M/s. M.K.J. Developers Ltd., Kolkata V. ACIT, Circle - 4, Kolkata, Kolkata

ITA 1562/KOL/2017

• Counselvise Citation: [2018] 118 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 8473 (ITAT-KOLKATA)
• Duration Of Justice: 1 year(s) 6 month(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 31-12-2018
• Appeal Filed By: Assessee
• Order Result: Allowed
• Bench Allotted: C
• Assessment Year: 2005-2006
• Appeal Filed On: 30-06-2017
• Result in Favour of: Assessee
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Department Lawyers: PRADIP MAJUMDAR CITSRDR
• Keywords: Business income; Business expenditure; Earning of tax free income; Proportionate interest; Additional evidence; Date of conversion
• Section: 143(3); 14A

Judgement Text

, A , IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL KOLKATA BENCH A KOLKATA BEFORE SHRI S.S.GODARA, JUDICIAL MEMBER AND SHRI, M. BALAGANESH, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER ITA NO. 1562 / KOL / 20 17 ASSESSMENT YEAR :2005-06 M/S MKJ DEVELOPERS LTD., SAGAR ESTATE, 2, CLIVE GHAT STREET, KOLKATA-700 001 [ PAN NO.AABCM 7076 L ] V/S . ACIT, CIRCLE-4, AAYAKAR BHAWAAN, P- 7, CHOWRINGHEE SQUARE, KOLKATA-69 /APPELLANT .. / RESPONDENT /BY APPELLANT SHRI RAVI TULSIYAN, FCA /BY RESPONDENT SHRI PRADIP MAJUMDAR, ADDL. CIT-SR-DR /DATE OF HEARING 26-12-2018 /DATE OF PRONOUNCEMENT 31-12-2018 / O R D E R PER S.S.GODARA, JUDICIAL MEMBER:- THIS ASSESSEES APPEAL FOR ASSESSMENT YEAR 2005-06 ARISES AGAINST THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (APPEALS)-2, KOLKATAS O RDER DATED 06.04.2017 PASSED IN CASE NO.244/CIT(A)-2/14-15 INVOLVING PROC EEDINGS U/S 143(3) OF THE INCOME TAX ACT, 1961; IN SHORT THE ACT. HEARD BOTH THE PARTIES. CASE FILE PERUSED. 2. THE ASSESSEES SOLE SUBSTANTIVE GROUND CHALLENGE S BOTH THE LOWER AUTHORITIES ACTION INVOKING SEC. 36(1)(III) PROPORT IONATE INTEREST DISALLOWANCE OF 1,02,00,000/- DURING THE COURSE OF ASSESSMENT AS AF FIRMED IN LOWER APPELLATE PROCEEDINGS. THE CIT(A)S DETAILED DISCUSSION QUA THE INSTANT ISSUE READS AS FOLLOWS:- GROUNDS-1, 2, & 3 THESE GROUNDS OF APPEAL AS RAISED BY THE ASSESSEE A GAINST THE ORDER OF THE ASSESSING OFFICER ARE AS UNDER:- ITA NO.1562/KOL/2017 A.Y. 2005-06 M/S MKJ DEVELOPERS LTD. VS. ACIT, CIR-4, KOL. PAGE 2 THAT THE LD. AO ERRED IN DISALLOWING PROPORTIONATE INTEREST OF RS.1,02,00,000/- ON THE BORROWED FUND UTILIZED BY THE APPELLANT IN A CQUIRING THE SHARES WHICH WERE HELD BY IT AS INVESTMENT. THAT SINCE NO DIVIDEND WAS RECEIVED BY THE APPELLAN T FROM THE SHARES HELD AS INVESTMENT, THE LD. AO ERRED IN DISALLOWING PROPORT IONATE INTEREST OF RS.1,02,00,000/- APPARENTLY APPLYING THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 14A OF THE IT ACT. THAT WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO GROUNDS NO.1 AND 2 THE DI SALLOWABLE PROPORTIONATE INTEREST OF RS.96,00,000/- IS EXCESSIVE INASMUCH AS CONVERSION OF STOCKS AND INVENTORY TO INVESTMENTS AMOUNTING TO RS.8.50 CRORE S TOOK PLACE ON 31.03.2005 AND NOT ON 01.04.2004. THE AR OF THE APPELLANT DURING THE APPELLATE PROCEE DINGS FURNISHED WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS AS UNDER:- 1. IN REFERENCE TO THE ABOVE THE APPELLANT WOULD L IKE TO SUBMIT THAT THE SHARE TRADING WAS ITS BUSINESS FOR THE YEAR UNDER APPEAL. PURCHASE AND SALE OF SHARES WAS CARRIED OUT WITH THE MOTIVE OF EARNING P ROFITS AN NOT DIVIDEND INCOME. FOR THE SAID PURPOSES THE APPELLANT WOULD L IKE TO POINT OUT THAT SHARES IN THE YEAR UNDER APPEAL WERE HELD BY IT AS STOCK- IN-TRADE AND NOT AS INVESTMENTS. 1.2 ALSO, IT MAY BE NOTED THAT THE APPELLANT BEING ENGAGED IN THE BUSINESS OF SHARE TRADING, INCOME ARISING FROM SUCH SHARE TRADI NG ACTIVITIES SHALL BE OFFERED TO TAX UNDER THE HEAD PROFIT & GAINS FROM BUSINESS OR PROFESSION AND NOT UNDER THE HEAD CAPITAL GAINS. IN THIS REG ARD THE ASSESSEE WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT THAT THERE WERE NO TRANSACTIONS IN S HARES DURING THE YEAR UNDER CONSIDERATION AND THUS THE ASSESSEE HAS NOT DERIVED ANY INCOME/LOSS OUT OF SUCH SHARES. THEREFORE THE ASSESSEE HAS NOT CREDITE D ANY INCOME OUT OF SUCH SHARES. 1.3 IN CONNECTION TO THE ABOVE, THE APPELLANT WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT THAT SINCE INCOME FORM SHARE TRADING ACTIVITIES WAS ITS PRIMAR Y SOURCE OF INCOME AND INCOME FROM SUCH ACTIVITIES IS TAXED UNDER THE HEAD PROFIT & GAINS FROM BUSINESS OR PROFESSION, IT NEED TO BE APPRECIATED THAT CORRESPONDING EXPENSES DEBITED IN THE PROFIT & LOSS ACCOUNT WERE OF THE NATURE OF BUSINESS EXPENSES. THE DEBITED EXPENSES WAS ABSOLUTELY INCU RRED JUST FOR THE BUSINESS ACTIVITY OF THE APPELLANT COMPANY BEING SH ARE TRADING. AO COMMITTED AN ERROR IN THE MATTER OF THE DATE OF CON VERSION OF THE SHARES FROM STOCK IN TRADE TO INVESTMENT WHILE DISALLOWING THE INTEREST OF RS.1,02,00,000/-. THE LD. AO PRESUMED THAT SUCH CONVERSION WAS MADE W ITH EFFECT FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE FINANCIAL YEAR 2004-05 I.E. FROM 0 1.04.2004 ITSELF. IN OTHER WORDS THE LD. AO PRESUMED THAT FOR THE ENTIRE FIN. YEAR: 2004-05, THE CONVERTED SHARES WERE HELD BY THE APPELLANT COMPANY AS ITS INVESTMENTS. CONSEQUENTLY HE HAS ARGUED THAT THE INTEREST ATTRIB UTABLE TO SUCH CONVERTED SHARES SHOULD BE DISALLOWED AS THE SHARES WERE NO M ORE THE APPELLANTS BUSINESS ASSET WITH EFFECT FROM 01.04.2004. 2.1 IN LIGHT OF THE ABOVE THE APPELLANT COMPANY WOU LD LIKE TO SUBMIT THAT THE SHARES VALUED AT RS.8.5 CRORES WERE CONVERTED WITH EFFECT FROM 31.03.2005 AND NOT FROM 01.04.2004 AS WRONGLY PRESUMED BY THE LD. AO (THIS IS EVIDENCED FROM THE LEDGER A/CS OF BOTH THE STOCK IN TRADE AS WELL AS INVESTMENTS, COPIES OF WHICH ARE ENCLOSED AT PAGES 25-26 OF THE PAPER BOOK) THE APPELLANT COMPANY BY WAY OF ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE IS ALSO PRODUCING HEREWITH A COPY OF BOARD RESOLUTION DATED 28.02.200 5 WITHOUT WHICH IT COULD ITA NO.1562/KOL/2017 A.Y. 2005-06 M/S MKJ DEVELOPERS LTD. VS. ACIT, CIR-4, KOL. PAGE 3 NOT HAVE TRANSFERRED THE SHARES FROM STOCK IN TRADE TO INVESTMENT. (COPY OF WHICH IS ENCLOSED HEREWITH AT PAGES 27 OF THE PAPER BOOK) 2.2 FURTHER, THE APPELLANT COMPANY WOULD LIKE TO SU BMIT THAT THE AFORESAID FACT WAS INTIMATED TO THE LD. AO BY ITS LETTER DATED 18. 12.2007. THE LD. AO HAS NOT RAISED ANY QUESTION RELATING TO THE SAID LETTER DATED 18.12.2007 SUBMITTED BY THE ASSESSEE. (COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 1812.200 7 IS ENCLOSED AT PAGES 28- 29 OF THE PAPER BOOK) 2.3 FROM THE AFORESAID DISCUSSION, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE LD. AO HAS DISALLOWED THE INTEREST OF RS.1,02,00,000/- ON THE WRONG PREMI SE THAT THE SHARES VALUED AT RS.8.5 CRORES WAS NO MORE A BUSINESS ASSET FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE FINANCIAL YEAR : 2004-05. 3. ON THE BASIS OF THIS CONTENTION, THE ASSESSEE SU BMITS THAT SINCE ASSESSEE IS DEALING IN TRADING IN SHARES, THE QUESTION OF DI SALLOWANCE OF INTEREST DOES NOT ARISE. THE ASSESSEE SUBMITS THAT IF THERE IS AN Y BORROWED MONEY FOR THE PURPOSE OF BUSINESS PURPOSE, THE SAME SHALL BE ALLO WABLE U/S.36(1)(III) OF THE INCOME TAX ACCT, 1961. 3.1 IT MUST BE BORNE IN MIND THAT IN THE INSTANT CA SE, THE ASSESSEE IS A TRADER DEALING SPECIFICALLY IN SHARES AND THAT HIS BUSINES S IS TRADING IN SHARES. HIS INCOME, THEREFORE FORM TRADING IN SHARES IS REQUIRE D TO BE ASSESSED UNDER THE HEAD BUSINESS AND SINCE THE SHARES HAVE BEEN PURC HASED OUT OF BORROWED FUNDS, THE INTEREST ON SUCH BORROWINGS IS ALLOWABLE UNDER SECTION 36(1)(III) AS T IS INCURRED FOR THE PURPOSE OF HIS BUSINESS SECTION 36(1)(III) READS AS FOLLOWS: 3.1.1 OTHER DEDUCTIONS. 36(1) THE DEDUCTIONS PROVIDED FOR IN THE FOLLOWING CLAUSES SHALL BE ALLOWED IN RESPECT OF THE MATERS DEALT WITH THEREIN , IN COMPUTING THE INCOME REFERRED TO IN SECTION 28- (I) . (II) .. (III) THE AMOUNT OF THE INTEREST PAID IN RESPECT OF CAPITAL BORROWED FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE BUSINESS OR PROFESSION. 3.1.2. CLAUSE (III) OF SECTION 336(1) MAKES ALLOWAN CE IN RESPECT OF INTEREST PAID ON CAPITAL BORROWED FOR THE PURPOSES OF BUSINESS OR PROFESSION. IN THE INSTANT CASE THE ASSESSEE HAS BO RROWED FUNDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF BUSINESS AND THUS IT STANDS ALLOWABL E U/S.36(1)(III) OF THE ACT. 4. FURTHER TO OUR SUBMISSION MADE ABOVE, A QUESTION WHICH ARISES IS IN RESPECT OF THE APPLICABILITY OF PROVISIONS OF SECTI ON14A IN THIS CASE ON THE INTEREST CLAIM OF THE APPELLANT COMPANY. THEREFORE DETAILED SUBMISSION IS BEING MADE ON SECTION 14A AS WELL. 4.1 FROM PERUSAL OF THE FACTS AS ENUNCIATED ABOVE I T IS CLEAR THAT THE ASSESSEE IS A TRADER IN SHARES AND NOT INVESTOR IN SHARES. PURCHASE & SALE OF SHARES WAS CARRIED OUT WITH THE MOTIVE OF EARNING P ROFITS AND NOT DIVIDEND INCOME FOR THE SAID PURPOSES THE APPELLANT WOULD LI KE TO POINT OUT THAT SHARES IN THE YEAR UNDER APPEAL WERE HELD BY IT A STOCK-I N-TRADE AND NOT AS INVESTMENT. THEREFORE SECTION 14A WILL NOT BE APP LICABLE IN THE CASE OF THE ASSESSEE AS THE MAIN MOTIVE OF THE APPELLANT IS NOT TO EARN DIVIDEND INCOME BUT TO TRADE IN SHARES. THIS HAS BEEN HELD IN MANY DECISIONS OF THE HON'BLE ITAT AS WELL AS HIGH COURTS. SOME OF THESE ARE QUOT ED HERE AND BELOW: M/S CCI LTD. VS. JCIT (ITA NO.359 OF 2011) ITA NO.1562/KOL/2017 A.Y. 2005-06 M/S MKJ DEVELOPERS LTD. VS. ACIT, CIR-4, KOL. PAGE 4 THE HON'BLE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA HAD HELD THAT: WHERE NO EXPENDITU9RE IS ICURED BY THE ASSESSEE IN EARNING DIVIDEND INCOME, NO NOTIONAL EXPENDITURE COULD BE DEDUCTED F ROM THE SAID INCOME. IT IS NOT THE CASE OF THE ASSESSEE RETAININ G ANY SHARES SO AS TO HAVE THE BENEFIT OF DIVIDEND 63% OF THE SHARES, WHICH WERE PURCHASED, ARE SOLD AND THE INCOME DERIVED THERE FR OM IS OFFERED TO TAX AS BUSINESS INCOME. THE REMAINING 37% OF THE SH ARES ARE RETAINED. IT HAS REMAINED UNSOLD WITH THE ASSESSEE. IT IS THOSE UNSOLD SHARES HAVE YIELDED DIVIDED, FOR SWHICH, THE ASSESS EE HAS NOT INCURRED ANY EXPENDITURE AT ALL. THOUGH THE DIVIDEN D INCOME IS EXEMPTED FROM PAYMENT OF TAX, IF ANY EXPENDITURE IS INCURRED IN EARNING THE SAID INCOME, THE SAID EXPENDITURE ALSO CANNOT BE DEDUCTED. BUT IN THIS CASE, WHEN THE ASSESSEE HAS N OT RETAINED SHARES WITH THE INTENTION OF EARNING DIVIDEND INCOM E AND THE DIVIDEND INCOME IS INCIDENTAL TO HIS BUSINESS OF SALE OF SHA RES, WHICH REMAINED UNSOLD BY THE ASSESSEE, IT CANNOT BE SAID THAT THE EXPENDITURE INCURRED IN ACQUIRING THE SHARE HAS TO BE APPORTION ED TO THE EXTENT OF DIVIDEND INCOME AND THAT SHOULD BE DISALLOWED FROM DEDUCTIONS. IN THAT VIEW OF THE MATTER, THE APPROACH OF THE AUTHOR ITIES IS NOT IN CONFORMITY WITH THE STATUTORY PROVISIONS CONTAINED UNDER THE ACT. THEREFORE, THE IMPUGNED ORDERS ARE NOT SUSTAINABLE AND REQUIRE TO BE SET ASIDE. (ORDER COPY ENCLOSED) YATISH TRADING CO. P LTD VS. ACIT 1(3),MUMBAI (ITA NO.456/MUM/2009) THE HON'BLE ITAT, MUMBAI HAD HELD THAT: THE AO DISALLOWED THE ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURES ON THE BASIS OF THE RATIO OF THE TAXABLE INCOME AND DIVIDEND INCOME . AT THE OUTSET THE BASIS OF APPORTIONMENT IS ABSOLUTELY WRONG, UNREASO NABLE AND INAPPROPRIATE BECAUSE THE EXPENDITURE DOES NOT DEPE ND ON THE PROFIT OR LOSS ARISING FROM THE BUSINESS ACTIVIT9Y. IT IS TO BE NOTED THAT IF THE BASIS OF APPORTIONMENT OF EXPENDITURE IS TAKEN AS I NCOME THAN IN CASE OF NO INCOME OR LOSS NO EXPENDITURE CAN BE ASSIGNED TO THE SAID ACTIVITY. IT IS TO BE NOTED THAT IF THE BASIS OF AP PORTIONMENT OF EXPENDITURE IS TAKEN AS INCOME THAN IN CASE OF NO I NCOME OR LOSS NO EXPENDITURE CAN BE ASSIGNED TO THE SAID ACTIVITY. T HEREFORE THE PROPER AND REASONABLE BASIS SHOULD BE THE TURNOVER OR VOLU ME OF TRANSACTIONS FREQUENCY AND NATURE OF THE TRANSACTIONS / ACTIVITY . IN CASE OF TRANSACTIONS OF PURCHASE AND SALE OF SHARE AND SECU RITIES THE REASONABLE BASIS FOR APPORTIONMENT OF THE ADMINISTR ATIVE EXPENDITURES AMONG THE DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES SHOULD BE THE VOLUME AND NATURE OF THE TRANSACTIONS UNDER DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES OF BUSINESS . THERE CANNOT BE A PARITY OR EQUAL BASIS FOR APPORTIONMENT OF THE ADMI NISTRATIVE EXPENSES BETWEEN THE DELIVERY BASED TRANSACTIONS AND NON-DEL IVERY BASED TRANSACTIONS AS WELL AS TRADING AND INVESTMENT ACTI VITIES. UNDISPUTEDLY THE LABOUR HOUR AND OVERHEAD EXPENSES WILL BE LESS IN CASE OF NON- DELIVERY BASED TRANSACTIONS OF PURCHASE AND SALE OF SHARES & SECURITIES IN COMPARISON TO THE DELIVERY BASED TRAN SACTIONS. SIMILARLY IN CASE OF COLLECTION OF DIVIDEND THROUGH CHEQUES O R VOUCHERS WILL COST MORE THAN DIRECT CREDIT IN D-MAT ACCOUNT. IT IS UND ISPUTABLE FACT THAT THE DIVIDEND WAS DIRECTLY CREDITED IN THE D-MAT ACCOUNT . SECONDLY, THE DIVIDEND INCOME WAS IS ON THE SHARES HELD FOR TRADI NG PURPOSES. (ORDER COPY ENCLOSED AT PAGE . OF THE PAPER BOOK) ETHIO PLASTICS PRIVATE LTD. VS. DY. CIT, CIRCLE-1( 2) BARODA (ITA NO:848/AHD/2012) ITA NO.1562/KOL/2017 A.Y. 2005-06 M/S MKJ DEVELOPERS LTD. VS. ACIT, CIR-4, KOL. PAGE 5 THE HON'BLE ITAT, AHMEDABAD HAD HELD THAT: AFTER HEARING BOTH THE PARTIES AND PERUSING THE REC ORD WE FIND THAT A IS ENGAGED IN THE BUSINESS OF DEALING IN SHARES AND SE CURITIES AND THERE IS NO DISPUTE ABOUT THE FACT THAT HARES WERE HELD B Y THE ASSESSEE A STOCK IN TRADE. THE INTENTION OF ASSESSEE WAS NOT T O EARN DIVIDEND INCOME AND THIS INCOME BEING INCIDENTAL TO BUSINESS OF ALE OF SHARES, NO NOTIONAL EXPENDITURE COULD BE DEDUCTED BY INVOKI NG THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION14A OF THE ACT. (ORDER ENCLOSED AT PAGES OF THE PAPER BOOK) APPORVA PATNI VS. ACIT [2012] 24 TAXMANN 223 (PUNE ) THE HON'BLE ITAT PUNE BENCH HAD HELD THAT: WHERE NO EXPENDITURE IS CANVASSED TO HAVE BEEN INC URRED BY THE ASSESSEE IN EARNING DIVIDEND INCOME, NO NOTIONAL EX PENDITURE CAN BE DEDUCTED BY INVOKING SECTION 14A OF THE ACT. FURTHE R IN A CASE WHEN ASSESSEE HAS NOT RETAINED SHARES WITH THE INTENTION OF EARNING DIVIDEND INCOME AND DIVIDEND INCOME IS INCIDENTAL T O THE BUSINESS OF SALE OF SHARES, IT CANNOT BE SAID THAT THE EXPENDIT URE INCURRED IN ACQUIRING THE SHARES HAS TO BE APPORTIONED TO THE E XTENT OF DIVIDED INCOME, SO AS TO BE DISALLOWED. THUS ON THE BASIS OF THE ABOVE DECISIONS IT CAN BE CONCLUDED THAT NO DISALLOWANCE U/.S. 14A CAN BE MADE IN THE CASE OF TRADER OF SHAR ES. THE SAID CASE OF THE ASSESSEE FALLS WITHIN THE AMBIT OF THE DECISIONS QUOTED ABOV E AND HENCE NO DISALLOWANCE OF INTEREST CAN BE MADE U/S.14A AS WELL AS SECTION 36( 1)(III). 4.2 FURTHERMORE, IT MAY BE NOTED THAT DISALLOWANCE U/S. 14A CAN BE MADE ONLY WHEN THERE IS TAX FREE INCOME I.E. DIVIDEND INCOME. IN T HE SAID CASE IT IS EVIDENT FROM THE PROFIT AND LOS ACCOUNTS OF THE APPELLANT COMPANY TH AT THE APPELLANT HAS NOT EARNED ANY TAX FREE INCOME I.E. DIVIDEND INCOME OUT OF THE SAID SHARE DURING THE YEAR UNDER CONSIDERATION. HENCE NO DISALLOWANCE CAN BE MADE U/ S.14A OF THE INCOME TAX ACT. FURTHER, THE HON'BLE BOMBAY HIGH COURT HAS RECENTLY RULED THAT NO DISALLOWANCE CAN BE MADE U/S. 14A, WHEN NO EXEMPT INCOME IS EARNED D URING THE YEAR. ATTENTION IS INVITED TO THE SAID DECISION IN THE ASSESSEE OF: CIT VS. M/S DELITE ENTERPRISES (BOMBAY HIGH COURT) (ITA NO.110 OF 2009 IT ONLINE SUMMARY NOS. 14A DISALLOWANCE IF THERE IS NO TAX-FREE INCOM E THE ASSESSEE, A PARTNER IN A FIRM, BORROWED FUNDS A ND ADVANCED IT TO THE FIRM ON TERMS THAT THE FIRM WOULD PAY INTEREST IF IT MADE A PROFIT. FOR ONE YEAR, THE FIRM PAID INTEREST WHICH WAS OFFERED AS INCOME BY THE ASSESSE E WHILE FOR THE SECOND YEAR IT DID NOT PAY INTEREST AS IT MADE A LOSS. THE ASSESSEE CL AIMED THE INTEREST PAID ON THE BORROWING AS A DEDUCTION U/S.36(1)(III). THE AO DIS ALLOWED THE CLAIM ON THE GROUND THAT AS THE BORROWINGS HAD BEEN INVESTED IN THE FIR M AND THE INCOME FROM THE FIRM WAS EXEMPT U/S 10(2A), THE INTEREST EXPENDITURE WAS NOT ALLOWABLE U/S.14A. THIS WAS REVERSED BY THE CIT(A). ON APPEAL, THE TRIBUNAL UPH ELD THE CIT(A) ON THE GROUND THAT AS THERE WAS NO EXEMPTION CLAIMED U/S.10(2A) BY THE ASSESSEE AND THERE WAS NO TAX-FREE INCOME, S. 14A COULD NOT APPLY. THE DEPART MENT FILED AN APPEAL IN THE HIGH COURT IN WHICH IT ARGUED THAT AS THE PROFITS DERIVE D BY THE ASSESSEE FORM THE FIRM WAS EXEMPT U/S.10(2AA), THE INTEREST ON THE BORROWED FU NDS USED TO INVEST IN THE FIRM WAS DISALLOWABLE U/S.14A HELD BY THE HIGH COURT DISMISS ING THE APPEAL: IN SO FAR AS QUESTION (A) IS CONCERNED, ON FACTS WE FIND THAT THERE IS NO (TAX-FREE) PROFIT FOR THE RELEVANT ASSESSMENT YEAR. HENCE THE QUESTION AS FRAMED WOULD NOT RISE. HENCE DISALLOWANCE MADE BY THE LD. A.O IN THE BACKD ROP OF THE ABOVE CIRCUMSTANCES, IS ARBITRARY AND UNREASONABLE. ITA NO.1562/KOL/2017 A.Y. 2005-06 M/S MKJ DEVELOPERS LTD. VS. ACIT, CIR-4, KOL. PAGE 6 6. HENCE, IT IS BEING URGED BEFORE YOUR GOODSELF TH AT DISALLOWANCE OF INTEREST AMOUNTING TO RS.1,02,00,000/- MADE BY THE LD. AO BE KINDLY DELETED AND NECESSARY RELIEF BE GRANTED TO THE APPELLANT. I HAVE CONSIDERED THE SUBMISSIONS OF THE AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE APPELLANT AS WELL AS THE ASSESSMENT ORDER FRAMED IN THE LIGHT OF THE MATERIALS AVAILABLE ON RECORD BEFORE THE ASSESSING OFFICER DURING THE ASSE SSMENT PROCEEDINGS. THE AO HAS CONSIDERED THE SUBMISSIONS OF THE AR DURING THE ASS ESSMENT PROCEEDINGS AND MADE DISALLOWANCE. THE INTEREST WAS DISALLOWED WHILE CON SIDERING THE SHARE CAPITAL AND RESERVE AND SURPLUS AND UNSECURED LOANS. THE AO HAS ALSO CONSIDERED THE CONVERSION OF SHARE HELD IN STOCK TO INVESTMENT. I AGREE WITH THE AO. IN VIEW OF ABOVE, THE ORDER OF THE AO IS UPHELD AND THESE GROU NDS OF APPEALS RE DISMISSED. 3. WE HAVE GIVEN OUR THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION TO RI VAL CONTENTIONS. SOME KEY FACTS EMERGE FROM THE INSTANT LIS. THIS ASSESSE E IS A COMPANY ENGAGED IN REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS TRADING INSECURI TIES. MR. TULSIYAN IS VERY FAIR IN STATING THAT ASSESSEE HAD IN FACT BORROWED INTEREST BEARING FUNDS WHICH WERE INVESTED IN SECURITIES IN ISSUE. WE NOTICE FRO M ASSESSMENT ORDER DATED 28.12.2007 THAT THE ASSESSING OFFICER DISALLOWED 12 % INTEREST ON BORROWED FUNDS OF 8.5 CRORES COMING TO 1,02,00,000/- IN VIEW OF THE REASON THAT THE TAXPAYER HAD CONVERTED ITS OPENING STOCK OF SHARES WORTH OF 8.5 CRORES TO INVESTMENTS. HE THUS INVOKED PROPORTIONATE INTEREST DISALLOWANCE FOR THE REASON THAT SAID CONVERSION TOOK PLACE ON 01.04.200 4. ALL THIS RESULTED IN IMPUGNED PROPORTIONATE INTEREST DISALLOWANCE FOR WH OLE OF THE RELEVANT PREVIOUS YEAR. THE CIT(A)S ORDER HAS CONFIRMED THE SAME. 4. LEARNED COUNSELS SOLE SUBMISSION DURING THE COU RSE OF HEARING IS THAT ASSESSEE HAD IN FACT CONVERTED ITS SHARES HELD AS S TOCK-IN-TRADE INTO INVESTMENTS ONLY ON 31.03.2005 THAN ON 01.04.2004. HE PLEADS THAT BOTH THE LOWER AUTHORITIES HAVE ERRED PARTICULARLY IN COMPUT ING THE IMPUGNED INTEREST DISALLOWANCE ON ERRONEOUS ASSUMPTION OF FACTS THAT THE CONVERGENT OF SHARES TO INVESTMENT IN FACT TOOK PLACE OF OPENING DATE OF THE RELEVANT PREVIOUS YEAR. LEARNED DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVE FAILS TO DISPUT E THE CLINCHING FACT THAT NEITHER THE ASSESSING OFFICER NOR THE CIT(A) HAVE E XAMINED THE SAID VITAL DATE OF THE IMPUGNED CONVERSION OF ASSESSEES STOCK-IN-T RADE TO INVESTMENT WHILST COMPUTING THE PROPORTIONATE DISALLOWANCE IN ISSUE D ISPUTE THE FACT THAT THE ITA NO.1562/KOL/2017 A.Y. 2005-06 M/S MKJ DEVELOPERS LTD. VS. ACIT, CIR-4, KOL. PAGE 7 TAXPAYERS STATEMENT OF FACT HAD MADE IT CLEAR THA T ACTUAL DATE OF CONVERSION WAS 31.03.2005 ONLY. WE THEREFORE DEEM IT APPROPRIA TE TO RESTORE THIS SOLE SUBSTANTIVE GROUND BACK TO THE ASSESSING OFFICER FO R FACTUAL VERIFICATION OF DATE OF THE STOCK-IN-TRADE SHARES TO INVESTMENTS IN ISSUE TO BE FOLLOWED BY NECESSARY COMPUTATION OF THE PROPORTIONATE INTEREST DISALLOWANCE AS PER LAW AFTER AFFORDING ADEQUATE OPPORTUNITY OF HEARING TO THE ASSESSEE. 5. THIS ASSESSEES APPEAL IS ACCEPTED FOR STATISTIC AL PURPOSES. ORDER PRONOUNCED IN THE OPEN COURT 31 /12/2018 SD/- SD/- ( %) (' %) (M.BALAGANESH) (S.S.GODARA) (ACCOUNTANT MEMBER) (JUDICIAL MEMBER) KOLKATA, *DKP, SR.P.S (- 31 / 12 /201 8 / COPY OF ORDER FORWARDED TO:- 1. /APPELLANT-M/S MKJ DEVELOPERS LTD., SAGAR ESTATE, 2 , CLIVE GHAT ST. KOLKATA-001 2. /RESPONDENT-ACIT, CIRCLE-4, AAYAKAR BHAWAN,A P-7, C HOWRINGHEE SQ. KOLKATA-69 3. 3 4 / CONCERNED CIT KOLKATA 4. 4- / CIT (A) KOLKATA 5. 7 ''3, 3, / DR, ITAT, KOLKATA 6. < / GUARD FILE. BY ORDER/ , /TRUE COPY/ / 3,