PR COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (EXEMPTIONS) vs. M/S KARNATAKA WATER & SANITATION POOLED FUND

1/12 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BENGALURU

DATED THIS THE 30TH DAY OF AUGUST 2018

PRESENT

THE HON'BLE Dr.JUSTICE VINEET KOTHARI

AND

THE HON’BLE Mrs.JUSTICE S.SUJATHA

I.T.A.No.11 OF 2018

BETWEEN:

Bengaluru.

…Appellants (By Mr.Sanmathi E I, Adv.)

AND:

M/s. Karnataka Water & Sanitation Pooled Fund, Silver Jubilee Block, 2nd floor, Unity Building Annexe, 3rd cross, Mission Road, Bengaluru. …Respondent (By Mr.S.Parthasarathi, Adv.)

Date of Judgment 30-08-2018 I.T.A.No.11/2018 Pr. Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions) & Another Vs. M/s. Karnataka Water & Sanitation Pooled Fund.

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This Income Tax Appeal is filed under Section 260-A of Income Tax Act 1961, arising out of order dated 07.07.2017 passed in ITA No.1607/Bng/2016, for the Assessment Year 2011-2012, praying to decide the foregoing question of law and/or such other questions of law as may be formulated by the Hon'ble Court as deemed fit and set aside the appellate order dated 07.07.2017 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, 'A' Bench, Bengaluru, in appeal proceedings No.ITA No.1607/Bng/2016 for Assessment Year 2011-2012, as sought for in this appeal; and to grant such other relief as deemed fit, in the interest of justice.

This I.T.A. coming on for hearing, this day S.Sujatha J. delivered the following:-

JUDGMENT

Mr.Sanmathi E.I., Adv. for Appellants – Revenue. Mr.S.Parthasarathi, Adv. for Respondent – Assessee.

Date of Judgment 30-08-2018 I.T.A.No.11/2018 Pr. Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions) & Another Vs. M/s. Karnataka Water & Sanitation Pooled Fund.

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Date of Judgment 30-08-2018 I.T.A.No.11/2018 Pr. Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions) & Another Vs. M/s. Karnataka Water & Sanitation Pooled Fund.

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School. The relevant portion of the said order is extracted hereunder for ready reference:

“3. This Court in the case of ‘Commissioner of Income Tax-III, Pune v. Rajasthan & Gujarati Charitable Foundation Poona’ [2018] 89 taxmann.com 127 [SC] with regard to allowability and Depreciation in the hands of Religious and Charitable Trust held as under:

“5. Learned Counsel at the Bar submitted that so far as the issue regarding claim of Depreciation under Section 32 of the Act is concerned, the controversy is no longer res integra, having been settled by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of ‘Commissioner of Income Tax-III, Pune v. Rajasthan & Gujarati Charitable Foundation Poona’ [2018] 89 taxmann.com 127 [SC], by which the Hon’ble Supreme Court has affirmed the view taken by the Bombay High Court in ‘Commissioner of Income Tax v. Institute of Banking Personnel

Date of Judgment 30-08-2018 I.T.A.No.11/2018 Pr. Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions) & Another Vs. M/s. Karnataka Water & Sanitation Pooled Fund.

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Selection (IBPS)’ [2003] 131 Taxman 386 [Bom.]. The relevant portion of the said Judgment of Bombay High Court as quoted by the Hon’ble Supreme Court and affirmed is quoted below for ready reference.

“In the said judgment, [Bombay High Court] the contention of the Department predicated on double benefit was turned down in the following manner:

Date of Judgment 30-08-2018 I.T.A.No.11/2018 Pr. Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions) & Another Vs. M/s. Karnataka Water & Sanitation Pooled Fund.

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as a Public Charitable Trust. It was also registered with the Commissioner, Pune. The assessee derived income from the temple property which was a Trust property. During the course of assessment proceedings for assessment years 1977-78, 1978- 79 and 1979-80, the assessee claimed depreciation on the value of the building at the rate of 2.5 per cent and they also claimed depreciation on furniture at the rate of 5 per cent. The question which arose before the court for determination was: whether depreciation could be denied to the assessee, as expenditure on acquisition of the assets had been treated as application of income in the year of acquisition? It was held by the Bombay High Court that section 11 of the Income Tax Act makes provision in respect of

Date of Judgment 30-08-2018 I.T.A.No.11/2018 Pr. Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions) & Another Vs. M/s. Karnataka Water & Sanitation Pooled Fund.

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computation of income of the Trust from the properly held for charitable or religious purposes and it also provides for application and accumulation of income. On the other hand, section 28 of the Income Tax Act deals with chargeability of income from profits and gains of business and section 29 provides that income from profits and gains of business shall be computed in accordance with section 30 to section 43C, That, section 32(1) of the Act provides for depreciation in respect of building, plant and machinery owned by the assessee and used for the business purposes. It further provides for deduction subject to section 34. In that matter also, a similar argument, as in the present case, was advanced on behalf of the revenue, namely, that depreciation can be allowed as deduction only

Date of Judgment 30-08-2018 I.T.A.No.11/2018 Pr. Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions) & Another Vs. M/s. Karnataka Water & Sanitation Pooled Fund.

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under section 32 of the Income Tax Act and not under general principles. The court rejected this argument. It was held that normal depreciation can be considered as a legitimate deduction in computing the real income of the assessee on general principles or under section 11(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act. The court rejected the argument on behalf of the revenue that section 32 of the Income Tax Act was the only section granting benefit of deduction on account of depreciation. It was held that income of a Charitable Trust derived from building, plant and machinery and furniture was liable to be computed in normal commercial manner although the Trust may not be carrying on any business and the assets in respect whereof depreciation is claimed may not be business assets. In all

Date of Judgment 30-08-2018 I.T.A.No.11/2018 Pr. Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions) & Another Vs. M/s. Karnataka Water & Sanitation Pooled Fund.

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such cases, section 32 of the Income Tax Act providing for depreciation for computation of income derived from business or profession is not applicable. However, the income of the Trust is required to be computed under section 11 on commercial principles after providing for allowance for normal depreciation and deduction thereof from gross income of the Trust. In view of the aforestated Judgment of the Bombay High Court, we answer question No. 1 in the affirmative i.e., in favour of the assessee and against the department.”

xxxxxxx…..

Date of Judgment 30-08-2018 I.T.A.No.11/2018 Pr. Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions) & Another Vs. M/s. Karnataka Water & Sanitation Pooled Fund.

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Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions) and another Vs. Ohio University Christ College rendered on 17.07.2018 in ITA.No.312/2016 and ITA No.313/2016, in which this Court held as under: xxxxxxx…..

Date of Judgment 30-08-2018 I.T.A.No.11/2018 Pr. Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions) & Another Vs. M/s. Karnataka Water & Sanitation Pooled Fund.

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principles and if commercial principles are applied, then adjustment of expenses incurred by the trust for charitable and religious purposes in the earlier years against the income earned by the trust in the subsequent year will have to be regarded as application of income of the trust for charitable and religious purposes in the subsequent year.

xxxx….

In view of the controversy covered by the above decisions of this Court, we are of the opinion that the substantial question of law as suggested by the appellants does not now arise for our further consideration in the present appeal.”

Date of Judgment 30-08-2018 I.T.A.No.11/2018 Pr. Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions) & Another Vs. M/s. Karnataka Water & Sanitation Pooled Fund.

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Sd/- JUDGE

Sd/- JUDGE

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