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Facts
The assessee filed appeals for AY 2016-17 and 2017-18 against orders passed under section 143(3). The lower authorities denied the assessee's claim for deduction under section 80P on interest income earned from term deposits, short-term deposits, and savings bank accounts.
Held
The Tribunal, while acknowledging that such interest income might not be directly "derived" from eligible business under section 80P(2), followed a Supreme Court precedent to adopt the view supporting the assessee's case. Consequently, the appeal was allowed on this substantive ground.
Key Issues
Whether interest income from term deposits, short-term deposits, and savings bank accounts is eligible for deduction under Section 80P of the Income Tax Act.
Sections Cited
143(3), 80P, 80P(2)
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Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, DELHI BENCH ‘SMC’, NEW DELHI
Before: Sh. Satbeer Singh Godara
IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL DELHI BENCH ‘SMC’, NEW DELHI Before Sh. Satbeer Singh Godara, Judicial Member : Asstt. Year: 2016- Asstt. Year: 2017-18 Vs Co-operative Cane Development Income Tax Officer, Union Ltd. Sambhaoli, Ward-2(3)(4), Hapur, Uttar Pradesh-245207 Hapur, U.P. -245207 (APPELLANT) (RESPONDENT) PAN No. AAATC5138R Assessee by : Ms. Gurneet Kaur, Adv. Revenue by : Sh. Manoj Kumar, Sr. DR Date of Hearing: 20.01.2026 Date of Pronouncement: 20.01.2026 ORDER
These assessee’s twin appeals in & 7027/Del/2025 for Assessment Years 2016-17 and 2017-18, arise against the Addl./JCIT(A), Thane’s DIN & order Nos. ITBA/APL/S/250/2025-26/1079243808(1) & 1079243999(1) both dated 04.08.2025, in proceedings u/s 143(3) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (in short “the Act”), respectively.
Heard both the parties at length. Case files perused.
Delay of 3 days in filing of both these appeals are condoned in the larger interest of justice in light of Collector Land Acquisition vs. Mst. Katiji & Ors (1987) 167 ITR 471 (SC).
Co-operative Cane Development Union Ltd. Sambhaoli 4. It transpires during the course of hearing that both the learned lower authorities have refused section 80P deduction to the assessee qua it’s income derived from term deposits, short- term deposits, and interest on savings bank accounts amounting to Rs.24,19,257/- (A.Y. 2016-17) and Rs.30,23,293/- (A.Y. 2017-18); assessment year wise, respectively, in assessment order(s) dated 30.12.2018 and 15.12.2019 and upheld in the lower appellate discussion.
Both the learned lower authorities hold that such an interest income as in the present instance received from term deposits, short-term deposits, and interest on savings bank accounts could not be held as “derived” from an eligible business activity under section 80P(2); and, therefore, the same deserves to be assessed as income from “other” sources only.
Mr. Kumar also quotes M/s. The Totgars' Cooperative Sale Society Ltd. Vs. ITO (2010) 322 ITR 283 (SC) deciding the very issue in the Revenue’s favour. The assessee on the other hand draws strong support from the Vaveru Co-operative Rural Bank Ltd. vs. CIT [(2017) 396 ITR 371 (AP)] wherein their lordships have rejected the Revenue’s identical stand. Be that as it may,
Co-operative Cane Development Union Ltd. Sambhaoli the fact remains that no valuable guidance has come from hon’ble jurisdictional high court at Allahabad on the instant issue. That being the case, we hereby quote Commissioner of Income-Tax, West Bengal-I vs. Vegetable Products Ltd. [1973] 88 ITR 192 (SC)to conclude that the view supporting the assessee’s case in such an instance has to be adopted; to accept the instant sole substantive ground against the department, in very terms. Necessary computation shall follow as per law.
No other ground or argument has been pressed before us.