Deputy Commissioner of Income-tax, V. The Osmanabad Distrcit Central Co.op. Bank ltd., Osmanabad

ITA 249/PUN/2014

• Counselvise Citation: 24924514 RSA 2014
• Duration Of Justice: 11 month(s) 22 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 30-01-2015
• Appeal Filed By: Department
• Order Result: Dismissed
• Bench Allotted: A
• Assessment Year: 2010-2011
• Appeal Filed On: 07-02-2014
• Result in Favour of: Assessee
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Assessee Lawyers: N O N E
• Keywords: Bad and doubtful debts
• Section: 143(3); 145

Judgement Text

IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL PUNE BENCH A , PUNE BEFORE: SHRI R.S. PADVEKAR, JUDICIAL MEMBER AND SHRI R.K. PANDA, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER ITA NO. 24 9 / P N/ 20 1 4 ASSESSMENT YEAR : 20 10 - 11 DCIT, CIRCLE 3, NANDED VS. THE O SM ANABAD DISTRICT CENTRAL CO - OPERATIVE BANK LTD., HEAD OFFICE, MAIN ROAD, O SMANABAD, DISTT. - OSMANABAD (APPELLANT) (RESPONDENT) PAN NO. AAAAT2792B APPELLANT BY: SHRI RAJESH DAMOR RESPONDENT BY: N O N E DATE OF HEARING : 2 1 - 01 - 2015 DATE OF PRO NOUNCEMENT : 30 - 0 1 - 201 5 ORDER PER R.S . PADVEKAR , JM : - THIS APPEAL IS FILED BY THE REVENUE CHALLENGING THE IMPUGNED ORDERS OF THE LD. CIT(A) , AURANGABAD DATED 25 - 11 - 2013 FOR THE A.Y. 20 10 - 11. THE REVENUE HAS TAKEN THE MULTIPLE GROUNDS BUT THE SOLIT ARY ISSUE BEFORE US IS WHETHER THE LD. CIT(A) JUSTIFIED IN DELETING THE ADDITION MADE BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER ON ACCOUNT OF STICKY ADVANCES/NPA OF RS.1 5,61,71,816/ - . 2. THE FACTS PERTAINING TO THE ISSUE ARE AS UNDER. THE ASSESSEE IS A CO - OPERATIVE SOC IETY ENGAGED IN THE BUSINESS OF BANK ING . IN THIS CASE ASSESSMENT U/S. 143(3) OF THE ACT WAS COMPLETED ON 07 - 03 - 2011. DURING THE COURSE OF ASSESSMENT PROCEEDINGS , IT WAS NOTICED BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER THAT THE ASSESSEE HAS NOT OFFERED TO TAX AN ACCRUED INTEREST ON NPA OF RS.15,61,71,816/ - . IN THE OPINION OF THE ASSESSING OFFICER THE A SSESSEE IS FOLLOWING MERCANTILE SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTING AND 2 ITA NO. 24 9 /PN/2014, THE O SMANABAD DISTRICT CENTRAL CO - OPERATIVE BANK LTD., OSMANABAD HENCE THE ASSESSEE SHOULD HAVE OFFERED THE SAME. NOW, THE REVENUE IS IN APPEAL BEFORE US. WE HAVE HEARD THE LD. D R. NONE WAS PRESENT FOR THE ASSESSEE. 3. WE HAVE HEARD THE PARTIES . WE FIND THAT THE ISSUE STANDS SQUARELY COVERED IN FAVOUR OF THE ASSESSEE BY THE DECISION OF THE ITAT, PUNE IN THE CASE OF DCIT, CIRCLE - 3, NANDED VS. THE OMERGA JANTA SAHAKARI BANK LTD. , OSMANABAD ITA NO. 350/PN/2013 AND CO NO. 61/PN/2013 DATED 31 - 10 - 2013. THE OPERATIVE PART OF DECISION OF THE TRIBUNAL IS AS U NDER: 8. WE HAVE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED THE RIVAL SUBMISSIONS. IN SO FAR AS THE APPLICABILITY OF SECTION 43D OF THE ACT TO THE ASS ESSEE IS CONCERNED, THERE IS A CONVERGENCE OF OPINION BETWEEN THE ASSESSEE AND THE REVENUE TO THE EFFECT THAT THE SAME IS NOT APPLICABLE TO THE ASSESSEE. OSTENSIBLY, ASSESSEE IS A CO - OPERATIVE BANK CARRYING ON BANKING BUSINESS IN TERMS OF A LICENSE GRANTE D BY RBI AND IS NOT A SCHEDULED BANK INCLUDED IN SECOND SCHEDULE OF RBI SO AS TO FALL WITHIN THE SCOPE OF SECTION 43D OF THE ACT. NOTABLY, SECTION 43D OF THE ACT PRESCRIBES THAT INTEREST INCOME ON SUCH CATEGORIES OF BAD AND DOUBTFUL DEBTS AS PRESCRIBED BY THE RBI GUIDELINES SHALL BE CHARGEABLE TO TAX IN THE YEAR IN WHICH SUCH INTEREST INCOME IS CREDITED BY THE ASSESSEE IN THE PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT OR IN THE YEAR OF ACTUAL RECEIPT, WHICHEVER IS EARLIER. SINCE ASSESSEE IS NOT AN ENTITY COVERED WITHIN TH E SCOPE OF SECTION 43D OF THE ACT, THE PRESENT CONTROVERSY CANNOT BE ADJUDICATED IN THE LIGHT OF SECTION 43D OF THE ACT, AND IT IS LIABLE TO BE DECIDED ON GENERAL PRINCIPLES AS TO WHETHER THE IMPUGNED INCOME HAS ACCRUED TO THE ASSESSEE DURING THE YEAR UNDE R CONSIDERATION. 9. IN THIS CONNECTION, WE FIND THAT THE VISAKHAPATNAM BENCH OF THE TRIBUNAL IN THE CASE OF THE DURGA COOPERATIVE URBAN BANK LTD. (SUPRA) HAS CONSIDERED AN IDENTICAL CONTROVERSY. THE ASSESSEE BEFORE THE VISAKHAPATNAM BENCH WAS A CO - OPERA TIVE BANK OPERATING UNDER A LICENSE ISSUED BY RBI BUT WAS NOT A SCHEDULED BANK SO AS TO FALL WITHIN THE SCOPE OF SECTION 43D OF THE ACT. THE ISSUE RELATED TO TAXABILITY OF INTEREST INCOME RELATING TO NPAS, WHICH AS PER THE REVENUE WAS LIABLE TO BE TAXED ON ACCRUAL BASIS IN LINE WITH MERCANTILE SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTING ADOPTED BY THE ASSESSEE THEREIN. THE ASSESSEE, ON THE OTHER HAND, CONTENDED THAT HAVING 3 ITA NO. 24 9 /PN/2014, THE O SMANABAD DISTRICT CENTRAL CO - OPERATIVE BANK LTD., OSMANABAD REGARD TO THE GUIDELINES ISSUED BY RBI REGARDING ACCOUNTING OF INTEREST ON NPAS, NO INTEREST INCOME ACCR UED IN RESPECT OF NPAS AND THAT THE SAME WAS TO BE TAXED ONLY ON RECEIPT BASIS. THE TRIBUNAL OBSERVED THAT THE QUESTION OF TAXABILITY OF INTEREST ON NPAS CLASSIFIED BY RBI, WAS CONSIDERED BY THE HONBLE DELHI HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF M/S VASISTH CHAY VYA PAR LTD. (SUPRA) WHEREIN AFTER CONSIDERING THE DECISION OF THE HONBLE SUPREME COURT IN THE CASE OF SOUTHERN TECHNOLOGIES LTD. (SUPRA) IT WAS HELD THAT INTEREST INCOME RELATABLE TO NPAS WAS NOT INCLUDIBLE IN TOTAL INCOME ON ACCRUAL BASIS SINCE THE SAME DID NOT ACCRUE TO THE ASSESSEE. THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION BY THE VISAKHAPATNAM BENCH OF THE TRIBUNAL IN THE CASE OF THE DURGA COOPERATIVE URBAN BANK LTD. (SUPRA) IS WORTHY OF NOTICE : - 8. WE HAVE HEARD THE RIVAL CONTENTIONS AND CAREFULLY PERUSED THE RECORD. THE QUESTION OF TAXABILITY OF INTEREST ON NPAS HAS BEEN CONSIDERED BY THE HON'BLE DELHI HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF M/S VASISTH CHAY VYAPAR LTD (SUPRA); WHEREIN THE HON'BLE DELHI HIGH COURT TOOK INTO ACCOUNT THE DECISION RENDERED BY THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT IN THE CASE OF SOUTHERN TECHNOLOGIES LTD (SUPRA). IN THE CASE OF M/S VASISTH CHAY VYAPAR LTD, THE ASSESSEE THEREIN WAS A NON BANKING FINANCIAL COMPANY AND IT WAS ALSO BOUND BY THE PRUDENTIAL NORMS DIRECTIONS ISSUED BY THE RESERVE BANK OF INDIA FOR INCOM E RECOGNITION AND ASSET CLASSIFICATION. THE ASSESSEE DID NOT INCLUDE THE INTEREST INCOME RELATABLE TO NPA ASSETS IN ITS TOTAL INCOME. THE ASSESSING OFFICER, HOWEVER, ADDED THE SAID INTEREST AS THE INCOME OF THE ASSESSEE BY HOLDING THAT IT HAD ACCRUED TO THE ASSESSEE EVEN IT WAS NOT REALIZED AS THE ASSESSEE WAS FOLLOWING MERCANTILE SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTING. THE LEARNED CIT (A) AFFIRMED THE ORDER OF THE ASSESSING OFFICER. HOWEVER, THE ITAT DELETED THE AFORESAID INCOME. HENCE THE REVENUE PREFERRED APPEAL BEFORE THE HON'BLE DELHI HIGH COURT. 8.1 AFTER HEARING THE RIVAL SUBMISSIONS, THE HON'BLE DELHI HIGH COURT TOOK NOTE OF SEC.45Q OF RESERVE BANK OF INDIA ACT WHICH READS AS UNDER: CHAPTER IIIB TO OVERRIDE OTHER LAWS. 45Q. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS CHAPTER SHALL H AVE EFFECT NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING INCONSISTENT THEREWITH 4 ITA NO. 24 9 /PN/2014, THE O SMANABAD DISTRICT CENTRAL CO - OPERATIVE BANK LTD., OSMANABAD CONTAINED IN ANY OTHER LAW FOR THE TIME BEING IN FORCE OR ANY INSTRUMENT HAVING EFFECT BY VIRTUE OF ANY SUCH LAW. THE HIGH COURT TOOK NOTE OF THE FACT THAT THE PROVISION OF 45Q OF RESERVE BANK OF INDIA HAS OVERRIDING EFFECT OVER ANY OTHER LAW. THEN THE HON'BLE HIGH COURT ALSO CONSIDERED ACCOUNTING STANDARD AS - 9 ON REVENUE RECOGNITION AND ALSO EXTRACTED FOLLOWING RELEVANT PORTION FROM THE SAID ACCOUNTING STANDARD: 9. EFFECT OF UNCERTAINTIES ON REVENUE RECOGNITION 9.1 RECOGNITION OF REVENUE REQUIRES THAT REVENUE IS A MEASURABLE AND THAT AT THE TIME OF SALE OR THE RENDERING OF THE SERVICE, IT WOULD NOT BE UNREASONABLE TO EXPECT ULTIMATE COLLECTION. 9.2 WHERE THE ABILITY TO ASSESS THE ULTIMATE C OLLECTION WITH REASONABLE CERTAINTY IS LACKING AT THE TIME OF RAISING ANY CLAIM, E.G., FOR ESCALATION OF PRICE, EXPORT INCENTIVES, INTEREST ETC., REVENUE RECOGNITION IS POSTPONED TO THE EXTENT OF UNCERTAINTY INVOLVED. IN SUCH CASES, IT MAY BE APPROPRIATE T O RECOGNIZE REVENUE ONLY WHEN IT IS REASONABLY CERTAIN THAT THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION WILL BE MADE. WHERE THERE IS NO UNCERTAINTY AS TO ULTIMATE COLLECTION, REVENUE IS RECOGNIZED AT THE TIME OF SALE OR RENDERING OF SERVICE EVEN THOUGH PAYMENTS ARE MADE BY IN STALMENTS. 9.3 WHEN THE UNCERTAINTY RELATING TO COLLECTABILITY ARISES SUBSEQUENT TO THE TIME OF SALE OR THE RENDERING OF THE SERVICE, IT IS MORE APPROPRIATE TO MAKE A SEPARATE PROVISION TO REFLECT THE UNCERTAINTY RATHER THAN TO ADJUST THE AMOUNT OF REVENU E ORIGINALLY RECORDED. 9.4 AN ESSENTIAL CRITERION FOR THE RECOGNITION OF REVENUE IS THAT THE CONSIDERATION RECEIVABLE FOR THE SALE OF GOODS, THE RENDERING OF SERVICES OR FROM THE USE OF OTHERS OF ENTERPRISE RESOURCES IS REASONABLY DETERMINABLE. WHEN SUCH CONSIDERATION IS NOT DETERMINABLE WITHIN REASONABLE LIMITS, THE RECOGNITION OF REVENUE IS POSTPONED. 5 ITA NO. 24 9 /PN/2014, THE O SMANABAD DISTRICT CENTRAL CO - OPERATIVE BANK LTD., OSMANABAD 9.5 WHEN RECOGNITION OF REVENUE IS POSTPONED DUE TO THE EFFECT OF UNCERTAINTIES, IT IS CONSIDERED AS REVENUE OF THE PERIOD IN WHICH IT IS PROPERLY RECOGNI ZED. 8.2 THE DELHI HIGH COURT ALSO CONSIDERED THE DECISION RENDERED IN THE FOLLOWING CASES: I) CIT VS. ELGI FINANCE LTD., 293 ITR 357 (MAD) II) CIT VS. KKM INVESTMENTS (CAL) SLP DISMISSED BY SUPREME COURT (310 ITR 4) III) CIT VS. MOTOR CREDIT CO (P) LTD., 127 ITR 572 (MAD) IV) UCO BANK VS. CIT 237 ITR 889 (SC) V) CIT VS. SHOORJI VALLABHDAS & CO 46 ITR 144 (SC) VI) GODHRA ELECTRICITY CO. LTD., VS.CIT 225 ITR 746 VII) CIT VS. GOYAL M G GASES (P) LTD., 303 ITR 159 (DEL) VIII) CIT VS. EICHER LTD., I TA NO.431/2009 DATED 15.7.2009 (DEL) 8.3 AFTER CONSIDERING THE ACCOUNTING STANDARD 9 AND THE VARIOUS CASE LAW LISTED ABOVE, THE HON'BLE DELHI HIGH COURT HELD THAT THE INTEREST ON NPA ADVANCE CANNOT BE TREATED AS ACCRUED TO THE ASSESSEE. 8.4 BEFORE THE DELHI HIGH COURT, THE REVENUE TOOK SUPPORT OF THE DECISION OF THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT IN THE CASE OF SOUTHERN TECHNOLOGIES LTD (SUPRA). THE DELHI HIGH COURT CONSIDERED THE SAID DECISION OF HON'BLE APEX COURT AND EXPLAINED THE SAME AS UNDER: WE HAVE ALR EADY HELD THAT EVEN UNDER THE INCOME TAX ACT, INTEREST INCOME HAD NOT ACCRUED. MOREOVER, THIS SUBMISSION OF MR. SABHARWAL IS BASED ENTIRELY ON THE JUDGMENT OF THE SUPREME COURT IN THE CASE OF SOUTHERN TECHNOLOGY (SUPRA). NO DOUBT, IN FIRST BLUSH, READING O F THE JUDGMENT GIVES AN INDICATION THAT THE COURT HAS HELD THAT RESERVE BANK OF INDIA ACT DOES NOT OVERRIDE THE PROVISIONS OF THE INCOME TAX ACT. HOWEVER, WHEN WE EXAMINE THE ISSUE INVOLVED THEREIN MINUTELY AND DEEPLY IN THE CONTEXT IN WHICH THAT HAD ARISE N AND CERTAIN OBSERVATIONS OF THE APEX COURT CONTAINED IN THAT VERY JUDGMENT, WE FIND THAT THE PROPOSITION ADVANCED 6 ITA NO. 24 9 /PN/2014, THE O SMANABAD DISTRICT CENTRAL CO - OPERATIVE BANK LTD., OSMANABAD BY MR.SABHARWAL MAY NOT BE ENTIRELY CORRECT. IN THE CASE BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT, THE ASSESSEE A NBFC DEBITED RS.81,68,516 AS PROVISION AGA INST NPA IN THE PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT, WHICH WAS CLAIMED AS DEDUCTION IN TERMS OF SECTION 36(1) (VII) OF THE ACT. THE ASSESSING OFFICER DID NOT ALLOW THE DEDUCTION CLAIMED AS AFORESAID ON THE GROUND THAT THE PROVISION OF NPA WAS NOT IN THE NATURE OF EXPE NDITURE OR LOSS BUT MORE IN THE NATURE OF A RESERVE, AND THUS NOT DEDUCTIBLE UNDER SECTION 36(I)(VII) OF THE ACT. THE ASSESSING OFFICER, HOWEVER, DID NOT BRING TO TAX RS.20,34,605/ - AS INCOME (BEING INCOME ACCRUED UNDER THE MERCANTILE SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTING) . THE DISPUTE BEFORE THE APEX COURT CENTERED AROUND DEDUCTIBILITY OF PROVISION FOR NPA. AFTER ANALYZING THE PROVISIONS OF THE RESERVE BANK OF INDIA ACT, THEIR LORDSHIPS OF THE APEX COURT OBSERVED THAT IN SO FAR AS THE PERMISSIBLE DEDUCTIONS OR EXCLUSIONS U NDER THE ACT ARE CONCERNED, THE SAME ARE ADMISSIBLE ONLY IF SUCH DEDUCTIONS/EXCLUSIONS SATISFY THE RELEVANT CONDITIONS STIPULATED THEREFORE UNDER THE ACT. TO THAT EXTENT, IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THE PRUDENTIAL NORMS DO NOT OVERRIDE THE PROVISIONS OF THE ACT. HOWEVER, THE APEX COURT MADE A DISTINCTION WITH REGARD TO INCOME RECOGNITION AND HELD THAT INCOME HAD TO BE RECOGNIZED IN TERMS OF THE PRUDENTIAL NORMS, EVEN THOUGH THE SAME DEVIATED FROM MERCANTILE SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTING AND/OR SECTION 45 (SIC. 145) OF TH E INCOME TAX ACT. IT CAN BE SAID, THEREFORE, THAT THE APEX COURT APPROVED THE REAL INCOME THEORY WHICH IS ENGRAINED IN THE PRUDENTIAL NORMS FOR RECOGNITION OF REVENUE BY NBFC. 9. THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT IN THE CASE OF M/S SOUTHERN TECHNOLOGIES LTD (S UPRA) DISSECTED THE MATTER INTO TWO PARTS VIZ., A) INCOME RECOGNITION AND B) PERMISSIBLE DEDUCTION/EXCLUSIONS UNDER THE INCOME TAX ACT. IN SO FAR AS INCOME RECOGNITION IS CONCERNED, THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT HELD THAT SECTION 145 OF THE INCOME TAX ACT HAS NO ROLE TO PLAY AND THE ASSESSING OFFICER HAS TO FOLLOW RESERVE BANK OF INDIA DIRECTIONS 1998, SINCE BY VIRTUE OF 45Q OF THE RESERVE BANK OF INDIA ACT, AN OVERRIDING EFFECT IS GIVEN TO THE DIRECTIONS OF RESERVE BANK OF INDIA VIS - - VIS INCOME 7 ITA NO. 24 9 /PN/2014, THE O SMANABAD DISTRICT CENTRAL CO - OPERATIVE BANK LTD., OSMANABAD RECOGNITION PR INCIPLES IN THE COMPANIES ACT 1956. IN SO FAR AS COMPUTATION OF INCOME UNDER THE INCOME TAX ACT IS CONCERNED, (WHICH INVOLVES DEDUCTION OF PERMISSIBLE DEDUCTIONS AND EXCLUSIONS) THE ADMISSIBILITY OF SUCH DEDUCTIONS SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE PROVISIONS OF TH E INCOME TAX ACT. THE RELEVANT OBSERVATIONS OF THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT ARE EXTRACTED BELOW: APPLICABILITY OF SECTION 145 40. AT THE OUTSET, WE MAY STATE THAT IN ESSENCE RBI DIRECTIONS 1998 ARE PRUDENTIAL/PROVISIONING NORMS ISSUED BY RBI UNDER CHAPTER IIIB OF THE RBI ACT, 1934. THESE NORMS DEAL ESSENTIALLY WITH INCOME RECOGNITION. THEY FORCE THE NBFCS TO DISCLOSE THE AMOUNT OF NPA IN THEIR FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS. THEY FORCE THE NBFCS TO REFLECT TRUE AND CORRECT PROFITS. BY VIRTUE OF SECTION 45Q, AN OVERRI DING EFFECT IS GIVEN TO THE DIRECTIONS 1998 VIS - - VIS INCOME RECOGNITION PRINCIPLES IN THE COMPANIES ACT, 1956. THESE DIRECTIONS CONSTITUTE A CODE BY ITSELF. HOWEVER, THESE DIRECTIONS 1998 AND THE IT ACT OPERATE IN DIFFERENT AREAS. THESE DIRECTIONS 1998 HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH COMPUTATION OF TAXABLE INCOME. THESE DIRECTIONS CANNOT OVERRULE THE PERMISSIBLE DEDUCTIONS OR THEIR EXCLUSION UNDER THE IT ACT. THE INCONSISTENCY BETWEEN THESE DIRECTIONS AND COMPANIES ACT IS ONLY IN THE MATTER OF INCOME RECOGNI TION AND PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. THE ACCOUNTING POLICIES ADOPTED BY AN NBFC CANNOT DETERMINE THE TAXABLE INCOME. IT IS WELL SETTLED THAT THE ACCOUNTING POLICIES FOLLOWED BY A COMPANY CAN BE CHANGED UNLESS THE AO COMES TO THE CONCLUSION THAT S UCH CHANGE WOULD RESULT IN UNDERSTATEMENT OF PROFITS. HOWEVER, HERE IS THE CASE WHERE THE AO HAS TO FOLLOW THE RESERVE BANK OF INDIA DIRECTIONS 1998 IN VIEW OF SECTION 45Q OF THE RESERVE BANK OF INDIA ACT. HENCE, AS FAR AS INCOME RECOGNITION IS CONCERNED, SECTION 145 OF THE IT ACT HAS NO ROLE TO PLAY IN THE PRESENT DISPUTE. 10. TURNING TO THE FACTS OF THE CASE BEFORE US, THE ASSESSEE HEREIN IS A COOPERATIVE BANK AND IT IS NOT IN DISPUTE THAT IT IS 8 ITA NO. 24 9 /PN/2014, THE O SMANABAD DISTRICT CENTRAL CO - OPERATIVE BANK LTD., OSMANABAD ALSO GOVERNED BY THE RESERVE BANK OF INDIA. HENCE THE DIRE CTIONS WITH REGARD TO THE PRUDENTIAL NORMS ISSUED BY THE RESERVE BANK OF INDIA ARE EQUALLY APPLICABLE TO THE ASSESSEE AS IT IS APPLICABLE TO THE COMPANIES REGISTERED UNDER THE COMPANIES ACT. THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT HAS HELD IN THE CASE OF SOUTHERN TECHNO LOGIES LTD (SUPRA), THAT THE PROVISION OF 45Q OF RESERVE BANK OF INDIA ACT HAS AN OVERRIDING EFFECT VIS - - VIS INCOME RECOGNITION PRINCIPLE UNDER THE COMPANIES ACT. HENCE SEC.45 Q OF THE RBI ACT SHALL HAVE OVERRIDING EFFECT OVER THE INCOME RECOGNITION PRINC IPLE FOLLOWED BY COOPERATIVE BANKS ALSO. HENCE THE ASSESSING OFFICER HAS TO FOLLOW THE RESERVE BANK OF INDIA DIRECTIONS 1998, AS HELD BY THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT. 10.1 BASED ON THE PRUDENTIAL NORMS, THE ASSESSEE HEREIN DID NOT ADMIT THE INTEREST RELATABL E TO NPA ADVANCES IN ITS TOTAL INCOME. THE HON'BLE DELHI HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF VASISTH CHAY VYAPAR LTD (SUPRA) HAS HELD THAT THE INTEREST ON NPA ASSETS CANNOT BE SAID TO HAVE ACCRUED TO THE ASSESSEE. IN THIS REGARD, THE FOLLOWING OBSERVATIONS OF HON'BL E DELHI HIGH COURT IN THE ABOVE CITED CASE ARE RELEVANT: WHAT TO TALK OF INTEREST, EVEN THE PRINCIPLE AMOUNT ITSELF HAD BECOME DOUBTFUL TO RECOVER. IN THIS SCENARIO IT WAS LEGITIMATE MOVE TO INFER THAT INTEREST INCOME THEREUPON HAS NOT ACCRUED. THE SA ID DECISION OF THE HON'BLE DELHI HIGH COURT IS EQUALLY APPLICABLE TO THE ISSUE IN OUR HANDS. ACCORDINGLY WE DO NOT FIND ANY INFIRMITY WITH THE DECISION OF THE LEARNED CIT (A) IN HOLDING THAT THE INTEREST INCOME RELATABLE ON NPA ADVANCES DID NOT ACCRUE TO T HE ASSESSEE. ACCORDINGLY WE UPHOLD HIS ORDER. 10. FOLLOWING THE AFORESAID DISCUSSION, WHICH HAS BEEN RENDERED ON AN IDENTICAL ISSUE UNDER SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES, WE FIND NO REASONS TO INTERFERE WITH THE ULTIMATE CONCLUSION OF THE CIT(A) IN DELETING THE I MPUGNED ADDITION RELATING TO INTEREST INCOME IN RESPECT OF NPAS. 11. SO, HOWEVER, THE LEARNED DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVE HAS SUBMITTED THAT THE HONBLE MADRAS HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF CIT VS. 9 ITA NO. 24 9 /PN/2014, THE O SMANABAD DISTRICT CENTRAL CO - OPERATIVE BANK LTD., OSMANABAD SAKTHI FINANCE LTD., (2013) 31 TAXMANN.COM 305 (MADRAS) HAS DIFFERED WITH THE JUDGEMENT OF THE HONBLE DELHI HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF M/S VASISTH CHAY VYAPAR LTD. (SUPRA) ON A SIMILAR ISSUE, I.E. RELATING TO INTEREST INCOME ON NPAS. THE LEARNED DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVE FURTHER POINTED OUT THAT THE HONBLE MADR AS HIGH COURT FOLLOWED THE DECISION OF THE HONBLE SUPREME COURT IN THE CASE OF SOUTHERN TECHNOLOGIES LTD. (SUPRA) IN HOLDING THAT INTEREST ON NPAS WAS ASSESSABLE TO TAX ON ACCRUAL BASIS. WE HAVE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED THE SUBMISSIONS PUT - FORTH BY THE LEARN ED DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVE BASED ON THE JUDGEMENT OF THE HONBLE MADRAS HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF SAKTHI FINANCE LTD. (SUPRA). THE CONTROVERSY BEFORE THE HONBLE MADRAS HIGH COURT RELATED TO NON - RECOGNITION OF INTEREST INCOME ON NPAS BY THE ASSESSEE F OLLOWING THE RBI GUIDELINES. THE HONBLE MADRAS HIGH COURT TOOK THE VIEW THAT THE JUDGEMENT OF THE HONBLE SUPREME COURT IN THE CASE OF SOUTHERN TECHNOLOGIES LTD. (SUPRA) ALSO APPLIED TO THE INCOME RECOGNITION NORMS PROVIDED BY RBI AND THEREFORE IT HELD T HE INTEREST INCOME ON NPAS IS LIABLE TO BE TAXED ON ACCRUAL BASIS AND NOT IN TERMS OF RBIS GUIDELINES. BUT THE HONBLE DELHI HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF M/S VASISTH CHAY VYAPAR LTD. (SUPRA) HAS TAKEN A VIEW THAT SOUTHERN TECHNOLOGIES LTD. (SUPRA) CASE DID NOT APPLY TO THE INCOME RECOGNITION NORMS PRESCRIBED BY RBI. OSTENSIBLY, THERE IS DIVERGENCE OF OPINION BETWEEN THE HONBLE DELHI HIGH COURT AND THE HONBLE MADRAS HIGH COURT AS NOTED BY THE HONBLE MADRAS HIGH COURT IN ITS ORDER. 12. IN SO FAR AS, PRES ENT CASE IS CONCERNED THERE IS NO JUDGMENT OF THE JURISDICTIONAL HIGH COURT. WE ARE FACED WITH TWO CONTRARY JUDGMENTS OF THE NON - JURISDICTIONAL HIGH COURT. IN SUCH A SITUATION, WE ARE INCLINED TO PREFER A VIEW WHICH IS FAVOURABLE OF THE ASSESSEE FOLLOWIN G THE JUDGEMENT OF THE HONBLE SUPREME COURT IN THE CASE OF CIT VS. VEGETABLE PRODUCTS LTD. (1973) 88 ITR 192 (SC). 13. THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE AFORESAID DISCUSSION, WE ARE INCLINED TO FOLLOW THE DECISION OF OUR CO - ORDINATE BENCH IN THE CASE OF THE DU RGA COOPERATIVE URBAN BANK LTD. (SUPRA) AND ACCORDINGLY THE ORDER OF THE CIT(A) IS LIABLE TO THE AFFIRMED. WE HOLD SO. 14. IN THE RESULT, THE APPEAL OF THE REVENUE IS DISMISSED. 10 ITA NO. 24 9 /PN/2014, THE O SMANABAD DISTRICT CENTRAL CO - OPERATIVE BANK LTD., OSMANABAD 4 . IN OUR OPINION THE ISSUE STANDS SQUARELY IN FAVOUR OF THE ASSESSEE BY THE DECISION IN THE CASE OF THE OMERGA JANTA SAHAKARI BANK LTD., OSMANABAD (SUPRA) AND NO INTERFERENCE IS CALLED FOR IN THE ORDER OF THE LD. CIT(A). ACCORDINGLY, GROUNDS TAKEN BY THE REVENUE ARE DISMISSED. 5 . IN THE RESULT, THE REVENUES APPEAL IS DISMIS SED. PRONOUNCED IN THE OPEN COURT ON 30 - 0 1 - 20 1 5 SD/ - SD/ - ( R.K. PANDA ) ( R.S. PADVEKAR ) ACCOUNTANT MEMBER JUDICIAL MEMBER PUNE , DATED : 30 TH JANUARY, 2015 RK/PS COPY TO 1 ASSESSEE 2 DEPARTMENT 3 TH E CIT(A) , AURANGABAD 4 THE CIT, AURANGABAD 5 THE DR, ITAT, A BENCH, PUNE . 6 GUARD FILE. //TRUE COPY// BY ORDER ASSISTANT REGISTRAR, INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL , PUNE