SHETH MERCANTILE CORPORATION,MUMBAI vs. INCOME TAX OFFICER 13(3)(1), MUMBAI

The issue urged by the assessee relates to disallowance made by the Assessing Officer u/s. 14A of the Act and confirmed by the learned CIT(A).

At the time of hearing learned AR submitted that an identical issue was considered by the Coordinate Bench in assessee’s own case in A.Y. 2008-09 and the Tribunal, vide its order dated 14.2.2014 passed in has restricted the disallowance u/s. 14A of the Act to 20% of the exempt income. Accordingly, he submitted that the addition made in this year may also be restricted to 20% of the exempt income as held in A.Y. 2008- 09.

On the contrary, learned DR submitted that Hon'ble Supreme Court has rendered its latest decision on 14A in the case of Maxopp Investment Ltd. (Civil Appeal No. 104-109 of 2015 dated 12.2.2018), wherein many propositions

When we went through the order passed by the learned CIT(A), we noticed that the assessee has not cited decision rendered by the Tribunal in A.Y. 2008-09 before the learned CIT(A). When it was pointed out, the learned AR submitted that the assessee has already moved a petition u/s. 154 of the Act before the learned CIT(A) and the same is pending before him.

When it was opined by the bench that the matter may also require fresh examination in the light of the decision rendered by Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Maxopp Investment Ltd. (supra), the learned AR submitted that the matter may be restored back to the file of the learned CIT(A) for examining the issue afresh in the light of the decision rendered by Hon'ble Supreme Court in the above said case and also considering the decision rendered by the Coordinate Bench in assessee’s own case in A.Y. 2008-09.

Learned DR also agreed with the same.

Having heard the rival submissions, we are of the view that the matter may be restored to the file of the learned CIT(A) for examining the issue afresh by duly considering the decision rendered by Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Maxopp Investment Ltd. (supra) and also decision rendered by the Coordinate Bench of the Tribunal in assessee’s own case in A.Y. 2008-09. Accordingly we set aside the order passed by Ld CIT(A) on this issue and restore the same to his file for examining it afresh.

In the result, appeal filed by the assessee is treated as allowed for statistical purposes. Order has been pronounced in the Court on 5.4.2018.