SHRI PATEL MAHENDRABHAI ADITBHAI,-HUF,AHMEDABAD vs. THE ITO, WARD-7(2)(3), AHMEDABAD

PER P.M. JAGTAP, VICE-PRESIDENT :

Shri Patel Mahendrabhai Aditbhai-HUF Vs. ITO AY : 2017-18 3 High Court in the case of Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (supra), as rightly pointed out by the learned DR, we proceed to dispose of this appeal ex-parte qua the assessee. It is observed that in the case of Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (supra), the Hon’ble jurisdictional High Court has decided a similar issue vide its judgment dated 26.12.2013; the relevant paragraphs of which i.e. paragraph No.7.12 to 8 are reproduced below:

“7.12 Now, so far as the reliance placed upon the decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Sarabhai Sons Ltd. (supra), by the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the assessee and his submission that if two views are possible and different High Courts have taken a particular view, this Court may not take a different view, is concerned, we are of the opinion that in the present case, and as discussed hereinabove, only one view is possible as canvassed on behalf of the revenue and as observed by under section hereinabove and we are not in agreement with the view taken by the Himachal Pradesh High Court; Karnataka High Court; Rajasthan High Court and Punjab and Haryana High Court in the cases refereed to hereinabove, and therefore, the submission made on behalf of the assessee to follow the decisions of the different High Courts refereed to hereinabove and/or not to take a contrary view cannot be accepted. 8.00 In view of the above and for the reasons stated above, and considering section 36(1)(va) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 read with sub-clause (x) of clause 24 of section 2, it is held that with respect to the sum received by the assessee from any of his employees to which provisions of sub-clause (x) of clause (24) of section (2) applies, the assessee shall be entitled to deduction in computing the income referred to in section 28 with respect to such sum credited by the assessee to the employees' account in the relevant fund or funds on or before the "due date" mentioned in explanation to section 36(1)(va). Consequently, it is held that the learned tribunal has erred in deleting respective disallowances being employees' contribution to PF Account / ESI Account made by the AO as, as such, such sums were not credited by the respective assessee to the employees' accounts in the relevant fund or funds (in the present case Provident Fund and/or ESI Fund on or before the due date as per the explanation to section 36(1)(va) of the Act i.e. date by which the concerned assessee was required as an employer to credit employees' contribution to the employees' account in the Provident Fund under the Provident Fund Act and/or in the ESI Fund under the ESI Act.”

Shri Patel Mahendrabhai Aditbhai-HUF Vs. ITO AY : 2017-18 4

As the issue involved in the present case as well as all the material facts relevant thereto are similar to the case of Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (supra), we respectfully follow the decision of Hon’ble jurisdictional High Court rendered in the said case and uphold the impugned order of the learned CIT(A) confirming the disallowance made by the Assessing Officer on account of belated payment of employees’ contribution towards PF & ESI.

Order pronounced in the Court on 5th May, 2022 at Ahmedabad.