M/S MANJUNATHESHWARA CREDIT CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD,BANGALORE vs. INCOME TAX OFFICER WARD-6(2)(2), BANGALORE

This appeal is filed by the assessee which is directed against the order of ld. CIT(A)-6, Bangalore dated21.11.2017 for Assessment Year 2013-14.

The grounds raised

The Assessing Officer and CIT(A) erred in not holding that the Appellant is not a primary co-op bank as referred in Section 5(ccv) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 on the facts and circumstances of the case.

The CIT(A) failed to appreciate that, insertion of clause (viia) in Section 2(24) of the Act does not alter the position so far as exemption u/s.80P(2)(a)(i) of the Act is concerned to a co-op credit society which is engaged in providing credit facilities to its members.

The Appellant craves leave to add, alter, delete or substitute any of the grounds urged above.

In view of the above and other grounds that may be urged at the time of hearing of the appeal, your Appellant prays that the appeal may be allowed in the interest of equity and justice.”

It was submitted by ld. AR of assessee that the only issue involved in this case is regarding allowability of deduction u/s. 80P(2)(a)(i) of Rs. 30,51,245/- in respect of interest income from bank. He submitted that CIT(A) has followed the judgment of Hon'ble Karnataka High Court rendered in the case of PCIT and Another Vs. Totagars Co-operative Sale Society as reported in395 ITR 611 (Karn). But the issue is decided in favour of the assessee by another judgment of Hon'ble Karnataka High Court rendered in the case of Tumkur Merchants Souharda Credit Cooperative Ltd. Vs. ITO as reported in 230 Taxman 309. At this juncture, the bench pointed out that there is no conflict in these two judgments of Hon'ble Karnataka High Court but the ultimate conclusion in these two judgments is different because of the difference in facts. The bench pointed out that in case of PCIT and Another Vs. Totagars Co-operative Sale Society(supra), it was found that the investment in bank is out of liability of the assessee and therefore, the issue is decided against the assessee whereas in the case of Tumkur Merchants Souharda Credit Cooperative Ltd. Vs. ITO(supra), the money deposited in bank was not out of liability but out of assessee’s own fund and therefore, the decision is in favour of the assessee. The bench wanted to know as to whether there is any finding of authorities below regarding this aspect. The ld. AR of assessee submitted that these facts

I have considered the rival submissions and I find that the issue involved in the present case is about the deduction u/s. 80P(2)(a)(i) in respect of income on account of interest from bank. This aspect should be examined whether the relevant investment in bank was out of liability of the assessee or was out of the assessee’s own funds. These facts are not readily available and there is no comment of any of the authorities below on this aspect. Hence I feel it proper to restore the matter back to the file of AO for fresh decision. Accordingly, I set aside the order of CIT(A) and restore the matter back to the file of AO for fresh decision after examining the facts of the present case in the light of judgments of Hon'ble Karnataka High Court rendered in the case of PCIT and Another Vs. Totagars Co-operative Sale Society(supra) and Tumkur Merchants Souharda Credit Cooperative Ltd. Vs. ITO(supra) and if it is found that the facts of the present case are in line with the facts in the case of PCIT and Another Vs. Totagars Co-operative Sale Society(supra) then the issue may be decided against the assessee and if the facts of the present case are in same line with the facts in the case of Tumkur Merchants Souharda Credit Cooperative Ltd. Vs. ITO(supra) then the issue may be decided in favour of the assessee. The AO should pass necessary order as per law as per above discussion after providing adequate opportunity of being heard to assessee.