COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX V. STATRONICS & ENTERPRISES PVT LTD

ITR/22/1996

AI Insights

The case revolves around the eligibility of Statronics & Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. to claim investment allowance and additional depreciation for computers and data processing machines under the Income Tax Act. The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal had previously ruled in favor of the assessee, which was contested by the Commissioner of Income Tax. The primary legal questions addressed were whether the Tribunal was correct in its interpretation that such machines qualify as 'plant and machinery' and whether the assessee is entitled to deductions under Section-32A despite the machines being located in office premises. The High Court's decision clarified the interpretation of 'office premises' in the context of industrial use, supporting the Tribunal's decision and the assessee's claims.

• Counselvise Citation: [2006] 140 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 730475 (HC-GUJARAT)
• Appeal Type: Others
• Pronouncement Date: 22-08-2006
• Assessment Year: misc
• Other Referred Cases: C.I.T. vs. IBM World Trade Corporation, Ajay Printing Pvt. Ltd.
• Laws Referred To: Income Tax Act
• Result in Favour of: Others
• Court: HIGH COURT
• Assessee Lawyers: MONA BHATT
• Keywords: Additional depreciation; Data Processing; Investment allowance; Office Premises; Computers as plant and machinery
• Section: 143(3); 263; 32(1)(iia); 32A

Judgement Text

"ITR/22/1996 1/8 JUDGMENT IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD INCOME TAX REFERENCE NO. 22 OF 1996 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 STATRONICS & ENTERPRISES PVT. LTD. - Opponent(s) ========================================================= Appearance : MRS. MONA M. BHATT for MR. MANISH R. BHATT for Applicant(s). NONE for Opponent(s). ========================================================= CORAM : HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R.S.GARG and HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.R. SHAH Date : 22/08/2006 ORAL JUDGMENT (Per : HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R.S.GARG) The Income-Tax Appellate Tribunal, Ahmedabad ITR/22/1996 2/8 JUDGMENT Bench `A', at the instance of the Revenue, has made this Reference on the following questions for the opinion of this Court: “(1) Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case the Tribunal is right in law in holding that the investment allowance and additional depreciation is allowable on computers? (2) Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case the Tribunal is justified in law in holding that data processing and print out would certainly be a thing produced by the assessee even if not a thing manufactured by the assessee and thereby the assessee company is entitled to deduction u/s. 32A? (3) Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case the Tribunal is right in law in holding that the computer machinery installed by the assessee company are plant and machinery as a natural corollary and thereby the additional depreciation is entitled to the ITR/22/1996 3/8 JUDGMENT assessee?” 2. The Assessee is a private limited company established by two technocrats, who started and established Startronics Enterprises P. Ltd. All the machineries required for this project were imported from the United States of America. The Assessee-Company is engaged in the business of data processing system designing and software development and supply. While completing the assessments under Section-143(3) of the Income Tax Act (“the Act” for short), the Assessing Officer allowed to the Assessee-Company certain deductions. 2.1 Later, on perusal of the records of the income tax proceedings in the Assessee's case for the Assessment Years 1985-86, 1986-87 and 1987-88, the learned Commissioner of Income Tax observed that the orders framed under Section-143(3) by the Income Tax Officer were erroneous insofar as these were prejudicial to the interest of the Revenue. Accordingly, he invoked his jurisdiction under Section-263 of the Act. In response to the notice issued by the Commissioner of Income Tax, the Assessee submitted that the computers installed were plant and machinery and were entitled to investment ITR/22/1996 4/8 JUDGMENT allowance in view of the judgement of the Bombay High Court in the case of C.I.T. vs. IBM World Trade Corporation, [161 I.T.R. 673]. The learned Commissioner of Income Tax did not accept the submission. The Commissioner held that since the computers were installed in the office premises, additional depreciation was not admissible on the same. He further held that extra shift allowance for triple shift to the data processing equipment was also not admissible in view of the provisions of depreciation Schedule Part III-C(5). 2.2 On an appeal, the Tribunal held that in view of the judgement of the Gujarat High Court in the case of Ajay Printing Pvt. Ltd. [58 I.T.R. 811], the data processing and print out would certainly be a thing produced by the Assessee. It was observed that the Assessee was entitled to the deduction under Section-32A of the Act. It also observed that the computer machinery installed by the Assessee are plant and machinery as a natural corollary, the Assessee would be entitled to the additional depreciation and accordingly, held that the C.I.T. was not justified in setting aside the assessments. 3. Mrs.Bhatt, learned counsel for the Revenue, is ITR/22/1996 5/8 JUDGMENT heard. None appears for the opponent though the Office Report shows that the opponent is served. 4. It is the submission of the learned Counsel for the Revenue that the first question, encompasses two questions within its sweep, the first question is that whether the investment allowance was allowable and the second that the additional depreciation could still be allowed. 5. In view of the judgement reported in 274 I.T.R. 242, we must hold that the computers and the data processing machines would be the plant and machinery and the investment allowance would be available. 6. Placing reliance upon Section-32(1)(iia) of the Act, it is submitted that if the plant or machinery is installed in any office premises or in the residential accommodation, then, no deduction shall be allowed under Clause-(iia) of Section-32(1). Section-32(1)(iia), with its proviso, for the purposes of this case, would read as under: 32. (1) In respect of depreciation of buildings, machinery, plant or furniture owned by the assessee and used for the purposes of the business or profession, the following ITR/22/1996 6/8 JUDGMENT deductions shall, subject to the provisions of section 34, be allowed -- (i) xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx (ii) xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx (iia) in the case of any new machinery or plant (other than ships and aircraft) which has been installed after the 31st day of March, 1980, but before the 1st day of April, 1985, a further sum equal to one-half of the amount admissible under clause (ii) (exclusive of extra allowance for double or multiple shift working of the machinery or plant and the extra allowance in respect of machinery or plant installed in any premises used as a hotel) in respect of the previous year in which such machinery or plant is installed or, if the machinery or plant is first put to use in the immediately succeeding previous year, then, in respect of that previous year : Provided that no deduction shall be allowed under this clause in respect of - (a) any machinery or plant installed in any office premises or any residential accommodation; xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx 7. It is submitted that even if the computers and data processing machines are taken to be plant and ITR/22/1996 7/8 JUDGMENT machinery and are entitled to investment allowance, because of their location in the office, additional depreciation would not be allowable. Thrust of the argument is on the words “office premises”. 8. The submission is that the computers and the data processing machines are always kept in the office and in this case, when the computer and the data processing machines are used in the office, then, the additional depreciation would not be allowable. 9. It is to be noted that the words “office premises” have not been defined in the Income Tax Act. The word “office” would partake its character with the activities carried on in the said premises. In a given case, a doctor's clinic would be his office, but, would also be his clinic and if he installs a computer or some machine for the purposes of pathology, then, his office would be taken to be an industrial premises for the purposes of depreciation and investment allowance. In a given case, a computer kept in the Office of a Manager for his personal use or for some other purpose, then, such computer would not be entitled to investment allowance and/or additional depreciation. In the present case, the words “office premises” though would be ITR/22/1996 8/8 JUDGMENT covering office but, industrial premises would not come within office premises if the said premises are used for data processing. In the present case, undisputedly, the office premises are used as industrial premises for production of the data processors. The submission of the learned Counsel is based on a narrow interpretation of the words “office premises”, which we are unable to concede. 10. In view of the above referred discussion, Question No.1 deserves to be answered against the interest of the Revenue. Consequently, Question Nos.2 and 3 will also have to be answered against the interest of the Revenue. The Reference stands disposed of. No costs. [R.S.Garg, J.] [M. R. Shah, J.] kamlesh* "