COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX V. NEW BHARAT ENGINEERING WORKS LTD.

ITR/264/1995

AI Insights

The case involves the Commissioner of Income Tax as the applicant and M/S. New Bharat Engineering Works Ltd. as the opponent. The Income-Tax Appellate Tribunal, Ahmedabad Bench 'A', referred two questions to the High Court concerning the interpretation and application of section 80-I and Rule 6D of the Income Tax Act. The first question pertained to the deduction under section 80-I for a new unit without separate books of accounts and showing a loss. The second question concerned the calculation of disallowance under Rule 6D, specifically whether it should reference all tours made by an employee during the previous year or individual tours.

• Counselvise Citation: [2006] 140 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 674044 (HC-GUJARAT)
• Appeal Type: Others
• Pronouncement Date: 21-08-2006
• Assessment Year: misc
• Other Referred Cases: Commissioner of Wealth Tax vs. Chander Sen, C.I.T. vs. J.K. Synthetics Ltd., C.I.T. vs. Coromandel Fertilizers Ltd., C.I.T. vs. Porritts and Spencer (Asia) Ltd.
• Laws Referred To: Income Tax Act
• Result in Favour of: Partly Allowed
• Court: HIGH COURT
• Assessee Lawyers: MONA BHATT
• Keywords: Appellate Tribunal; Assessment years; Deduction; Income Tax; Reference
• Section: 80-I; 6D

Judgement Text

"ITR/264/1995 1/3 JUDGMENT IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD INCOME TAX REFERENCE NO. 264 OF 1995 For Approval and Signature: HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R.S.GARG HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.R. SHAH ========================================================= 1 Whether Reporters of Local Papers may be allowed to see the judgment ? 2 To be referred to the Reporter or not ? 3 Whether their Lordships wish to see the fair copy of the judgment ? 4 Whether this case involves a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of the Constitution of India, 1950 or any order made thereunder ? 5 Whether it is to be circulated to the Civil Judge? ========================================================= COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX - Applicant(s) Versus M/S. NEW BHARAT ENGINEERING WORKS LTD. - Opponent(s) ========================================================= Appearance : MRS. MONA BHATT for MR. MANISH R. BHATT for Applicant(s). None for the Assessee though served. ========================================================= CORAM : HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R.S.GARG and HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.R. SHAH Date : 21/08/2006 ORAL JUDGMENT (Per : HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R.S.GARG) Present is a Reference by the Income-Tax Appellate Tribunal, Ahmedabad Bench “A” on the following ITR/264/1995 2/3 JUDGMENT questions for the opinion of this Court: “1) Whether the Appellate Tribunal is right in law and on facts in directing the Assessing Officer to work out deduction u/s. 80-I, though no separate books of accounts were for the new unit and the assessee had shown loss? 2) Whether the Appellate Tribunal is right in law and on the facts in directing the Assessing Officer to calculate the amount for disallowance under Rule 6D with reference to all the tours made by the person during the previous year and not with reference to individual tour?” 2. It is to be noted that the Reference is in relation to Assessment Years 1985-86, 1986-87 and 1987- 88. On an earlier occasion, a reference was made by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal in the identical dispute between the same parties, which was referred as I.T.R. No.82 of 1995. Question Nos.2 and 3 of the earlier Reference are identical to the questions referred to this Court. The Division Bench, in relation to Question No.2 of that case (which would be Question No.1 of this case), relying upon the judgements in the matter of Commissioner of Wealth Tax vs. Chander Sen, [161 I.T.R. 370], and C.I.T. vs. J.K. Synthetics Ltd., [182 I.T.R. 125], ITR/264/1995 3/3 JUDGMENT answered the question in the affirmative and in favour of the Assessee. The facts being identical, we answer the above referred Question No.1 in favour of the Assessee. 3. So far as Question No.3 of the earlier Reference (present Question No.2) is concerned, the earlier Division Bench, placing its reliance upon the judgements in the matter of C.I.T. vs. Coromandel Fertilizers Ltd., [(1996) 220 I.T.R. 298], and C.I.T. vs. Porritts and Spencer (Asia) Ltd., [241 I.T.R. 126), and also a judgement of this Court deciding Income Tax Reference No.54 of 1988, decided on 6th February, 2001, held that all the tours undertaken by the employee during the year are not to be grouped together and that the limits laid down in Rule 6D have to be applied with reference to each trip of an individual employee. The earlier judgement, as already been observed, is between the parties for the earlier Assessment Years, we decide the above referred Question No.2 in favour of the Revenue. The Reference stands disposed of accordingly. No costs. [R.S.Garg, J.] [M. R. Shah, J.] kamlesh* "