orders of the Hyderabad Bench of the Tribunal, wherein the Co-ordinate Bench of the Tribunal decided the similar issue in favour of the Assessee by quashing the respective assessment orders by relying on the ratio laid down by the Hon'ble High Court of Madras in the case of Commissioner of Income Tax Vs. Roca Bathroom Products (P) Ltd. (supra). Further submitted that, the Tribunal has also reserved liberty to the parties to get the Appeals revived if the decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court on the issue in hand necessitates modification of the order of the Tribunal. Orders of the Hyderabad Tribunal relied by the Assessee are as under:- a). Aveva Solutions India LLP Vs. ITO-2025(12) TMI 1208 dated 19/11/2025. b) M/s Concentrix Catalyst Technologies (P) Ltd. Vs. Dy CIT- 2025 (12) TMI 1643 dated 05/12/2025 c) Shakti Hormann Private Limited Vs. DCIT, Circle-3(1)- 2025 (12) TMI 1351 dated 19/12/2025. d) M/s Western UP Tollway Limited, M/s MahuaBharatpur Expressways Ltd. Vs. DCIT, Circle 8(1) Hyderabad TMI-2025 (12) 1345 dated 12/12/2025. (e) DSM Shared Services India Private Limited Vs. The DCIT, Circle 8(1), Hyderabad-2015 (12) TMI 1283 dated 12/12/2025. f) M/s TMEIC Industrial Systems India Private Limited, Hyderabad and Dy. Circle 2(1) Hyderabad, 2025 (12) TMI 1282 dated 12/12/2025. g) Interwrap Corporation Private Ltd Vs. DCIT Circle-5 (1), Hyderabad 2025 (12) TMI 1278 dated 10/12/2025. h) R.A. K. Ceramics India Private Limited, Hyderabad Vs. Dy. CIT, 2025 (12) TMI 1277 dated 10/12/2025. i) Parexel International (IRL) Limited Ireland Vs. ADIT 2025 (12) TMI 1276 dated 10/12/2025. j) Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Limited vs. The ACIT 2025 (12) TMI 1275 dated 25/12/2205. k) Repal Green Power Private Limited Vs. the DCIT 2025 (12) TMI 1272 dated: 26/11/2025.

5. Further, in so far as initial Interim Order granted by Hon'ble Supreme Court dated 22/09/2023 and the dissenting Judgment by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of ACIT Vs. Shelf Drilling Ron Tappmeyer Ltd. in Special Leave to Appeal (C) Nos. 20569- 20572/2023 is concerned, the Ld. Senior Counsel contended that, it is admitted fact that as per the Interim Order of the Hon'ble Supreme Court dated 22/09/2023, the Judgment passed by Hon’ble Court of Judicature at Bombay dated 04/08/2023 (in the case of Shelf Airbnb Payments India Private Limited vs. DCIT Drilling Ron Tappmeyer Ltd. Vs. Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax (International Taxation) Circle-4 (2)(1) Mumbai, reported in 2023 (8) TMI 460-Bombay High Court) cannot be cited as a precedent in any other subsequent matters until further order. The Ld. Counsel further submitted that the Hon'ble Supreme Court has not stayed the Judgment of the Hon'ble High Court of Mumbai and further contended that in the very same Interim Order dated 22/09/2023, the Hon'ble Supreme Court extended the benefit of Judgment of the Hon'ble High Court (Shelf Drilling Ron Tappmeyer Ltd. 2023 (8) TMI 460-Bombay High Court) to the Assessee therein.

6. The Ld. Senior Counsel further submitted that, in the present proceedings, the Assessee neither relying on the Judgment of Hon'ble High Court of Judicature at Bombay in the case of Shelf Drilling Ron Tappmeyer Ltd. (supra) nor cited the same. On the other hand, Assessee has relied on the ratio laid down by theHon'ble High Court of Madras in the case of Roca Bathroom Products (P) Ltd. (supra) and contended that, since there is no stay granted by the Hon'ble Supreme Court to the Judgment of Hon'ble High Court of Madras in the case of Roca Bathroom Products (P) Ltd. (supra), the same is having a binding precedent on the Tribunal. Thus Ld. Senior Counsel submitted that there is no embargo to the Tribunal to decide the captioned Appeal of the Assessee in terms of the ratio laid down by the Hon'ble High Court of Madras in the case of Roca Bathroom Products (P) Ltd. (supra) and also relied on the plethora of orders passed by the Hyderabad Bench of the Tribunal. Thus, sought for allowing the Grounds of Appeal

No. 3 of the Assessee.

7. Per contra, the Ld. Department's Representative at the outset requested not to decide the captioned Appeal and prayed for keeping the Appeal pending till the Larger Bench of the Hon'ble Supreme Court finally decides the case of Shelf Drilling Ron Tappmeyer Ltd. (supra). Further the Ld. Department's Representative submitted that there is a specific Interim Order passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court on 22/09/2023 in the case of Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax Vs. Shelf Drilling Ron Tappmeyer Ltd. in Petitions for Special Leave to Appeal (C) Nos. 20569-20572/2023, wherein the Hon'ble Supreme Court has observed that the impugned Judgment (of Hon'ble High Court of Judicature at Bombay in the case of Shelf Drilling Ron Tappmeyer Ltd.) shall not be cited as precedent in any other subsequent matters until further order. Further submitted that the issue involved in the Roca Bathroom Products (P) Ltd. (supra) and in the case of Shelf Drilling Ron Tappmeyer Ltd. (supra), being identical, it should be construed that the interim order passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court dated 22/09/2023 in the case of Shelf Drilling Ron Tappmeyer Ltd. shall also applicable to the ratio laid down by the Madras High Court in the case of Roca Bathroom Products (P) Ltd. (supra). Further submitted that the issue of limitation arising from the interplay between Section 144C and Section 153 of the Act is presently unsettled and pending adjudication before the Hon'ble Supreme Court and therefore, deciding the very same issue by this Tribunal at this stage would be premature, thus submitted that the Tribunal cannot decide the issue of limitation in terms of the ratio laid down by the Hon'ble High Court of Madras in the case of Roca Bathroom Products (P) Ltd. (supra). Accordingly, the Ld. Department's Representative sought for deferral of adjudication of the present Appeal and also the issue of limitation. The Ld. Department's Representative has also filed written submission which is reproduced as under:-

1. At the outset, the Revenue submits that the present written submissions are confined only to the preliminary issue of limitation arising from the interplay between section 144C and section 153 of the Income-tax Act, 1961. The Revenue respectfully reserves the right to make comprehensive submissions on all other issues on merits, as and when the same are taken up for hearing. A. Introductory submission 2. The present appeals raise the issue whether, in cases governed by section 144C, the time consumed in the proceedings before the Dispute Resolution Panel ( DRP") is required to be subsumed within the limitation prescribed under section 153, or whether section 144C operates as a special statutory mechanism with its own distinct timelines for completing the assessment after passing the draft order.

3. The Revenue respectfully submits that this issue is presently unsettled and judicially pending before the Hon'ble Supreme Court. Therefore, final adjudication by this Hon'ble Tribunal at this stage would be premature and may result in avoidable multiplicity of proceedings and uncertainty in tax administration. B. Supreme Court/High Court proceedings governing the issue (i) Split verdict and Larger Bench reference - Shelf Drilling 4. In ACIT (International Taxation) v. Shelf Drilling Ron Tappmeyer Ltd. reported in [2025] 177 taxmann.com 262 (SC), the Hon'ble Supreme Court delivered a split verdict on the interpretation of sections 144C and 153 and referred the issue to a Larger Bench.

5. It is settled law that a split verdict declares no law under Article 141, and the legal position remains open until authoritatively settled by a majority decision. (ii) Interim restraint on citing the Bombay High Court judgment 6. At the admission stage of the matter arising from the Bombay High Court judgment in Shelf Drilling Ron Tappmeyer Ltd., the Hon'ble Supreme Court passed an interim order dated 22.09.2023, (Annexure-A), directing that the High Court judgment shall not be cited as a precedent in any other subsequent matter until further orders.

7. This interim order has not been vacated or modified and continues to bind. Interim orders subsist unless expressly vacated. (ii-a) Bombay High Court reiteration No.30944 of 2023, order dated 07.08.2024) Paypal Payments Pvt. Ltd. (WPL (L).

8. The Revenue further places reliance on the order dated 07.08.2024 passed by the Hon'ble Bombay High Court in Paypal Payments Private Limited v. ACIT (Writ Petition (L) No.30944 of 2023){Annexure-B). In the said order, the Hon'ble Bombay High Court, while considering the very issue of interpretation of section 144C(1), Airbnb Payments India Private Limited vs. DCIT 144C(4) and 144C(13) vis-à-vis section 153, recorded that the Supreme Court had, on 22.09.2023, directed that the Shelf Drilling judgment shall not be cited as precedent and clarified that the operative portion applies only inter partes. The Hon'ble High Court further noted that there was "quite a debate" on what one is permitted to do with the Shelf Drilling decision in view of the Supreme Court restraint.

9. The said order reinforces the Revenue submission that, pending Supreme Court adjudication, the Shelf Drilling Bombay High Court judgment does not operate as precedent for other matters and cannot be relied upon before this Hon'ble Tribunal.

10. Hon'ble Bombay HC, in its wisdom, has not quashed the assessment and gave the parties the liberty to apply in the event of rendering a final order by Hon'ble Supreme Court (iii) Grant of leave in Roca Bathroom and pendency before Hon'ble SC - legal implications 11. The Hon'ble Supreme Court has granted leave in CIT v. Roca Bathroom Products (P.) Ltd., reported in [2023] 147 taxmann.com 224 (SC) (Annexure-C). The grant of leave signifies that the issue is admitted for final adjudication, and the correctness of the Madras High Court judgment stands squarely under scrutiny. The order granting leave does not affirm the High Court's view, nor does it declare law. Once leave is granted, the High Court judgment loses finality.

12. It is respectfully submitted that the ratio laid down by the Hon'ble Bombay High Court in Shelf Drilling Ron Tappmeyer Ltd. and by the Hon'ble Madras High Court in Roca Bathroom Products (P.) Ltd. arises on the same legal controversy, namely the computation of limitation involving the interplay of sections 144C and 153. The principle enunciated in both decisions is, in substance, identical-ie., that the timelines under section 153 continue to govern and must subsume the DRP mechanism under section 144C. In this context, it is material that the Hon'ble Supreme Court has passed a specific interim direction that the judgment of the Hon'ble Bombay High Court in Shelf Drilling shall not be cited as a precedent in any other subsequent matter. The Revenue, therefore, submits that, when the Supreme Court has expressly restrained reliance on the Shelf Drilling ratio, the same cannot be permitted to be applied indirectly through another non-jurisdictional decision laying down an identical proposition, particularly when Roca Bathroom itself is under appeal, and leave has been granted by the Hon'ble Supreme Court. Accordingly, Roca Bathroom cannot be treated as determinative or enforced as a basis to conclude the controversy, and the issue ought to await authoritative settlement by the Hon'ble Supreme Court. C. Revenue's interpretative submissions on sections 144C and 153 (without prejudice) 13. Without prejudice to the prayer for deferral, the Revenue respectfully submits that section 144C was introduced to create a structured and time-bound pre- Airbnb Payments India Private Limited vs. DCIT finalization review mechanism before a panel of Commissioners in cases involving "eligible assessees". The legislative design of section 144C indicates that it is a special statutory mechanism and cannot be interpreted in a manner that renders the scheme unworkable. Therefore, the timelines prescribed under section 153 will not apply to the final assessment order passed u/s 144C(13) of the Income Tax Act.

15. A harmonious construction suggests that section 153 governs the stage up to passing of the draft order in time, while the special regime of section 144C governs completion after the draft stage. Otherwise, the mandatory statutory time windows within section 144C would be rendered redundant or illusory.

16. Moreover, the non obstante language in section 144C dealing with passing of the final order makes it evident that Parliament intended post-draft finalisation under section 144C to operate notwithstanding the general limitation in section 153.

17. A further significant facet is that the eligible assessee activates the DRP route. If objections are not filed, the statute permits expedited finalisation. If objections are filed, the statutory mechanism consumes time by design. The assessee cannot, after choosing the statutory route, contend that the assessment becomes void due to the time consumed in the process statutorily created for his benefit.

10. In view of the above, the assessee's contention is required to be rejected as the final assessment order is within the time limits prescribed under section 144C D. Issue presently judicially pending: combined effect 19. In the present circumstances: (i) the Bombay High Court judgment in 'Shelf Drilling Ron Tappmeyer Ltd. is under an express Supreme Court restraint on citation: (ii) the Madras High Court judgment in the case of 'Roca Bathroom' is under appeal with leave granted; and (iii) the Supreme Court has delivered a split verdict in Shelf Drilling Ron Tappmeyer Ltd and referred the issue to a Larger Bench.

20. Therefore, no binding law exists, and the issue remains judicially pending. E. Hyderabad ITAT order(s) - respectfully distinguishable and unsafe to follow 21. The Revenue respectfully submits that the Hyderabad Bench, in certain cases, including Aveva Solutions India LLP v.Income-tax Officer, [2025] 180 taxmann.com 731 (Hyderabad Trib.) in IT APPEAL NO. 1170 (HYD) OF 2024 dated NOVEMBER Airbnb Payments India Private Limited vs. DCIT 19,2025 has taken an approach that ought not to be followed by this Hon'ble Tribunal.

22. The Hyderabad Bench has proceeded to finally quash the assessment on this issue by relying upon non-jurisdictional High Court decisions and by taking note of the Supreme Court proceedings. With respect, the approach is legally vulnerable for the following reasons: (1) Supreme Court restraint overlooked: The Supreme Court has expressly restrained, citing the Bombay High Court judgment in Shelf Drilling as precedent. Any reasoning that substantially draws strength from the Bombay High Court view is inconsistent with such restraint (ii) Internal inconsistency pendency acknowledged yet final relief granted: The Hyderabad order notes the issue is pending before the Supreme Court / Larger Bench, but proceeds to grant final relief. Once a matter is acknowledged as pending authoritative adjudication, judicial discipline favours deferral, (iii) Conditional final relief with "revival liberty" is procedurally unsound: The adoption of a device of quashing with "liberty to revive based on Supreme Court outcome is not contemplated within the statutory appellate framework and creates uncertainty.

23. Accordingly, the Hyderabad Bench order does not furnish a safe precedent for the disposal of the present appeals before this Hon'ble Tribunal. F. No prejudice to assessee; demand protection already available 24. Without prejudice, the Revenue respectfully submits that deferral of adjudication on the limitation issue causes no prejudice to the assessee. It is a matter of record in several cases where Roca Bathroom has been relied upon by assessees that either (1) stay of demand has been granted by the Tribunal, or (ii) the Assessing Officers are not pressing for coercive recovery during pendency. Therefore, the assessee is adequately protected against hardship, and deferral would serve the larger interest of uniformity and certainty. G. Judicial propriety and institutional restraint 25. Where a controversy is pending before a Larger Bench of the Hon'ble Supreme Court, judicial discipline warrants restraint by subordinate forums.

26. In the present matter, this is fortified by: (i) a Larger Bench reference, (ii) grant of leave in Roca Bathroom; (iii) an express Supreme Court restraint on citing the Bombay High Court judgment.

Airbnb Payments India Private Limited vs. DCIT H. Approach of Hon'ble ITAT Delhi 28. It is respectfully submitted that the Hon'ble ITAT, Delhi, has consistently adopted a prudent and institutionally sound approach in matters where the assessee raises the preliminary issue of limitation involving the interplay of sections 144C and 153, by adjourning such matters sine die/deferring adjudication, noting that the controversy is pending consideration before the Hon'ble Supreme Court. The Revenue submits that this consistent approach is fully justified to ensure judicial uniformity and avoid multiplicity of proceedings. Even after the split verdict in Shelf Drilling, the legal position remains that no binding law has been declared under Article 141, and the issue continues to be pending before the Hon'ble Supreme Court for final determination by an appropriate Larger Bench. Therefore, the status quo ante continues, and there is no change in circumstances warranting a departure from the settled course already followed by this Hon'ble Tribunal. In these circumstances, it would be most appropriate that the Hon'ble ITAT, Delhi, continues its consistent practice of deferring adjudication on the limitation issue, rather than proceeding to decide the matter when the controversy is awaiting authoritative settlement by the Hon'ble Supreme Court. I. Prayer 29. The Revenue is not pressing adjudication on merits and respectfully prays that this Hon'ble Tribunal may: (i) defer adjudication of the present preliminary issue of limitation; and (ii) take up the appeals on this issue after the Hon'ble Supreme Court finally settles the law authoritatively.

9. It is the matter of record that Hon'ble Supreme Court vide order dated 22/09/2023, passed an interim order in Petitions for Special Leave to Appeal (C) Nos. 20569- 20572/2023 in the case of Shelf Drilling Ron Tappmeyer Ltd., wherein it was observed that impugned Judgment shall not be cited as precedents in any other subsequent matters until further orders. The said matter was heard by the Hon'ble Supreme Court and dissenting Judgment came to be passed on 08/08/2025 and the Hon’ble Bench of the Hon'ble Supreme Court directed the registry to place the matters before the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India for constituting appropriate Bench to consider the issues which arises in those matters afresh. However, in the present proceedings, the Assessee has not cited or relied upon on the Judgment of Hon'ble High Court of Judicature at Bombay in the case of Shelf Drilling Ron Tappmeyer Ltd. (supra) on the other hand Assessee relied on the Judgment of Madras High Court in Roca Bathroom Products (P) Ltd. (supra) on which no stay is in operation.

10. The Revenue has canvassed that deciding the present Appeal will only result in multiplication of proceedings and sought for deferring the hearing of the Appeal pending before the Tribunal. However, the provision of Section 158AB of the Income Tax Act provides for the procedure to be adopted by the Department in case where an identical question of law is pending before the Hon'ble High Court or Hon'ble Supreme Court. For the sake of ready reference, Section 158AB is reproduced as under:- “Procedure where an identical question of law is pending before High Courts or Supreme Court.

158AB. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, where the collegium is of the opinion that— (a) any question of law arising in the case of an assessee for any assessment year (such case being herein referred to as the relevant case) is identical with a question of law arising,— (i) in his case for any other assessment year; or (ii) in the case of any other assessee for any assessment year; and (b) such question is pending before the jurisdictional High Court under section 260A or the Supreme Court in an appeal under section 261 or in a special leave petition under article 136 of the Constitution, against the order of the Appellate Tribunal or the jurisdictional High Court, as the case may be, which is in favour of such assessee (such case being herein referred to as the other case), Airbnb Payments India Private Limited vs. DCIT the collegium may, decide and inform the Principal Commissioner or Commissioner not to file any appeal, at this stage, to the Appellate Tribunal under sub-section (2) of section 253 or to the jurisdictional High Court under sub-section (2) of section 260A in the relevant case against the order of 29[the Joint Commissioner (Appeals) or] the Commissioner (Appeals) or the Appellate Tribunal, as the case may be.

(2) The Principal Commissioner or the Commissioner shall, on receipt of a communication from the collegium under sub-section (1), notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (3) of section 253 or clause (a) of sub-section (2) of section 260A, direct the Assessing Officer to make an application to the Appellate Tribunal or the jurisdictional High Court, as the case may be, in such form as may be prescribed within a period of one hundred and twenty days from the date of receipt of the order of 29[the Joint Commissioner (Appeals) or] the Commissioner (Appeals) or of the Appellate Tribunal, as the case may be, stating that an appeal on the question of law arising in the relevant case may be filed when the decision on such question of law becomes final in the other case.

(3) The Principal Commissioner or Commissioner shall direct the Assessing Officer to make an application under sub-section (2) only if an acceptance is received from the assessee to the effect that the question of law in the other case is identical to that arising in the relevant case; and in case no such acceptance is received, the Principal Commissioner or Commissioner shall, notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (3) of section 253 or clause (a) of sub-section (2) of section 260A, proceed in accordance with the provisions contained in sub-section (2) of section 253 or in clause (c) of sub- section (2) of section 260A.

(4) Where the order of 29[the Joint Commissioner (Appeals) or] the Commissioner (Appeals) or the order of the Appellate Tribunal, as the case may be, referred to in sub- section (1) is not in conformity with the final decision on the question of law in the other case, as and when such order is received, the Principal Commissioner or Commissioner may direct the Assessing Officer to appeal to the Appellate Tribunal or the jurisdictional High Court, as the case may be, against such order and save as otherwise provided in this section all other provisions of Part B and Part CC of Chapter XX shall apply accordingly. (5) Every appeal under sub-section (4) shall be filed within a period of sixty days to the Appellate Tribunal or one hundred and twenty days to the High Court, as the case may be, from the date on which the order of the jurisdictional High Court or the Supreme Court in the other case is communicated to the Principal Commissioner or the Commissioner (having jurisdiction over the relevant case), in accordance with the procedure specified by the Board in this behalf. Explanation.—For the purposes of this section, "collegium" means a collegium comprising of two or more Chief Commissioners or Principal Commissioners or Commissioners, as may be specified by the Board in this behalf.”

Thus, in our opinion, it is for the Revenue to adopt the procedure contemplated u/s 158AB of the Act where an identical question of law is pending before the Hon'ble High Court or the Supreme Court.

11. Further, the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Shree Chamundi Mopeds Ltd. Vs. Church of South India Trust Association (1992) 3 SCC 1, held that, mere grant of stay does not obliterate the binding nature of the Judgment passed by the Hon'ble High Court in following manners:- “In the instant case, the proceedings before the Board under ss. 15 and 16 of the Act had been terminated by order of the Board dated April 26, 1990 whereby the Board, upon consideration of the facts and material before it, found that the appellant-company had become economically and commercially non-viable due to its huge accumulated losses and liabilities and should be wound up. The appeal filed by the appellant-company under s. 25 of the Act against said order dated January 7, 1991. As a result of these orders, no proceedings under the Act was pending either before the Board or before the Appellate Authority on February 21, 1991 when the Delhi High Court passed the interim order staying the operation of the Appellate Authority dated January 7, 1991. The said stay order of the High Court cannot have the effect of reviving the proceedings which had been disposed of by the Appellate Authority by its order dated January 7, 1991. While considering the effect of an interim order staying the operation of the order under challenge, a distinction has to be made between quashing of an order and stay of operation of an order Quashing of an order results in the restoration of the position as it stood on the date of the passing of the order which has been quashed. The stay of operation of an order does not, however, lead to such a result. It only means that the order which has been stayed would not be operative from the date of the passing of the stay order and it does not mean that the said order has been wiped out from existence. This means that if an order passed by the Appellate Authority is quashed and the matter is remanded, the result would be that the appeal which had been disposed of by the said order of the Appellate Authority would be restored and it can be said to be pending before the Appellate Authority after the quashing of the order of the Appellate Authority. The same cannot be said with regard to an order staying the operation of the order of the Appellate Authority because in spite of the said order, the order of the Appellate Authority continues to exist in law so long as it exists, it cannot be said that the appeal which has been disposed of by the said order has not been disposed of and is still pending. We are, therefore, of the opinion that the passing of the interim order dated February 21, 1991 by the Delhi High Court staying the operation of the order of the Appellate Authority dated January 7, 1991 does not have the effect of reviving the appeal which had been dismissed by the Appellate Authority by its order dated January 7, 1991 and it cannot be said that after February 21, 1991, the said appeal stood revived and was pending before the Appellate Authority. In that view of the matter, it cannot be said that any proceedings under the Act were pending before the Board or the Appellate Authority on the date of the passing of the order dated August 14, 1991 by the learned Single Judge of the Karnataka High Court for winding up of the company or on November 6, 1991 when the Division Bench passed the order dismissing O.S.A. No. 16 of 1991 filed by the appellant- company against the order of the learned Single Judge dated August 14, 1991. Section Airbnb Payments India Private Limited vs. DCIT 22(1) of the Act could not, therefore, be invoked and there was no impediment in the High Court dealing with the winding up petition filed by the respondents. This is the only question that has been canvassed in Civil Appeal No. 126 to 1992, directed against the order for winding up of the appellant-company. The said appeal, therefore, fails and is liable to be dismissed.”

12. Further the Hon'ble High Court of Bombay in the case of CIT v. Smt. Godavari Devi Saraf (1978) 113 ITR 589, observed that Income Tax Act is an all India statute and until a contrary decision given by any other competent High Court, the ratio laid down by the Hon'ble High Court is binding on the Tribunal. The relevant portion of the Judgment of Hon'ble High Court of Bombay is as under: – 9 ......It should not be overlooked that the Income-tax Act is an All-India statute and if an Income-tax Tribunal in Madras, in view of the decision of the Madras High Court, has to proceed on the footing that section 1404(3) was non-existent, the order of penalty there under cannot be imposed by the authority under the Act. Until a contrary decision is given by any other competent High Court, which is binding on a Tribunal in the State of Bombay, it has to proceed on the footing that the law declared by the High Court, though of another State, is the final law of the land..... Emphasis Supplied

12. Viewed thus, the views expressed by the coordinate benches, which have met approval of Hon'ble Courts above, are required to be followed, in preference over views expressed by any other benches, whether in assessee's own case or in any Airbnb Payments India Private Limited vs. DCIT other case and irrespective of the views being that of a division bench or even larger bench. We humbly how to the wisdom of Hon’ble Courts above……….’ 14. As observed earlier, there is neither any stay nor any order refraining the Assessee from citing the Judgment of Hon'ble High Court of Madras in the case of Roca Bathroom Products (P) Ltd. (supra). It is also matter of fact that there is no Judgment of any other Hon'ble High Court contrary to the ratio laid down in the case of Roca Bathroom Products (P) Ltd. (supra). Therefore, the ratio laid down by the Hon'ble High Court of Madras in the case of Roca Bathroom Products (P) Ltd. (supra) is having effect of binding precedent on the Tribunal.

15. Further specific query was made by the Bench to both the parties on the orders passed by the Co-ordinate Bench of the Tribunal at Hyderabad, wherein the Appeals have been decided on the issue of limitation relying on the Judgment of Hon'ble High Court of Madras in the case of Roca Bathroom Products (P) Ltd. (supra). It was informed to the Bench that none of the orders of the Tribunal Hyderabad Bench are stayed by the Jurisdictional High Court.

Airbnb Payments India Private Limited vs. DCIT 144C(13) r.w.s. 144B of the Act. In case the final assessment order passed by the A.O. under Section 143(3) r.w.s. 144C(13) r.w.s. 144B is beyond the upper time limit provided under Section 153(1) and Section 153(4) of the Act, then the said order is beyond the limitation prescribed and liable to be quashed. In the present case, there is no dispute with regard to the fact that the normal time limit available for passing the assessment order, as per the provisions of Section 153(1) of the Act, is 18 months from the end of the relevant assessment year, which would expire on 30.09.2020 for A.Y. 2018-19. Further, as per the provisions of Section 153(4) of the Act, where a reference under Section 92CA of the Act was made to the Transfer Pricing Officer (TPO), the time) limit available stands extended by another 12 months, and in the present case, the upper time limit for completion of assessment proceedings would expire on 30.09.2021.

19. We further noted that, although the decisions of the Hon'ble Madras High Court in the case of CIT Vs. Roca Bathroom Products Private Limited (supra) and the Hon'ble Bombay High Court in the case of Shelf Drilling Ron Tappmeyer Limited Vs. ACIT, International Taxation (supra) are in favour of the assessee, and we dispose of the appeal filed by the assessee by following the above two decisions and quashed the assessment order, but the fact remains that the revenue has challenged the decision of the Hon'ble Bombay High Court in the case of Shelf Drilling Ron Tappmeyer Limited Vs. ACIT, International Taxation (supra) by filing an SLP before the Hon'ble Supreme Court, and the Hon'ble Supreme Court has disposed of the appeal. Further, the Hon'ble Supreme Court has delivered a split verdict by two Hon'ble Judges on this issue, i.e., one in favour of the revenue and one in favour of the assessee. Therefore, in our considered view, the matter is still pending for adjudication before the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case Shelf Drilling Ron Tappmeyer Limited Vs. ACIT, International Taxation (supra) and is to be resolved by a Larger Bench of the Hon'ble Supreme Court on this issue. Therefore, considering the present legal position, we keep all other issues raised by the assessee, including the admitted additional ground relating to DIN compliance, open. The parties shall be at liberty to seek revival of the appeal for adjudication of the remaining issues, if the decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court on the above question necessitates modification of this order. Accordingly, we dispose of this appeal on this legal issue and keep open the other issues raised by the assessee on merits, in case the Hon'ble Supreme Court decides the issue otherwise.”

Airbnb Payments India Private Limited vs. DCIT 18. In view of the above discussion and also following the ratio laid down by the Co- ordinate Bench of the Tribunal of Hyderabad Bench (supra), we reject the preliminary objection raised by the Revenue and the request for deferring the hearing made by the Department.”

8. The Hon'ble High Court of Madras in the case of Roca Bathroom Products Pvt. Ltd (supra) held that, time limit prescribed u/s 153 of the Act has to be adhered to and that both Airbnb Payments India Private Limited vs. DCIT Section 144C and 153 of the Act are mutually inclusive and interdependent. The presence of notwithstanding clause in Section 144C(13) of the Act would not exclude the operation of Section 153 of the Act. The relevant portion of the Judgment of Hon'ble High Court of Madras in the case of Roca Bathroom Products Pvt. Ltd (supra)is reproduced as under:- “Discussions and findings: 18. The main contentions of the Department, through their counsel are that Section 144C is a code in itself and hence on remand by the ITAT, the power of DRP to take up the dispute on additions by TPO, is not circumscribed by Section 153 and that in the absence of any express time limits contemplated under the Act, the time limits under Section 153 for reassessment cannot be read into Section 144C more particularly when the provisions of Section 153 are excluded by the non-obstante clause in section 144C(13) and hence the proceedings are not barred by limitation. Per contra, it has been contended by the learned senior counsels appearing for the respondent(s)/assessees that the outer time limit under Section 153 is applicable to every proceedings on remand and the department having slept over the issue for several years, cannot now redo the proceedings afresh, after certain rights have vested with the assessees. Even if specific provisions are not there to deal with this situation, the proceedings must be concluded within a reasonable time and hence the impugned proceedings are liable to be struck down and rightly done so by the learned Judge.

19. Admittedly, the facts including the dates are not under dispute. As regards the appeal in W.A.No.1854 of 2021, even though the remand was on 24.01.2013 and the assessee had received the order on 08.02.2013, the first notice by the DRP was issued on 19.02.2014 and the first hearing in the Chennai office was on 10.03.2014. Therefore, it is lucid that the DRP had the knowledge of the order before 19.02.2014. The matter was heard on various dates in Chennai office and written submissions were also filed. Thereafter, the files have been transferred to Bengaluru by the CBDT notification dated 31.12.2014. The Learned Judge relying upon the findings in the batch of cases which was decided first and rendered additional findings, which have been extracted in paragraphs 10 and 11 above, has allowed the writ petitions holding that the time limit under Section 153 (2A) was not adhered to and in any case, the proceedings have not been concluded within a reasonable time.

21. As held above, the assessment has to be concluded within 21 months when there is no reference and when there is a reference, it has to be concluded within 33 months. In the additional 12 months, the draft order is to be passed, the objections have to be filed, the DRP has to issue the directions and the final order is to be passed. The provisions under section 144C and section 153 are not mutually exclusive as both contain provisions relating to Section 92CA and are inter-dependent and overlapping. On remand, prior to amendment as per Section 153 (2A), the Assessing officer is given 12 months to pass a fresh assessment order. Therefore, it is incumbent on him to do so, irrespective of the fact that DRP has completed the hearing and issued the directions or not. As rightly held by the learned judge, we are of the view that the DRP ought to have concluded the proceedings within 9 months from the date of receipt of the Tribunal’s order, when it had issued a notice on 19.02.2014 and conducted the hearing as early as on 10.03.2014 and on several dates. The DRP at Chennai, in fact ought to have passed orders before 19.11.2014, even if the date of receipt of the notice is taken as 19.02.2014. In that event, the assessing officer ought to have passed the order before 31.12.2014 or at the latest before 31.03.2015 considering that the order was received during the financial year 2013-14. The transfer of the files to Bengaluru, after the lapse of the time, will not indefinitely extend the time and can have no impact on the time lines. It is an inter- department arrangement and it cannot defeat the rights of the assessee.

12. In Canada Sugar Refining Co. v. R. [1898 AC 735 : 67 LJPC 126] , Lord Davy observed: “Every clause of a statute should be construed with reference to the context and other clauses of the Act, so as, as far as possible, to make a consistent enactment of the whole statute or series of statutes relating to the subject-matter.” ……….

Airbnb Payments India Private Limited vs. DCIT 14. This rule of construction which is also spoken of as “ex visceribusactus” helps in avoiding any inconsistency either within a section or between two different sections or provisions of the same statute.

18. The statute must be read as a whole and one provision of the Act should be construed with reference to other provisions in the same Act so as to make a consistent enactment of the whole statute.

19. The court must ascertain the intention of the legislature by directing its attention not merely to the clauses to be construed but to the entire statute; it must compare the clause with other parts of the law and the setting in which the clause to be 23 interpreted occurs. (See R.S. Raghunath v. State of Karnataka [(1992) 1 SCC 335 : 1992 SCC (L&S) 286 : (1992) 19 ATC 507 : AIR 1992 SC 81] .) Such a construction has the merit of avoiding any inconsistency or repugnancy either within a section or between two different sections or provisions of the same statute. It is the duty of the court to avoid a head-on clash between two sections of the same Act. (See Sultana Begum v. Prem Chand Jain [(1997) 1 SCC 373 : AIR 1997 SC 1006]).” (iii) Franklin Templeton Trustee Services (P) Ltd. v. AmrutaGarg, (2021) 6 SCC 736 : 2021 SCC OnLine SC 88 at page 752:

Airbnb Payments India Private Limited vs. DCIT “17. The concept of “absurdity” in the context of interpretation of statutes is construed to include any result which is unworkable, impracticable, illogical, futile or pointless, artificial, or productive of a disproportionate counter-mischief [ See Bennion on Statutory Interpretation, 5th Edn., p.969.] Logic referred to herein is not formal or syllogistic logic, but acceptance that enacted law would not set a standard which is palpably unjust, unfair, unreasonable or does not make any sense. [Bennion on Statutory Interpretation, 5th Edn., p. 986.] When an interpretation is beset with practical difficulties, the courts have not shied from turning sides to accept an interpretation that offers a pragmatic solution that will serve the needs of society [Id, p. 971, quoting Griffiths, L.J.] .Therefore, when there is choice between two interpretations, we would avoid a “construction” which would reduce the legislation to futility, and should rather accept the “construction” based on the view that draftsmen would legislate only for the purpose of bringing about an effective result. We must strive as far as 24 possible to give meaningful life to enactment or rule and avoid cadaveric consequences [See Principles of Statutory Interpretation by Justice G.P. Singh, 14th Edn., p. 50.]”

23. Further, similar non-obstante clause is also used in section 144C(4) with a same limited purpose to imply, even though there might be a larger time limit under Section 153, once the order of TPO is accepted or not objected to, causing a deeming fiction of acceptance, the final order is to be passed immediately. The object is to conclude the proceedings as expeditiously as possible and the authority need not wait for the last date to pass the orders. The limitation prescribed under the statute is for the assessing officer and therefore, it is his duty to pass order in time irrespective of whether the directions are received from DRP or not. As held by us above, the DRP will have no authority to issue directions after nine months and a further period of one month as per section 144C (13) and three months under section 153 (2A) is available, within which period no orders have been passed in the present cases. The reference made by the learned senior counsels on the judgments in Nokia India Private Ltd (supra) and Vedanta Ltd (Supra) is well founded. The timeline given under the Act is to be strictly followed.

Airbnb Payments India Private Limited vs. DCIT 25. As regards the relief sought in other appeals viz., W.A.No. 1517/2021 etc. batch, the findings rendered above are equally applicable. In these cases, for the assessment year 2009-10, the order of remand to the Assessing officer was passed on 18.12.2015 and insofar as the assessment year 2010-11 is concerned for one issue, it was passed on 18.12.2015 and for other two issues, it was passed on 23.09.2016 after the amendment, by which time, the time limit was brought down to 9 months. As such, fresh orders ought to have been passed before 31.03.2017 for the assessment year 2009-10 and for one issue relating to the assessment year 2010-11 reckoning the 12 months from the financial year 2015-16 and on or before 31.12.2017 reckoning 9 months from the financial year 2016- 17. Therefore, the Assessing officer ought to have passed a draft assessment order immediately and asked the assessee to file their objections with the DRP. For the mistake and the lapse of the Assessing officer, the vested right of the Assessee cannot be taken away.

Airbnb Payments India Private Limited vs. DCIT (f) The non-obstante clause would not exclude the operation of Section 153 as a whole. It on implies that irrespective of availability of larger time to conclude the proceedings, final orders are to be passed within one month in line with the scheme of the Act. (g) When no period of limitation is prescribed, orders are to be passed within a reasonable time, which in any case cannot be beyond 3 years. However, when the statute prescribes a particular period within which orders are to be passed, then such period, irrespective of whether it is short or long, shall be applicable.”