COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX V. SURAT DIST. CO.OP.MILK PRODUCERS UNION LTD.

ITR/26/1987

AI Insights

The case involves the Commissioner of Income-Tax versus Surat District Co-operative Milk Producers Union Ltd., concerning the eligibility of the assessee for relief under section 80P(2)(d) of the Income-tax Act, 1961. The issue arose from the assessee's receipt of interest from other co-operative societies and the payment of interest to other co-operative societies, which the Income Tax Officer initially denied exemption. The Commissioner of Income-Tax Appeals later directed the I.T.O. to allow the deduction, which was upheld by the Tribunal based on a previous decision for the assessment year 1978-79. However, the High Court left the question unanswered, directing the Tribunal to reconsider the matter in light of the Supreme Court's decision in Cambay Electric Supply Industrial Co. Ltd. vs. C.I.T.

• Counselvise Citation: [1998] 140 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 685755 (HC-GUJARAT)
• Appeal Type: Others
• Pronouncement Date: 15-04-1998
• Assessment Year: misc
• Other Referred Cases: C.I.T. vs. Surat District Co-operative Milk Producers Union Ltd., Cambay Electric Supply Industrial Co.Ltd. vs. C.I.T.
• Laws Referred To: Income-tax Act, 1961
• Result in Favour of: Partly Allowed
• Court: HIGH COURT
• Department Lawyers: B D KARIA; R K PATEL
• Assessee Lawyers: R P BHATT
• Keywords: Co-operative Society; Income Tax; Interest Exemption; Section 80P(2)(d)
• Section: 80P(2)(d); 256(1)

Judgement Text

" IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD INCOME TAX REFERENCE No 26 of 1987 For Approval and Signature: Hon'ble MR.JUSTICE R.K.ABICHANDANI and MR.JUSTICE KUNDAN SINGH ============================================================ 1. Whether Reporters of Local Papers may be allowed to see the judgements? 2. To be referred to the Reporter or not? 3. Whether Their Lordships wish to see the fair copy of the judgement? 4. Whether this case involves a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of the Constitution of India, 1950 of any Order made thereunder? 5. Whether it is to be circulated to the Civil Judge? -------------------------------------------------------------- COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX Versus SURAT DIST. CO.OP.MILK PRODUCERS UNION LTD. -------------------------------------------------------------- Appearance: MR RP BHATT for Petitioner Mr.B.D.Karia and Mr.R.K.Patel for the Respondent -------------------------------------------------------------- CORAM : MR.JUSTICE R.K.ABICHANDANI and MR.JUSTICE KUNDAN SINGH Date of decision: 15/04/98 ORAL JUDGEMENT (Per R.K.Abichandani,J) The Income-tax Appellate Tribunal has referred the following question for the opinion of this Court under section 256(1) of the Income-tax Act, 1961. \" Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in law in holding that the assessee was eligible to relief under section 80P(2)(d) of the Act on interest of Rs. 1,39,069/- received by the assessee from the co-operative societies without taking into account that a sum of Rs. 6,72,155/- was paid by the assessee as interest to other co-operative societies ?\" 2. The matter relates to the assessment year 1980-81. The assessee is a co-operative society which had received interest amount of Rs. 1,39,069/- from other co-operative societies and had paid a sum of Rs. 6,72,135/- as interest to other co-operative societies. The I.T.O. rejected the claim of the assessee for exemption under section 80P(2)(d) of the Act in respect of the interest received by it from other co-operative societies. On appeal, C.I.T.(Appeals) directed the I.T.O. to allow deduction under section 80P(2)(d) of the Act. The Tribunal following its decision in assessee's own case, for the assessment year 1978-79, dismissed the Revenue's appeal. 3. From the decision of the Tribunal in assessee's own case for the assessment year 1978-79, and dealing with an identical question, this Court following its decision in C.I.T. vs. Surat District Co-operative Milk Producers Union Ltd., reported in 211 ITR, 726 left the question unanswered for the reasons given in its decision dated 30.1.98 with a direction to the Tribunal to decide the question on merits after considering the relevant facts and by applying the ratio laid down by the Supreme Court in its decision in Cambay Electric Supply Industrial Co.Ltd. vs. C.I.T. reported in 113 ITR, 84. Following the said decision, the question referred to this Court is left unanswered leaving it open to decide the question on merits after considering the relevant facts in light of the ratio of the decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Cambay Electric Supply Industrial Co. Ltd. reported in 113 ITR, 84 and earlier decision of this Court in assessee's own case. The Reference stands disposed of accordingly with no order as to costs. ... ***darji "