SSK Pattin Sahakari Sangha Niyamit, V. ITO,

ITA 1255/BANG/2013

• Counselvise Citation: 125521114 RSA 2013
• Duration Of Justice: 1 year(s) 3 month(s) 13 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 28-11-2014
• Appeal Filed By: Assessee
• Order Result: Allowed
• Bench Allotted: A
• Next Hearing Date: 24-11-2014
• Assessment Year: 2010-2011
• Appeal Filed On: 14-08-2013
• Result in Favour of: Assessee
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Department Lawyers: P DHIVAHAR JT
• Assessee Lawyers: PRATEEK MARLECHA
• Keywords: Gift; Question of law; Reasonable cause; Benefit of exemption; Condonation of delay
• Section: 263

Judgement Text

IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL A BENCH : BANGALORE BEFORE SHRI N.V. VASUDEVAN, JUDICIAL MEMBER AND SHRI ABRAHAM P. GEORGE, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER ITA NO.1255/BANG/2014 ASSESSMENT YEAR : 2010-11 SSK PATTIN SAHAKARI SANGH NIYAMIT, BANAKATTI ROAD, ILKAL. DIST. BAGALKOT. PAN : AACAS 9807J VS. THE INCOME TAX OFFICER, WARD 1, BAGALKOT. APPELLANT RESPONDENT APPELLANT BY : SHRI PRATEEK MARLECHA, C.A. RESPONDENT BY : SHRI P. DHIVAHAR, JT. CIT (DR) DATE OF HEARING : 24.11.2014 DATE OF PRONOUNCEMENT : 28.11.2014 O R D E R PER N.V. VASUDEVAN, JUDICIAL MEMBER THIS APPEAL BY THE ASSESSEE IS DIRECTED AGAINST T HE ORDER DATED 25.06.2013 OF THE CIT(APPEALS), BELGAUM RELATING T O ASSESSMENT YEAR 2010-11. ITA NO.1255/BANG/2013 PAGE 2 OF 11 2. NONE APPEARED ON BEHALF OF THE ASSESSEE AT THE T IME OF HEARING. HOWEVER, WE PROCEED TO DISPOSE OF THE CASE ON MERIT S CONSIDERING THE MATERIAL ON RECORD AND AFTER HEARING THE LD. DR. 3. THERE IS A DELAY OF 65 DAYS IN FILING THE APPEAL BY THE ASSESSEE. APPLICATION FOR CONDONATION OF DELAY ALONG WITH AFF IDAVIT HAS BEEN FILED BY THE ASSESSEE. IN THE AFFIDAVIT, THE HON. SECRETARY OF THE ASSESSEE, ONE SHRI NAGAPPA, HAS EXPLAINED THE REASONS FOR THE DELAY. IT HAS BEEN STATED THEREIN THAT THE HON. SECRETARY WAS LOOKING AFTER A LL THE INCOME TAX AFFAIRS OF THE ASSESSEE SOCIETY. THE IMPUGNED ORDER OF THE CIT(APPEALS) WAS RECEIVED BY THE ASSESSEE ON 17.9.2013 AND THE APPEA L OUGHT TO HAVE BEEN FILED ON OR BEFORE 18.11.2013. IT APPEARS THAT ON 11.11.13, SHRI NAGAPPA PLANNED TO VISIT THE TAX CONSULTANT, SHRI ASHOK MUD NUR AT BELGAUM TO FILE APPEAL BEFORE THE ITAT, BANGALORE. HOWEVER, ON 10.1 1.2013, HE WAS UNWELL AND WAS ADVISED BY DOCTOR NOT TO TRAVEL. ON 22.11.13, HE WAS HOSPITALIZED AND OPERATED ON 30.12.13 FOR HEART PRO BLEMS. COPY OF THE DISCHARGE SUMMARY OF KLES HEART FOUNDATION, BELGAUM HAS ALSO BEEN FILED IN SUPPORT OF THE AVERMENTS IN THE AFFIDAVIT. THUS, REASONS FOR THE DELAY HAVE BEEN EXPLAINED TO BE DUE TO ILL-HEALTH O F THE HON. SECRETARY OF THE ASSESSEE. 4. ON PERUSAL OF THE REASONS GIVEN IN THE AFFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT OF THE APPLICATION FOR CONDONATION OF DELAY IN FILING THE APPEAL, WE ARE SATISFIED ITA NO.1255/BANG/2013 PAGE 3 OF 11 THAT DELAY IN FLING THE APPEAL WAS OCCASIONED DUE T O A REASONABLE CAUSE. ACCORDINGLY, DELAY IN FILING THE APPEAL IS CONDONED . 5. THE ONLY ISSUE INVOLVED IN THIS APPEAL BY THE AS SESSEE IS DENIAL OF DEDUCTION U/S. 80P(2)(A)(I) OF THE INCOME-TAX ACT, 1961 [HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS THE ACT IN SHORT] BY THE REVENUE AUTHORITI ES. 6. THE ASSESSEE IS A CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY REGISTERE D UNDER THE KARNATAKA STATE CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES ACT, 1959. IT IS ENGAGED IN PROVIDING CREDIT FACILITY TO ITS MEMBERS. THE ASSES SEE HAD CLAIMED DEDUCTION U/S. 80P(2)(A)(I) OF THE ACT. UNDER SEC. 80P(2)(I) OF THE ACT WHERE THE GROSS TOTAL INCOME OF A CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY IN CLUDES INCOME FROM CARRYING ON THE BUSINESS OF BANKING OR PROVIDING CR EDIT FACILITIES TO ITS MEMBERS, THE SAME IS ALLOWED DEDUCTION. BY THE FIN ANCE ACT, 2006 W.E.F. 1-4-2006, SUB-SECTION (4) WAS INSERTED IN SEC.80-P WHICH PROVIDES AS FOLLOWS: (4) THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT APPLY IN RELATION TO ANY CO-OPERATIVE BANK OTHER THAN A PRIMARY AGRICULT URAL CREDIT SOCIETY OR A PRIMARY CO-OPERATIVE AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT BANK. EXPLANATION : FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SUB-SECTION, (A) 'CO-OPERATIVE BANK' AND 'PRIMARY AGRICULTURAL C REDIT SOCIETY' SHALL HAVE THE MEANINGS RESPECTIVELY ASSIGNED TO TH EM IN PART V OF THE BANKING REGULATION ACT, 1949 (10 OF 1949); (B) 'PRIMARY CO-OPERATIVE AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL DE VELOPMENT BANK' MEANS A SOCIETY HAVING ITS AREA OF OPERATION CONFINED TO A TALUK AND THE PRINCIPAL OBJECT OF WHICH IS TO PROVI DE FOR LONG-TERM CREDIT FOR AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIV ITIES. ITA NO.1255/BANG/2013 PAGE 4 OF 11 7. IN THE COURSE OF SCRUTINY ASSESSMENT PROCEEDING S U/S. 143(3), THE AO WAS OF THE VIEW THAT AFTER AMENDMENT BY THE FINA NCE ACT, 2006 W.E.F. 1.4.2007 BY WHICH SUB-SECTION (4) WAS INSERTED, THE ASSESSEE WHICH WAS A CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY CARRYING ON BANKING BUSINESS W AS NOT ENTITLED TO DEDUCTION U/S.80P(2)(I) OF THE ACT. ACCORDING TO T HE AO, THE ASSESSEE WAS A CO-OPERATIVE BANK AND THEREFORE THE DEDUCTION U/S . 80P(2)(A)(I) CANNOT BE ALLOWED. IN COMING TO THE ABOVE CONCLUSION, THE AO NOTICED THAT THE NATURE OF THE ACTIVITY OF THE ASSESSEE, THOUGH REGISTERED AS A CREDIT CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY, IS THAT OF A BANKING INSTITUTION NOTWITHST ANDING THE FACT THAT RECEIPT OF AND LENDING MONEY IS LIMITED TO ITS MEMBERS. TH AT THE DEDUCTION FROM GROSS TOTAL INCOME OF CERTAIN RECEIPTS IS AVAILABLE ONLY TO PRIMARY AGRICULTURAL CREDIT SOCIETIES OR PRIMARY CO-OPERATI VE AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT BANKS; AND THAT THE BENEFIT OF SUCH DED UCTION IS NOT AVAILABLE TO INSTITUTIONS LIKE THE ASSESSEE SOCIETY SINCE IT WAS SITUATED IN URBAN AREA AND HAVING URBAN MEMBERS TO WHOM CREDIT FACILITIES WERE PROVIDED. THE AO ALSO REFERRED TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE BANKING REGU LATION ACT TO BRING THE ASSESSEE INTO THE CONCEPT OF A BANKING INSTITUTION. THE AO REFERRED TO THE OBJECTS OF THE ASSESSEE SOCIETY IN ITS BYE LAWS THA T THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ASSESSEE FALL WITHIN THE BANKING REGULATIONS ACT AN D HELD THAT ITS ACTIVITIES ARE IN THE NATURE OF BANKING ACTIVITY. ACCORDING T O THE AO, NONE OF THE CRITERIA CONTEMPLATED IN SUB-SECTION (4) WERE FULFI LLED IN THE CASE OF THE ASSESSEE. ITA NO.1255/BANG/2013 PAGE 5 OF 11 8. IN THE LIGHT OF THE ABOVE-MENTIONED OBSERVATIONS , THE AO HELD THAT THE APPELLANT WAS NOT ENTITLED TO EXEMPTION U/S 80P (2)(A)(I) OF THE ACT AND BROUGHT THE SAME TO TAX. 9. ON APPEAL BY THE ASSESSEE, THE CIT(APPEALS) UPHE LD THE ACTION OF THE AO DENYING DEDUCTION U/S. 80P(2)(A)(II) OF THE ACT BY CONSIDERING THE FOLLOWING DECISIONS OF ITAT RELIED UPON BY THE ASSE SSEE :- I) ACIT, CIRCLE-3(1), BANGALORE V. M/S BANGALORE COMMERCIAL TRANSPORT CREDIT CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LT D. - ITA.NO.1069/BANG/2010 DATED 8/4/2011 [ITAT, BANGALORE BENCH B, BANGALORE] II) DCIT, CENTRAL CIRCLE, PANAJI V. JAYALAKSHMI MAH ILA VIVIDODESHAGALA SOUHARDA SAHAKARI LTD. ITA NOS. 1 T O 3 (PNJ)/1012 DATED 30/3/2012. III) THE CITIZEN CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY V. ADDL. CIT, ITA NOS.1003 & 1004/HYD/2011 DATED 2.7.2012. 10. AGGRIEVED BY THE ORDER OF THE CIT(APPEALS), THE ASSESSEE HAS FILED THE PRESENT APPEAL BEFORE THE TRIBUNAL. 11. AT THE TIME OF HEARING, IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE ISSUE RAISED BY THE ASSESSEE IN THESE APPEALS HAS ALREADY BEEN CONSIDER ED AND DECIDED BY THIS TRIBUNAL IN THE CASE OF ACIT, CIRCLE 3(1), BANGALORE V. M/S. BANGALORE COMMERCIAL TRANSPORT CREDIT CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LT D. IN ITA NO.1069/BANG/2010 , WHEREIN THIS TRIBUNAL HELD THAT SECTION 80P(4) IS APPLICABLE ONLY TO COOPERATIVE BANKS AND NOT TO CRE DIT COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES. THE INTENTION OF THE LEGISLATURE OF BRI NGING IN COOPERATIVE BANKS ITA NO.1255/BANG/2013 PAGE 6 OF 11 INTO THE TAXATION STRUCTURE WAS MAINLY TO BRING IN PAR WITH COMMERCIAL BANKS. SINCE THE ASSESSEE IS A COOPERATIVE SOCIETY AND NOT A COOPERATIVE BANK, THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 80P(4) WILL NOT HAV E APPLICATION IN THE ASSESSEES CASE AND THEREFORE, IT IS ENTITLED TO DE DUCTION U/S 80P(2)(A)(I) OF THE ACT. THE FOLLOWING WERE THE RELEVANT OBSERVATI ONS OF THE TRIBUNAL:- 9. WE HAVE HEARD THE RIVAL SUBMISSIONS AND PERUSED THE MATERIAL ON RECORD. THE ASSESSEE WAS DENIED THE DE DUCTION U/S 80-P(2)(A)(I) OF THE ACT FOR THE REASON OF INTRODUC TION OF SUB SECTION 4 TO SECTION 80P. SECTION 80P(4) READS AS FOLLOWS:- (4) THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT A PPLY IN RELATION TO ANY COOPERATIVE BANK OTHER THAN A PRIMA RY AGRICULTURAL CREDIT SOCIETY OR A PRIMARY COOPERATIV E AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT BANK. EXPLANATION: FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SUB-SECTION, (A) CO-OPERATIVE BANK AND PRIMARY AGRICULTURAL CREDIT SOCIETY SHALL HAVE THE MEANINGS RESPECTIVELY ASSIGNED TO THEM IN PART V OF THE BANKING REGULATION ACT, 1949 (10 OF 1949); (B) PRIMARY COOPERATIVE AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT BANK MEANS A SOCIETY HAVING ITS AREA OF OPERATION CONFINED TO A TALUK AND THE PRINCIPAL OBJECT OF WHICH IS TO PROVIDE FOR LONG TERM CREDIT FOR AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES. 9.1 THE ABOVE SUB-SECTION 4 OF SECTION 80P PROVID ES THAT DEDUCTION UNDER THE SAID SECTION SHALL NOT BE AVAILABLE TO AN Y COOPERATIVE BANK OTHER THAN A PRIMARY AGRICULTURAL CREDIT SOCIETY OR RURAL DEVELOPMENT BANK. FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE SAID SUB SECTION, COO PERATIVE BANK SHALL HAVE THE MEANING ASSIGNED TO IT IN PART V OF THE BA NKING REGULATION ACT, 1949. IN PART V OF THE BANKING REGULATION ACT , COOPERATIVE ITA NO.1255/BANG/2013 PAGE 7 OF 11 BANK MEANS A STATE COOPERATIVE BANK, A CENTRAL COO PERATIVE BANK AND A PRIMATE COOPERATIVE BANK. 9.2 FROM THE ABOVE SECTION, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE PR OVISIONS OF SECTION 80P(4) HAS GOT ITS APPLICATION ONLY TO COOPERATIVE BANKS. SECTION 80P(4) DOES NOT DEFINE THE WORD COOPERATIVE SOCIET Y. THE EXISTING SUB-SECTION 80P(2)(A)(I) SHALL BE APPLICABLE TO A C OOPERATIVE SOCIETY CARRYING ON CREDIT FACILITY TO ITS MEMBERS. THIS VIEW IS CLARIFIED BY CENTRAL BOARD OF DIRECT TAX VIDE ITS CLARIFICATION NO.133/06/2007-TPL DATED 9 TH MAY, 2007. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A COOPERATIVE B ANK AND A COOPERATIVE SOCIETY ARE AS FOLLOWS:- NATURE COOPERATIVE SOCIETY REGISTERED UNDER BANKING REGULATION ACT, 1949 COOPERATIVE SOCIETY REGISTERED UNDER KARNATAKA COOPERATIVE SOCIETY ACT, 1959. REGISTRA -TION UNDER THE BANKING REGULATION ACT, 1949 AND COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES ACT, 1959. COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES ACT, 1959. NATURE OF BUSINESS 1. AS DEFINED IN SECTION 6 OF BANKING REGULATION ACT. 2. CAN OPEN SAVINGS BANK ACCOUNT, CURRENT ACCOUNT, OVERDRAFT ACCOUNT, CASH CREDIT ACCOUNT, ISSUE LETTER OF CREDIT, DISCOUNTING BILLS OF EXCHANGE, ISSUE CHEQUES, DEMAND DRAFTS (DD), PAY ORDERS, GIFT CHEQUES, LOCKERS, BANK GUARANTEES ETC. 3. COOPERATIVE BANKS CAN ACT AS CLEARING AGENT FOR CHEQUES, DDS, PAY ORDERS AND OTHER FORMS. 4. BANKS ARE BOUND TO FOLLOW THE RULES, REGULATIONS AND DIRECTIONS ISSUED BY RESERVE BANK OF INDIA (RBI). 1. AS PER THE BYE LAWS OF THE COOPERATIVE SOCIETY. 2. SOCIETY CANNOT OPEN SAVINGS BANK ACCOUNT, CURRENT ACCOUNT, ISSUE LETTER OF CREDIT, DISCOUNTING BILLS OF EXCHANGE, ISSUE CHEQUES, DEMAND DRAFTS, PAY ORDERS, GIFT CHEQUES, LOCKERS, BANK GUARANTEES ETC. 3. SOCIETY CANNOT ACT AS CLEARING AGENT, FOR CHEQUES, DDS, PAY ORDERS AND OTHER FORMS. 4. SOCIETY ARE BOUND BY RULES AND REGULATIONS AS SPECIFIED BY IN THE COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES ACT. FILING OF RETURNS COOPERATIVE BANKS HAVE TO SUBMIT ANNUAL RETURN TO RBI EVERY YEAR. SOCIETY HAS TO SUBMIT THE ANNUAL RETURN TO REGISTRAR OF SOCIETIES. INSPEC- TION RBI HAS THE POWER TO INSPECT ACCOUNTS AND OVERALL FUNCTIONING OF THE BANK. REGISTRAR HAS THE POWER TO INSPECT ACCOUNTS AND OVERALL FUNCTIONING OF THE BANK. PART V PART V OF THE BANKING REGULATION ACT IS APPLICABLE TO COOPERATIVE BANKS. PART V OF THE BANKING REGULATION ACT IS NOT APPLICABLE TO COOPERATIVE BANKS. USE OF WORDS THE WORD BANK, BANKER, BANKING CAN BE USED BY A COOPERATIVE BANK. THE WORD BANK, BANKER, BANKING CANNOT BE USED BY A COOPERATIVE SOCIETY. ITA NO.1255/BANG/2013 PAGE 8 OF 11 9.3 IF THE INTENTION OF THE LEGISLATURE WAS NOT TO GRANT DEDUCTION U/S 80P(2)(A)(I) TO COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES CARRYING ON T HE BUSINESS OF PROVIDING CREDIT FACILITIES TO ITS MEMBERS, THEN TH IS SECTION WOULD HAVE BEEN DELETED. THE NEW PROVISO TO SECTION 80P(4) WH ICH IS BROUGHT INTO STATUTE IS APPLICABLE ONLY TO COOPERATIVE BANKS AND NOT TO CREDIT COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES. THE INTENTION OF THE LEGISL ATURE OF BRINGING IN COOPERATIVE BANKS INTO THE TAXATION STRUCTURE WAS M AINLY TO BRING IN PAR WITH COMMERCIAL BANKS. SINCE THE ASSESSEE IS A COO PERATIVE SOCIETY AND NOT A COOPERATIVE BANK, THE PROVISIONS OF SECTI ON 80P(4) WILL NOT HAVE APPLICATION IN THE ASSESSEES CASE AND THEREFO RE, IT IS ENTITLED TO DEDUCTION U/S 80P(2)(A)(I) OF THE ACT. HENCE, WE A RE OF THE VIEW THAT THE ORDER OF THE CIT(A) IS CORRECT AND IN ACCORDANC E WITH LAW AND NO INTERFERENCE IS CALLED FOR. 12. THE HONBLE GUJARAT HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF T AX APPEAL NO.442 OF 2013 WITH TAX APPEAL NO.443 OF 2013 WITH TAX APPEAL NO.863 OF 2013 IN THE CASE OF CIT VS. JAFARI MOMIN VIKAS CO-OP CREDIT SOCIETY LTD. BY JUDGMENT DATED 15.1.2014 HAD TO DEAL WITH THE FOLLO WING QUESTION OF LAW:- WHETHER THE HONBLE TRIBUNAL IS CORRECT IN ALLOWIN G DEDUCTION UNDER SECTION 80P(2)(A)(I) TO ASSESSEES SOCIETY EV EN THOUGH SAME IS COVERED UNDER SECTION 80P(4) RWS 2(24) (VIIA) BE ING INCOME FROM PROVIDING CREDIT FACILITIES CARRIED ON BY A CO -OPERATIVE SOCIETY WITH ITS MEMBER? THE HONBLE COURT HELD AS FOLLOWS: 4. AS PER SECTION 80P(4), THE PROVISIONS OF SECTI ON 80P WOULD NOT APPLY IN RELATION TO ANY CO-OPERATIVE BANK OTHER TH AN PRIMARY AGRICULTURAL CREDIT SOCIETY OR PRIMARY CO-OPERATIVE AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT BANK. AS PER THE EXPLANATION, THE TERMS CO- OPERATIVE BANK AND PRIMARY AGRICULTURAL CREDIT SO CIETY SHALL HAVE THE MEANINGS RESPECTIVELY ASSIGNED TO THEM IN PART V OF THE BANKING REGULATION ACT, 1949. ITA NO.1255/BANG/2013 PAGE 9 OF 11 5. ASSESSING OFFICER HELD THAT BY VIRTUE OF SECTIO N 80P(4), THE RESPONDENT ASSESSEE WOULD NOT BE ENTITLED TO BENEFI TS OF DEDUCTION UNDER SECTION 80P. CIT(APPEALS) AS WELL AS THE TRIB UNAL REVERSED THE DECISION OF THE ASSESSING OFFICER ON THE PREMISE TH AT THE RESPONDENT ASSESSEE NOT BEING A BANK, EXCLUSION PROVIDED IN SU B-SECTION(4) OF SECTION 80P WOULD NOT APPLY. THIS, IRRESPECTIVE OF THE FACT THAT THE RESPONDENT WOULD NOT FALL WITHIN THE EXPRESSION PR IMARY AGRICULTURAL CREDIT SOCIETY. 6. HAD THIS BEEN THE PLAIN STATUTORY PROVISIONS UN DER CONSIDERATION IN ISOLATION, IN OUR OPINION, THE QUE STION OF LAW COULD BE STATED TO HAVE ARISEN. WHEN, AS CONTENDED BY THE AS SESSEE, BY VIRTUE OF SUBSECTION(4) ONLY CO-OPERATIVE BANKS OTHER THAN THOSE MENTIONED THEREIN WERE MEANT TO BE EXCLUDED FOR THE PURPOSE O F DEDUCTION UNDER SECTION 80P, A QUESTION WOULD ARISE WHY THEN LEGISL ATURE SPECIFIED PRIMARY AGRICULTURAL CREDIT SOCIETIES ALONG WITH PR IMARY COOPERATIVE AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT BANKS FOR EXCLUS ION FROM SUCH EXCLUSION AND IN OTHER WORDS, CONTINUED TO HOLD SUC H ENTITY AS ELIGIBLE FOR DEDUCTION. HOWEVER, THE ISSUE HAS BEEN CONSIDER ABLY SIMPLIFIED BY VIRTUE OF CBDT CIRCULAR NO.133 OF 2007 DATED 9.5 .2007. CIRCULAR PROVIDES AS UNDER:- SUBJECT: CLARIFICATION REGARDING ADMISSIBLY OF DED UCTION UNDER SECTION 80P OF THE INCOME-TAX ACT, 1961. 1. PLEASE REFER TO YOUR LETTER NO.DCUS/30688/2007, DATED 28.03.2007 ADDRESSED TO CHAIRMAN, CENTRAL BOA RD OF DIRECT TAXES, ON THE ABOVE GIVEN SUBJECT. 2. IN THIS REGARD, I HAVE BEEN DIRECTED TO STATE T HAT SUB-SECTION(4) OF SECTION 80P PROVIDES THAT DEDUCTI ON UNDER THE SAID SECTION SHALL NOT BE ALLOWABLE TO AN Y CO- OPERATIVE BANK OTHER THAN A PRIMARY AGRICULTURAL CR EDIT SOCIETY OR A PRIMARY CO-OPERATIVE AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT BANK. FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE SAID SUB-S ECTION, CO-OPERATIVE BANK SHALL HAVE THE MEANING ASSIGNED T O IT IN PART V OF THE BANKING REGULATION ACT, 1949. 3. IN PART V OF THE BANKING REGULATION ACT,CO- OPERATIVE BANK MEANS A STATE CO-OPERATIVE BANK, A CENTRAL CO-OPERATIVE BANK AND A PRIMARY CO-OPERATIV E BANK. ITA NO.1255/BANG/2013 PAGE 10 OF 11 4. THUS, IF THE DELHI CO OP URBAN T & C SOCIETY LT D. DOES NOT FALL WITHIN THE MEANING OF CO-OPERATIVE B ANK AS DEFINED IN PART V OF THE BANKING REGULATION ACT, 19 49, SUBSECTION(4) OF SECTION 80P WILL NOT APPLY IN THIS CASE. 5. THE ISSUES WITH THE APPROVAL OF CHAIRMAN,CENTRA L BOARD OF DIRECT TAXES. 7. FROM THE ABOVE CLARIFICATION, IT CAN BE GATHER ED THAT SUB- SECTION(4) OF SECTION 80P WILL NOT APPLY TO AN ASSE SSEE WHICH IS NOT A CO-OPERATIVE BANK. IN THE CASE CLARIFIED BY C BDT, DELHI COOP URBAN THRIFT & CREDIT SOCIETY LTD. WAS UNDER CONSIDERATION. CIRCULAR CLARIFIED THAT THE SAID ENT ITY NOT BEING A COOPERATIVE BANK, SECTION 80P(4) OF THE ACT WOULD N OT APPLY TO IT. IN VIEW OF SUCH CLARIFICATION, WE CANNOT ENTERTAIN THE REVENUES CONTENTION THAT SECTION 80P(4) WOULD EXCLUDE NOT ON LY THE CO- OPERATIVE BANKS OTHER THAN THOSE FULFILLING THE DES CRIPTION CONTAINED THEREIN BUT ALSO CREDIT SOCIETIES, WHICH ARE NOT COOPERATIVE BANKS. IN THE PRESENT CASE, RESPONDENT ASSESSEE IS ADMITTEDLY NOT A CREDIT CO-OPERATIVE BANK BUT A CRE DIT CO- OPERATIVE SOCIETY. EXCLUSION CLAUSE OF SUB-SECTION( 4) OF SECTION 80P, THEREFORE, WOULD NOT APPLY. IN THE RESULT, TAX APPEALS ARE DISMISSED. 13. OUR ATTENTION WAS INVITED TO A RECENT JUDGMENT DATED 5.2.2014 OF THE HONBLE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA IN CIT V. SRI BILURU GURUBASAVA PATTINA SAHAKARI SANGHA NIYAMITHA BAGALKOT IN ITA NO.5006/2013 DATED 5.2.2014, WHEREIN THE HONBLE JURISDICTIONAL HIGH COURT TOOK THE VIEW THAT WHEN THE STATUS OF THE ASS ESSEE IS A CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY AND NOT A CO-OPERATIVE BANK, THE ORDER PASS ED BY THE AO EXTENDING THE BENEFIT OF EXEMPTION FROM PAYMENT OF TAX 80P(2) (A)(I) OF THE ACT IS ITA NO.1255/BANG/2013 PAGE 11 OF 11 CORRECT AND SUCH AN ORDER IS NOT ERRONEOUS AND THER EFORE, JURISDICTION U/S. 263 OF THE ACT CANNOT BE INVOKED. 14. IN VIEW OF THE AFORESAID DECISIONS, WE HOLD THA T THE ASSESSEE SOCIETY IS ENTITLED TO DEDUCTION U/S. 80P(2)(A)(I) OF THE A CT. IT IS ORDERED ACCORDINGLY. 15. IN THE RESULT, THE APPEAL BY THE ASSESSEE IS ALLOWED . PRONOUNCED IN THE OPEN COURT ON THIS 28 TH DAY OF NOVEMBER , 2014 . SD/- SD/- ( ABRAHAM P. GEORGE ) ( N.V. VASUDEVA N ) ACCOUNTANT MEMBER JUDICIAL MEM BER BANGALORE, DATED, THE 28 TH NOVEMBER, 2014 . /D S/ COPY TO: 1. APPELLANT 2. RESPONDENT 3. CIT 4. CIT(A) 5. DR, ITAT, BANGALORE. 6. GUARD FILE BY ORDER ASSISTANT REGISTRAR / SENIOR PRIVATE SECRETARY ITAT, BANGALORE.