COCHIN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT LTD,ERNAKULAM vs. THE DCIT, KOCHI

Considered rival submissions and perused materials available on record.

We find that the assessment for the AY.2015-16 was framed u/s.143(3) of the Act on 27-12-2017 in response to the return filed by the assessee-company on 30-09-2015. This assessment was sought to be revised by the Ld.Pr.CIT u/s.263 of the Act, on the ground that the Ld.AO had not made any enquiry with regard to the following two issues:

The Ld.Pr.CIT passed revision order on 17-06-2020 setting aside the order of AO, treating the order passed as erroneous in as much as it is prejudicial to the interest of Revenue to examine the aforesaid two issues afresh.

We find with regard to the first issue on claim of bad debts of Rs.10 Crores, the assessee has been consistently making provision for bad and doubtful debts every year by debiting to P&L A/c. In the year of making provision, the assessee has duly disallowed the said provision in the return of income which is evidenced from tabulation enclosed in page 18 of the paper book. It is pertinent to note that this tabulation was indeed filed before the Ld.Pr.CIT in response to show cause notice issued by him. From the said tabulation, it could be seen that out of the provision for bad debts made in earlier years, the assessee had indeed written-off a sum of Rs.10 Crores during the year under consideration and claimed the same as ‘deduction’ in the return of income. Admittedly, this adjustment would get reflected only in balance sheet and will not get reflected in the P&L A/c of the assessee. In these circumstances, we are unable to comprehend ourselves as to how the Ld.Pr.CIT could have noticed this item on verification of P&L A/c, when the subject mentioned issue is not an item to be reflected in P&L A/c. In any event, sum of Rs.10 Crores has been claimed as deduction during the year under consideration in respect of provision made in earlier years which has duly been disallowed in the return. One more excruciating fact is that these details were indeed furnished before the Ld.AO by the assessee during the course of assessment proceedings vide letter dt.05-12-2017, Para No.6 thereon. The Ld.AO had duly applied his mind on the same and on being satisfied with the claim of the assessee’s, granted relief to the assessee. Hence, it cannot be stated that this is a case of lack of enquiry by the Ld.AO. The law is very well settled that revision jurisdiction under Section 263 of the Act could be invoked only in the event of lack of enquiry by the Ld.AO and not on account of inadequate enquiry. Reliance in this regard is placed on the Hon’ble Delhi High Court’s decision in the case of CIT Vs. Sunbeam Auto Ltd., reported in 332 ITR 167 (Del). Hence, we have no hesitation in quashing Section 263 order passed on account of the first issue in respect of claim of bad debts of Rs.10 Crores.

In the result, the appeal of assessee is allowed.