M/s. Harsha Engineers Ltd., Ahmedabad V. The Dy.Commissioner of Income Tax, Circle-2(1)(1), Ahmedabad

ITA 1735/AHD/2019

• Counselvise Citation: [2020] 110 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 5421 (ITAT-AHMEDABAD)
• Duration Of Justice: 10 month(s) 16 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 05-10-2020
• Appeal Filed By: Assessee
• Order Result: Partly Allowed
• Bench Allotted: C
• Assessment Year: 2013-2014
• Appeal Filed On: 19-11-2019
• Result in Favour of: Partly Allowed
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Department Lawyers: L P JAIN
• Keywords: Capital asset; Depreciation; Search and seizure; Revenue expenditure; Capital expenditure
• Section: 271(1)(c); 143(3); 142(1); 234B; 37(1); 143(2); 13; 148; 37; 15

Judgement Text

- , - IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL AHMEDABAD BENCH A [CONDUCTED THROUGH VIRTUAL COURT] BEFORE SHRI RAJPAL YADAV, VICE-PRESIDENT AND SHRI AMARJIT SINGH, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER ITA NO.1735/AHD/2019 / ASSTT.YEAR : 2013-14 HARSHA ENGINEERS LTD. SARKHEJ BAVLA ROAD CHANGODAR AHMEDABAD 382 213. PAN : AAACH 4828 C VS. DCIT, CIR.2(1)(1) AHMEDABAD. ( APPLICANT ) ( RESPONENT ) ASSESSEE BY : SHRI TUSHAR HEMANI, AR REVENUE BY : SHRI L.P. JAIN, SR.DR / DATE OF HEARING : 10/09/2020 ! / DATE OF PRONOUNCEMENT: 05/10/2020 / O R D E R PER RAJPAL YADAV, VICE-PRESIDENT ASSESSEE IS IN APPEAL BEFORE THE TRIBUNAL AGAINST O RDER OF THE LD.CIT(A)-2, AHMEDABAD DATED 24.10.2019 PASSED FOR THE ASSTT.YEAR 2013- 14. 2. ASSESSEE HAS TAKEN SEVEN GROUNDS OF APPEAL, WHER EIN ISSUES AGITATED BY IT REVOLVE AROUND TWO ASPECTS. IN GROU ND NO.1, THE ASSESSEE HAS CHALLENGED REOPENING OF THE ASSESSMENT BY ISSUA NCE OF NOTICE UNDER SECTION 148 OF THE INCOME TAX ACT, 1961. HOWEVER, AT THE TIME OF HEARING, NO ARGUMENTS WERE ADVANCED BY THE LD.COUNS EL FOR THE ASSESSEE, ITA NO.1735/AHD/2019 2 AND THEREFORE, WE DO NOT DEEM IT NECESSARY TO COMME NT ON THIS ISSUE. THIS GROUND IS REJECTED. 3. UNDER GROUND NO.2 TO 4, THE ASSESSEE HAS CHALLEN GED DISALLOWANCE OF ALLEGED R&D EXPENDITURE AMOUNTING TO RS.10,42,41 ,078/-. 4. BRIEF FACTS OF THE CASE ARE THAT THE ASSESSEE HA S FILED ITS ORIGINAL RETURN OF INCOME ON 31.8.2013 DECLARING TOTAL INCOM E AT RS.27,37,55,058/-.. AN ASSESSMENT ORDER UNDER SECT ION 143(3) WAS PASSED ON 11.2.2016 WHEREIN THE INCOME WAS ASSESSED AT RS.28,28,48,150/-. THE AO THEREAFTER HARBOURED A B ELIEF THAT THE ASSESSEE HAS CLAIMED EXPENDITURE OF RS.11,65,15,145 6/- ON R&D, BUT CAPITALIZED A SUM OF RS.1,22,74,378/-. HE WAS OF THE VIEW THAT THE REVENUE EXPENDITURE AMOUNTING TO RS.10,42,41,078/- CLAIMED BY THE ASSESSEE AS REVENUE EXPENDITURE OUGHT TO HAVE BEEN CAPITALIZED, AND THUS BY MAKING CLAIM OF THIS AMOUNT AS REVENUE EXPENDITU RE ON R&D, INCOME HAS ESCAPED ASSESSMENT. THE AO, THEREFORE, REOPENED THE ASSESSMENT AND ISSUED NOTICE UNDER SECTION 148 ON 3 0.3.2018. IN RESPONSE TO THE NOTICE, THE ASSESSEE HAS FILED RETU RN AND DECLARED TOTAL INCOME AT RS.27,39,79,540/-. THE ASSESSEE HAS RAIS ED OBJECTION FOR REOPENING OF THE ASSESSMENT, AND THIS WAS REJECTED BY THE AO. HE ISSUED NOTICE UNDER SECTION 143(2) AS WELL AS 142(1) OF TH E ACT. THE AO HAS ISSUED DETAILED SHOW CAUSE NOTICE ON 23.10.2018 WHI CH HAS BEEN REPRODUCED IN PARAGRAPH-3 OF THE ASSESSMENT ORDER. RELEVANT PART OF THIS NOTICE READS AS UNDER: 6. IT IS RELEVANT TO MENTION HERE THAT THE CASE OF THE ASSESSEE WAS REOPENED ON FINDINGS THAT THE ASSESSEE COMPANY HAS MADE TOTAL EXPENDITURE OF RS. 11,65,15,456/- ON R&D AND OUT OF SAID TOTAL ITA NO.1735/AHD/2019 3 EXPENDITURE, RS. 1,22,74,378/- WAS SHOWN AS CAPITAL EXPENDITURE AND REMAINING RS. 10,42,41.078/- WAS CLAIMED AS REC URRING EXPENDITURE. IT REMAINS SELF ESTABLISHED THAT RECUR RING EXPENDITURE ON R&D RESULTS IN GENERATING ENDURING BENEFITS WHIC H WAS REQUIRED TO BE CAPITALIZED. IT WAS FURTHER NOTICED FROM COMPUTATION OF INCOME THAT RECURRING EXPENDITURE OF RS. 10,42,4 1,078/- ON R&D WAS NOT CAPITALIZED WHILE ARRIVING TAXABLE INCO ME. FURTHER, ON THIS ISSUE, THE ASSESSEE HAS NOT FULLY AND TRULY DISCLOSED THE MATERIAL FACTS NECESSARY FOR ITS ASSESSMENT FOR THE YEAR UNDER CONSIDERATION. MOREOVER, THE ISSUE UNDER CONSIDERAT ION WAS NEVER EXAMINED BY THE AO DURING THE COURSE OF ASSESSMENT PROCEEDINGS AND THE MATERIAL FACTS RELEVANT FOR THE ASSESSMENT ON THIS ISSUE WERE NOT FILED DURING THE COURSE OF ASSESSMENT PROC EEDINGS. THUS, INCOME OF RS. 10,42,41,078/- HAS ESCAPED ASSESSMENT . 7. VIDE, ABOVE STATED NOTICE, RELEVANT D ETAILS HAS BEEN CALLED FOR TO FINALIZE THE ASSESSMENT PROCEEDINGS . HOWEVER, ASSESSEE HAS BEEN FAILED TO SUBMIT THE DETAILS DESP ITE SUFFICIENT OPPORTUNITIES AND TIME HAVE BEEN GIVEN. IN VIEW OF THE NOTING IN ABOVE PARAGRAPHS AND TIME BARRING NATURE OF PROCEED INGS I.E. TIME BARRED ON 31.12.2018, IT CAN BE CONSTRUED THAT THE ASSESSEE WILLFULLY TRIED TO MAKE DELAY IN PROCEEDINGS IN ITS CASE TO LEFT INSUFFICIENT TIME WITH THE UNDERSIGNED TO DO THOROU GH INVESTIGATION AND VERIFICATION WHICH IS REQUIRED IN ASSESSEE CASE . 5. IN RESPONSE TO THIS NOTICE, THE ASSESSEE HAS FIL ED A DETAILED REPLY WHICH HAS BEEN REPRODUCED BY THE AO, AND WE DEEM IT NECESSARY TO TAKE NOTE OF THIS REPLY IN ORDER TO APPRECIATE THE STAND OF THE ASSESSEE. IT READS AS UNDER: 4. IN RESPONSE, THE ASSESSEE HAS SUBMITTED ITS REP LY. THE UNDERSIGNED, KEEP IN MIND ISSUE IN QUESTION, HAS CA REFULLY EXAMINED AND VERIFIED THE SUBMISSION FILED BY THE A SSESSEE AND FOUND NOT ACCEPTABLE. GIST OF ASSESSEE'S SUBMISSION IS HEREIN UNDER; WE ARE ENGAGED IN THE ACTIVITY OF MANUFACTURING BEA RING CAGES WITH STEEL, BRASS AND POLYAMIDE MATERIAL AND STAMPE D AUTO COMPONENTS WITH STEEL MATERIAL. WE ARE A CORE ENGIN EERING ITA NO.1735/AHD/2019 4 COMPANY. THESE CAGES ARE BEING OF SPECIFIED MEASURE MENT AND ARE TO BE MANUFACTURED WITH THE SPECIFIED TOOLS ONL Y. BOTH TOOLS AND CAGE SIZE DIFFERS FROM CUSTOMER TO CUSTOMER AND ORDER TO ORDER OF VARIOUS CUSTOMERS. THE CUSTOMERS PROVIDE US WITH THE DRAWING AND SPECI FICATIONS AT THE TIME OF EACH QUOTATION/DEVELOPMENT TO MANUFACTU RE REQUIRED BEARING CAGES AND STAMPED AUTO COMPONENTS. TO MANUF ACTURE SUCH PARTS/CAGES, WE HAVE TO EVALUATE VARIOUS KINDS OF NEEDS VIZ. NEED OF MATERIAL, TECHNOLOGY, EQUIPMENTS, TOOLS ETC . AFTER CONSIDERING ALL ABOVE REQUIREMENTS AND MAKING THEM AVAILABLE, A SAMPLE IS- BEING PREPARED WHICH IS SENT TO CUSTOM ERS FOR THEIR APPROVAL. FURTHER, THE COMPANY HAVE A DEDICATED DEVELOPMENT A ND INNOVATION CENTER AT CHANGODAR PLANT AND STATE OF A RT TOOL MANUFACTURING UNIT AND CHANGODAR. THESE PRIMARY ACT IVITIES ARE BEING CARRIED OUT TO CATCH THE EMERGING TRENDS SUCH AS SUPPLY OF VERY CLEAN BEARING TO REDUCE NOISE BY SUPPLYING CLE AN CAGES, TD DEVELOP RIGHT GEOMETRY OF CAGE TO REDUCE ENERGY LOS S DUE TO FRICTION AND ALLOW BEARINGS TO CONSIDER EXTRA LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY, INCREASING LINE PRODUCTION SPEED TO MAKE PRODUCT MOST COST COMPETITIVE SO AS TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY PROD UCT AT A LESSER PRICE. WE HAD INCURRED EXPENDITURE ON R&D AGGREGATING TO R S. 11,65,15,456/- OUT OF WHICH, RS. 1 ,22,74,378/- WAS CAPITAL EXPENDITURE AND RS. 10,42,41,078/-WAS RECURRING EXP ENDITURE. THE SAID FACT IS EVIDENT FROM THE ANNUAL REPORT. TH E COMPANY HAVE NOT CLAIMED ANY AMOUNT OF DEDUCTION U/S. 35(2A B) OF THE INCOME TAX ACT, 1961 DURING THE YEAR UNDER CONSIDER ATION. THE ASSESSEE FURTHER STATED THAT THERE IS NO SPECIF IC HEAD OF 'R&D EXPENSES' IN THE PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT UNDER WHICH, THE UNDERLYING EXPENSES HAVE BEEN DEBITED. THE SAID EXP ENSES WERE DEBITED IN EIGHT DIFFERENT EXPENSES HEAD I.E. RAW M ATERIAL, STORES, POWER & FUEL, OPERATIVE EXPENSES, SALARY & WAGES, ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES, DEPRECIATION AND SELLING & PACKING EXPENSES. SUCH EXPENSES HAVE BEEN INCURRED IN THE C OURSE OF NORMAL BUSINESS ACTIVITIES AND THE SAME ARE REVENUE IN NATURE. HOWEVER, WHILE PREPARING THE ANNUAL REPORT, WE HAVE SUO-MOTTO CLASSIFIED A PORTION OF SUCH EXPENSES TOWARDS R&D A CTIVITIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISCLOSURE AND COMPLIANCE AS PER THE COMPANIES ITA NO.1735/AHD/2019 5 ACT. THE FOLLOWING TABLE SHOWS THE TOTAL OF SUCH EI GHT EXPENSES AND THE PORTION THAT HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED AS R&D EXP ENSES (THOUGH IT IS A PRODUCTION EXPENSES); (RS. IN LAKHS) S.NO. PARTICULAR TOTAL EXPENSES R&D EXPENSES PROPORTION OF R&D EXPS. (%) 1 RAW MATERIAL 13258.98 100.43 0.76 2 STORES 1358.74 74.79 5.50 3 POWER & FUEL 816.4 58.34 7.15 4 OPERATIVE EXPS 689.4 103.14 14.96 5 SALARY & WAGES 2746.85 524.36 19.09 6 ADMINISTRATIVE EXPS 2139.09 32.43 1.52 7 DEPRECIATION 1473.42 146.59 9.95 8 SELLING & PACKING EXPS. 785.59 2.34 0.3 TOTAL 23268.47 1042.41 4.48 THE SAID EIGHT DIFFERENT EXPENSES ARE VERY MUCH REV ENUE IN NATURE AND FORMS MINISCULE PART OF ABOVE STATED EIG HT DIFFERENT EXPENSES HEAD. FURTHER, WHEN THE LARGER PART OF THE CONCERNED TYPE OF EXPENDITURE IS ACCEPTED, QUESTION OF DISALL OWING MINISCULE PART OF THE SAME DOES NOT ARISE MERELY ON THE COUNT THAT THE SAME HAS BEEN SHOWN AS R&D IN THE DIRECTOR 'S REPORT. IN OUR CASE, ALL THE CRITERIA PRESCRIBED UNDER SECT ION 37 OF THE ACT ARE FULFILLED AS THESE EXPENSES ARE NOT COVERED BY SECTION 30 TO 36 OF THE ACT. FURTHER THESE EXPENSES ARE NOT IN CAPITAL IN NATURE SINCE NEITHER ANY CAPITAL ASSET HAS COME INT O EXISTENCE CONSEQUENT TO INCURRING SUCH EXPENSES NOR ANY ENDUR ING BENEFIT HAS ACCRUED TO US FOR A PERIOD OF MORE THAN ONE YEA R. FURTHER, THE EXPENSES ARE NOT AT ALL OUT PERSONAL EXPENSES. FURT HER, THESE EXPENSES HAVE UNDOUBTEDLY BEEN INCURRED WHOLLY AND EXCLUSIVELY FOR OUR BUSINESS. ITA NO.1735/AHD/2019 6 THUS, THE EXPENSES IN QUESTION ARE VERY MUCH REVENU E IN NATURE AND HENCE, NO DISALLOWANCE IS CALLED FOR IN RESPECT OF THE SAME BY TREATING IT AS CAPITAL EXPENSES. 6. THE LD.AO THEREAFTER GONE THROUGH SUBMISSIONS OF THE ASSESSEE. HE REJECTED CONTENTIONS OF THE ASSESSEE AND RECORDE D A FINDING THAT THE EXPENDITURE OF RS.10,42,41,078/- WAS INCURRED FOR D EVELOPMENT OF NEW PRODUCT RANGE AS WELL AS VALUED ENGINEERING OF EXI STING PRODUCT RANGES AND SAME RESULTED INTO ENDURING BENEFIT TO THE ASSE SSEE. HE ACCORDINGLY DISALLOWED THE CLAIM OF THE ASSESSEE FOR REVENUE EX PENDITURE, AND TREATED THIS EXPENDITURE AS CAPITAL IN NATURE. HOWEVER, IN SPITE OF THAT, HE DID NOT ALLOW DEPRECIATION TO THE ASSESSEE. DISSATISFI ED WITH THE ORDER OF THE AO, THE ASSESSEE CARRIED THE MATTER IN APPEAL BEFOR E THE LD.CIT(A). THE LD.CIT(A) REJECTED THE CONTENTIONS OF THE ASSESSEE AND AFFIRMED THE FINDING OF THE LD.AO. 7. BEFORE US, WHILE IMPUGNING THE ORDER OF THE AO, THE LD.COUNSEL FOR THE ASSESSEE APPRAISED US BUSINESS ACTIVITIES OF TH E ASSESSEE. HE FILED A NOTE AS ANNEXURE-A. HE SUBMITTED THAT THESE ACTIVI TIES WERE EXPLAINED TO THE AO AND ALSO PLEADED IN THE REPLY FILED IN RE SPONSE TO THE NOTICE UNDER SECTION 142(1). FOR BUTTRESSING HIS CONTENTI ONS, HE TOOK US THROUGH THE PLEADING MADE IN THE REPLY REPRODUCED I N PARAGRAPH-4 AT PAGE NO.4 & 5 OF THE ASSESSMENT EXTRACTED (SUPRA). THE NOTE SUBMITTED BY THE LD.COUNSEL FOR THE ASSESSEE READS AS UNDER: ASSESSEE IS ENGAGED IN THE ACTIVITY OF MANUFACTURI NG BEARING CAGES WITH STEEL, BRASS AND POLYMIDE MATERIAL AND STAMPED AUTO COMPONENTS WITH STEEL MATERIAL. ASSESSEE IS A CORE ENGINEERING COMPANY. ASSESSEE CONSISTENTLY FOCUSES ON CONTINUOUS LEARNING EXPERIE NCE TO PRODUCE WORLD CLASS PRODUCTS. SINCE INCEPTION IN 1972, ASSE SSEE HAS LEVERAGED CONTINUOUS CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT TO EMBED WORLD CLASS MANUFACTURING PRACTICES THRIVING ON AN ECOSYSTEM OF PRECISION ENG INEERING. ITA NO.1735/AHD/2019 7 ASSESSEE MANUFACTURES PRODUCTS AS PER 'SPECIFIC REQ UIREMENTS OF CUSTOMERS'. BROADLY, THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES ARE B EING CARRIED OUT BY THE ASSESSEE: CUSTOMERS PROVIDE DRAWINGS AND SPECIFICATIONS R EQUIRED FOR BEARING CAGES AND STAMPED AUTO COMPONENTS; TO MANUFACTURE THE SAME, ASSESSEE NEEDS TO EVAL UATE VARIOUS KINDS OF NEEDS VIZ. NEED OF MATERIAL, TECHNOLOGY, EQUIPME NT, ETC.; ASSESSEE ALSO NEEDS TO GAUGE THE TOLERANCE REQU IREMENT BY DOING FEASIBILITY STUDY, DEFINE FLOW OF THE PROCESS AND P REPARE TOOL DRAWINGS; ASSESSEE ALSO NEEDS TO RESORT TO SIMULATION AND TRIAL RUNS; EVENTUALLY, A SAMPLE IS PREPARED AND SENT TO CU STOMER FOR APPROVAL; BASED ON FEEDBACK, INTERNAL AS WELL AS EXTERNAL , FINAL FLOW OF PROCESS IS DECIDED AND REQUIRED AUTOMATION IS DONE FOR MASS PRODUCTION; IN ORDER TO CARRY OUT THE AFORESAID ACTIVITIES, THE ASSESSEE HEREIN HAS FOLLOWING THREE DEPARTMENTS: DESIGNING AND ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT; TOOL ROOM DEPARTMENT; PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT CELL DEPARTMENT; DETAILS OF ACTIVITIES BEING CARRIED OUT IN THE AFOR ESAID THREE DEPARTMENTS WERE EXPLAINED TO AO VIDE LETTER DATED 11.10.18 (PGS.83- 96 @ 85-87 OF P/B); ASSESSEE HAS DEDICATED DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION C ENTRE AT CHANGODAR PLANT AND STATE OF ART TOOL MANUFACTURING FACILITIES AT CHANGODAR. 'R & D ACTIVITIES' ARE BEING OUT TO CAPI TALIZE ON EMERGING TRENDS SUCH AS VERY CLEAN BEARING TO REDUCE NOISE B Y SUPPLYING CLEAN CAGES, TO DEVELOP RIGHT GEOMETRY OF CAGE TO REDUCE ENERGY LOSS DUE TO FRICTION AND ALLOWING BEARING FOR EXTRA LOAD CARRYI NG CAPACITY, INCREASING LINE PRODUCTION SPEED TO MAKE PRODUCT MO ST COST COMPETITIVE FOR NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND PROCESS IMPROVEMENT IN DIFFERENT TYPES OF BEARING CAGES. EFFORTS PUT IN FOR R & D HAS HELPED THE ASSESSEE TO MEET THE CUSTOMER NEEDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH DELIVERY SCHEDULES. WITH A SSESSEE'S EXPERTISE IN DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING COMPLEX TOOLING COMPONE NTS IN HOUSE, ASSESSEE HAS ENGAGED WITH ITS CUSTOMERS, DEVELOPING AND MANUFACTURING MANY PRODUCTS TO MEET THEIR CHANGING REQUIREMENTS. ITA NO.1735/AHD/2019 8 8. THE LD.COUNSEL FOR THE ASSESSEE RAISED TWO FOLD SUBMISSIONS. IN HIS FIRST FOLD OF CONTENTIONS, HE PLEADED THAT THIS EXP ENDITURE DESERVES T O BE ALLOWED AS REVENUE EXPENDITURE TO THE ASSESSEE. TH E AO FAILED TO APPRECIATE THE CONTENTIONS OF THE ASSESSEE WHILE PR ESUMING THAT INCURRENCE OF THIS EXPENDITURE WOULD BRING IN NEW P RODUCT RANGE/PROCESS IMPROVEMENT AND COST EFFECTIVENESS IN EXISTING PROD UCTS. THE LD.COUNSEL FOR THE ASSESSEE WHILE REPELLING THE REASONS OF THE AO, SUBMITTED THAT THE ASSESSEE MANUFACTURES CUSTOMIZED CAGES BASED ON SPE CIFIC REQUIREMENT OF THE CUSTOMERS AS AGAINST UNIFORM PRODUCTS. THER EFORE, NO NEW PRODUCT WHICH HAS AN INDEPENDENT MARKET WAS EVER DE VELOPED BY THE ASSESSEE AS SUCH. SIMILARLY, AS FAR AS PROCESS IMP ROVEMENT AND COST EFFECTIVENESS IN EXISTING PRODUCT IS CONCERNED, THE EXPENDITURE WERE INCURRED KEEPING IN MIND THE QUALITY OF EXISTING PR ODUCTS OF THE ASSESSEE, AND THE SAME CANNOT BE TREATED AS CAPITAL IN NATURE . FOR BUTTRESSING HIS CONTENTIONS HE RELIED UPON JUDGMENT OF THE HONBLE GUJARAT HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF CIT VS. ARVIND PRODUCTS LTD., 93 TAX MANN.COM 454 (GUJ). HE PLACED ON RECORD COPY OF THE JUDGMENT. 9. IN THE ALTERNATIVE CONTENTION, HE SUBMITTED THAT UNDER SECTION 35 OF THE INCOME TAX ACT, EVEN THIS EXPENDITURE IS BEING TREATED AS CAPITAL IN NATURE, THEN ALSO IT IS ALLOWABLE. ON THE OTHER HA ND, THE LD.DR RELIED UPON ORDERS OF THE REVENUE AUTHORITIES. 10. WE HAVE DULY CONSIDERED RIVAL CONTENTIONS AND G ONE THROUGH THE RECORD CAREFULLY. IT IS PERTINENT TO OBSERVE THAT IN ORDER TO CLAIM EXPENDITURE UNDER SECTION 37(1) OF THE INCOME TAX A CT, THE ASSESSEE IS REQUIRED TO FULFILL CERTAIN CONDITIONS VIZ. (A) THE RE MUST BE EXPENDITURE, ITA NO.1735/AHD/2019 9 (B) SUCH EXPENDITURE MUST NOT BE OF THE NATURE DESC RIBED IN SECTIONS 30 TO 36, (C) THE EXPENDITURE MUST NOT BE IN THE NATUR E OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURE OR PERSONAL EXPENDITURE OF THE ASSESSEE, AND (D) EX PENDITURE MUST BE LAID OUT OR EXPENDED WHOLLY AND EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE PURP OSE OF BUSINESS OR PROFESSION. THE EXPRESSION WHOLLY EMPLOYED IN SE CTION 37 REFERS TO QUANTIFICATION OF EXPENDITURE WHILE EXPRESSION EXC LUSIVELY REFERS TO THE MOTIVE, OBJECTIVE AND PURPOSE OF THE EXPENDITUR E. A PARTICULAR EXPENDITURE, WHETHER REVENUE OR CAPITAL IN NATURE, MUST BE DETERMINED ON CONSIDERATION OF ALL THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES, A ND BY THE APPLICATION OF PRINCIPLES OF COMMERCIAL NEEDS, AND MUST BE VIEW ED IN THE LARGER CONTEXT OF BUSINESS NECESSITY OR EXPEDIENCY. IF TH E EXPENDITURE IS SO RELATED TO THE CARRYING ON OR CONDUCT OF THE BUSINE SS, THAT MAY BE REGARDED AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE PROFIT-EARNING PROCESS AND NOT FOR ACQUISITION OF AN ASSET OR AN ASSET OF A PERMANENT CHARACTER, THE EXPENDITURE MAY BE REGARDED AS REVENUE EXPENDITURE, OTHERWISE, SUCH EXPENDITURE WHICH CREATES AN ENDURING ADVANTAGE TO THE ASSESSEE WOULD BE IN THE NATURE OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURE AND NOT AN ALLOWABLE. 11. IN THE LIGHT OF THE ABOVE, LET US EVALUATE THE PRODUCT MANUFACTURED BY THE ASSESSEE OR ITS BUSINESS ACTIVITY. THE ASSE SSEE HAS EMPHASISED BEFORE THE AO THAT IT IS ENGAGED IN THE MANUFACTURI NG OF BEARING CAGES WITH STEEL, BRASS AND PLYMIDE MATERIAL AND STAMPED AUTO COMPONENTS WITH STEEL MATERIAL. ACCORDING TO THE ASSESSEE, IT IS A CORE ENGINEERING COMPANY. THESE CAGES ARE BEING OF SPECIFIED MEASUR EMENT, AND ARE TO BE MANUFACTURED WITH SPECIFIED TOOLS ONLY. BOTH TO OLS AND CAGES DIFFER FROM CUSTOMER TO CUSTOMER AND ORDER TO ORDER OF VAR IOUS CUSTOMERS. IN OTHER WORDS, THE CUSTOMER GIVES DRAWINGS AND SPECIF ICATION REQUIREMENT ITA NO.1735/AHD/2019 10 FOR MANUFACTURING OF BEARING CAGES AND STAMPED AUTO COMPONENTS. THE ASSESSEE WOULD EVALUATE VARIOUS KINDS OF NEEDS I.E. MATERIAL, TECHNOLOGY, EQUIPMENT ETC. THEREAFTER, IT WILL PREPARE A SAMPL E PRODUCT, AND IF FINALIZED BY THE CUSTOMER, THEN THE PRODUCT WILL BE MANUFACTURED AS PER REQUIREMENT OF THE CUSTOMERS. NOW, WHILE EVALUATIN G THIS MANUFACTURING ACTIVITY OF THE ASSESSEE, THE LD.AO T OOK A VERY SIMPLISTIC VIEW. HE ANALYSISED BREAKUP OF THE EXPENDITURE WHI CH HAS BEEN TABULATED IN THE REPLY OF THE ASSESSEE AND EXTRACTE D BY US IN THE UPPER PART OF THIS ORDER. HE WAS OF THE VIEW THAT THE AS SESSEE HAD ITSELF SEGREGATED CERTAIN EXPENDITURE AMOUNTING TO RS.104. 41 LAKHS BUT DEBITED THIS R&D EXPENDITURE AS REVENUE EXPENDITURE. HE WA S OF THE VIEW THAT IT WOULD GIVE ENDURING BENEFIT TO THE ASSESSEE, AND THEREFORE, THIS SHOULD BE CAPITALIZED. ACCORDING TO US, LD.AO LOST SIGHT IN APPRECIATING THE BUSINESS ACTIVITY OF THE ASSESSEE PARTICULARLY PROD UCT MADE BY THE ASSESSEE FOR A PARTICULAR CUSTOMER. IN THAT EXERCIS E, THE ASSESSEE WOULD NEED MATERIAL, TECHNOLOGY, EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS. IT MAY HAVE TO DESIGN CERTAIN DIES, CERTAIN TOOLS AND THAT EXERCISE WOULD CALL FOR DEPLOYMENT OF MATERIAL, FUEL, TANGIBLE AND INTANGIBLE TECHNICAL K NOWHOW ETC. IT IS NOT NECESSARY THAT A PARTICULAR BEARING CAGES OR STAMPE D AUTO TOOL MANUFACTURED BY THE ASSESSEE FOR A PARTICULAR CUSTO MER WILL BE UNIFORMLY REQUIRED BY OTHERS. AUTO PART DESIGN FOR A PARTICU LAR MODEL OF A PARTICULAR AUTO DESIGN/PROGRAM MAY NOT BE OF ANY US E FOR OTHER CUSTOMERS. THEREFORE, WE ARE OF THE VIEW THAT THE AO HAS GENERALIZED THE ACTIVITIES WHILE TREATING THIS EXPENDITURE AS A CAPITAL IN NATURE. IN THE PAST ALSO, THERE WAS NO SUCH DISALLOWANCE. IT IS A LSO PERTINENT TO MENTION THAT DURING THE COURSE OF HEARING, THE LD.COUNSEL F OR THE ASSESSEE RELIED UPON FOLLOWING THE JUDGMENTS, VIZ. EMPIRE JUTE CO. LTD. VS. CIT, 3 ITA NO.1735/AHD/2019 11 TAXMANN 69 (SC); CIT VS. COAL SHIPMENTS P.LTD., 82 ITR 902 (SC) AND DEVIDAS VITHALDAS & CO VS. CIT, 84 ITR 277 (SC) AND CONTENDED THAT EVERY EXPENDITURE WHICH HAS RESULTED INTO SOME OF S ORT OF ENDURING BENEFIT CANNOT BE STRAIGHT AWAY TREATED AS EXPENDIT URE, WHICH IS CAPITAL IN NATURE. 12. APART FROM THE ABOVE, THE ASSESSEE HAS DEMONSTR ATED THAT IT HAS NOT CREATED ANY SPECIFIED HEAD OF R&D EXPENDITURE IN TH E P&L ACCOUNT. IT HAS DEMARCATED ALL THESE EXPENDITURE UNDER VARIOUS HEADS WHICH ARE TABULATED IN ITS REPLY AND REPRODUCED IN THE ASSESS MENT ORDER. OUT OF THAT, ASSESSEE ITSELF HAS POINTED OUT THAT ONLY 4.4 8% EXPENDITURE AT THE MOST COULD BE DEBITED TO R&D WOULD BE EXHAUSTED ACC ORDING TO THE FINALIZATION OF SPECIFICATION AND DESIGN OF THE PRO DUCT BY A CUSTOMER. IT IS ALSO PERTINENT TO NOTE THAT AS FAR AS GENUINENES S OF INCURRENCE OF EXPENDITURE IS CONCERNED, THAT HAS NOT BEEN DOUBTED BY THE AO. ANY EXPENDITURE INCURRED BY AN ASSESSEE FOR THE PURPOSE OF BUSINESS, WHOLLY AND EXCLUSIVELY IS TO BE REIMBURSED EITHER BY ALLOW ING AS REVENUE OR BY DEPRECIATION, WHICH WILL RECOUP THE COST OVER A PER IOD OF TIME. BUT IN THE PRESENT CASE, THE AO HAS NOT EVEN GRANTED DEPRE CIATION. THEREFORE, OVERALL ANALYSIS OF THE RECORD WOULD INDICATE THAT THE ASSESSEE HAS INCURRED THIS EXPENDITURE FOR FULFILLING THE REQUIR EMENT OF A SPECIFIED PRODUCT REQUIRED TO BE SUPPLIED TO A PARTICULAR CUS TOMER. THE RAW- MATERIAL, TOOLS DESIGNS ULTIMATELY DETERMINED BY TH E ASSESSEE AND USED FOR MANUFACTURE OF CUSTOMISED PRODUCTS WERE NOT MEA NT FOR UNIFORM APPLICATION FOR OTHER CUSTOMERS ALSO, AND THEREFORE THE EXPENDITURE INCURRED FOR DEVELOPMENT OF CUSTOMIZED PRODUCTS AND MANUFACTURED AND SOLD BY THE ASSESSEE NEED NOT TO BE CAPITALIZED. T HESE ARE TO BE TREATED ITA NO.1735/AHD/2019 12 AS REVENUE EXPENDITURE AND DESERVE TO BE ALLOWED UN DER SECTION 37 OF THE INCOME TAX ACT. 13. ALTERNATIVE ARGUMENT HAS BEEN RAISED BY THE ASS ESSEE EVEN IN THAT CASE THE EXPENDITURE IS ALLOWABLE UNDER SECTION 35 OF THE ACT. THE LD.COUNSEL FOR THE ASSESSEE TOOK US THROUGH SECTION 35(1)(IV) AND 35(2)(IA) AS WELL AS JUDGMENTS OF HONBLE GUJARAT H IGH COURT IN THE CASE OF CIT VS. GUJARAT ALUMINIUM EXTRUSIONS, 263 ITR 45 3 (GUJ). ON THE OTHER HAND, THE LD.DR SUBMITTED THAT NO SUCH PLEA W AS RAISED BEFORE THE AO, AND THE ISSUE WAS NOT EXAMINED BY THE AO WITH T HE ABOVE ANGLE. 14. WE HAVE DULY CONSIDERED RIVAL SUBMISSIONS AND G ONE THROUGH THE RECORD CAREFULLY. WE DEEM IT TAKE NOTE OF THE RELE VANT PROVISIONS, WHICH READS AS UNDER: SECTION 35(1) (IV) IN RESPECT OF ANY EXPENDITURE OF A CAPITAL NAT URE ON SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH RELATED TO THE BUSINESS CARRIED ON BY THE ASSESSEE, SUCH DEDUCTION AS MAY BE ADMISSIBLE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF SUB- SECTION (2) : SECTION 35(2)(IA) .. (IA) IN A CASE WHERE SUCH CAPITAL EXPENDITURE IS IN CURRED AFTER THE 31ST DAY OF MARCH, 1967, THE WHOLE OF SUCH CAPITAL EXPENDITURE INCURRED IN ANY PREVIOUS YEAR SHALL BE DEDUCTED FOR THAT PREVIOUS YEAR : 15. A BARE PERUSAL OF THE ABOVE PROVISION WOULD IND ICATE THAT IF AN ASSESSEE HAS INCURRED EXPENDITURE ON R&D AND ITS CA PITAL IN NATURE, THEN ALSO IT IS TO BE ALLOWED UNDER THESE PROVISIONS. A T THE TIME OF HEARING, ITA NO.1735/AHD/2019 13 JUDGMENT OF HONBLE GUJARAT HIGH COURT CITED BEFORE US AND THE RELEVANT PART OF THE SAME READS AS UNDER: 18. WE HAVE HEARD THE LEARNED ADVOCATES AT LENGTH AND HAVE CONSIDERED THE JUDGMENTS CITED BEFORE THIS, COURT. 19. THE OBJECT BEHIND THE ENACTMENT OF SECTION 35 O F THE ACT IS TO ENCOURAGE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES BY TH E ASSESSEE. AS AN INCENTIVE, THE LEGISLATURE HAS GIVEN THIS BENEFIT B Y WAY OF DEDUCTION IN RESPECT OF THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURE INCURRED BY THE ASSESSEE. THIS IS A PROVISION FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ASSESSEE AND IF TH E ASSESSEE INCURS CAPITAL EXPENDITURE FOR THE PURPOSE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT DURING THE RELEVANT PREVIOUS YEAR, IN OUR OPINION, THE REVENUE SHOULD NOT DEPRIVE THE ASSESSEE OF THE BENEFIT OF DEDUCTIO N UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 35 OF THE ACT EVEN IF THE ASSET IS NOT P UT TO USE FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. IT IS A SETTLED LEGAL POSITION THA T THE PROVISION FOR EXEMPTION OR RELIEF SHOULD BE CONSTRUED LIBERALLY A ND IN FAVOUR OF THE ASSESSEE. IF THE SECTION IS INTERPRETED IN THE MANN ER SUGGESTED BY STANDING COUNSEL FOR THE REVENUE, IN OUR OPINION, W E WOULD BE DEPRIVING THE ASSESSEE OF THE BENEFIT WHICH THE LEG ISLATURE DESIRES TO GIVE TO THE ASSESSEE. 20. IT IS ALSO PERTINENT TO REFER TO CIRCULAR NO. 5 -P (LXXVI-63) OF 1967 DATED OCTOBER 9, 1967, ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT. TH E RELEVANT EXTRACT OF THE SAID CIRCULAR READS AS UNDER : `'(II) THE AMOUNT OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURE INCURRED B Y AN ASSESSEE AFTER MARCH 31, 1967, ON SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH RELATE D TO HIS BUSINESS WILL BE ALLOWED TO BE DEDUCTED IN FULL IN COMPUTING HIS BUSINESS PROFITS OF THE YEAR IN WHICH SUCH EXPENDIT URE IS INCURRED.' 21. FROM THE PROVISIONS OF THE ABOVE REFERRED TO CI RCULAR ALSO, THE INTENTION OF THE REVENUE IS PATENT. THE INTENTION I S TO GIVE BENEFIT TO THE ASSESSEE WHO INCURS EXPENDITURE ON SCIENTIFIC RESEA RCH RELATED TO HIS BUSINESS. EVEN THE CIRCULAR ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMEN T DOES NOT MAKE USE OF THE CAPITAL ASSET A CONDITION PRECEDENT FOR CLAIMING DEDUCTION UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 35 OF THE ACT. 22. IN OUR OPINION, BOTH THE APPELLATE AUTHORITIES HAVE RIGHTLY CONSIDERED THE SPIRIT WITH WHICH SECTION 35 OF THE ACT HAS BEEN ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE AND THE CIRCULAR REFERRED TO HER EINABOVE WHILE ITA NO.1735/AHD/2019 14 ALLOWING DEDUCTION TO THE ASSESSEE UNDER THE PROVIS IONS OF SECTION 35 OF THE ACT. 23. WE ARE OF THE VIEW THAT WHEN THE LEGISLATURE HA S NOT EXPECTED THE ASSESSEE TO PUT THE ASSET TO ACTUAL USE, IT WOULD N OT BE OPEN TO THE REVENUE TO DEPRIVE THE ASSESSEE OF THE BENEFIT OF D EDUCTION UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 35 OF THE ACT IF THE ASSET IS NOT USED IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR IN WHICH THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURE IS I NCURRED. 24. IT IS ALSO RELEVANT TO NOTE THAT THE DEDUCTION IS GIVEN NOT ON THE COUNT OF USER. HAD IT BEEN SO, THE ASSESSEE WOULD H AVE BEEN GIVEN BENEFIT IN THE NATURE OF DEPRECIATION. IT CANNOT BE DISPUTED THAT DEPRECIATION IS ALLOWED WHEN THE ASSET IS USED BY T HE ASSESSEE AND WHEN HE SUFFERS LOSS ON ACCOUNT OF WEAR AND TEAR OF THE ASSET. HAD THE INTENTION OF THE LEGISLATURE BEEN TO GRANT ADDITION AL DEPRECIATION, WE WOULD HAVE AGREED WITH THE SUBMISSIONS MADE BY STAN DING COUNSEL APPEARING FOR THE REVENUE BUT THE POSITION IS DIFFE RENT IN THE INSTANT CASE. HERE, THE LEGISLATURE WANTS THE ASSESSEE TO S PEND MORE AMOUNT FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND IT ALSO WANTS THE ASSES SEE TO GET THE BENEFIT IMMEDIATELY IN THE YEAR IN WHICH HE INCURS THE EXPE NDITURE IN THE NATURE OF REVENUE OR CAPITAL FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARC H AND THEREFORE THE LEGISLATURE REFERS TO INCURRING OF THE EXPENDITURE AND NOT THE USING OF THE ASSET. 25. ONCE IT IS ESTABLISHED THAT THE EXPENDITURE WAS INCURRED FOR THE PURPOSE OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND THE CONDITIONS I NCORPORATED IN SECTION 35 OF THE ACT ARE FULFILLED, IN OUR OPIN ION, THE REVENUE CANNOT EXPECT THE ASSESSEE TO START USING THE ASSET IMMEDI ATELY. IN A GIVEN CASE THE ASSESSEE MIGHT HAVE TO GO ON INCURRING EXPENDIT URE FOR SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE PUTTING THE ASSET TO ACTUAL USE. IF TH E INTERPRETATION ADVANCED BY STANDING COUNSEL FOR THE REVENUE IS ACC EPTED, WE ARE AFRAID, THE ASSESSEE WOULD NOT BE IN A POSITION TO AVAIL OF THE DEDUCTION UNDER SECTION 35 OF THE ACT TO THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE LEGISLATURE INTENDS TO GIVE TO THE ASSESSEE. 26. IT IS ALSO PERTINENT TO NOTE THAT THE DEDUCTION UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 35 OF THE ACT IS GIVEN ONLY DURING THE P REVIOUS YEAR IN WHICH THE EXPENDITURE IS INCURRED. IF THE ASSESSEE HAS TA KEN SEVERAL YEARS TO CONSTRUCT OR ACQUIRE A PARTICULAR ASSET, THE ASSESS EE WOULD BE DEPRIVED OF THE BENEFIT OF SECTION 35 OF THE ACT BECAUSE HE CAN PUT THE ASSET TO USE ONLY WHEN CONSTRUCTION OF THE ASSET IS COMPLETE D AND IT WOULD NOT BE OPEN TO HIM TO CLAIM DEDUCTION IN RESPECT OF THE EXPENDITURE INCURRED DURING THE EARLIER PREVIOUS YEARS BECAUSE LOOKING TO THE ITA NO.1735/AHD/2019 15 PROVISIONS OF SECTION 35 OF THE ACT, THE ASSESSEE C AN AVAIL OF THE BENEFIT OF DEDUCTION OF THE AMOUNT OF EXPENDITURE INCURRED ONLY DURING THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND NOT FOR THE EARLIER PERIOD UNLESS HIS CASE IS COVERED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF AN EXCEPTION TO SECTION 35( 2)(IA) OF THE ACT. 16. IF WE ANALYSIS THE NATURE OF THE EXPENDITURE NO TED BY THE AO IN THE REPLY OF THE ASSESSEE REPRODUCED ON PAGE NO.5 AND E XTRACTED (SUPRA) THEN IT WOULD INDICATE THAT THESE ARE THE EXPENDITURE WH ICH WERE INCURRED BY THE ASSESSEE FOR PREPARING PRO-TYPE OR PREPARING A PRODUCT SPECIFICALLY REQUIRED BY ITS CUSTOMERS. IN OTHER WORDS, IT HAS INCURRED CERTAIN EXPENDITURE FOR DEVELOPMENT ON A MECHANISM WHICH CA N HELP IT TO PRODUCE A PRODUCT SPECIFICALLY DEMANDED BY A SPECIF IC CUSTOMER, AND ACCORDING TO THE NEEDS OF THAT CUSTOMER. IF ANY AM OUNT IS BEING INCURRED TOWARDS R&D FOR THE PURPOSE OF BUSINESS FOR MANUFAC TURING CUSTOMIZED PRODUCTS, THEN THAT CAN BE CONSIDERED UNDER R&D WHI CH CAN BE ALLOWED UNDER SECTION 35(1)(IV) R.W.S. 35(2)(IA) OF THE ACT . IN VIEW OF THE ABOVE DISCUSSION, WE ARE OF THE VIEW THAT THE CLAIM OF TH E ASSESSEE DESERVES TO BE ALLOWED, AND DELETE DISALLOWANCE OF RS.10,42,41, 078/-. 17. GROUND NO.7 IS GENERAL GROUND, WHICH DOES NOT C ALL FOR RECORDING OF ANY FINDING, HENCE REJECTED. 18. IN GROUND NO.5 THE ASSESSEE HAS CHALLENGED LEVY OF INTEREST UNDER SECTION 234A, 234B AND 234C OF THE ACT. IT IS CONS EQUENTIAL IN NATURE, AND HENCE REJECTED. 19. IN GROUND NO.6, THE ASSESSEE HAS CHALLENGED INI TIATION OF PENALTY UNDER SECTION 271(1)(C) OF THE ACT. IT IS PREMATUR E AT THIS STAGE. ASSESSEE WILL GET A FRESH OPPORTUNITY TO ADJUDICATE WHETHER PENALTY IS TO ITA NO.1735/AHD/2019 16 BE IMPOSED UPON THE ASSESSEE OR NOT. HENCE, THIS G ROUND OF APPEAL IS ALSO REJECTED. 20. IN THE RESULT, APPEAL OF THE ASSESSEE IS PARTLY ALLOWED. ORDER PRONOUNCED IN THE COURT ON 5 TH OCTOBER, 2020 AT AHMEDABAD. S D / - (AMARJIT SINGH) ACCOUNTANT MEMBER S D / - (RAJPAL YADAV) VICE-PRESIDENT