COMMISSIONER OF INCOME vs. SHRI G BALRAJ, PWD

1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

DATED THIS THE 31ST DAY OF AUGUST 2016

PRESENT

THE HON’BLE MR.JUSTICE JAYANT PATEL AND THE HON’BLE MR.JUSTICE S.N.SATYANARAYANA

ITA NOS.103-104/2011 C/W ITA NOS.155-156/2011, ITA NO.343/2012, 70/2014, 71/2014 AND 233/2015

IN ITA NOS.103-104/2011:

BETWEEN:

...APPELLANTS (BY SRI.E I SANMATHI, ADVOCATE)

AND:

SHRI. G.BALRAJ, PWD CONTRACTOR,

2 KANKANADY, MANGALORE

...RESPONDENT (BY SRI.CHYTHANYA K.K, ADVOCATE)

THESE APPEALS ARE FILED U/S.260-A OF I.T.ACT, 1961 ARISING OUT OF ORDER DATED 12/11/2010 PASSED IN ITA NO.1207/BANG/2009, FOR THE ASSESSMENT YEAR 2006-07, PRAYING TO DECIDE THE FOREGOING QUESTION OF LAW STATED THEREIN AND ALLOW THE APPEAL AND SET ASIDE THE ORDER PASSED BY THE ITAT, 'A' BENCH, BANGALORE, IN APPEAL PROCEEDINGS ITA NO.1207/BANG/2009 AND CROSS OBJECTION NO.15/BNG/2010, AS SOUGHT FOR IN THIS APPEAL, IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY.

IN ITA NOS.155-156/2011:

BETWEEN:

...APPELLANTS (BY SRI.E I SANMATHI, ADVOCATE)

AND:

M/S.SHRI G BALRAJ PWD CONTRACTOR, NAGORI

3 KANKANADY, MANGALORE

...RESPONDENT (BY SRI.CHYTHANYA K K, ADVOCATE)

THESE APPEALS ARE FILED UNDER SEC.260-A OF I.T.ACT, 1961 ARISING OUT OF ORDER DATED 19/01/2011 PASSED IN ITA NO.594/BANG/2010, FOR THE ASSESSMENT YEAR 2007-08, PRAYING TO FORMULATE THE SUBSTANTIAL QUESTIONS OF LAW STATED THEREIN AND SET ASIDE THE COMMON APPELLATE ORDER DATED 19/01/2011 PASSED BY THE ITAT, 'A' BENCH, BANGALORE IN APPEAL PROCEEDINGS ITA NO.594/BANG/2010 AND C.O.NO.35/BANG/2010 PASSED ON 04/01/2011, AS SOUGHT FOR IN THIS APPEAL, IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY.

IN ITA NO.343/2012:

BETWEEN:

...APPELLANTS (BY SRI.E I SANMATHI, ADVOCATE)

AND:

SHRI. G BALARAJ

4 NO.6-112-81, NETRAVATHI NAGAR, LAYOUT, NAGORI, KANKANADY, MANGALORE

...RESPONDENT (BY SRI.K.K.CHYTHANYA, ADVOCATE)

THIS ITA IS FILED U/S.260-A OF I.T.ACT, 1961 ARISING OUT OF ORDER DATED 21-06-2012 PASSED IN ITA NO.825/BANG/2011, FOR THE ASSESSMENT YEAR 2008-09, PRAYING TO FORMULATE THE SUBSTANTIAL QUESTIONS OF LAW AS STATED THEREIN AND SET ASIDE THE COMMON APPELLATE ORDER DATED 21/06/2012 PASSED BY THE ITAT, 'A' BENCH, BANGALORE, AS SOUGHT FOR, IN APPEAL PROCEEDINGS ITA NO.825/BANG/2011.

IN ITA NO.70/2014:

BETWEEN:

...APPELLANTS

(BY SRI.E I SANMATHI, ADVOCATE)

AND:

MR. G BALARAJ PWD CONTRACTOR, 6-112-81, NETRAVATHI NAGAR LAYOUT, NAGORI, KANKANADY,

5 MANGALORE-575001 ...RESPONDENT

(BY SRI.K.K.CHYTHANYA, ADVOCATE)

THIS APPEAL IS FILED UNDER SEC.260-A OF INCOME TAX ACT 1961, ARISING OUT OF ORDER DATED 30/09/2013 PASSED IN ITA NO.122/BANG/2013, FOR THE ASSESSMENT YEAR 2006-07 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 30/09/2013 PASSED BY THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL, 'C' BENCH, BANGALORE, IN APPEAL PROCEEDINGS NO. I.T.A.NO.122/BANG/2013 FOR ASSESSMENT YEAR 2006- 07, AS SOUGHT FOR IN THIS APPEAL, AND TO GRANT SUCH OTHER RELIEF AS DEEMED FIT.

IN ITA NO.71/2014:

BETWEEN:

...APPELLANTS (BY SRI.E I SANMATHI, ADVOCATE)

AND:

MR. G BALARAJ PWD CONTRACTOR

6 6-112-81, NETRAVATHI NAGAR LAYOUT NAGORI, KANKANADY MANGALORE-575001

...RESPONDENT (BY SRI.CHYTHANYA K K, ADVOCATE)

THIS ITA IS FILED UNDER SEC.260-A OF INCOME TAX ACT 1961, ARISING OUT OF ORDER DATED 30/09/2013 PASSED IN ITA NO.123/BANG/2013, FOR THE ASSESSMENT YEAR 2007-08 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 30/09/2013 PASSED BY THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL, 'C' BENCH, BANGALORE, IN APPEAL PROCEEDINGS NO. ITA NO. 123/BANG/2013 FOR ASSESSMENT YEAR 2007-08, AS SOUGHT FOR IN THIS APPEAL, AND TO GRANT SUCH OTHER RELIEF AS DEEMED FIT, IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE.

IN ITA NO.233/2015:

BETWEEN:

7 (BY SRI.E I SANMATHI, ADVOCATE)

AND:

SHRI. G BALARAJ PWD CONTRACTOR, 6-112-81, NETRAVATHI NAGAR LAYOUT, NAGORI, KANKANADY, MANGALORE.

...RESPONDENT (BY SRI.CHYTHANYA K K, ADVOCATE)

THIS ITA IS FILED UNDER SEC.260-A OF INCOME TAX ACT 1961, ARISING OUT OF ORDER DATED:30/01/2015 PASSED IN ITA NO.121/BANG/2013, FOR THE ASSESSMENT YEAR 2005-2006 PRAYING TO FORMULATE THE SUBSTANTIAL QUESTIONS OF LAW STATED ABOVE AND ALLOW THE APPEAL AND SET ASIDE THE ORDER PASSED BY THE ITAT, BANGALORE IN ITA NO.121/BANG/2013 DATED:30/01/2015 CONFIRMING THE ORDER OF THE APPELLATE COMMISSIONER AND CONFIRM THE ORDER PASSED BY THE ASST. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX, CIRCLE-1(1), MANGALORE.

THESE APPEALS COMING ON FOR HEARING THIS DAY, JAYANT PATEL J., DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:

JUDGMENT

Considering the facts and circumstances of the case the first matter in chronology being ITA Nos.103-

8 104/2011 when admitted, following substantial question of law was formulated by the Court: “Whether the finding of the Tribunal that the agreement between the assessee and Sri Bapuji is not a sub contract, but it is joint venture, is contrary to material on record and based upon conjunctures and surmises and unsustainable?”

9 3. Hence all the group of appeals needs to be considered on the basis of the above referred two questions. 4. The short facts are that the assessee is a PWD Contractor and as per the assessee, he has entered into agreement with Sri Bapuji Construction, whereby a particular percentage of the income of the contract is to be shared in different proportion. The assessee has shown his income to the extent of the amount received by it. However, in the assessment proceedings, the Assessing Officer found that as the TDS was deducted of the total amount of the contract (received by the assessee as well as by Sri Bapuji), the rest of the amount (amount of the contract minus the amount already shown in the return by the assessee) was disallowed and the same was added to the profit/income and the assessment order was passed. In

10 the appeal before CIT (Appeals), it was held that the amount received by Sri Bapuji could not be assessed as the assesse’s income and therefore the disallowance and the resultant addition in the income was deleted. In the appeal before the Tribunal in ITA Nos.103-104/2011 it was found by the Tribunal at paras-6 to 9 as under:

“6. Having heard both the parties and having considered the rival contentions, we find that the only dispute is whether the agreement between the assessee and Sri Bapuji is a sub- contract or an agreement by which the income is diverted by overriding title. There is no dispute that the contract was awarded to the assessee and Sri Bapuji has executed the work awarded to the assessee. Having gone through the agreements between both the parties, it is observed that it is the assesee who has submitted the tender while it is Sri Bapuji who has deposited the requisite EMD. Both the parties have opened a joint Bank account even prior to entering into agreement. It is also

11 evident that Sri Bapuji is authorized to operate the said account. From these facts, it is to be examined if it is diversion of income by overriding title or it is mere application of income.

The learned Departmental Representative had submitted that the CIT(A) had misconstrued the judicial precedent in coming to the conclusion that there is a diversion of income by overriding title. We have gone through the decisions quoted by the CIT(A) and the oldest and most authoritative decision quote by him is in the case of CIT Vs. Sitaldas Tirathdas (1961) 41 ITR 367 wherein it has been observed that “the true test of diversion of income by overriding title is whether the amount sought to be deducted, in truth, never reached the assessee as his income. Obligations no doubt there are in every case, but it is the nature of the obligation which is the decisive fact. There is a difference between an amount which a person is obligated to apply out of his income and an amount which by the nature of obligation cannot be

12 said to be a part of the income of the assessee. Where, by the obligation, income is diverted before reached the assessee, it is deductible; but where the income is required to be applied to discharge an obligation after such income reaches the assessee, the same consequence in law does not follow. It is the first kind of payment which can truly be excused and not the second. The second payment is merely an obligation to pay another a portion of one’s own income which has been received and is since applied. The first is a case in which the income never reached the assessee, who even if he were to collect it, does so, not as part of this income, but for and on behalf of the person to whom it is payable. 6.1 Thus to apply the doctrine of diversion of income by overriding title, the first and foremost condition to be satisfied is the nature of the assessee’s obligation, whether by the obligation, the income is diverted before it reaches the assessee, or whether the income is required to be applied to discharge an

13 obligation after such income reaches the assessee. In the case before us, we find that the agreement is entered into by the parties even before the contract is awarded and the receipt can be appropriated by the second party even without any further approval from the assessee. Whether these factors can be said to determine the nature of the obligation? In our opinion, they do not. The real determinative factor is the point at which the second party gets a right to receive the income. The agreement would be ineffective and non- executable unless and until the contract is awarded to the assessee and the same is executed in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract. A perusal of the agreement between the assessee and Sri Bapuji shows that he is entitled to all the benefits of the contract but no obligation of the contract are fastened on to him. Thus, the obligation of the contract are still with the assessee and therefore, it cannot be said that the assessee was only lending his name whereas in the letter

14 and spirit the contract is to be executed and the receipts enjoyed by Sri Bapuji. Therefore, as the contract, assessee is entitled to receive the contract receipts and it is thereafter that Sri Bapuji is entitled to receive the same. Thus, it is a clear case of application of income and not diversion of income by overriding title as held by the CIT(A) . In view of the same, the order of the CIT(A) is set aside on this point. However, there is another angle to this issue. The assessee has only received commission from Sri Bapuji who has executed the contract. From the facts of the case detailed above, it looks like a joint venture from the inception and not a sub-contract. The agreement between the assessee and Sri Bapuji is prior to the award of the contract and both of them have opened a joint account to enable Sri Bapuji to appropriate the receipts. Thus it can be seen that it is more in the nature of a joint venture and is not a sub-contract. In such a case, the assessee would not be liable to deduct tax at source. As this angle of the issue has not been

15 looked into by the authorities below, we deem it fit and proper to remand this issue to the file of the AO a re-consideration in accordance with law.

16 channelizing the contract amount received from the Govt. departments to the sub- contractors, who have actually spent the amounts and therefore such payments do not have a revenue character and the provisions of section 40A(3) cannot apply. He also drew our attention to the decision of the Hon’ble jurisdictional High Court in the case of CIT Vs. Balaji Engineering and Construction Works 323 ITR 351[Kar], where the finding of the Tribunal was upheld.

17 disallowance u/s 40A(3) whereas the issue before us is with regard to disallowance u/s 40a(ia) and therefore, the said decision is not applicable to the facts of the case before us.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in sections 30 to 38, the following amounts shall not be deducted in computing the income chargeable under the head “profits & gains of business or profession”.

(a) ………………………..

18 (ia) any interest commission or brokerage, rent, royalty, fees for professional services or fees for technical services payable to a resident, or amounts payable to a contractor or sub- contractor, being resident for carrying out any work including supply of labour for carrying out any work on which tax is deductible at source under Chapter XVII-B and such tax has not been deducted or, after deduction, has not been paid during the previous year or in the subsequent year before the expiry of the time prescribed under sub-section (1) of sec.200”.

From a plain reading of the provision it is clear that the amounts specified under clause (ia) is not allowable as s deduction in computing the income chargeable under the head “profits and gains of business or profession”. Similarly, in sub-sec. (3) if sec. 40-a, it is provided that no deduction shall be allowed in respect of expenditure specified therein. The common feature of both the provisions is that the expenditure specified in the respective

19 provisions shall not be allowed as a deduction unless the assessee satisfies the condition specified therein. Thus, it can be sent hat any expenditure to be allowed as a deduction has to be claimed as such, but in a case where no such claim is made by an assessee, there cannot be any disallowance as held by the co-ordinate bench in the case of M/s Balaji Engineering & Construction works (cited supra) which view has also been upheld by the jurisdictional high court. Therefore, this ground of appeal of the revenue is rejected.

Under the circumstances the Revenue has preferred the appeals before this Court.

20 the rest of the appeals for the different assessment year are preferred by the Revenue before this Court.

The Tribunal, after appreciation of the evidence has found that the agreement between the assessee and Bapuji was more in the nature of joint venture and was not a sub-contract. Such a finding as such in our view is a finding of fact after appreciation and re-appreciation of the evidence initially recorded by the Commissioner (Appeals) and said finding after re-appreciation of the evidence is confirmed by the Tribunal. It is hardly

21 required to be stated that, for the issues based on finding of fact, the Tribunal is the ultimate fact finding authority and this court will not upset the finding of fact unless, such finding of fact is perverse or is contrary to the material on record or based on conjectures and surmises.

22 fold reason; one is that, there is enough material to show that the amount received of the contract was directly shared by the assessee and Sri Bapuji as per their proportionate share and the second is that: it was not a matter where the money/the amount realized of the contract was apportioned as the income of the assessee and thereafter, the portion of it or a major portion was paid by the assessee to Sri Bapuji. When after receipt of the contract amount, the shares are identified and taken by both the parties of the joint venture, it cannot be said as a sub-contract. There is no material brought to our notice by the learned counsel for the appellant-revenue that there was any contract entered into by the assessee to assign the work to Bapuji as sub-contractor. Further, additional aspect is that, when the respective share is received by the assessee, it has been shown as the income by the

23 assessee in the return of income. Same is the situation for the respective share of Sri Bapuji who has shown its income of the amount received by it. Under these circumstances, it is not possible for us to agree with the submission of the learned counsel appearing for the appellant-revenue that the finding of the Tribunal that it was of joint venture between the assessee and Sri Bapuji was contrary to the material or based on conjectures and surmises.

25 already covered by the above decision in the case of Balaji Engineering Construction Works supra.

Sd/- JUDGE

Sd/- JUDGE JT/Sk/-