DIRECT TAXES

High Court
 

Mandar Vaidya, Pramod Kumar Parida, sameer Dalal & Usha Dalal

74. Appellate Tribunal – Additional Ground – S. 254(1)

Where neither during the assessment proceedings, nor during the appellate proceedings before the CIT(A), the revenue had invoked the provisions of section 14A of the Act with respect to expenditure incurred for earning exempt dividend income and further, there was no material before the Tribunal, which would have permitted it to take up the additional ground pertaining to section 14A, the Hon’ble High Court on theses facts held that the Tribunal was justified in rejecting the plea of the revenue to raise additional ground pertaining to section 14A of the Act for disallowing expenditure incurred for earning exempt dividend income.

CIT vs. Hindustan Tin Works Ltd. (2009) 24 DTR 88 (Del.) (A.Y.: 2001 – 02)

75. Assessment – Prima facie adjustment – S. 143(1)(a)

Issue as to funding of outstanding interest by a fresh loan would or would not amount to payment of interest is a debatable issue. Disallowance under section 43B cannot be made by way of prima facie adjustment under section 143(1)(a) of the Act.

Vinir Engineering (P) Ltd. (2009) 22 DTR 107 (Karn.) (A.Y. 1997-98)

76. Audit Report – S. 10B(5)

Filing of Audit Report under section 10B(5) along with the return is directory and not mandatory.

CIT vs. Web Commerce (I) P. Ltd. (2008) 178 Taxman 310 (Del).

77. Bad debts – S. 36(1)(vii)

The Assessing Officer disallowed the claim of bad debt which was written off by the assessee. But the learned CIT(A) deleted the said disallowance. Further, the Hon’ble ITAT confirmed the said deletion.

On appeal by the Department in High Court, the Court held that the provisions of section 36(1)(vii) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 were to be read with the Board Circular No. 551 dt. 23-1-1990 and if the assessee had written off the debt as a bad debt, that would satisfy the purpose of the section. The High Court dismissed the appeal.

CIT vs. Star Chemicals (Bombay) P. Ltd. (2009) 313 ITR 126 (Bom.)

Amendment to section 36(1)(vii) of the Income-tax Act, 1961. Whether obligatory for the assessee to prove that debt has become bad as long as writing off was bonafide.

The High Court held that to treatment of the debt as a bad debt had to be a commercial or business decision of the assessee depending on the relevant material in possession of the assessee.

Once the assessee records debts as bad debt in the books of account that would prima facie prove that it was a bad debt unless the Department for good reasons holds to the contrary.

Once that is accepted, then the assessee would not be called upon to discharge any further burden. After the amendment, it was neither obligatory nor the onus on the assessee to prove that the debt written off it was in reality a bad debt as long as it was bonafide and based on commercial wisdom or expediency.

The Hon’ble High Court affirmed the view of the Special Bench decision in Dy. CIT vs. Oman International Bank Saog.

Director of Income-tax (International Taxation) vs. Oman International Bank (2009) 313 ITR 128 (Bom.) (Asst. Years: 1994-95, 2000-01) (2007) 223 CTR 382 (Bom.)

78. Block assessment – Limitation – S. 158BE

Search action in case of the assessee was concluded on 5-8-2000 and panchnama seizing stock was also prepared on the same day. Thereafter, on 20-9-2000 the authorities had only inspected the seals and again prepared a panchnama. The Hon’ble High Court on these set of facts held that the second panchnama was prepared by the revenue authority to just overcome the limitation period and the block assessment order passed by the assessing officer was barred by limitation.

CIT vs. Plastika Enterprises (2009) 23 DTR 333 (Bom.)

79. Block assessment – Notice – Ss. 143(2), 158BC

In case of block assessment if the assessing officer is not inclined to accept the return of undisclosed income filed by the assessee, then the prescribed procedure under section 143(2) of the Act is to be followed. Thus, the assessment order passed by the assessing officer without issuing notice under section 143(2) of the Act, would be invalid and not merely irregular.

CIT vs. Pawan Gupta & Ors. (2009) 22 DTR 291 (Del.) (Block period: 1-4-1986 to 10-10-1996)

80. Block assessment – Undisclosed income – S. 158B

Where the assessee had maintained regular books of account and the returns of income were filed regularly before the date of search and no incriminating documents were found during the course of search addition on account of peak credit of farmer’s account was beyond the scope of block assessment and liable to be deleted.

CIT vs. Rajendrakumar (2009) 24 DTR 191 (MP) (Block Periods: 1-4-1995 to 5-12-2001)

81. Block Assessment – Issues of Notice – S. 158BC

Where the amount is received by the assessee on sale of plot of land through proper banking channel and the gain on such sale was depicted in her return prior to issue of notice under section 158BC of the Act the income could not be treated as unexplained deposit.
CIT vs. Smt. Shakuntala Devi (2009) 23 DTR 238 (Del.) (A.Y. 2002-03)

82. Business Expenditure – Termination of lease – S. 37

Amount paid to landlord for premature termination of lease is an expenditure on account of commercial expediency and hence entitled for deduction under section 37.

Microsoft Corporation of India (2009) 210 Taxation 161 (Del). (A.Y. 2000-01)

83. Business Expenditure – Capital or Revenue – S. 37(1)

Advance lease rental (Rs. 48 crores) paid by the assessee for acquiring land on lease for ninety nine (99) years was allowable as revenue expenditure.

Dy. CIT vs. Sun Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd. (2009) 24 DTR 262 (Guj.) (A.Y. 1994-95)

84. Business Expenditure – Capital or Revenue – Consultation charges – S. 37(1)

Consultation charges paid by the assessee in connection with the expansion of assessee’s existing project were held to be allowable as revenue expenditure.

Jyoti Ltd. vs. CIT (2009) 24 DTR 177 (Guj.) (A.Y. 1985-86)

85. Business Expenditure – Capital or Revenue – S. 37(1)

Where there is no finding that the assessee acquired any enduing benefit or that the software will not become outdated due to passage of time, expenditure incurred by the assessee on computer software was allowable as revenue expenditure.

CIT vs. Varinder Agro Chemicals Ltd. (2009) 22 DTR 127 (P & H) (A.Y.: 2002-03)

86. Business expenditure – Genuineness –

S. 37(1)

Where the assessee had made payments for purchase of raw material by account payee cheques and the same were found to be credited into the bank accounts of respective parties, the payments made to these parties cannot be disallowed merely because summons issued upon these parties after the lapse of a considerable time could not be served upon them at the given address. The Court further observed that as the bank statements of the parties to whom the payments were made by the assessee were available with the assessing officer, he could have made endeavour to serve summons to these parties on the address given to the banks and verified the fact of payments.

CIT vs. Hi Lux Automotive (P) Ltd. (2009) 23 DTR 385 (Del.) (A.Y.: 1996-97)

87. Business Expenditure – Revenue or Capital – Development of Computer Software – S. 37

Whether the expenses made towards the development of computer software is a Revenue Expenditure – Held, yes. Any expenses made towards computer software are Revenue expenditures.

CIT vs. Varinder agro Chemicals Ltd. (2009) 224 CTR 326 (P & H)

88. Business Expenditure – Labourers or workers – S. 37

Payments made to workers through labourers or worker’s union. The said expenses incurred during the course of business as per trade practice.

CIT vs. Konkan Marine Agency (2009) 313 ITR 308 (Kar.) (Asst. Year: 1996-97)

89. Business expenditure – Actual Payment – Ss. 43B, 2(24)(x) r.w.s. 36(1)(va)

The assessee company claimed deductions for the Asst. Year 1990-91 in respect of contributions made to the provident fund, Employee’s provident fund and ESIC.

Income-tax Tribunal allowed all of them. On appeal by the Department High Court, the Hon’ble High Court held as under.

The assessment in question was Asst. Year 1990-91. The amendment is made applicable from the Asst. Year 2004-05 as far as provident fund dues are concerned. However, the section as it stood earlier was that the Employer’s contribution to provident fund if not paid within the due date the employer was not entitled to deduction.

The Hon’ble High Court further held that the contribution of provident fund dues after closing of the accounting period, but before due date of filing returns are made, then also it was not allowable as deduction.

CIT vs. Pamwi Tissues Ltd. (2009) 313 ITR 137 (Bom.) (Asst. Year: 1990-91)

90. Business Expenditure – Interest on borrowed capital – S. 36(1)(iii)

The assessee company claimed deduction of interest on borrowed capital. The Assessing Officer noted that the sum of Rs. 213 crores was invested out of its own funds and Rs. 147 crores was invested out of borrowed funds. Accordingly, he disallowed interest amounting to Rs. 4.40 crores. The learned CIT(A) found that the assessee had sufficient interest free funds at its disposal for investment and accordingly deleted the said disallowance of Rs. 4.40 crores.

The order of the CIT(A) was upheld by the ITAT.

On appeal by the Department in High Court, the Hon’ble High Court held that if there were funds available both interest free and overdraft and/or loans taken, then a presumption would arise that investments would be out of the interest free funds generated or available with the company, if the interest free funds were enough to meet the investments.

In the present case, it was proved both by CIT(A) as well as by ITAT and hence, interest was deductible under section 36(1)(iii) of the Income-tax Act, 1961. Therefore, the appeal filed by the Department was dismissed.

CIT vs. Reliance Utilities and Power Ltd. (2009) 313 ITR 340 (Bom.)

91. Business Loss – Year in which deductible – S. 28

Assessee’s goods which were stored in godowns owned by State Warehousing Corporation, were destroyed by fire in 1978. The assessee filed suit for recovery of loss against the insurance company and the State Warehousing Corporation but did not claim loss in its tax return. The suit was dismissed on 31-5-1982. Thereafter the assessee claimed the set-off of loss for year relevant to A.Y. 1983-84. The ITO as well as the CIT(A) and the Hon’ble ITAT held that the loss pertained to earlier years and hence could not be claimed in year relevant to A.Y. 1983-84. Reversing this decision the Hon’ble High Court held that since the assessee had recognized the loss after the suit was dismissed, it was entitled to claim the loss in year relevant to A.Y. 1983-84.

New Diwan Oil Mills vs. CIT (2009) 178 Taxman 461 (P&H) (A.Y. 1983-84)

92. Capital gain – Business income – S. 45

Where the assessee sold its agricultural land which was used by it for carrying out agricultural activities after holding the same for more than two decades, gain arising out of sale of such land was held to be assessable as ‘Capital gain’ and not ‘Profits and gain of business or profession’.

CIT vs. S.K. Kaintal (2009) 23 DTR 68 (P&H) (A.Y. 2005-06)

93. Capital gain – Transfer – S. 2(47)

Where the share allotted to the assessee were forfeited by the company upon the assessee’s failure to pay the call money, the cancellation of allotment was held to be transfer within the meaning of section 2(47) of the Act and the consequent forfeiture of earnest money amounted to short – term capital loss.

Dy. CIT vs. BPL Sanyo Finance ltd. (2009) 23 DTR 75 (Karn.) (A.Y. 1998-99)

94. Capital Gains – Surrender of tenancy rights – S. 45

Cost of improvement incurred shown in the assessee’s books of account as stock-in-trade.

One property was taken on rent by the assessee at Delhi. Thereafter, the assessee made improvements in the said rented premises and retained the same for more than five years. The assessee showed the said property as inventory in its balance sheets for several years.

On appeal to High Court, the High Court held that no fault could be found with the reasoning of the Tribunal. No perversity in its findings has been pointed out consequently, hence, the appeal is dismissed.

CIT vs. Hitesh Estates Ltd. (2009) 313 ITR 393 (Delhi) (Asst. Year: 2002-03)

95. Capital Gains – Exemption more than one house – S. 54

Benefit under section 54 is not confined to one house. The word ‘a’ occurring in section 54(1) does not indicate singular.
CIT vs. D. Ananda Basappa (2009) 180 Taxman 4 (Kar) (A.Y. 96-97)

96. Deduction – Manufacture – S. 80IB

Activity of making transformer core from Cold Rolled Grain Oriented (CRGO) and Cold Rolled Non-grain Oriented (CRNO) coils involves series of processes as such the same amounts to manufacture and entitled to deduction under section 80-IB of the Act.

CIT vs. Alfa Lamination (2009) 22 DTR 161 (Guj.) (A.Y. 2001-02)

97. Deduction – Refund of Excise Duty

– S. 80-IB

The assessee’s undertaking was entitled for exemption from excise duty and hence, assessee received excise duty refund. Held that excise duty refund is includible in the profits entitled for deduction under section 80-IB

CIT vs. Dharam Pal PremChand Ltd. (2009) 180 Taxman 557 (Del.) (A.Y. 2000-01)

98. Deduction – Interest – S. 10B

Interest received from sister concern for advances made for purchases, is eligible for deduction under section 10B.

CIT vs. Hycon India Ltd. (2009) 210 Taxation 289 (Raj.)

99. Deduction – Audit Report – S. 80I

If the assessee files audit report after filing the return of income but before the completion of assessment, then the assessees right to rely upon the same cannot be taken away.

CIT vs. Jenson Nicholson India Ltd. (2009) 23 DTR 289 (Cal.) (A.Y.: 1991-92)

100. Deduction – Audit Report – S. 80IA

The condition of filing audit report along with the return of income filed by the assessee is not mandatory but directory and if the audit report is filed by the assessee at any time before the completion of assessment the requirement of section 80IA(7) would be complied with.

CIT vs. Contimeters Electricals (P) Ltd. (2009) 22 DTR 158 (Del.) (A.Y.: 2003 – 04)

101. Deduction – Scope – S. 80O

Supply of information to foreign shipowners and receipt of foreign exchange, the commercial information is provided outside India and consideration earned is in foreign exchange for the use of such information, the Assessee is entitled to benefit under section 80O, Held Yes.

CIT vs. Chakiat Agencies (P) Ltd. (2009) 224 CTR 286 (Mad.)

102. Deemed dividend – Trade Advance – S. 2(22)(e)

Trade advances which are in the nature of money transacted to give effect to commercial transaction do not fall within the ambit of provisions of section 2(22)(e) of the Act.

CIT vs. Raj Kumar (2009) 23 DTR 304 (Del.) (A.Y.: 1996-97)

103. Depreciation – Spares – Ready for use – S. 32

Depreciation is allowable on spares which are not actually used but are kept ready for use. The expression ‘used for the purpose of business’ includes ‘ready for use’. The spares which are specific to a particular machine may become useless once the machine is discarded even if not actually used but kept ready for use.

CIT vs. Insilco (2009) 179 Taxman 55 (Del.) (A.Y. 2000-01)

104. Depreciation – Lease – S. 32

Where the assessee is in the business of leasing and in the course of its business it had leased assets and received lease rentals from the lessee’s. Depreciation on the leased assets cannot be denied to the assessee merely on the ground that the assets were not put to use by the lessee’s during the year under consideration.

CIT vs. Kotak Mahindra Finance Ltd. (2009) 23 DTR 299 (Bom.) (A.Y.: 1992-93)

105. Depreciation – Defective machineries – S. 32

Defective machineries found during trial run – Whether depreciation is allowable on machineries which were brought for business purpose and found to be defective after the trial installation. Held, yes. The defective machineries cannot be said that they were not for business purposes. Hence, the claim is allowable.

CIT vs. Sri. Chmundeshwari Sugar Ltd. (2009) 223 CTR 423 (Kar.)

106. Developer vis-à-vis contractor – In a deduction under s. 80-IA – S. 5

Deduction under s. 80-IA is available to a ‘developer’ and not to a ‘contractor’; in the absence of factual details, matter remanded to AO for fresh adjudication.

Dy. CIT vs. East Coast Constructions & Industries Ltd. (2009) 23 DTR 225 (Chennai) (Trib.) (Asst. Year: 2003-04)

107. Export – Deduction – S. 80HHC

Where business of the assessee consists of export business as well as domestic business, then section 80HHC(3)(b) applies and not 80HHC(3)(a). Therefore, deduction is allowable on pro rata basis. Rathore Bros (2002) 254 ITR 656 (Mad.) dissented from; Indian Spices Company (2004) 267 ITR 445 (Ker.) followed.

CIT vs. Jindal Fine Industries (2009) 210 Taxation 1 (P & H) (A.Y. 1988-89)

108. Export – Deduction – Separate books

– S. 80HHC

Where the assessee was maintaining separate books of accounts for its export business and local business deduction under section 80HHC of the Act is to be determined on the basis of the total turnover and profits of export division alone and not on the total turnover and the profits of the entire business of the assessee, including local business.

CIT vs. Sivagami Match Industries (2009) 24 DTR 109 (Mad.) (A.Y. 2003-04)

109. Export – Special deduction – S. 80HHC

Licence for overseas exhibition or broadcasting rights for cinematographic films is export of merchandise or goods for the purpose of section 80HHC of the Income-tax Act, 1961.

CIT vs. Firoz Khan (2009) 313 ITR 123 (Bom.)

110. Income from House Property – Ownership – S. 22

Registration of conveyance deed is not imperative for the assessee to claim that he is not the owner and not chargeable under section 22. The assessee conveyed the property by way of conveyance deeds which were otherwise executed correctly but were not registered. The Department contended that since the deeds were not registered the title was not conveyed and hence the assessee continued to be owner and therefore was taxable under section 22. Held [following Podar Cements P. Ltd. 226 ITR 625 (SC)] that registration of the deeds under the Registration Act is not necessary to hold that the assessee is not the owner.

Pallonji Mistry vs. CIT (2009) 178 Taxman 341 (Bom.)

111. Interest – MAT – S. 115JA, 234B, 234C

In a case of computation of income under the provisions of section 115JA of the Act, the provisions of sections 234B & 234C are not applicable.

For the purpose of assessing the tax under section 115J, first of all the profit as computed under the Income-tax Act has to be prepared and thereafter the book profits as contemplated by the provisions of section 115J are to be determined and then the tax has to be levied.

The liability for payment of tax under section 115J arises if the total income as computed under the provision of Act is less than 30 per cent of its book profits and that can be computed only after the end of the relevant accounting year.

The Court held that, since the entire exercise of computing the income or that of book profit could be only at the end of the accounting year, the provisions of sections 209, 210 cannot be made applicable, unless and until the accounts are audited and the balance sheet is prepared as even the assessee may not be knowing whether the provision of section 115J would be applicable or not.
Snowchem India Ltd. vs. Dy. CIT (2009) 313 ITR 170 (Bom.)

112. Minimum Alternative Tax – S. 115 JAA

Minimum Alternative Tax (MAT) credit under section 115JAA should be given effect to before charging interest under sections 234B and 234C of the Act.

CIT vs. Chemplast Sanmar Ltd. & Ors. (2009) 22 DTR 241 (Mad.)

113. Penalty – Concealment – S. 271(1)(c)

Whether penalty is leviable on surrender of additional income in return filed pursuant to notice under section 148. Held, no. The penalty under section 271(1)(c) of the act was not leviable as the Revenue has not placed any evidence on record to discharge the onus of proving concealment and also the Assessee has offered the additional income for tax in goodfaith to buy peace. Therefore, the penalty under section 271(1)(c) deserves to be deleted.

CIT vs. Rajiv Garg & Ors. (2009) 224 CTR 321 (P&H)

114. Penalty – Non filing of audit report

– S. 271B

Where the assessee a co-operative society whose income was exempt under section 80P of the Act under a bonafide belief that as its income is exempt it was not required to get its accounts audited did not get its accounts audited within the time prescribed under the Act. On appeal the High Court held that as there was no intention on the part of the assessee to conceal its income or deprive the Government of revenue as the entire income was exempt under section 80P of the Act, as such the penalty under section 271B of the Act was not leviable in the assessee’s case.

CIT vs. Iqbalpur Co-operative Cane Development Union Ltd. (2009) 23 DTR 60 (Uttarakhand) (A.Y. 1999-2000)

115. Prosecution – Partners of firm – S. 278B

Complaints for offences under sections 276C, 277 and 278B was filed against the firm and all the partners. In absence of any specific allegation against the partners of the firm other than those who had verified the return of the firm that they were responsible for the conduct of the business of the firm, prosecution against these partners was held to be not sustainable.

Onkar Chand & Co. & Ors. vs. Income-tax Department (2009) 22 DTR 57 (HP)

116. Reassessment – Validity – S. 147

Where the assessment was completed by the revenue under section 143(3) of the Act and the assessee had disclosed all the material facts pertaining to the goodwill in its balance sheet and the notes forming part of the accounts for the year. The reassessment notice issued to verify the nature of goodwill, after the expiry of four year from the assessment year and the consequential order passed by the assessing officer under section 147 r.w.s. 143(3) both were held liable to be quashed and set aside.

Supreme Treves (P) Ltd. vs. Dy. CIT (2009) 23 DTR 215 (Bom.) (A.Y. 2002-03)

117. Reassessment – Primary Objections

– S. 148

Reassessment framed by the assessing officer without disposing of the primary objection raised by the assessee to the issue of reassessment notice issued by him was liable to be quashed.

MGM Exports vs. Dy. CIT (2009) 23 DTR 356 (Guj.) (A.Y.: 2001-02)

118. Reassessment – Validity – S. 148

In the absence of no new material brought in by the Assessing Officer, recourse to reassessment proceeding becomes invalid for it being a clear case of change of opinion – The Assessee had claimed deduction u/s. 80-O which was allowed by the Assessing Officer after examing the entire particulars. As Assessee has not suppressed any material, the re-opening is bad-in-law.

CIT vs. Chakiat Agencies (P) Ltd. (2009) 224 CTR 286 (Mad.)

119. Rectification – Interests – S. 154

Intimation issued under section 143(1)(a) of the Act cannot be rectified by the assessing officer under section 154 of the Act after issue of notice under section 143(2) to frame regular assessment.

CIT vs. Nicco Corporation Ltd. (2009) 24 DTR 271 (Cal.)

120. Revision – Inquiry by AO – S. 263

Where the assessing officer during the scrutiny assessment proceeding raised a query which was answered by the assessee to the satisfaction of the assessing officer but the same was not reflected in the assessment order by him, a conclusion cannot be drawn by the Commissioner that no proper enquiry with respect to the issue was made by the assessing officer, and enable him to assume jurisdiction under section 263 of the Act.

Further, the High Court also held that revision order passed by the Commissioner under section 263 of the Act on a ground in addition to the grounds mentioned in his show cause notice issued cannot be sustained.

CIT vs. Ashish Rajpal (2009) 23 DTR 266 (Del.) (A.Y.: 2002-03)

121. Revision – Scope – S. 263

Revision order passed by the Commissioner under section 263 of the Act on a ground not mentioned in his show cause notice issued cannot be sustained.

CIT vs. Contimeters Electricals (P) Ltd. (2009) 22 DTR 158 (Del.) (A.Y. 2003-04)

122. Tax Deduction at Source – Commission – S. 194C

Air tickets sold by assessee, an airline company to its travel agent at a concessional rates was held to be a sale transaction on principal to principal basis, does not amount to payment of commission to the agent as such the assessee is not liable to deduct tax at source (TDS) under the provisions of section 194H of the Act.

CIT vs. Singapore Airlines Ltd. & Ors. (2009) 22 DTR 129 (Del.) (A.Y.: 2001 – 02)

123. Tax Deduction at Source – S. 194C

The word ‘work’ used in section 194C has to be given a limited meaning and cannot cover those cases where a hotel renders certain services/ facilities to its customers

East India Hotels Ltd. vs. CBDT (2009) 179 Taxman 17 (Bom.)

124. Tax Deduction at Source – Salary

– S. 192

Assessee liable to deduct tax at source (TDS) from the salaries paid to its employees, shall not be treated as assessee in default, to the extent of the amount of gratuity which is exempt under section 10(10) of the Act, even if gratuity is paid under the provisions of the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 or otherwise.

North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation vs. Dy. Labour Commissioner & Ors. (2009) 22 DTR 237 (Karn.)

125. TDS – Technical Services – S. 194J

The assessee paid interconnection and port charges to MTNL/BSNL for connecting the network of the assessee with that of the networks of other service providers, which was thru MTNL/BSNL. This was without deduction of TDS. Held that the word ‘technical’ has to be read by applying the principle of ‘noscitur a sociis’, in company of the words ‘managerial and ‘consultancy’. Hence, technical services are covered under section 194J only if human element is involved. The principle of ‘noscitur a sociis’ means that if a word is used in company of other words having a specific meaning, then that word takes its colour from the other words in whose company the word is used. To apply this principle to this case, since the word ‘technical’ has been used along with the words ‘managerial and ‘consultancy’ and there cannot be any ‘managerial and/or ‘consultancy’ unless they are rendered by a human being ‘technical’ service would also mean a service which is provided by a human being. Technical services without the human element are outside the scope of section 194J

CIT vs. Bharti Cellular Ltd. (2009) 210 Taxation 420 (Del.)

126. Tribunal – Stay – S. 254(1)

Assessee challenged the order passed by CIT rejecting the application under section 273A by way of writ petition before the High Court and also sought stay of recovery of penalty imposed on him. Court granted stay of recovery of demand on certain conditions but the same was subsequently vacated on default of the assessee. Assessee was seeking stay of recovery of penalty and interest in the appeal filed before the Tribunal against levy of said penalty. It was held that though the jurisdiction of the High Court in the writ petition and that of the Tribunal in the appeal before it might be different, the question whether the recovery of demand should be stayed was identical and in the light of the said direction of the High Court, it would be highly improper for the Tribunal to grant stay of recovery of demand and start parallel proceedings.

G. Venkateshwaran vs. Dy. CIT (2009) 23 DTR 290 (Mad.) (Trib.) (A.Y.: 1985-86)

127. Waiver – Interest – S. 234A, 234B & 234C

Where the assessee filed his return voluntarily and paid the taxes due thereon, the Court held that as the assessee who was a singer by profession working for sixteen hours a day the overbusy schedule of the assessee during the relevant assessment years constituted ‘unavoidable circumstances’, within the meaning of clause 2 (e) of the notification issued by the C.B.D.T. with respect to waiver of interest under sections 234A, 234B and 234C of the Act.

S. Nagoor Babu Mano vs. CCIT & Anr. (2009) 24 DTR 193 (Mad.) (A.Y. 1993-94 to 1996 – 97)

128. Wealth Tax – Debt owed – S. 2(m)

Tax liability with respect to earlier year which is determined upon a settlement arrived at between the assessee and the revenue during the year under consideration was held to be an allowable deduction under section 2(m) (iii) of the Wealth – tax Act, 1957 for the purpose of computing net wealth.

CWT vs. Manna Lal Surana (2009) 24 DTR 105 (Raj) (A.Y.: 1976-77)

129. Wealth Tax – Exemption – Firm – Jewellery business – S. 5(1)(xxxii)

Manufacturing of jewellery and ornaments, whether firm was on Industrial undertaking for the purpose of wealth tax. The assessee was a partner in a firm which carried on business in gold jewellery and precious and semi-precious stones, and consequently the assessee’s interest in the firm is exempted under section 5(1)(xxxii) of the Wealth Tax.

According to the Wealth Tax Officer, firm was not an industrial undertaking. On appeal to CIT(A) it was considered as an Industrial undertaking and he granted exemption under section 5(1)(xxxii) of the Act. The ITAT also upheld the order of CIT(A).

On a reference by the Department to High Court, it was held that the firm fell in the same category of firms being part of the gem industry and the activity of processing of gems beginning with the raw material and ending in marketable product was no different and hence, the value of the assessee’s interest in the firm was exempt under section 5(1)(xxxii) of the Act.

CWT vs. Shyam Mohan (2009) 313 ITR 416 (Raj.)