THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX vs. M/S AMBUTHIRTHA POWER PVT LTD
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court held that the sale of carbon credits is a capital receipt, aligning with a previous judgment by the same court. The court found no merit in the Revenue's appeal.
What were the facts?
The Revenue appealed against an ITAT order that treated the sale of carbon credits as a capital receipt. The assessee argued that the carbon credits were issued based on net electricity generated, traceable to its manufacturing activity.
What were the issues?
The key issues were whether the sale of carbon credits constituted a capital receipt or a revenue receipt, and whether it was taxable as income from business activities.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
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- CIT v. Subhas Kabini Corporation Ltd.51 citing385 ITR 592 · 2016 · HC
1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 5TH DAY OF OCTOBER 2020
PRESENT
THE HON’BLE MR.JUSTICE ALOK ARADHE AND THE HON’BLE MR.JUSTICE H.T.NARENDRA PRASAD I.T.A NO.425/2014 BETWEEN:
THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX.,
C.R.BUILDING
QUEENS ROAD, BANGALORE.
THE INCOME-TAX OFFICER
WARD-11(1)
RASHTROTHANA BHAVAN
NRUPATHUNGA ROAD, BANGALORE.
…. APPELLANTS (BY SRI.K.V.ARAVIND ADV.)
AND
M/S. AMBUTHIRTHA POWER PVT. LTD., NO.137, 7TH FLOOR H.M.G. AMBASSADOR BUILDING RESIDENCY ROAD BANGALORE-560 025. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI.T.SURYA NARAYANA, ADV.)
THIS ITA IS FILED UNDER SECTION 260(A) OF INCOME TAX ACT 1961, ARISING OUT OF ORDER DATED: 16.05.2014 PASSED IN ITA NO.465/BANG/2013, FOR THE ASSESSMENT YEAR 2009-10. PRAYING THIS HON’BLE COURT TO: I) FORMULATE THE SUBSTANTIAL QUESTION OF LAW STATED ABOVE. II) ALLOW THE APPEAL AND SET ASIDE THE ORDERS PASSED BY THE INCOME-TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL, BANGALORE IN ITA NO.465/BANG/2013 DATED:16.05.2014 AND CONFIRM THE ORDER OF TE APPELLATE COMMISSIONER CONFIRMING THE ORDER PASSED BY THE INCOME TAX OFFICER, WARD-11(1) BANGALORE.
THIS ITA COMING ON FOR HEARING, THIS DAY, ALOK ARADHE J., DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
JUDGMENT
Mr.K.V.Aravind, learned counsel for the Revenue. Mr.T.Suryanarayana, learned counsel for the assessee.
This appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 has been filed by the Revenue. The subject matter pertains to the Assessment year
3 2009-10. The appeal was admitted by a Bench of this Court vide order dated 30.3.2015 on following substantial questions of law: 1. Whether the Tribunal was correct in holding that the sale of carbon credit is to be considered as capital receipts thereby allowing the alternative ground without appreciating that the assessee and its return of income had admitted that the income from sale of carbon credits is taxable u/s.28(iv) as the carbon credits was issued on net electricity generated which is traceable to its manufacturing activity and the receipts were inseparable from the business of generation of power?. 2. Whether the Tribunal was correct in allowing the alternative plea of the assessee that the consideration received on sale of carbon credits was a capital received without appreciating that certified emission reductions (CERs) are not awarded as a subsidy but granted as an incentive for use of alternative fuel which is
4 a revenue item, that they are not granted against or impairment of profit-making apparatus; that it is not awarded for transfer of any capital asset nor granted as subsidy or compensation for partly meeting the cost of the plant and machinery and that according to AS-9 Certified Emission Reductions(CERs) are considered as inventories and valued accordingly by the industry?”
At the outset, when the matter was taken up today, the learned counsel for the assessee pointed out that the substantial questions of law involved in this appeal have already been answered by the Bench of this Court in the case of Commissioner of Income Tax-III –v- Subhash Kabini Corporation Ltd. 385 ITR 592(KAR) decided on 29.3.2016. The aforesaid legal position could not be disputed by the learned counsel for the Revenue.
5 4. We have considered the submissions made on both sides. In view of the law laid down by this Court in Subhash Kabini Corporation Ltd. (supra) and for the reasons assigned therein, the substantial questions of law framed by this court are answered against the Revenue and in favour of the assessee.
In the result, we find no merit in the appeal. The same fails and is hereby dismissed.
Sd/- JUDGE
Sd/- JUDGE
DM/-
More judgments on Section 28(iv)
- Bharat Cottage Industries, Mumbai vs Circle 41(4)(1), MumbaiITA 2904/MUM/2026[2020-21]Status: Disposed16 Sept 2026AY 2020-21
- Marvel Infrabuild Private Limited, Kadugodi… vs ITO, Ward-4(1)(3), BangaloreITA 2206/BANG/2024[2014-15]Status: Disposed8 Sept 2026AY 2014-15
- Lotus Refineries Private Limited, Chandigarh vs ACIT, ChandigarhITA 450/CHANDI/2026[2014-15]Status: Disposed1 Sept 2026AY 2014-15
- JCIT(OSD), Range-10, ITO C.R. Building vs Gem Agrofoods Pvt. Ltd., Shanti NiketanITA 1227/DEL/2025[2014-15]Status: Disposed21 Aug 2026AY 2014-15
- DCIT Circle Gandhinagar, Gandhinagar vs Rajena Agro Products Private Limited, PatanITA 2096/AHD/2026[2021-22]Status: Disposed19 Aug 2026AY 2021-22
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