M/S.COCHIN SHIPYARD LTD,KOCHI vs. DCIT CORPORATE CIRCLE 1(1), KOCHI, KOCHI

The first of the two aspects on which assessment stands set aside for being examined, is in respect of the assessee’s claim for deduction in the sum of Rs.182.11 lakhs, forming part of the initial public offer (IPO). The assessee, on enquiry during the revisionary proceedings, explained to have claimed expenditure only proportionate to the existing share capital (Rs.1132.80 lakh shares), i.e., to have regarded the expenditure in relation to the fresh issue of capital (Rs.226.56 lakh shares) as on capital account. Accordingly, only Rs.182.11 lakhs, out of total (AY : 2017-18) Cochin Shipyard Ltd. v. Dy. CIT Rs.218.28 lakhs incurred, stood claimed as operating expenses. The second issue is qua additional depreciation u/s. 32(1)(iia). The ld. Pr. CIT observed – with reference to the tax audit report, the assessee’s claim, on 2021.84 lakhs, as in excess by Rs.77.21 lakhs. The assessee explained the same to represent the balance 50% additional depreciation on the eligible plant and machinery acquired during the previous year relevant to AY 2016-17, the immediately preceding assessment year, claimed on the basis of the amendment to s. 32(1)(ii) by Finance Act, 2015, w.e.f. 01.04.2016, by way of insertion of third proviso thereto. No enquiry qua these aspects having been made by the Assessing Officer (AO) in the assessment proceedings, the ld. Pr.CIT, invoking s. 263 of the Act, set aside the assessment for examining the same, adverting to the provisions of law (s. 263), as indeed to the decisions in Malabar Industries Ltd. v. CIT[2000] 243 ITR 83 (SC) and Raja & Co. v. CIT[2011] 335 ITR 381 (Ker), i.e., toward the legal basis of his revision.

We have heard the parties, and perused the material on record. 3.1 Admittedly, no enquiry in the matter was made by the AO during the assessment proceedings, much less responded to, on which the AO is therefore required to apply his mind, either accepting or rejecting the assessee’s claim upon due verification and enquiry, i.e., as deemed proper under the given facts and circumstances, including the law in the matter, passing a speaking order. Non- application of mind is one of the four infirmities which, as explained in Malabar Industries Ltd. (supra), upholding the order by the Hon'ble jurisdictional High Court, renders an order as erroneous and prejudicial to the interest of the Revenue; the other three being: - wrong assumption of facts; - incorrect application of law; and - omission to observe the principles of natural justice, prescribing thus a four-way test for an order being liable for revision. Case law in the matter is legion; the law being well-settled by a series of decisions by Hon'ble Apex 2 | P a g e (AY : 2017-18) Cochin Shipyard Ltd. v. Dy. CIT Courts, as indeed by the Hon'ble jurisdictional High Court and, in fact, stands since co-opted on the statute by way of Explanation 2(a) to s. 263(1) by Finance Act, 2015, w.e.f. 01.06.2015. As explained in Gee Vee Enterprises v. Addl. CIT [1975] 99 ITR 375 (Del), again with reference to judicial precedents, that the order of the AO becomes erroneous on a failure to make enquiry where the circumstances call for it. This is not because there is anything wrong in the order if all the facts stated therein are assumed to be correct. However, the AO is not only an adjudicator but also an investigator and, therefore, cannot remain passive in the face of a return which is apparently in order but calls for further enquiry. It is his duty to ascertain the truth of the facts stated in the return when the circumstances of the case are such as to provoke an enquiry. In CIT v. Toyota Motor Corporation[2008] 306 ITR 49 (Del), since confirmed in the decision reported at [2008] 306 ITR 52 (SC), it was explained that the Tribunal could not have substituted it’s own reasons which were required to be recorded by the AO, and ought to have remanded the matter to the latter.