UNION BANK OF INDIA STAFF CO OP THRIFT CREDIT SOCIETY LIMITED,CHENNAI vs. ITO, NON CROP WARD 12(5), CHENNAI

The ld. CIT(A) also upheld the action of the ld. Assessing Officer by observing that Chennai Central Co-operative Bank is not a society. For this the ld. CIT(A) recorded the following findings. ‘’(xiv) Further, in light of the multiple judgments of Hon'ble SC as well as judgments of various High Courts, including recent judgment of Gujarat High Court, it is clear that after insertion of Sec. 80P(4), deduction u/s 80P(2)(d) has been limited to interest / dividend received from other cooperative societies only, and not Cooperative Banks (Other than PACS or Primary co-operative Agricultural and rural development bank). Therefore, it is clear that a co- operative bank is an urban commercial bank and does not fall under the purview of a "Co-operative Society" referred in section 80P(2)(d) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, and as such, the interest/dividend income earned from such co- operative bank is not allowable for the said deduction u/s 80P(2)(d) of the Act’’. Aggrieved, assessee preferred an appeal before the Tribunal.

I have heard rival contentions and gone through the facts and circumstances of the case. Admittedly, the assessee is a Multi-State Cooperative Society, registered under the Multi State Cooperative Societies Act, 2012 at Chennai. The members of the assessee’s society are all employees of Union Bank of India. Assessee extends credit facilities like surety loans, festival loans, calamity loans etc to its members. Assessee received Rs.3,77,800/- as dividend from shares held in Chennai Central Co-operative Bank. Chennai Central Co-operative Bank is registered under Tamil Nadu State Co-operative Act and once it is registered under Tamil Nadu State Co-operative Act assessee is as such eligible for deduction. Since the assessee is a Co-operative Society and it has received dividend :- 4 -: Chennai Central Co-operative Bank, the same is eligible for claim of deduction in view of the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Mavilayi Service Co-operative Bank Ltd., & Ors. Vs. CIT, 123 Taxmann.com 161 (SC). Similar view has been taken by the Tribunal in the case of Tamilnadu Co-operative State Agriculture and Rural Development Bank Limited in to 33/CHNY/2021 vide order dated 29.04.2022 following the decision of Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Mavilayi Service Co-operative Bank Ltd., supra and the Hon’ble Madras High Court in the case S-1308, Ammapet Primary Agricultural Co- operative Bank Ltd.,in T.C.A Nos.882 and 891 of 2018. Respectfully following the same, I allow the claim of deduction u/s.80P(2)(a)(i) of the Act. Accordingly, the appeal of the assessee is allowed. 6. In the result, the appeal of the assessee in ITA No.1131/Chny/2023 for assessment 2017-2018 stands allowed.