MSTC Limited, Kolkata V. JCIT(OSD) CIT - I,kolkata, Kolkata

ITA 1536/KOL/2013

• Counselvise Citation: [2016] 132 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 4696 (ITAT-KOLKATA)
• Duration Of Justice: 3 year(s) 12 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 08-06-2016
• Appeal Filed By: Assessee
• Bench Allotted: B
• Next Hearing Date: 04-05-2016
• Assessment Year: 2009-2010
• Appeal Filed On: 27-05-2013
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Department Lawyers: MD GHAYAS UDDIN
• Assessee Lawyers: J L RAHA
• Keywords: Depreciation; Earning of tax free income; Cost of acquisition
• Section: 14A; 37(1)

Judgement Text

I.T.A. NO. 1536/KOL./2013 ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2009-2010 PAGE 1 OF 15 IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL, KOLKATA B BENCH, KOLKATA BEFORE SHRI P.M. JAGTAP, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER AND SHRI S.S. VISWANETHRA RAVI, JUDICIAL MEMBER I.T.A. NO. 1536 /KOL/ 2013 ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2009-2010 MSTC LIMITED,...................................... .......................................APPELLANT 225C, A.J.C. BOSE ROAD, 2 ND FLOOR, KOLKATA-700 020 [PAN : AACCM 0021 E] -VS.- JOINT COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (OSD), COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX-I, KOLKATA,........... ..............RESPONDENT APPEARANCES BY: SHRI J.L. RAHA, CA, FOR THE ASSESSEE MD. GHAYAS UDDIN, JCIT, SR. D.R., FOR THE DEPARTMENT DATE OF CONCLUDING THE HEARING : MAY 04, 2016 DATE OF PRONOUNCING THE ORDER : JUNE 08, 2016 O R D E R PER SHRI P.M. JAGTAP :- THIS APPEAL FILED BY THE ASSESSEE IS DIRECTED AGAINST TH E ORDER OF LD. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (APPEALS)-XXIV, KOLKATA DATED 08.03.2013. 2. THE ISSUE RAISED IN GROUND NO. 1 RELATES TO THE ADDITION OF RS.1,47,00,000/- MADE BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER AND CONFIRMED BY THE LD. CIT(APPEALS) TO THE TOTAL INCOME OF THE ASSESSEE TO WARDS GAINS ON FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATE FLUCTUATION IN TERMS OF ACCOUNTING ST ANDARD-11. 3. THE ASSESSEE IN THE PRESENT CASE IS A PUBLIC SEC TOR UNDERTAKING. IT CARRIES ON THE BUSINESS THROUGH ITS TWO DIVISION, O NE DIVISION WHICH LOOKS AFTER THE PROCUREMENT OF INDUSTRIAL RAW MATERIAL IN BULK FROM ITS CUSTOMERS AND THE SECOND DIVISION WHICH PROVIDES A SUITABLE MARKET PLACE FOR DOMESTIC SELLERS TO DO BUSINESS IN METAL SCRAP BOTH FERROUS AND I.T.A. NO. 1536/KOL./2013 ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2009-2010 PAGE 2 OF 15 NON-FERROUS. THE RETURN OF INCOME FOR THE YEAR UNDE R CONSIDERATION WAS FILED BY IT ON 22.09.2009 DECLARING TOTAL INCOME OF RS.138,99,55,334/-. IN THE AUDIT REPORT FILED ALONG WITH THE SAID RETURN, IT WAS POINTED OUT BY THE AUDITORS THAT THE GAINS/LOSSES ON FOREIGN EXCHANGE FLUCTUATIONS ON EXPORTS ARE NOT ACCOUNTED BY THE ASSESSEE AS PER TH E ACCOUNTING STANDARD. IT WAS ALSO NOTED THAT SUCH FOREIGN EXCHA NGE GAIN WOULD HAVE BEEN RS.97.95 CRORES ON EXPORTS AS PER THE ACCOUNTI NG STANDARD-11. THE FACT THAT SUCH GAIN WAS TO BE PASSED TO THE ASSOCIA TES BY THE ASSESSEE AS PER THE AGREEMENT WITH THEM WAS TAKEN NOTE OF BY TH E AUDITORS AND ACCORDINGLY IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE PURCHASES/CRED ITORS WOULD HAVE INCREASED BY RS.96.48 CRORES. IT WAS POINTED OUT TH AT THE NET PROFIT OF THE ASSESSEE AS A RESULT OF NOT FOLLOWING ACCOUNTING ST ANDARD-11 THUS WAS UNDERSTATED BY RS.1.47 CRORES. KEEPING IN VIEW THES E COMMENTS MADE BY THE AUDITORS IN THE REPORT, THE ASSESSEE DURING THE COURSE OF ASSESSMENT PROCEEDINGS WAS CALLED UPON BY THE ASSESSING OFFICE R TO OFFER ITS EXPLANATION. IN REPLY, IT WAS SUBMITTED BY THE ASSE SSEE THAT THE ACCOUNTING STANDARD-11 LAID DOWN BY ICAI HAS NO REL EVANCE WITH THE INCOME TAX ACT AND, THEREFORE, THE OBSERVATIONS OF THE TAX AUDITORS HAVE GOT NO BEARING IN COMPUTING TAXABLE INCOME. THIS EX PLANATION OF THE ASSESSEE WAS NOT FOUND ACCEPTABLE BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER. ACCORDING TO HIM, THE COMPUTATION OF INCOME ADMITS THE STANDARD ACCOUNTING PROCEDURES FOLLOWED OR TO BE FOLLOWED IN RESPECT OF INCOME RECOGNITION UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFICALLY PROVIDED IN THE INCOM E TAX ACT, 1961. IN THIS REGARD, HE NOTED THAT THERE WAS NO SPECIFIC NO RM FOR ACCOUNTING OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE FLUCTUATION GAINS OR LOSSES LAID D OWN IN THE INCOME TAX ACT AND, THEREFORE, THE ACCOUNTING STANDARDS LAID D OWN BY THE ICAI PROVIDING THE BENCHMARK WERE APPLICABLE ON THE ISSU E, TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY DID NOT TRANSGRESS ANY SPECIFIC PROVISION OF T HE ACT. ACCORDINGLY THE NET AMOUNT OF RS. 1.47 CRORES ON ACCOUNT OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE FLUCTUATION GAINS ON EXPORTS WAS ADDED BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER TO THE TOTAL INCOME OF THE ASSESSEE AS PER ACCOUNTING STANDARD-11. I.T.A. NO. 1536/KOL./2013 ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2009-2010 PAGE 3 OF 15 4. THE ADDITION MADE BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER OF RS .1.47 CRORES ON ACCOUNT OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE FLUCTUATION GAIN DISPUT ED BY THE ASSESSEE IN THE APPEAL FILED BEFORE THE LD. CIT(APPEALS). DURIN G THE COURSE OF APPELLATE PROCEEDINGS, THE FOLLOWING SUBMISSION WAS MADE BY THE ASSESESE IN SUPPORT OF ITS CASE ON THE ISSUE:- IN THIS CONTEXT THE HON'BLE APEX COURT IN THE CASE OF CIT- VS. -WOODWARD GOVERNOR INDIA (P) LTD. (312 ITR 254) HAS HELD THAT - PROFIT OR LOSS ARISES TO AN ASSESSEE ON ACCOUNT OF APPRECIATION OR DEPRECIATION INTO ANOTHER CURRENCY WOULD ORDINARILY BE A TRADING PROFIT OR LOSS PROVIDED THE FOREIGN CURRENCY IS HELD BY THE ASSESSEE ON REVENUE ACCOUNT OR AS A TRADING ASSET OR AS PART OF CIRCULATING CAPITAL EMB EDDED IN THE BUSINESS. IT IS FURTHER OPINED THAT GAINS OR LO SS ARE TAXABLE OR ALLOWABLE ON ACTUAL CRYSTALLIZATION ON P AYMENT/ RECEIPT REFLECTING IN THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNTS. NOW CONSIDERING THE FACT STATED BY THE AUDITOR AND THE RECENT JUDGEMENT OF THE APEX COURT IT MAY BE CONCLU DED, THAT YOUR APPELLANT (I) HAS NO RECOGNIZABLE REALIZE D FOREIGN EXCHANGE GAIN (II) IF AT ALL REALIZED THAT IS MEANT FOR ASSOCIATE PARTIES AS MSTC IS ONLY CANNEL-SING AGENT FOR IMPORT ON BEHALF OF ASSOCIATES (III) IF YOUR APPELL ANT WOULD FOLLOW AS-11 THE PURCHASE COST WOULD HAVE BEEN INCR EASED BY RS. 96.48 CRORES, RESULTING IN REDUCTION IN PROF IT TO THAT EXTENT. HENCE ADDITION OF RS.1.47 CRORES ON ACCOUNT OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE FLUCTUATION IS BAD IN LAW AND FACT , THEREFORE, SHOULD BE DELETED. 5. THE ABOVE SUBMISSION MADE BY THE ASSESESE DID NO T FIND FAVOUR WITH THE LD. CIT(APPEALS), WHO PROCEEDED TO CONFIRM THE ADDITION OF RS.1.47 CRORES MADE BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER ON ACC OUNT OF GAINS ON FOREIGN EXCHANGE FLUCTUATION FOR THE FOLLOWING REAS ONS GIVEN IN PARAGRAPH NO. 3.3 OF HIS IMPUGNED ORDER:- 3.3. I HAVE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED THE OBSERVATION O F THE ASSESSING OFFICER IN THE ASSESSMENT ORDER AND ALSO THE SUBMISSION OF THE LD. A/R. IN THE CASE OF CIT VS. W OODWARD GOVERNOR INDIA (PVT.) LTD. REPORTED IN 312 ITR 254, THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT HAS HELD AS UNDER :- 'AT THIS STAGE, WE ARE CONCERNED ONLY WITH PARA 9 WHICH DEALS WITH REVENUE ITEMS. PARA 9 OF AS-11 RECOGNIZES EXCHANGE DIFFERENCES AS INCOME OR EXPENSE. IN CASES WHERE, E.G., THE RATE OF DOLLAR RISES VIS-A-VIS THE INDIAN RUPEE, THERE IS AN I.T.A. NO. 1536/KOL./2013 ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2009-2010 PAGE 4 OF 15 EXPENSE DURING THAT PERIOD. THE IMPORTANT POINT TO BE NOTED IS THAT AS-11 STIPULATES EFFECT OF CHANGES IN EXCHANGE RATE VIS-A-VIS MONETARY ITEMS DENOMINATED IN A FOREIGN CURRENCY TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT FOR GIVING ACCOUNTING TREATMENT ON THE BALANCE SHEET DATE. THEREFORE, AN ENTERPRISE HAS TO REPORT THE OUTSTANDING LIABILITY RELATING TO IMPORT OF RAW MATERIALS USING CLOSING RATE OF EXCHANGE. ANY DIFFERENCE, LOSS OR GAIN, ARISING ON CONVERSION OF THE SAID LIABILITY AT THE CLOSING RATE, SHOULD B E RECOGNIZED IN THE P&L ACCOUNT FOR THE FOLLOWING PERIOD. 6. THE LD. COUNSEL FOR THE ASSESSEE INVITED OUR ATT ENTION TO THE RELEVANT OBSERVATIONS/COMMENTS OF THE AUDITORS AS A PPEARING AT PAGE NO. 58, 68 AND 71 OF HIS PAPER BOOK AND SUBMITTED THAT GAIN OR LOSS AS A RESULT OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE FLUCTUATIONS IN RESPECT OF RELEVANT EXPORT TRANSACTIONS WAS TO BE PASSED ON BY THE ASSESSEE TO THE CONCERNED ASSOCIATES AND THIS FACTUAL POSITION WAS TAKEN NOTE OF EVEN BY THE AUDITORS IN THEIR REPORT. HE ALSO CONTENDED THAT SU CH GAIN OR LOSS WAS TO BE ADJUSTED FINALLY ON SETTLEMENT OR TO BE PASSED O N TO THE ASSOCIATES AND THERE WAS THUS NO QUESTION OF ANY INCOME ARISING TO THE ASSESSEE IN GENERAL AND IN THE YEAR UNDER CONSIDERATION IN PART ICULAR. 7. THE LD. D.R., ON THE OTHER HAND, STRONGLY SUPPOR TED THE IMPUGNED ORDER OF THE LD. CIT(APPEALS) ON THIS ISSUE AND SUB MITTED THAT THIS ISSUE IS SQUARELY COVERED IN FAVOUR OF THE REVENUE BY THE DE CISION OF THE HONBLE SUPREME COURT IN THE CASE OF WOODWARD GOVERNOR INDI A (P) LIMITED (SUPRA) RELIED UPON BY THE LD. CIT(APPEALS). HE CON TENDED THAT THE ACCOUNTING STANDARD-11 IS MANDATORY AND AS A RESULT OF NOT FOLLOWING THE SAME, THE NET GAIN AS A RESULT OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE FLUCTUATION IN RESPECT OF RELEVANT EXPORT TRANSACTIONS WAS NOT INCLUDED BY TH E ASSESSEE IN ITS TOTAL INCOME AS POINTED OUT BY THE AUDITORS IN THEIR REPO RT. HE CONTENDED THAT THE FACT THAT SUCH GAIN WAS TO BE PASSED OVER BY TH E ASSESSEE-COMPANY TO ITS ASSOCIATES WAS DULY TAKEN NOTE OF BY THE AUDITO RS AND ONLY AFTER TAKING THE SAME INTO ACCOUNT, THE NET GAIN AS PER THE ACCO UNTING STANDARD-11 WAS WORKED OUT BY THE AUDITORS AT RS.1.47 CRORES. I.T.A. NO. 1536/KOL./2013 ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2009-2010 PAGE 5 OF 15 8. WE HAVE CONSIDERED THE RIVAL SUBMISSIONS ON THIS ISSUE AND ALSO PERUSED THE RELEVANT MATERIAL AVAILABLE ON RECORD. THE ADDITION OF RS.1.47 CRORES IN QUESTION HAS BEEN MADE BY THE ASSESSING O FFICER TO THE TOTAL INCOME OF THE ASSESSEE ON ACCOUNT OF NET GAIN AS A RESULT OF FLUCTUATION IN FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATE IN RESPECT OF RELEVANT EXPORT ON THE BASIS OF OBSERVATIONS/COMMENTS MADE BY THE AUDITORS OF THE A SSESSEE-COMPANY IN THEIR REPORTS. THE SAID OBSERVATIONS/COMMENTS OF TH E AUDITORS ALONG WITH RELEVANT PARAS NO. 19.1.13 AND 19.27 OF NOTES ON AC COUNTS ARE REPRODUCED HEREUNDER:- (III) GAIN/LOSS ON FOREIGN EXCHANGE FLUCTUATION ON EXPORTS IS NOT ACCOUNTED AS PER AS-11. HAD THE COMPANY COMP LIED WITH AS-11 EXCHANGE GAIN WOULD HAVE BEEN INCREASED BY RS.97.95 CRORES. AS THE GAIN/LOSS IS PASSED TO ASSO CIATES AS PER AGREEMENT WITH THEM, THE PURCHASES WOULD HAVE A LSO INCREASED BY RS.96.48 CR. IN THE RESULT NET PROFIT OF THE CURRENT YEAR IS UNDERSTATED BY RS.1.47 CR. CONSEQUE NTLY DEBTORS ARE UNDERSTATED BY RS.97.95 CR. AND CREDITO RS ARE UNDERSTATED BY RS.96.48 CR. REFERENCE IS INVCITED T O PARA NO. 19.1.13 AND 19.27 OF NOTES ON ACCOUNTS. 19.1.13 FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION TRANSACTION IN FOREIGN CURRENCY ARE RECORDED EITHER ON FORWARD BOOKING RATE OR ON SPOT RATE AND WHERE SUCH REMITTANCE ARE OUTSTANDING AT THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR , ON THE BASIS OF CONTRACTED FORWARD EXCHANGE RATES OR SPOT EXCHANGE RATES PREVAILING ON THE LAST DATE OF THE F INANCIAL YEAR, AS THE CASE MAY BE. IN CASE OF EXPORT, TRANSA CTION IN FOREIGN CURRENCY ARE RECORDED EITHER ON FORWARD BOO KING RATE OR ON SPOT RATE ON SHIPMENT DATE AS PER CUSTOM CLEARANCE, DOCUMENT AND WHERE SUCH REMITTANCE ARE OUTSTANDING AT THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR, IT IS ADJUSTE D IN THE SUBSEQUENT YEAR ON ACTUAL REALIZATION OF EXPORT PRO CEEDS. 19.27. DURING THE YEAR, UNREALIZED EXPORT DEBTOR I S USD 139,335,660.59 (EQUIVALENT TO RS.607,92,54,827.00). CONSIDERING EXCHANGE RATE PREVAILING ON LAST DAY OF FINANCIAL YEAR, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIONAL GAIN OF RS.97,94,89,728.50 WHICH HAS NOT BEEN ACCOUNTED FOR SINCE THIS WILL OFFSET AGAINST ACTUAL REALIZATION AND WIL L BE PASSED ON TO THE ASSOCIATES. I.T.A. NO. 1536/KOL./2013 ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2009-2010 PAGE 6 OF 15 9. AS IS EVIDENT FROM PARA 19.1.13 OF THE NOTES ON ACCOUNTS, THE TRANSACTIONS IN FOREIGN CURRENCY IN CASE OF EXPORT WERE RECORDED BY THE ASSESSEE EITHER ON FORWARD BOOKING RATE OR ON SPOT RATE ON SHIPMENT DATE AS PER CUSTOMS CLEARANCE DOCUMENT BUT WHERE SUCH RE MITTANCES WERE OUTSTANDING AT THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR, IT WAS ADJUST ED IN THE SUBSEQUENT YEAR ON ACTUAL REALISATION OF EXPORT PROCEEDS. THE RELEVANT DEBTORS ON ACCOUNT OF EXPORT OUTSTANDING AT THE CLOSE OF THE Y EAR THUS WERE NOT REPORTED BY THE ASSESESE ON THE BASIS OF EXCHANGE R ATES PREVAILING ON THE LAST DATE OF THE FINANCIAL YEAR AS REQUIRED BY THE ACCOUNTING STANDARD-11. THIS NON-COMPLIANCE OF THE ACCOUNTING STANDARD-11 W AS REPORTED BY THE AUDITORS IN THE FORM OF QUALIFYING REMARK AND THE U NDERSTATEMENT OF PROFIT AS A RESULT OF THIS NON-COMPLIANCE WAS ALSO QUANTIFIED BY THE AUDITORS AT RS.1.47 CRORES. AT THE TIME OF HEARING BEFORE US, THE LD. COUNSEL FOR THE ASSESSEE HAS CONTENDED THAT THE ACC OUNTING STANDARD-11 HAS NO RELEVANCE FOR THE PURPOSE OF COMPUTING THE T OTAL INCOME OF THE ASSESSEE UNDER THE INCOME TAX ACT, 1961 AND THE GAI N OR LOSS AS A RESULT OF FLUCTUATION IN FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATE HAVING BEEN ADJUSTED FINALLY ON SETTLEMENT IN THE SUBSEQUENT YEAR, THERE IS NO QUES TION OF ANY INCOME ARISING TO THE ASSESSEE ON THIS COUNT FOR THE YEAR UNDER CONSIDERATION. 10. WE ARE UNABLE TO ACCEPT THIS CONTENTION OF THE LD. COUNSEL FOR THE ASSESSEE AS THE SAME RUNS CONTRARY TO THE FOLLOWING OBSERVATIONS RECORDED BY THE HONBLE SUPREME COURT IN THE CASE O F WOODWARD GOVERNOR INDIA (PVT.) LIMITED WHILE DEALING WITH TH E SIMILAR ISSUE:- 17. HAVING COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT VALUATION I S A PART OF THE ACCOUNTING SYSTEM AND HAVING COME TO THE CONCLU SION THAT BUSINESS LOSSES ARE DEDUCTIBLE UNDER SECTION 37(1) ON THE BASIS OF ORDINARY PRINCIPLES OF COMMERCIAL ACCOUNTING AND HAVING COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT HAS MADE ACCOUNTING STANDARD-11 MANDATORY, WE ARE NOW REQUIR ED TO EXAMINE THE SAID ACCOUNTING STANDARD ('AS'). I.T.A. NO. 1536/KOL./2013 ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2009-2010 PAGE 7 OF 15 18. AS-11 DEALS WITH GIVING OF ACCOUNTING TREATMENT FOR THE EFFECTS OF CHANGES IN FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATES. AS-11 DEALS WITH EFFECTS OF EXCHANGE DIFFERENCES. UNDER PARA 2, REPO RTING CURRENCY IS DEFINED TO MEAN THE CURRENCY USED IN PR ESENTING THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. SIMILARLY, THE WORDS 'MON ETARY ITEMS' ARE DEFINED TO MEAN MONEY HELD AND ASSETS AN D LIABILITIES TO BE RECEIVED OR PAID IN FIXED AMOUNTS , E.G., CASH, RECEIVABLES AND PAYABLES. THE WORD 'PAID' IS DEFINE D UNDER SECTION 43(2) . THIS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED EARLIER. SIMILARLY, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT FOREIGN CURRENCY NOTES, BALA NCE IN BANK ACCOUNTS DENOMINATED IN A FOREIGN CURRENCY, AND RECEIVABLES/PAYABLES AND LOANS DENOMINATED IN A FOR EIGN CURRENCY AS WELL AS SUNDRY CREDITORS ARE ALL MONETA RY ITEMS WHICH HAVE TO BE VALUED AT THE CLOSING RATE UNDER A S-11. UNDER PARA 5, A TRANSACTION IN A FOREIGN CURRENCY HAS TO B E RECORDED IN THE REPORTING CURRENCY BY APPLYING TO THE FOREIG N CURRENCY AMOUNT THE EXCHANGE RATE BETWEEN THE REPORTING CURR ENCY AND THE FOREIGN CURRENCY AT THE DATE OF THE TRANSACTION . THIS IS KNOWN AS RECORDING OF TRANSACTION ON INITIAL RECOGN ITION. PARA 7 OF AS-11 DEALS WITH REPORTING OF THE EFFECTS OF C HANGES IN EXCHANGE RATES SUBSEQUENT TO INITIAL RECOGNITION. P ARA 7(A) INTER ALIA STATES THAT ON EACH BALANCE SHEET DATE M ONETARY ITEMS, ENUMERATED ABOVE, DENOMINATED IN A FOREIGN C URRENCY SHOULD BE REPORTED USING THE CLOSING RATE. IN CASE OF REVENUE ITEMS FALLING UNDER SECTION 37(1) , PARA 9 OF AS-11 WHICH DEALS WITH RECOGNITION OF EXCHANGE DIFFERENCES, NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED. UNDER THAT PARA, EXCHANGE DIFFERENCES A RISING ON FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS HAVE TO BE RECOGNIZED AS INCOME OR AS EXPENSE IN THE PERIOD IN WHICH THEY ARISE, EX CEPT AS STATED IN PARA 10 AND PARA 11 WHICH DEALS WITH EXCH ANGE DIFFERENCES ARISING ON REPAYMENT OF LIABILITIES INC URRED FOR THE PURPOSE OF ACQUIRING FIXED ASSETS, WHICH TOPIC FALL S UNDER SECTION 43A OF THE 1961 ACT. AT THIS STAGE, WE ARE CONCERNED ONLY WITH PARA 9 WHICH DEALS WITH REVENUE ITEMS. PA RA 9 OF AS- 11 RECOGNISES EXCHANGE DIFFERENCES AS INCOME OR EXP ENSE. IN CASES WHERE, E.G., THE RATE OF DOLLAR RISES VIS-`-V IS THE INDIAN RUPEE, THERE IS AN EXPENSE DURING THAT PERIOD. THE IMPORTANT POINT TO BE NOTED IS THAT AS-11 STIPULATES EFFECT O F CHANGES IN I.T.A. NO. 1536/KOL./2013 ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2009-2010 PAGE 8 OF 15 EXCHANGE RATE VIS-A-VIS MONETARY ITEMS DENOMINATED IN A FOREIGN CURRENCY TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT FOR GIVIN G ACCOUNTING TREATMENT ON THE BALANCE SHEET DATE. THEREFORE, AN ENTERPRISE HAS TO REPORT THE OUTSTANDING LIABILITY RELATING TO IMPORT OF RAW MATERIALS USING CLOSING RATE OF EXCHANGE. ANY DIFFE RENCE, LOSS OR GAIN, ARISING ON CONVERSION OF THE SAID LIABILIT Y AT THE CLOSING RATE, SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED IN THE P&L ACCOUNT FOR T HE REPORTING PERIOD. IN CONCLUSION, WE MAY STATE THAT IN ORDER TO FIND O UT IF AN EXPENDITURE IS DEDUCTIBLE THE FOLLOWING HAVE TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT (I) WHETHER THE SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTING FOLLOW ED BY THE ASSESSEE IS MERCANTILE SYSTEM, WHICH BRINGS INTO DE BIT THE EXPENDITURE AMOUNT FOR WHICH A LEGAL LIABILITY HAS BEEN INCURRED BEFORE IT IS ACTUALLY DISBURSED AND BRINGS INTO CREDIT WHAT IS DUE, IMMEDIATELY IT BECOMES DUE AND BEFORE IT IS ACTUALLY RECEIVED; (II) WHETHER THE SAME SYSTEM IS FOLLOWED BY THE ASSESSEE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING AND IF THERE W AS A CHANGE IN THE SYSTEM, WHETHER THE CHANGE WAS BONA FIDE; (I II) WHETHER THE ASSESSEE HAS GIVEN THE SAME TREATMENT TO LOSSES CLAIMED TO HAVE ACCRUED AND TO THE GAINS THAT MAY ACCRUE TO IT ; (IV) WHETHER THE ASSESSEE HAS BEEN CONSISTENT AND DEFINI TE IN MAKING ENTRIES IN THE ACCOUNT BOOKS IN RESPECT OF L OSSES AND GAINS; (V) WHETHER THE METHOD ADOPTED BY THE ASSESS EE FOR MAKING ENTRIES IN THE BOOKS BOTH IN RESPECT OF LOSS ES AND GAINS IS AS PER NATIONALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS; (VI) WHETHER THE SYSTEM ADOPTED BY THE ASSESSEE IS FAIR AND REASONABLE OR IS ADOPTED ONLY WITH A VIEW TO REDUCI NG THE INCIDENCE OF TAXATION. IN OUR OPINION, THE RATIO OF THE DECISION OF THE HO NBLE SUPREME COURT IN THE CASE OF WOODWARD GOVERNOR INDIA (PVT.) LIMITED (SUPRA) IS RIGHTLY APPLIED BY THE LD. CIT(APPEALS) TO CONFIRM THE ADDI TION OF RS.1.47 CRORES MADE BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER ON ACCOUNT OF GAINS O N FOREIGN EXCHANGE FLUCTUATIONS, WHICH HAD NOT BEEN ACCOUNTED FOR BY T HE ASSESSEE AS PER THE ACCOUNTING STANDARD-11. I.T.A. NO. 1536/KOL./2013 ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2009-2010 PAGE 9 OF 15 11. AT THE TIME OF HEARING BEFORE US, THE LD. COUNS EL FOR THE ASSESEE HAS ALSO CONTENDED THAT ANY GAIN OR LOSS AS A RESULT OF FLUCTUATION IN FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATE IN RESPECT OF EXPORT TRANSACTIONS WAS TO BE PASSED ON TO THE CONCERNED ASSOCIATES BY THE ASSESEE-COMPANY AND, TH EREFORE, THERE IS NO QUESTION OF ANY INCOME ARISING TO THE ASSESSEE IN R ESPECT OF SUCH GAIN. HOWEVER, AS RIGHTLY SUBMITTED BY THE LD. D.R., THIS ASPECT WAS DULY TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION BY THE AUDITORS AND THE NET GAIN OF RS.1.47 CRORES WAS QUANTIFIED BY THEM AFTER ADJUSTING THE AMOUNT OF GA IN TO BE PASSED ON TO ASSOCIATES AS PER THE AGREEMENT AS WORKED OUT TO RS .96.48 CRORES AGAINST THE TOTAL EXCHANGE GAIN OF RS.97.95 CRORES AS WOULD HAVE BEEN EARNED BY THE ASSESSEE HAD IT COMPLIED WITH ACCOUNTING STANDA RD-11. THE NET EXCHANGE GAIN OF RS.1.47 CRORES THUS WAS WORKED OUT BY THE AUDITORS AFTER TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE AMOUNT OF GAIN TO BE PASSED ON BY THE ASSESSEE TO ITS ASSOCIATES AS PER THE AGREEMENT AND IT, THEREFO RE, CANNOT BE SAID THAT THE ADDITION OF SUCH NET GAIN IN THE HANDS OF THE A SSESSEE HAS RESULTED IN DOUBLE ADDITION. WE, THEREFORE, FIND NO MERIT IN TH E ARGUMENTS RAISED BY THE LD. COUNSEL FOR THE ASSESSEE ON THIS ISSUE AND REJECTING THE SAME, WE UPHOLD THE IMPUGNED ORDER OF THE LD. CIT(APPEALS) C ONFIRMING THE ADDITION OF RS.1.47 CRORES MADE BY THE ASSESSING OF FICER ON ACCOUNT OF GAIN ON FOREIGN EXCHANGE FLUCTUATION. GROUND NO. 1 OF THE ASSESSEES APPEAL IS ACCORDINGLY DISMISSED. 12. THE ISSUE RAISED IN GROUND NO. 2 RELATES TO THE ADDITION OF RS.1,20,16,922/- MADE BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER AND CONFIRMED BY THE LD. CIT(APPEALS) ON ACCOUNT OF DISALLOWANCE MADE UNDER SECTION 14A OF THE INCOME TAX ACT. 13. DURING THE YEAR UNDER CONSIDERATION, THE ASSESS EE-COMPANY HAD RECEIVED DIVIDEND INCOME OF RS.40,00,000/- ON THE I NVESTMENT MADE IN THE SHARES OF ITS SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES (BOOK VALUE RS.15,81,00,000/-) AND THE SAME WAS CLAIMED TO BE EXEMPT ON TAX. NO DI SALLOWANCE ON ACCOUNT OF EXPENDITURE INCURRED IN RELATION TO THE EARNING OF THE SAID EXEMPT INCOME, HOWEVER, WAS OFFERED BY THE ASSESSEE AS REQUIRED BY THE I.T.A. NO. 1536/KOL./2013 ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2009-2010 PAGE 10 OF 15 PROVISION OF SECTION 14A. IT WAS NOTED BY THE ASSES SING OFFICER THAT THE ASSEESSEE-COMPANY HAD CLAIMED DEDUCTION ON ACCOUNT OF INTEREST PAID AMOUNTING TO RS.130.77 CRORES. ACCORDING TO HIM, PA RT OF THE INTEREST BEARING FUNDS WAS APPARENTLY USED BY THE ASSESSEE F OR MAKING INVESTMENT IN SHARES. HE WAS ALSO OF THE VIEW THAT THE ACQUISI TION, MAINTENANCE AND DISPOSAL OF THE INVESTMENTS ENTAILED AT LEAST SOME INDIRECT EXPENSES IN THE FORM OF PAPERWORK, LOGISTICS, CONVEYANCES, APPO RTIONABLE SALARY, ETC. HE, THEREFORE, RECORDED HIS DISSATISFACTION WITH TH E CORRECTNESS OF THE ASSESSEES CLAIM OF HAVING NOT INCURRED ANY EXPENDI TURE IN RELATION TO THE EARNING OF EXEMPT DIVIDEND INCOME AND PROCEEDED TO MAKE A DISALLOWANCE UNDER SECTION 14A AS WORKED OUT BY APPLYING RULE 8D AT RS.1,20,16,922/-. 14. THE DISALLOWANCE MADE BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER UNDER SECTION 14A READ WITH RULE 8D WAS CHALLENGED BY THE ASSESSEE IN THE APPEAL FILED BEFORE THE LD. CIT(APPEALS) BY MAKING THE FOLLOWING SUBMISSIONS:- ........AS DESIRED BY YOUR HONOUR, A COPY OF THE A NNUAL REPORT OF THE COMPANY FOR FY 2002-03 (THE YEAR OF INVESTMENT OF RS.14.85 CRORES) AND THE CERTIFIED TR UE COPY OF THE RELEVANT BOARD NOTE HAVE ALREADY BEEN SUBMIT TED FOR YOUR PERUSAL. AS ALREADY EXPLAINED, THE FIRST INVESTMENT OF RS.1.20 CRORES WAS MADE IN 1979 OUT O F FUND PROVIDED BY GOVT. OF INDIA. SINCE, THE ISSUE RELATE S ABOUT 33 YEARS BACK GATHERING RELEVANT RECORD IS TIME CONSUMING. THE SECOND INVESTMENT OF SRS.14.85 CRORES WAS MADE FROM OWN RESERVES AS IS EVIDENT FROM THE BALANCE SHEET & CASH FLOW STATEMENT OF THE COMPANY FOR FY 2002-03. THE BALANCE SHEET SHOWS A RESERVE & SURPLUS OF RS.66.52 CRORES (WITH ADDITION OF RS. 6. 99 CRORES IN THE CI TED YEAR). THE CASH FLOW STATEMENT ATTACHED WITH THE ANNUAL RE PORT SHOWS A NET INCREASE IN CASH & CASH EQUIVALENT OF RS.227,30 CRORES WHICH IS WELL ABOVE THE FIGURE OF INVESTMENT OF RS.14.85 CRORES AND BASED ON THIS SUR PLUS FUND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAD DECIDED TO INVEST T HE SAID SUM OUT OF GENERAL RESERVES. HENCE, FROM BOTH THE A NGLE, I.E. AVAILABLE BALANCE IN GENERAL RESERVES AND AVAI LABLE CASH SURPLUS IT IS CLEAR THAT INVESTMENT IS MADE OU T OF OWN SURPLUS FUND. I.T.A. NO. 1536/KOL./2013 ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2009-2010 PAGE 11 OF 15 WITH THIS FACT YOUR APPELLANT ONCE AGAIN CONFIRMS T HAT NO DIRECT ALLOCABLE EXPENSES ARE INVOLVED IN THE INVES TMENT. THEREFORE, THE PRESUMPTIVE ADDITION OF RS.1,20,16,9 22 BY THE LD. AO IS MISNOMER OF FACT AND GUESS WORK HAVIN G NO DOMINANCE AND IMMEDIATE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE INTEREST EXPENDITURE AND TAX FREE INCOME AND LIABLE TO BE DELETED. THE SAME VIEW WAS TAKEN BY THE ITAT (MUMBA I) IN THE CASE OF DCIT VS. INDIA ADVANTAGE SECURITIES LTD. (COPY SUBMITTED ON 11.02.13). IT WAS DECIDED THAT N O NOTIONAL EXPENDITURE CAN BE APPORTIONED FOR THE PUR POSE OF EARNING EXEMPT INCOME UNLESS THERE IS AN ACTUAL EXPENDITURE IN RELATION TO EARNING THE TAX FREE INC OME. AS A PUBLIC SECTOR UNDERTAKING, UNDER DIRECT CONTRO L OF THE MINISTRY OF STEEL, GOVT. OF INDIA, WE ONCE AGAI N CONFIRM THAT NO BORROWED FUND WAS ATTACHED WITH THE INVESTMENT FROM WHICH YOUR APPELLANT EARNED TAX FRE E DIVIDEND INCOME. UNDER THE ABOVE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES AND THE REL EVANT ITAT JUDGEMENTS (SUBMITTED EARLIER), THE ADDITION OF RS.1,20,16,922/- MADE ON HIS COUNT BY THE LD. AO IS OUT OF LAW AND SHOULD BE DELETED. 15. THE ABOVE SUBMISSION MADE BY THE ASSESSEE WAS N OT FOUND ACCEPTABLE BY THE LD. CIT(APPEALS) AND HE PROCEEDED TO CONFIRM THE DISALLOWANCE MADE BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER UNDER SE CTION 14A READ WITH RULE 8D FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS GIVEN IN PARAGRAP H NO. 4.3 OF HIS IMPUGNED ORDER:- 4.3. I HAVE CONSIDERED THE ABOVE SUBMISSION OF THE LD. A/R AND ALSO GONE THROUGH THE ASSESSMENT ORDER. IN THE CASE OF CIT VS DHANALAKSHMY BANK LTD. (SUPRA ), THE HON'BLE KERALA HIGH COURT HAS HELD THAT IF SEPARATE ACCOUNTS ARE NOT MAINTAINED FOR TAXABLE AN D NON-TAXABLE ITEMS OF INCOME, THEN DISALLOWANCES AS PER RULE 8D ARE TO BE MADE. THE ONUS IS ON THE ASSESSEE TO PROVE THAT THE INVESTMENTS FOR EARNING EXEMPT INCOME HAS BEEN MADE OUT OF OWN FUNDS. IN TH E CASE OF DHANUKA & SONS (SUPRA), THE HON'BLE CALCUTT A HIGH COURT HAS HELD THAT THE ONUS IS ON THE ASSESSE E TO PROVE THAT OWN FUND HAS BEEN UTILIZED FOR EARNING EXEMPT INCOME. IN THE CASE OF CHAMPION COMMERCIAL CO. LTD. (SUPRA), THE HON'BLE ITAT, KOLKATA HAS CLARIFIED THAT THERE IS NO DISPUTE REGARDING THE WORKING OF RULE 8D(2)(I) AND (III). THE HON'BLE ITA T HAS LAID DOWN THE METHOD AS TO HOW THE DISALLOWANCE OF INTEREST EXPENSES IN RELATION TO EXEMPT INCOME H AS I.T.A. NO. 1536/KOL./2013 ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2009-2010 PAGE 12 OF 15 TO BE COMPUTED. THE RULE 8D(II) RELATES TO ALLOCATI ON OF COMMON INTEREST EXPENSES TO TAXABLE INCOME AND EXEMPT INCOME. THE HON'BLE ITAT, KOLKATA HAS ALSO CLARIFIED THAT. THE FORMULA PRESCRIBED UNDER RULE 8D(2)(II) IS TO BE APPLIED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DECISION OF THE HON'BLE BOMBAY HIGH COURT IN THE CA SE OF GODREJ & BOYCE MFG. CO. LTD. (SUPRA). DURING THE COURSE OF THE APPELLATE PROCEEDINGS, THE LD. A/ R H AS EXPLAINED THAT THE FIRST INVESTMENT OF RS.1.20 CROR ES WAS MADE IN 1979 OUT OF THE FUND PROVIDED BY THE GOVT. OF INDIA. HOWEVER, HE COULD NOT FURNISH ANY DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE IN SUPPORT OF THIS CLAIM. THE LD. A/R HAS EXPLAINED THAT THE SECOND INVESTMENT OF RS.14.85 CRORES WAS MADE FROM OWN RESERVES. HOWEVER, THE AUDITED ACCOUNTS OF THE APPELLANT COMPANY REVEAL THAT THE APPELLANT HAD PAID INTEREST OF RS.16,28,12,000/-DURING F.Y. 2002-03. IN THE PRESENT CASE, THE APPELLANT COMPANY HAS NOT MAINTAINED ANY SEPARATE FUND FOR MAKING INVESTMENTS . ALL THE INVESTMENTS IN SHARES HAVE BEEN MADE OUT OF THE COMMON FUND OF THE APPELLANT COMPANY. THE DECISION OF THE HON'BLE CALCUTTA HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF DHANUKA & SONS (SUPRA) AND ALSO THE DECISION OF THE HON'BLE ITAT, KOLKATA IN THE CASE OF CHAMPION COMMERCIAL CO. LTD. ARE SQUARELY APPLICABLE TO THE FACTS OF THE PRESENT CASE. IN VIEW OF THE ABOVE, TH E ORDER OF THE A.A. COMPUTING DISALLOWANCE OF RS.1,20,16,922/- U/S. 14A READ WITH RULE 8D IS UPHE LD. THIS GROUND OF APPEAL IS DISMISSED. 16. THE LD. COUNSEL FOR THE ASSESSEE SUBMITTED THAT OUT OF THE TOTAL INVESTMENT OF RS.15.81 CRORES MADE IN THE SHARES OF SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES, THE MAJOR AMOUNT OF RS.14.85 CRORES WAS INVESTED BY THE ASSESSEE IN F.Y. 2002-03 WHILE THE BALANCE AMOUNT W AS INVESTED EARLIER IN F.Y. 1979-80. HE SUBMITTED THAT THE INVESTMENT OF R S.14.85 LAKHS MADE IN F.Y. 2002-03 WAS OUT OF GENERAL RESERVE AS AVAILABL E THEN AT RS.57.79 LAKHS AND NOT OUT OF ANY INTEREST BEARING FUNDS. HE SUBMITTED THAT SIMILARLY THE INITIAL INVESTMENT MADE BY THE ASSESS EE-COMPANY IN THE SHARES OF SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES IN F.Y. 1979-80 WAS OUT OF FUNDS PROVIDED BY SAIL AND THERE WAS NO UTILIZATION OF ANY INTERES T BEARING BORROWED FUNDS TO MAKE THE SAID INVESTMENT. HE CONTENDED THA T THIS POSITION WAS NEVER DISPUTED BY THE DEPARTMENT IN THE EARLIER YEA R, WHICH IS EVIDENT I.T.A. NO. 1536/KOL./2013 ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2009-2010 PAGE 13 OF 15 FROM THE FACT THAT NO DISALLOWANCE UNDER SECTION 14 A WAS MADE IN THE CASE OF THE ASSESSEE IN THE EARLIER YEARS. HE ALSO INVITED OUR ATTENTION TO THE BALANCE-SHEET OF THE ASSESSEE-COMPANY AS ON 31. 03.2009 (COPY PLACED AT PAGE NO. 62 OF THE PAPER BOOK) TO POINT OUT THAT SUFFICIENT OWN FUNDS IN THE FORM OF CAPITAL AND RESERVES TO THE EXTENT OF R S.342.23 CRORES WERE AVAILABLE WITH THE ASSESSEE-COMPANY. HE ALSO POINTE D OUT THAT THE INTEREST BEARING BORROWED FUNDS, ON THE OTHER HAND, WERE EARMARKED FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES SHOWING THAT THEY WERE UTILIZED F OR THE PURPOSE OF THE ASSESSEES BUSINESS AND NOT FOR MAKING ANY INVESTME NT IN SHARES. 17. THE LD. D.R., ON THE OTHER HAND, STRONGLY RELIE D ON THE IMPUGNED ORDER OF THE LD. CIT(APPEALS) IN SUPPORT OF THE REV ENUES CASE ON THE ISSUE AND SUBMITTED THAT ALL THE CONTENTIONS NOW RA ISED BY THE LD. COUNSEL FOR THE ASSESSEE BEFORE THE TRIBUNAL HAVE ALREADY B EEN CONSIDERED AND REJECTED BY THE LD. CIT(APPEALS) WHILE COMPUTING TH E DISALLOWANCE MADE BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER UNDER SECTION 14A. HE ALSO RELIED ON THE DECISION OF THE HONBLE CALCUTTA HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF D HANUKA & SONS REPORTED IN 339 ITR 296 IN SUPPORT OF THE REVENUES CASE ON THIS ISSUE. 18. WE HAVE CONSIDERED THE RIVAL SUBMISSIONS AND AL SO PERUSED THE RELEVANT MATERIAL AVAILABLE ON RECORD. IT IS OBSERV ED THAT THE DISALLOWANCE MADE BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER UNDER SECTION 14A HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY THE LD. CIT(APPEALS) BY HIS IMPUGNED ORDER BY RELYI NG, INTER ALIA, ON THE DECISION OF THE HONBLE CALCUTTA HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF DHANUKA & SONS (SUPRA), WHEREIN IT WAS HELD THAT THE ONUS IS ON TH E ASSESESE TO PROVE THAT OWN FUNDS HAVE BEEN UTILIZED FOR EARNING EXEMPT INC OME. IN THIS REGARD, IT WAS EXPLAINED BY THE ASSESSEE BEFORE THE LD. CIT(AP PEALS), INTER ALIA, THAT THE MAJOR AMOUNT OF INVESTMENT IN SHARES TO THE EXT ENT OF RS.14.85 CRORES WAS MADE OUT OF ITS OWN RESERVES IN F.Y. 2002-03. H OWEVER, THIS EXPLANATION OF THE ASSESSEE WAS BRUSHED ASIDE BY TH E LD. CIT(APPEALS) MERELY ON THE GROUND THAT INTEREST OF RS.16.28 CROR ES WAS PAID BY THE ASSESSEE DURING THE F.Y. 2002-03. WE ARE UNABLE TO APPROVE THIS APPROACH ADOPTED BY THE LD. CIT(APPEALS). THE ASSESSEE IN TH E PRESENT CASE IS A I.T.A. NO. 1536/KOL./2013 ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2009-2010 PAGE 14 OF 15 PUBLIC SECTOR UNDERTAKING AND AS DEMONSTRATED BY TH E LD. COUNSEL FOR THE ASSESSEE, THE DECISION TO MAKE INVESTMENT OF RS.14. 85 CRORES IN THE SHARES OF SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES OUT OF GENERAL RESER VE AVAILABLE WITH THEM AT THE RELEVANT TAKEN WAS TAKEN BY THE BOARD O F DIRECTORS IN THE MEETING HELD ON 24 TH SEPTEMBER 2002. THE CLAIM OF THE ASSESSEE OF HAVIN G MADE THE SAID INVESTMENT OUT OF OWN FUNDS IN THE FO RM OF GENERAL RESERVE THUS WAS DULY SUPPORTED BY THE DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE AND THE LD. CIT(APPEALS), IN OUR OPINION, WAS NOT CORRECT TO RE JECT THE SAME MERELY BECAUSE THE ASSESSEE HAD PAID INTEREST OF RS.16.28 CRORES IN F.Y. 2002-03. AS POINTED OUT BY THE LD. COUNSEL FOR THE ASSESSEE IN THIS REGARD, THE FUNDS BORROWED ARE ALWAYS EARMARKED BY THE ASSESSEE BEING A PUBLIC SECTOR UNDERTAKING FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES AND THIS CONTENTI ON OF THE LD. COUNSEL FOR THE ASSESSEE IS FULLY SUPPORTED BY THE BALANCE- SHEET OF THE ASSESSEE AS ON 31.03.2009. AS SUBMITTED BY THE LD. COUNSEL FOR THE ASSESSEE, NO DISALLOWANCE UNDER SECTION 14A WAS MADE IN THE CASE OF THE ASSESSEE FOR THE EARLIER YEARS, WHICH AGAIN SUPPORTS THE CASE OF THE ASSESSEE THAT THE INVESTMENT IN SHARES WAS MADE BY IT OUT OF OWN FUND S AND NOT BORROWED FUNDS. HAVING REGARD TO ALL THESE FACTS OF THE CASE , WE ARE OF THE VIEW THAT THE ONUS THAT LAYS ON THE ASSESSEE TO PROVE THAT OW N FUNDS HAD BEEN UTILIZED FOR EARNING EXEMPT INCOME WAS SATISFACTORI LY DISCHARGED AND THERE IS NO CASE TO MAKE A DISALLOWANCE ON ACCOUNT OF INTEREST UNDER SECTION 14A BY APPLYING RULE 8D. IN THAT VIEW OF TH E MATTER, WE DELETE THE DISALLOWANCE MADE BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER AND CONF IRMED BY THE LD. CIT(APPEALS) UNDER SECTION 14A TO THE EXTENT OF INT EREST AMOUNTING TO RS.1,12,26,422/- AND PARTLY ALLOW GROUND NO. 2 OF T HE ASSESSEES APPEAL. 19. AS REGARDS THE ISSUE INVOLVED IN GROUND NO. 3 O F THE ASSESSEES APPEAL RELATING TO THE ADDITION OF RS.1,01,13,410/- MADE BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER AND CONFIRMED BY THE LD. CIT(APPEALS) ON AC COUNT OF DISALLOWANCE OF PROVISION FOR UNDISBURSED LEAVE SALARY UNDER SEC TION 40B(F), IT IS OBSERVED THAT THE SIMILAR ISSUE HAS BEEN RESTORED B Y THE TRIBUNAL TO THE FILE OF THE ASSESSING OFFICER IN ITA NO. 1434/KOL/2 012 DATED 16.01.2015 IN THE CASE OF BLA INDUSTRIES PVT. LIMITED FOR DECI DING THE SAME AFRESH IN I.T.A. NO. 1536/KOL./2013 ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2009-2010 PAGE 15 OF 15 THE LIGHT OF THE DECISION OF THE HONBLE SUPREME CO URT IN THE CASE OF EXIDE INDUSTRIES LIMITED. FOLLOWING THE SAID ORDER, WE UP HOLD THE IMPUGNED ORDER OF THE LD. CIT(APPEALS) ON THIS ISSUE AND RES TORE THE MATTER TO THE FILE OF THE ASSESSING OFFICER FOR DECIDING THE SAME AFRESH AS PER THE SAME DIRECTION AS GIVEN BY THE TRIBUNAL IN THE CASE OF B LA INDUSTRIES PVT. LTD. (SUPRA). GROUND NO. 3 IS ACCORDINGLY TREATED AS ALL OWED FOR STATISTICAL PURPOSES. 20. IN THE RESULT, THE APPEAL OF THE ASSESSEE IS PA RTLY ALLOWED. ORDER PRONOUNCED IN THE OPEN COURT ON JUNE 8, 2016. SD/- SD/- (S.S. VISWANETHRA RAVI) (P.M. JAGTAP) JUDICIAL MEMBER ACCOUNTANT MEMBER KOLKATA, THE 8 TH DAY OF JUNE, 2016 COPIES TO : (1) M/S. MSTC LIMITED, 225C, A.J.C. BOSE ROAD, 2 ND FLOOR, KOLKATA-700 020 (2) JOINT COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (OSD), COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX-I, KOLKATA (3) COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (APPEALS)-XXIV, KOL KATA, (4) COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX, KOLKATA (5) THE DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVE (6) GUARD FILE BY ORDER ASSISTANT REGISTRAR, INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL, KOLKATA BENCHES, KOLKATA LAHA/SR. P.S.