DCIT, New Delhi V. M/s. ONGC Videsh Ltd., New Delhi

ITA 3208/DEL/2014

• Counselvise Citation: [2019] 116 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 9539 (ITAT-DELHI)
• Duration Of Justice: 5 year(s) 1 month(s) 8 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 01-07-2019
• Appeal Filed By: Department
• Order Result: Dismissed
• Bench Allotted: E
• Next Hearing Date: 08-06-2017
• Assessment Year: 2006-2007
• Appeal Filed On: 23-05-2014
• Result in Favour of: Assessee
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Department Lawyers: PRAMITA M BISWAS
• Assessee Lawyers: C S AGGARWAL SR SHRI R P MALL
• Keywords: Depreciation; Business expenditure; Cost of acquisition; Wholly owned subsidiary; Revenue expenditure; Capital expenditure
• Section: 37(1); 201; 64; 37

Judgement Text

IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL DELHI BENCH : E : NEW DELHI BEFORE SHRI R.K. PANDA, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER AND SHRI KULDIP SINGH, JUDICIAL MEMBER ITA NO.3150/DEL/2014 ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2006-07 ONGC VIDESH LTD., 601, 6 TH FLOOR, KAILASH BUILDING, 26, KASTURBA GANDHI MARG, NEW DELHI. PAN: AAACO1230F VS ADDL. CIT, RANGE-13, NEW DELHI. ITA NO.3208/DEL/2014 ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2006-07 DCIT, CIRCLE 13(1), NEW DELHI VS ONGC VIDESH LTD., 601, 6 TH FLOOR, KAILASH BUILDING, 26, KASTURBA GANDHI MARG, NEW DELHI. PAN: AAACO1230F (APPELLANT) (RESPONDENT) ASSESSEE BY : SHRI C.S. AGGARWAL, SR. ADVOCAT E, SHRI R.P. MALL, ADVOCATE & SHRI MADHUR AGGARWAL, ADVOCATE REVENUE BY : MS PRAMITA M. BISWAS, CIT, DR DATE OF HEARING : 02.04.2019 DATE OF PRONOUNCEMENT : 01.07.2019 ORDER PER R.K. PANDA, AM: ITA NO.3150/DEL/2014 FILED BY THE ASSESSEE AND ITA NO.3208/DEL/2014 FILED BY THE REVENUE ARE CROSS APPEALS AND ARE DIRECTED A GAINST THE ORDER DATED 24 TH FEBRUARY, 2014 OF THE CIT(A)-16, DELHI, RELATING TO ASSESSMENT YEARS 2006-07. FOR ITA NOS.3150 & 3208/DEL/2018 2 THE SAKE OF CONVENIENCE, THESE WERE HEARD TOGETHER AND ARE BEING DISPOSED OF BY THIS COMMON ORDER. 2. GROUND OF APPEAL NO.(I) BY THE ASSESSEE AND GROU NDS OF APPEAL NO.1 AND 2 BY THE REVENUE ARE AS UNDER:- GROUND NO.(I) BY THE ASSESSEE (I) NOT ALLOWING DEDUCTION UNDER SECTION 37 OF THE ACT IN RESPECT OF ACQUISITION COST OF PARTICIPATION INTEREST IN OIL BLOCKS THAT THE LD. CIT(A) ERRED IN LAW AND ON FACTS OF TH E CASE IN NOT ALLOWING DEDUCTION OF 1NR 982.61 MILLION BEING THE ACQUISITI ON COST PAID DURING THE YEAR FOR ACQUIRING PARTICIPATING INTEREST IN OIL BL OCKS UNDER SECTION 37 OF THE ACT. LD. CIT(A) HAS FAILED TO APPRECIATE THAT THE COST O F ACQUIRING PARTICIPATING INTEREST HAS BEEN INCURRED IN THE NORMAL COURSE OF ITS BUSINESS AND IS WHOLLY AND EXCLUSIVELY FOR ITS BUSINESS AND HENCE ALLOWABL E AS DEDUCTION UNDER SECTION 37 OF THE ACT. GROUND NOS.1 & 2 BY THE REVENUE 1. THE LD. CIT(A) HAS ERRED IN LAW AND ON FACTS BY NOT CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT IN THE AY 2002-03 THE ITAT HAS ERRED IN G RANTING RELIEF TO THE ASSESSEE BY WRONGLY INVOKING PROVISIONS OF SECTION 32(1 )(II) OF THE ACT. 2. THE LD CIT(A) HAS ERRED IN LAW AND ON FACTS BY I GNORING THE FACT THAT TO ACQUIRE A STAKE IN ANY KIND OF BUSINESS WOULD AM OUNT TO ACQUIRING AN INTANGIBLE ASSET AS THE NATURE OF THE BUSINESS OR C OMMERCIAL RIGHT WHICH IS BEING COVERED IN THE SECTION UNDER DISCUSSION, IS O F A NARROWER SCOPE THAN WHAT HAS BEEN ENVISAGED AND ALLOWED BY THE ITAT. 3. FACTS OF THE CASE, IN BRIEF, ARE THAT THE ASSESS EE IS A COMPANY AND IS A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF M/S ONGC AND IS ENGAGED IN THE BUSINESS OF OVERSEAS EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION OF HYDROCARBON AND OIL A ND GAS THROUGH ACQUIRING PARTICIPATING INTEREST IN PRODUCTION SHARING CONTRA CTS TO SUPPLEMENT THE RESERVES OF ITA NOS.3150 & 3208/DEL/2018 3 THE PARENT COMPANY AND TO AUGMENT THE NATIONAL ENER GY SECURITY OF INDIA. IT FILED ITS RETURN OF INCOME ON 29.11.2006 DECLARING TOTAL INCO ME OF RS.6,35,90,39,360/-. DURING THE COURSE OF ASSESSMENT PROCEEDINGS, THE AS SESSING OFFICER NOTED THAT THE ASSESSEE HAS CLAIMED DEPRECIATION IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER:- (A) DEPRECIATION HAS BEEN CLAIMED ON ACQUISITION C OST OF PARTICIPATING INTERESTS IN SAKHALIN , MYANMAR BLOCK A-L AND A-3, SUDAN 5A & 5B, IVORY COST, EGYPT, QATAR, LIBYA JOINT VENTURE THE SAME BE ING A RIGHT TO CARRY OIL EXPLORATION BUSINESS IN THE SPECIFIED BLOCK. (B) DEPRECIATION HAS BEEN ALSO CLAIMED ON SUPPORT EQUIPMENTS/ASSETS OF MYANMAR BLOCK A-L & A-3, LIBYA BLOCK NC-188, NC-189 , IRAN, SUDAN 5A & 5B, SYRIA, EGYPT AND QATAR (JOINT VENTURE PROJECTS FOR WHICH COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION HAS NOT YET STARTED.) AS THESE ASSETS HA VE BEEN PUT TO USE FOR EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES. (C) ALTERNATIVELY IT HAS BEEN CLAIMED IN ITS RETUR N OF INCOME THAT IN CASE THE CLAIM FOR DEPRECIATION ON SUCH ACQUISITION COST OF PARTICIPATING INTEREST IS DISALLOWED THE CLAIM FOR ALLOWABILITY OF DEDUCTION FOR THE AMOUNTS PAID FOR ACQUIRING INTEREST U/S 42 OF THE ACT MAY BE ALLOWED . 4. THE ASSESSING OFFICER NOTED THAT AS PER THE RETU RN OF INCOME FILED, THE ASSESSEE COMPANY HAS CLAIMED DEPRECIATION ON ACQUIS ITION COST OF PARTICIPATING INTEREST @ 25% HOLDING THEM AS INTANGIBLE ASSETS A ND THE TOTAL DEPRECIATION CLAIM WAS TO THE EXTENT OF RS.204,57,99,264/- IN THE FOLL OWING MANNER:- 1. SAKHALIN 1 PROJECT 123, 32,70,024/- 2. BLOCK A-1, MYANMAR 61,89,614/- 3. SUDAN 5A PROJECT 43,75,81,441/- 4. SUDAN 5B PROJECT 19,63,04,039/- 5. IVORY COAST PROJECT 46,90,237/- 6. EGYPT PROJECT 79,38,840/- 7. QATAR PROJECT 8,19,37,500/- 8. A-3, MYANMAR PROJECT 4,42,72,569/- ITA NOS.3150 & 3208/DEL/2018 4 9. 81-1 LIBYA PROJECT 3,36,15,000/- 5. HE, THEREFORE, ASKED THE ASSESSEE TO JUSTIFY THE ABOVE CLAIM IN THE RETURN OF INCOME. REJECTING THE VARIOUS EXPLANATIONS GIVEN B Y THE ASSESSEE, THE ASSESSING OFFICER HELD THAT SUCH AN EXPENDITURE INCURRED COUL D NOT BE TREATED TO BE AN EXPENDITURE INCURRED TO ACQUIRE BUSINESS OR COMMERC IAL RIGHTS AS CONTEMPLATED U/S 32(1)(II) OF THE IT ACT. HE ALSO HELD THAT THE NAT URE OF PAYMENT MADE BY THE ASSESSEE IS THAT OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURE ON WHICH THE ASSESSE E IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR ANY DEPRECIATION. THE ASSESSING OFFICER ANALYSED THE P RODUCTION SHARING CONTRACTS AND NOTED THAT THE ANALYSIS OF THE AGREEMENTS SHOWS THA T BY MAKING THE PAYMENT THE ASSESSEE HAS ACQUIRED A RIGHT OF EXPLORATION AND DE VELOPMENT OF HYDROCARBON, OIL AND GAS. HE OBSERVED THAT THE RIGHTS ACQUIRED BY T HE ASSESSEE ARE IN THE NATURE OF BUSINESS OR COMMERCIAL RIGHTS, BUT, NOT IN THE NATU RE OF RIGHTS AS ENVISAGED IN SECTION 32(1)(II). HE ACCORDINGLY DISALLOWED THE C LAIM OF DEPRECIATION. THE ASSESSING OFFICER FURTHER HELD THAT THE EXPENDITURE INCURRED ALSO DOES NOT FALL WITHIN THE AMBIT OF SECTION 42 OF THE ACT ALTHOUGH NO SUCH CLAIM WAS MADE BEFORE HIM. 6. IN APPEAL, THE LD.CIT(A), FOLLOWING THE ORDER OF THE TRIBUNAL IN ASSESSEES OWN CASE FOR ASSESSMENT YEAR 2002-03 HELD THAT THE PARTICIPATING INTEREST IN THE PRODUCTS ARE INTANGIBLE ASSETS ENTITLED TO CLAIM DE PRECIATION U/S 32(1)(II) OF THE ACT. HE ACCORDINGLY ALLOWED THE CLAIM OF DEPRECIATION WH ICH WAS DISALLOWED BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER. ITA NOS.3150 & 3208/DEL/2018 5 7. AGGRIEVED WITH SUCH ORDER OF THE CIT(A), THE ASS ESSEE AS WELL AS THE REVENUE ARE IN APPEAL BY TAKING THE ABOVE GROUNDS. 8. THE LD. COUNSEL FOR THE ASSESSEE FAIRLY CONCEDED THAT THE GROUND TAKEN BY THE ASSESSEE HAS BEEN DECIDED AGAINST THE ASSESSEE BY T HE TRIBUNAL. SO FAR AS THE GROUND TAKEN BY THE REVENUE IS CONCERNED, HE SUBMITTED THA T SINCE THE LD.CIT(A) HAS FOLLOWED THE ORDER OF THE TRIBUNAL IN ASSESSEES OW N CASE FOR ASSESSMENT YEAR 2002- 03 WHICH HAS BEEN FOLLOWED BY THE TRIBUNAL, AGAIN, FOR 2004-05 AND THE APPEAL FILED BY THE REVENUE HAS BEEN DISMISSED BY THE HON'BLE DE LHI HIGH COURT, THEREFORE, THE GROUNDS RAISED BY THE REVENUE SHOULD BE DISMISSED. 9. THE LD. DR, ON THE OTHER HAND, HEAVILY RELIED ON THE ORDER OF THE CIT(A). 10. WE HAVE CONSIDERED THE RIVAL ARGUMENTS MADE BY BOTH THE SIDES, PERUSED THE ORDERS OF THE ASSESSING OFFICER AND CIT(A) AND THE PAPER BOOK FILED ON BEHALF OF THE ASSESSEE. WE FIND THE TRIBUNAL IN ASSESSEES O WN CASE FOR ASSESSMENT YEAR 2002-03 HAS HELD THAT COMMERCIAL RIGHTS OF EXPLORAT ION OF MINERAL OILS AND LICENCES ACQUIRED BY THE ASSESSEE, BEING IN THE NATURE OF IN TANGIBLE ASSETS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR DEPRECIATION @ 25%. WE FIND THE TRIBUNAL AT PARA 1 0 ONWARDS OF THE ORDER HELD AS UNDER:- 10. WE HAVE CONSIDERED THE RIVAL CONTENTIONS OF BO TH THE PARTIES AND PERUSED THE MATERIAL PLACED ON RECORD. FROM THE RECORD, WE FOUND THAT ON 5TH MAY, 1965 ASSESSEE COMPANY WAS REGISTERED AS 'HYDROCARBO NS INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED' TO TAKE OVER THE RIGHTS AND INTEREST OF IT S PARENT COMPANY I.E., THE ESTWHILE OIL AND NATURAL GAS COMMISSION TO FORMALIZ E THE FOLLOWING AGREEMENTS SO AS TO EXPLORE AND DEVELOP OIL FIELDS IN IRAN: ITA NOS.3150 & 3208/DEL/2018 6 A) THE AGREEMENT MADE AND ENTERED INTO ON 26TH AUGU ST, 1964, BY AND BETWEEN A.G.I.P., S.P.A., AN ITALIAN CORPORATION, PHILLIPS PETROLEUM COMPANY, A DELAWARE USA CORPORATION AND OIL AND NATURAL GAS CO MMISSION, READ WITH THE AGREEMENT MADE AND ENTERED ON THE 30TH JULY, 19 64 BY AND BETWEEN THE SAID PHILLIPS PETROLEUM COMPANY AND THE A.G.I.P., S .P.A.; AND B) THE AGREEMENT MADE AND ENTERED INTO ON THE 17THE JANUARY, 1965 BY AND BETWEEN NATIONAL IRANIAN OIL COMPANY OF THE ONE PAR T AND THE SAID A.G.I.P., S.P.A. PHILLIPS PETROLEUM COMPANY AND THE OIL AND N ATURAL GAS COMMISSION OF THE OTHER PART. 11. IN EARLY 1970'S, THE ASSESSEE WAS ALSO ENGAGED IN TO CARRY OUT SERVICES AND PROVIDING TRAINING IN THE INTERNATIONAL ARENA. IN T HE YEAR 1975, THE ASSESSEE COMPANY ALSO PERFORMED A SERVICE CONTRACT IN IRAQ, WHICH DUE TO LACK OF COMMERCIAL VIABILITY, COULD NOT BE PURSUED FURTHER AFTER DRILLING A FEW WELLS IN A FIELD WHICH STILL REMAINS UNDEVELOPED. IN THE YEA R 2000, THIS FIELD WAS AWARDED BY IRAQ GOVERNMENT, TO THE ASSESSEE THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS, FOR DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION OF OIL UNDER NEW AGREEME NTS. THE ASSESSEE ALSO HAD ENTERED ON MAY 19TH, 1988 INTO A PETROLEUM PROD UCTION SHARING CONTRACT WITH VIETNAM OIL AND GAS COMPANY. THE PRODUCTION SH ARING CONTRACT ENTERED ON MAY 19TH, 1988 ENVISAGES MAKING AVAILABLE NECESS ARY MANPOWER, TECHNICAL SKILLS AND OTHER INPUTS REQUIRED FOR THE EXECUTION OF THE PRODUCTION SHARING CONTRACT IN ACCORDANCE WITH SOUND PETROLEUM INDUSTR Y PRACTICES. THE PRODUCTION SHARING CONTRACT PROVIDED FOR EXPLORATIO N AND EXPLOITATION OF PETROLEUM RESOURCES IN THE SPECIFIED AREA IN THE CO NTINENTAL SHELF OF VIETNAM. THE ASSESSEE CARRIED OUT PETROLEUM EXPLORATION IN T HE AREA SINCE 1988 AND HAS THE DISTINCTION OF DISCOVERING THE LARGEST FREE GAS FIELD OF VIETNAM. THE ASSESSEE PARTNERED WITH BRITISH PETROLEUM AND VIETN AM OIL AND GAS COMPANY IN THE BLOCK AND FINALIZED DEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR TH E DEVELOPMENT OF NATURAL GAS DISCOVERY. THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE DISCOVE RY WAS FINALIZED AND NECESSARY COMMERCIAL ARRANGEMENTS ENTERED INTO IN D ECEMBER 2000. THE FIRST PHASE OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF VIETNAM PROJECT (BLOCK 06.1) WAS COMPLETED IN JANUARY, 2003. FROM THE ABOVE, IT IS EVIDENT THAT T HE BUSINESS OF THE ASSESSEE HAD ALREADY COMMENCED WHICH WAS SET UP IN THE YEAR 1965. 12. FROM THE RECORD, WE FOUND THAT HYDROCARBONS IN THEIR NATURAL HABITAT EMBEDDED IN A PARTICULAR TERRITORY ARE THE PROPERTY OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT, JURISDICTION OVER SUCH HYDROCARBONS DOES NOT LIE WI TH ANY PRIVATE PERSON OTHER THAN STATE GOVERNMENT AND A PERSON CANNOT CARRY OUT HYDROCARBONS OPERATIONS UNLESS THE PERSON HAD ENTERED INTO A PRODUCTION SHA RING AGREEMENT WITH THE GOVERNMENT. IN THE INSTANT CASE, BY ENTERING INTO A N AGREEMENT CALLED PCA, THE GOVERNMENT OWNING THE HYDROCARBONS, GRANTED RIGHTS TO THE ASSESSEE COMPANY ALONGWITH LICENSE FOR CARRYING ON HYDROCARBONS OPER ATIONS. THE BUSINESS RIGHTS IN THE LICENSE ARE OWNED BY THE ASSESSEE ENTERING I NTO PCA AND SUCH RIGHT AND LICENSE CAN BE ASSIGNED AND TRANSFERRED TO OTHER PA RTIES SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE PCA AND APPROVAL OF THE GOVERNMEN T. THE ASSESSEE BY VIRTUE ITA NOS.3150 & 3208/DEL/2018 7 OF ACQUISITION OF 20% PARTICIPATING INTEREST BECAME THE MEMBER OF THE CONSORTIUM AND ACQUIRED PROPORTIONATE SHARE IN RIGH TS AND LICENSES GRANTED BY THE RUSSIAN STATE FOR SAKHALIN BLOCK. BY ACQUIRING THESE BUSINESS RIGHTS AND PRODUCTION LICENSES, THE ASSESSEE BECAME ENTITLED T O CARRY ON HYDROCARBON OPERATIONS IN THE SAKHALIN PROJECT. THE STATUTORY E XPRESSION OF THE PROVISION GRANTING DEPRECIATION ON INTANGIBLE ASSET IS THAT - 'KNOW-HOW, PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS, TRADEMARKS, LICENCE S, FRANCHISES OR ANY OTHER BUSINESS OR COMMERCIAL RIGHTS OF SIMILAR NATURE, BE ING INTANGIBLE ASSETS ACQUIRED ON OR AFTER 1-4-1988.' 13. A READING OF THE ABOVE STATUTORY EXPRESSION BRI NGS HOME THE POINT THAT THE LAW HAS SPECIFIED ITEMS OF INTANGIBLE ASSETS ELIGIB LE FOR DEPRECIATION IN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:- (I) KNOW-HOW (II) PATENTS (III) COPYRIGHTS (IV) TRADEMARKS (V) LICENCES (VI) FRANCHISES (VII) ANY OTHER BUSINESS OR COMMERCIAL RIGHTS OF SI MILAR NATURE. 14. SO FAR AS CLAIM OF DEPRECIATION IN CASE OF INTA NGIBLE ASSETS FALLING IN THE CATEGORY OF 'ANY OTHER BUSINESS OR COMMERCIAL RIGHT S OF SIMILAR NATURE' ARE CONCERNED, AS PER OUR CONSIDERED VIEW, ALL THE BUSI NESS OR COMMERCIAL RIGHTS ARE NOT BY THEMSELVES ASSETS ELIGIBLE FOR DEPRECIAT ION, AND THAT ONLY THOSE RIGHTS WHICH ARE SIMILAR IN NATURE WITH THE KNOW-HO W, PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS TRADEMARKS, LICENCES ETC. ARE ELIGIBLE FOR CLAIM OF DEPRECIATION. IN VIEW OF PRINCIPLE OF EJUSDEM GENERIS, THE EXPRESSION 'ANY O THER BUSINESS OR COMMERCIAL RIGHTS' HAS TO BE READ IN THE COMPANY OF THE PRECEDING WORDS. THIS RULE OF INTERPRETATION MAKES AN ATTEMPT TO RECONCIL E INCOMPATIBILITY BETWEEN THE SPECIFIC AND GENERAL WORDS. THE FIRST CATEGORY OF WORDS LIKE KNOW-HOW, PATENTS, COPYRIGHT, ETC., FORM A DISTINCT GENESIS O R CATEGORY INASMUCH AS ALL THOSE ITEMS ARE SPECIFIC AND ELUCIDATED RIGHTS OF B USINESS OR COMMERCIAL NATURE. IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES, THE EXPRESSION 'ANY OTHER BUSINESS OR COMMERCIAL RIGHTS OF SIMILAR NATURE' ALSO MUST BE I N THE SAME GENESIS OR CATEGORY WITH SPECIFIC AND ELUCIDATED IDENTITY OF C OMMERCIAL OR BUSINESS NATURE. THEREFORE, IN THE LIGHT OF THE STATUTORY PR OVISIONS CONTAINED IN SECTION 32(1)(II) , THE COMMERCIAL RIGHTS OF EXPLORATION OF MINERAL O ILS, AS ACQUIRED BY THE ASSESSEE FALLS UNDER THE EXPRESSION OF ANY OTHE R BUSINESS OR COMMERCIAL RIGHTS OF THE NATURE SIMILAR TO ONE OF THE CATEGORY I.E. LICENSES AS STIPULATED IN SECTION 32(1)(II) . THE COMMERCIAL RIGHTS OF EXPLORATION AND LICENSES ACQUIRED BY THE ASSESSEE BEING IN THE NATURE OF INT ANGIBLE ASSETS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR ITA NOS.3150 & 3208/DEL/2018 8 THE CLAIM OF DEPRECIATION AT THE RATE PRESCRIBED U/ S 32(1)(II) OF THE ACT. THE AO HIMSELF IN HIS ORDER HAD OBSERVED THAT AS A RESU LT OF ENTERING INTO SUCH AN AGREEMENT I.E. PCA, THE ASSESSEE COMPANY HAS BEEN G RANTED LICENSES BY RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT TO EXPLORE AND PRODUCE HYDROCARB ONS IN THE AGREEMENT AREA. THERE IS NO DISPUTE TO THE FACT THAT ASSESSEE HAS INCURRED EXPENDITURE OF RS.1559.09 CRORES FOR OBTAINING THE RIGHT AND LICEN SE FOR EXPLORATION OF OIL. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO SAY THAT SUCH EXPENDITURE WAS NE ITHER CAPITAL NOR REVENUE IN NATURE. IF IT IS HELD TO BE CAPITAL, THEN IT IS OBV IOUS THAT WHAT THE ASSESSEE HAS ACQUIRED WAS A PARTICIPATING RIGHT WHICH IS IN THE NATURE OF COMMERCIAL RIGHT OF CARRYING ON OF BUSINESS OF EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTI ON OF MINERAL OIL. IT ALSO CANNOT BE SAID THAT THE RIGHT SO ACQUIRED WAS NOT A N ASSET. IF IT IS AN ASSET BEING THE RIGHT THEN IT IS OBVIOUS THAT SAME IS COMMERCIA L RIGHT, THEREFORE IN THE NATURE OF ASSET IN THE FORM OF LICENSE. THIS RIGHT HAD BEEN GRANTED TO THE ASSESSEE BY WAY OF LICENSE AND THE ASSESSEE BECAME OWNER OF SUCH RIGHT I.E. LICENSE TO HAVE AN ACCESS AND TO CARRY ON OF BUSINE SS OF EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF MINERAL OIL. ACCORDINGLY, AS PER OUR CONSIDERED VIEW SUCH AN ASSET FALL WITHIN THE CATEGORY OF ASSET FALLING U/S 32(1)(II) OF THE ACT. ACCORDINGLY, WE ARE INCLINED TO AGREE WITH THE LEAR NED SENIOR COUNSEL THAT THE ASSESSEE HAD ACQUIRED BUSINESS AND COMMERCIAL RIGHT AND LICENSE BY MAKING PAYMENT OF RS.1559.10 CRORES, WHICH IS IN THE NATUR E OF INTANGIBLE ASSETS ENTITLED TO CLAIM OF DEPRECIATION U/S 32(1)(II) OF THE IT ACT . 14A. IN VIEW OF THE ABOVE DISCUSSION ASSSESSEE'S C LAIM FOR ALLOWING DEDUCTION OF ENTIRE EXPENDITURE OF RS. 1559.10 CRORES IS DECL INED. THE STAND OF CIT(A) IN TREATING THE ALLEGED EXPENDITURE AS DEFERRED REVENU E EXPENDITURE AND DIRECTING THE AO TO ALLOW 1/19 OF THE EXPENDITURE DURING THE YEAR IS ALSO DECLINED, SINCE THERE IS NO CONCEPT OF DEFERRED REVENUE EXPENDITURE UNDER IT ACT .. AS WE HAVE TREATED THE EXPENDITURE AS CAPITAL IN NATURE THE SA ME IS ELIGIBLE FOR CLAIM OF DEPRECIATION AT THE RATES PRESCRIBED FOR THE ASSETS FALLING U/S 32(1)(II) OF THE ACT. WE DIRECT ACCORDINGLY. 11. WE FIND, FOLLOWING THE ABOVE DECISION THE TRIBU NAL IN ASSESSEES OWN CASE FOR ASSESSMENT YEAR 2003-04, 2004-05 AND 2005-06 HAS AL LOWED DEPRECIATION. SINCE THE LD.CIT(A) HAS FOLLOWED THE ORDER OF THE TRIBUNAL IN ASSESSEES OWN CASE FOR ASSESSMENT YEAR 2002-03 AND THE TRIBUNAL HAS ALLOWE D THE CLAIM OF DEPRECIATION IN ASSESSMENT YEAR 2003-04 TO ASSESSMENT YEAR 2005-06 AND THE APPEAL FILED BY THE REVENUE AGAINST ORDER OF THE TRIBUNAL FOR A.Y. 2002 -03 HAS BEEN DISMISSED BY THE HON'BLE DELHI HIGH COURT, THEREFORE, IN ABSENCE OF ANY CONTRARY MATERIAL OR ITA NOS.3150 & 3208/DEL/2018 9 DISTINGUISHING FEATURES, THE ORDER OF THE CIT(A) IS UPHELD AND THE GROUNDS RAISED BY THE REVENUE ARE DISMISSED. 12. AS MENTIONED EARLIER, THE GROUND OF APPEAL NO.1 BY THE ASSESSEE HAS BEEN DECIDED AGAINST THE ASSESSEE BY THE ORDER OF THE TR IBUNAL, HENCE, THE SAME IS ALSO DISMISSED. 13. GROUND OF APPEAL NO.(II) OF THE ASSESSEE AND GR OUND OF APPEAL NOS.6, 7 AND 8 BY THE REVENUE READ AS UNDER:- GROUND NO.(II) OF THE ASSESSEE (II) DISALLOWANCE IN RESPECT EXPENDITURE INCURRED ON SUDAN PIPELINE THAT THE LD. C1T(A) ERRED IN LAW AND ON FACTS OF THE CASE IN NOT ALLOWING DEDUCTION AMOUNTING TO INR 1,026.08 MILLION BEING T HE CLAIM RECEIVED FROM EPC CONTRACTOR FOR ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURE INCURRED IN RESPECT OF LAYING OF SUDAN PIPELINE. LD. C1T(A) HAS FAILED TO APPRECIATE THAT THE LIA BILITY IN RESPECT OF ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURE IN LAYING OF SUDAN PIPELINE HAS CRYSTAL LIZED AS THE ADDITIONAL CLAIM FOR EXPENSES WAS RECEIVED AND PROVIDED IN THE BOOKS DURING THE YEAR. THE APPELLANT CRAVES FOR LEAVE TO AMEND, VARY, OMIT OR SUBSTITUTE ANY OF THE AFORESAID GROUNDS OF APPEAL OR ADD ANY FURTHER GROU ND(S) OF APPEAL AT ANY TIME BEFORE OR AT THE TIME OF HEARING OF THE APPEAL. GROUND NOS.6, 7 & 8 OF THE REVENUE 6. THE LD. CIT(A) HAS ERRED IN LAW AND ON FACTS BY IGNORING THE FACT THAT THE PROJECT HAD COMPLETED DURING THE YEAR. AND ACCO RDING TO THE MERCANTILE LAW OF ACCOUNTANCY, WHICH THE ASSESSEE HAS BEEN FOL LOWING, THE TOTAL COST OF THE PROJECT AND THE TOTAL REVENUES SHALL HAVE BEEN TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT FOR CALCULATION OF PROFITS-ON ACCRUAL BASIS. 7. THE LD. CIT (A) HAS ERRED IN LAW AND ON FACTS BY IGNORING THE FACT THAT THE CLAIM OF THE REVENUES AMOUNTING TO 1493.10 MILL ION HAS BEEN FORWARDED BY THE COMPANY TO MEM DURING THE YEAR WHICH SHOWS THAT THE REVENUE HAS NOT ONLY ACCRUED BUT CRYSTALLIZED DURING THE YEAR, THE SAME SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN IN ACCOUNT FOR CALCULATION OF PROFITS. ITA NOS.3150 & 3208/DEL/2018 10 8. THE LD. CIT(A) HAS ERRED IN LAW AND ON FACTS BY IGNORING THE FACT THAT THE ASSESSEE IS MAINTAINING ITS BOOKS OF ACCOUNTS O N MERCANTILE BASIS THEREFORE THE EXPENDITURE WHICH HAVE NEITHER ACCRUED NOR INCU RRED IN THE RELEVANT PREVIOUS YEAR, IS NOT ALLOWABLE IN THIS YEAR. 14. FACTS OF THE CASE, IN BRIEF ARE THAT DURING THE RELEVANT ASSESSMENT YEAR, THE ASSESSEE COMPLETED THE EXECUTION OF MULTI-PRODUCT P IPELINE FROM KHARTOUM REFINERY TO PORT SUDAN FOR THE MINISTRY OF ENERGY A ND MINING OF THE GOVERNMENT OF SUDAN (MEM). THE PROJECT HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN CO NSORTIUM WITH OIL INDIA LIMITED, WHERE THE COMPANYS SHARE BEING 90%. THE E PC CONTRACTOR EXECUTING THE PROJECT ON BEHALF OF THE CONSORTIUM CLAIMED ADDITIO NAL COSTS AGGREGATING TO ' 1,659 MILLION FROM THE ASSESSEE AND CONSEQUENTLY, AN AMOU NT OF ' 1,026.08 MILLION, BEING THE ASSESSEES SHARE OUT OF' 1140.08 MILLION HAS BE EN PROVIDED IN THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNTS AND CLAIMED AS AN EXPENSE IN THE RETURN OF INCOME. THE ASSESSEE FORWARDED COUNTER CLAIM TO ITS CUSTOMER, MEM AMOUNTING TO ' 1 ,524.20 MILLION (OVLS SHARE BEING 1,371.78 MILLION) WHICH HAS NOT BEEN ACCEPTED BY MEM TILL DATE. ACCORDINGLY, THE ASSESSEE DID NOT CONSIDER ANY REVE NUE ON THIS ACCOUNT IN ITS BOOKS OF ACCOUNT SINCE ACCORDING TO THE ASSESSEE IT CANNO T BE SAID TO HAVE ACQUIRED ANY RIGHT TO RECEIVE SUCH INCOME TILL THE TIME THE CLAI M IS ACCEPTED BY MEM. THE AO HELD THAT SINCE THE PROJECT HAD BEEN COMPLETED IN T HE RELEVANT ASSESSMENT YEAR, THE ASSESSEE ACQUIRED A CERTAIN RIGHT TO RECEIVE SUCH A MOUNT FROM MEM AND THE SAME WAS TAXABLE IN ITS HANDS ON ACCRUAL BASIS AND, ACCO RDINGLY, MADE AN ADDITION OF ' 149,31,00,000 TO THE INCOME OF THE ASSESSEE ON THIS ACCOUNT (AS AGAINST THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF ' 1371.78 MILLION). ITA NOS.3150 & 3208/DEL/2018 11 15. THE ASSESSING OFFICER HELD THAT SINCE THE ASSES SEE HAS FAILED TO OFFER THE ACCRUED REVENUE AS NON-TAXABLE ON ACCOUNT OF IT BEI NG UNCERTAIN IS ACCEPTED IN APPEAL THEN THE PROVISION MADE BY THE ASSESSEE FOR THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSES TO THE EXTENT OF RS.1026.8 MILLION SHOULD BE DISALLOWED ON MATCHING PRINCIPLES ON THE SAME LOGIC AS PER EXCLUSION OF REVENUE. 16. IN APPEAL, THE LD.CIT(A) REJECTED THE CLAIM OF INR 1,659 MILLION BEING THE CLAIM RECEIVED FROM EPC CONTRACTOR FOR ADDITIONAL E XPENDITURE INCURRED IN RESPECT OF LAYING OF SUDAN PIPELINE ON THE GROUND THAT NEIT HER THE LIABILITY HAS ARISEN IN THE HANDS OF THE ASSESSEE COMPANY NOR REVENUE HAS ACCRU ED. THE RELEVANT OBSERVATIONS OF THE CIT(A) READ AS UNDER:- 7.4.1 IN GROUND NO. 4 OF APPEAL THE PLEA OF THE AP PELLANT IS THAT AO HAS ERRED IN MAKING AN ADDITION OF RS. 149,31,00,000/- (AS AGAINST THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF RS 1,371.78 MILLION) TO THE INCOME BEING THE APPELLANT'S SHARE OF AMOUNT RECEIVABLE FROM ITS CUSTOMER, MEM IN RESPECT OF THE SUDAN PIPELINE PROJECT WITHOUT APPRECIATING THAT THE CLAIM MADE BY THE APPELLANT HAS NOT BEEN ACCEPTED BY MEM TILL DATE AND, THEREFORE, THE APPEL LANT HAS NOT ACQUIRED ANY RIGHT TO RECEIVE SUCH INCOME DURING THE RELEVANT PR EVIOUS YEAR. THAT THE AO ERRED IN HOLDING THAT IN CASE HIS AFORESAID CONTENT ION WERE NOT BE ACCEPTED, THE EXPENSE CLAIMED BY THE APPELLANT IN THIS REGARD MAY BE DISALLOWED WITHOUT APPRECIATING THAT THE SAID EXPENSE FORMS AN ASCERTA INED LIABILITY ELIGIBLE FOR REVENUE DEDUCTION IN ITS HANDS. 7.4.2 DURING THE YEAR, THE COMPANY COMPLETED THE EX ECUTION OF A PIPELINE FROM KHARTOUM REFINERY TO PORT SUDAN FOR THE MINIST RY OF ENERGY AND MINING OF THE GOVERNMENT OF SUDAN (MEM). THE PROJECT HAS B EEN IMPLEMENTED IN CONSORTIUM WITH OIL INDIA LIMITED, COMPANY'S SHARE BEING 90%. THE EPC CONTRACTOR EXECUTING THE PROJECT ON BEHALF OF THE C ONSORTIUM HAS CLAIMED ADDITIONAL COSTS AGGREGATING TO RS. 1026 MILLION, B EING THE COMPANY'S SHARE OUT OF RS.L140.08 MILLION WHICH HAS BEEN PROVIDED A S EXPENDITURE DURING THE YEAR. AO OBSERVED THAT THE COMPANY HAS FORWARDED TO MEM CLAIMS OF RS. 1524.20 MILLION (COMPANY'S SHARE BEING RS. 1493.10 MILLION) WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN ACCEPTED BY MEM. ACCORDINGLY, THE COMPANY HAS NOT CONSIDERED ANY REVENUE IN ITS PROFIT & LOSS ACCOUNT FOR THE F.Y. 2 005-06. AO HELD THAT AS THE PROJECT HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND THE COMPANY MADE A P ROVISION FOR ADDITIONAL ITA NOS.3150 & 3208/DEL/2018 12 EXPENSE OF RS.1026.8 MILLION BEING COMPANY'S SHARE IN THE CONSORTIUM, THEREFORE, REVENUES OF THE COMPANY TO THE EXTENT OF RS. 1493.10 MILLION ACCRUED AND CRYSTALLIZED ON COMPLETION OF THE PROJE CT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED ON MATCHING PRINCIPAL AND PAID TAXES ON IT ON COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT DURING THE YEAR. THE ASSESSEE COMPANY ALSO FORWARDED ITS CLAIM OF RS. 1493 MILLION TO MEM. AS SUCH, FOR THE YEAR UNDER CO NSIDERATION THE INCOME WAS ASCERTAINED AND DEFINITE AND HENCE SHOULD HAVE BEEN RETURNED AS TAXABLE INCOME UNDER THE PRINCIPLE OF MATCHING IN ACCOUNTS. THEREFORE, THE SUM OF RS. 1493.10 MILLION IS ADDED BY THE AO TO THE TAXABLE I NCOME OF THE ASSESSEE COMPANY. ALTERNATIVELY, AO HELD THAT IF IN APPEAL T HE ASSESSEES CLAIM OF TREATING REVENUES AS NON-TAXABLE ON ACCOUNT OF IT B EING UNCERTAIN, IS ACCEPTED THEN THE PROVISION MADE BY ASSESSEE FOR THE ADDITIO NAL EXPENSE TO THE EXTENT OF RS. 1026.8 MILLION SHOULD BE DISALLOWED ON MATCHING PRINCIPALS AND ON THE SAME LOGIC AS FOR EXCLUSION OF REVENUES. 7.4.3 IN THIS CONTEXT IN SCHEDULE 27 OF ANNUAL REP ORT OF FY 2005-06 IN POINT NO. 5 OF THE NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS, THE AUDITORS CE RTIFIES : KHARTOUM-PORTSUDAN PIPELINE PROJECT: DURING THE YEAR, THE COMPANY COMPLETED THE EXECUTIO N OF THE 12X741 KMS MULTI-PRODUCT PIPELINE FROM KHARTOUM RE FINERY TO PORT SUDAN FOR THE MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND MINING OF THE GOVERNMENT OF SUDAN (MEM) ON BUILD, OWN, LEASE AND TRANSFER (BOLT ) BASIS AND HANDED OVER THE SAME TO MEM. THE PROJECT HAS BEEN I MPLEMENTED IN CONSORTIUM WITH OIL INDIA LIMITED, COMPANYS SHARE BEING 90%. THE EPC CONTRACTOR EXECUTING THE PROJECT HAS CLAIME D ADDITIONAL COSTS AGGREGATING TO RS. 1,659.00 MILLION (COMPANYS SHAR E BEING RS. 1,493.10 MILLION), WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE COMPANY AS YET. HOWEVER, PART OF THE CLAIMS HAS BEEN FORWARDED TO MEM FOR THEIR APPROVAL FOR AN AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF RECEIVABLES FRO M MEM OF RS. 1,524.20 MILLION (COMPANYS SHARE BEING RS. 1,371.7 8 MILLION), WHILE THE BALANCE CLAIMS MAY BE FORWARDED TO MEM AFTER FU RTHER VERIFICATION. PENDING SETTLEMENT, WITH THE EPC CONT RACTOR, AN AMOUNT OF RS. 1,026.08 MILLION, BEING THE COMPANYS SHARE OUT OF RS.1,140.08 MILLION HAS BEEN PROVIDED AS EXPENDITURE DURING THE YEAR BASED UPON THE ADVICES RECEIVED BY THE COMPANY FROM ITS CONSUL TANT. THE COMPANYS SHARE OF THE BALANCE AMOUNT HAS BEEN SHOW N AS CLAIMS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED AS DEBT. HOWEVER, NO REVENUE IN THIS R ESPECT HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED PENDING FINAL APPROVALS BY MEM. 7.4.4 FROM THE SUBMISSION OF THE APPELLANT IT IS A LSO CLEAR THAT THE EPC CONTRACTOR HAS INITIATED ARBITRATION PROCEEDING S AGAINST THE APPELLANT COMPANY ALLEGING FAILURE TO PAY ITS LIABILITY WHICH IS ' PENDING BEFORE ARBITRATION TRIBUNAL. ITA NOS.3150 & 3208/DEL/2018 13 7.4.5 FROM THE ABOVE IT IS EVIDENT THAT ADDITIONAL COSTS RS. 1,659.00 MILLION (COMPANYS SHARE BEING RS. 1,493.10 MILLION) CLAIME D BY THE EPC CONTRACTOR IS PENDING IN ARBITRATION IN ITS ENTIRETY. THE CLAI M OF THE EPC CONTRACTORS HAS NOT BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE APPELLANT COMPANY. PART OF THE COST RS. 1,524.20 MILLION (COMPANYS SHARE BEING RS. 1,371.78 MILLION ) CLAIMED BY THE CONTRACTOR HAS BEEN FORWARDED TO MEM FOR THEIR APPR OVAL. DURING THE APPELLATE PROCEEDING THE AR WAS ASKED WHETHER ANY P AYMENT WAS MADE BY THE APPELLANT COMPANY TO THE EPC CONTRACTOR TOWARDS THE ADDITIONAL COSTS CLAIMED. THE AR SUBMITTED THAT NO PAYMENT HAS BEEN MADE BY T HE APPELLANT COMPANY TO THE CONTRACTOR. FROM THE ABOVE IT IS EVIDENT THA T NEITHER THE ADDITIONAL COST CLAIMED BY THE EPC CONTRACTOR IS ACCEPTED NOR ANY P ART OF IT IS PAID. AS SUCH THE LIABILITY TOWARDS THE ADDITIONAL COST CLAIMED B Y THE EPC CONTRACTOR HAS NOT ARISEN TO THE COMPANY DURING THE RELEVANT PERIOD. 7.4.6 FURTHER, CL. 9.1.4 OF AGREEMENT DT. 30.06.200 4 BETWEEN APPELLANT COMPANY & MEM SAYS: OVL SHALL NOT MAKE ANY VARIATION, UNLESS AND UNTIL MEM APPROVES A VARIATION IN WRITING. IN THIS CONTEXT THE REPLY OF THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT O F MEM SAYS: REFERRING TO THE ABOVE MENTIONED SUBJECT AND AFTER REVIEW AND STUDY OF THE CONTRACT SIGNED BETWEEN MEM AND OVL AND THE RELATED DOCUMENTS, I WOULD LIKE TO CONVEY TO YOU THAT THE C ONTRACTOR IS NOT ENTITLED TO ANY AMOUNT UNDER HIS CLAIMS FOR ADDITIO NAL AMOUNTS, AS THE ALLEGED VARIATIONS WERE NOT APPROVED BY THE OWNER B EFORE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WORKS THE SUBJECT OF VARIATIO NS. IN ADDITION THE REQUIRED PROCEDURES UNDER THE CONTRACT FOR BOTH VAR IATIONS APPROVAL AND CLAIMS WERE NOT FOLLOWED. HOWEVER, THE HIGH STA NDARD OF PERFORMANCE AND EARLY COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT BY THE CONTRACTOR (OVL) IS APPRECIATED AND HIGH VALUED AND COULD BE A MATTER OF CONSIDERATION AT YOUR COMPANYS OWN DISCRETION AND CONSIDERATION, WITHOUT ANY LEGAL OBLIGATION TO DO THE SAME. 7.4.7 IN VIEW OF THE ABOVE, IT IS EVIDENT THAT NEI THER THE EPC CONTRACTOR NOR THE APPELLANT IS LEGALLY ENTITLED TO CLAIM THE ADDI TIONAL COSTS AS THE ALLEGED VARIATIONS WERE NOT APPROVED BY THE MEM BEFORE IMPL EMENTATION OF THE WORKS. AS SUCH THE APPELLANT IS NOT LEGALLY ENTITLE D TO THE CLAIM OF ADDITIONAL COST OF RS. 1,371.78 MILLION WHICH WAS FORWARDED BY THE APPELLANT TO MEM FOR APPROVAL. IT IS AN ESTABLISHED PRINCIPAL OF LAW THAT A SUM ACCRUES AS INCOME ONLY WHEN THE PERSON ACQUIRES A LEGALLY VE STED RIGHT IN IT. HONBLE CALCUTTA HIGH COURT IN CIT VS. BHARAT PETROLEUM COR PORATION LIMITED (68 TAXMAN 429) HELD THAT THE AMOUNT CAN ACCRUE OR ARIS E TO THE ASSESSEE, IF THE ASSESSEE ACQUIRES A LEGAL RIGHT TO RECEIVE THE AMOU NT. THE MERE RAISING OF A ITA NOS.3150 & 3208/DEL/2018 14 CLAIM OR BILL DID NOT CREATE ANY LEGALLY ENFORCEABL E RIGHT TO RECEIVE THE SAME. HENCE, THE MERE CLAIM BY THE ASSESSEE WITHOUT ANY R IGHT TO RECEIVE THE AMOUNT COULD NOT BE TREATED AS THE INCOME OF THE ASSESSEE. 7.4.8 IN E D SASSOON & CO. LTD. VS. CIT (26 ITR 27 ) HONBLE SUPREME COURT HELD THAT ACCRUAL OF INCOME FOR PURPOSES OF T AXATION DOES NOT DEPEND ON THE QUESTION AS TO WHEN THE INCOME BECOMES PAYABLE. IT DEPENDS ONLY ON WHEN A VESTED RIGHT TO RECEIVE THE INCOME ARISES. THE AC CRUAL IS ACCORDINGLY COMPLETE WHEN THE RIGHT TO THE REMUNERATION BECOMES VESTED BY THE OCCURRENCE OF ALL THE EVENTS ON WHICH THE REMUNERAT ION DEPENDS. 7.4.9 THERE IS NO LEGAL ENTITLEMENT TO THE CLAIM T O THE CONTRACTOR AS WELL AS TO THE APPELLANT. NEITHER THE CLAIM OF THE EPC CONT RACTOR HAS BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE APPELLANT COMPANY NOR THE CLAIM OF THE APPELLAN T COMPANY HAS BEEN ACCEPTED BY MEM. IN VIEW OF THE ABOVE NEITHER REVEN UE IS RECOGNIZABLE IN THE HANDS OF THE EPC CONTRACTOR NOR IT CAN BE RECOGNIZE D IN THE HANDS OF THE APPELLANT COMPANY. THE PRINCIPLE WHICH THE APPELLAN T APPLIED TO CLAIM THAT REVENUE IS NOT RECOGNIZABLE, BY THE SAME PRINCIPLE THE LIABILITY HAS NOT CRYSTALLIZED AND HAS NOT ARISEN IN ITS HAND. IN OTH ER WORDS NEITHER THE LIABILITY HAS ARISEN IN THE HANDS APPELLANT COMPANY NOR REVEN UE HAS ACCRUED. 7.4.10 IN VIEW OF THE ABOVE, THE ADDITIONAL EXPEN SE OF RS. 1026.08 MILLION PROVIDED AS EXPENDITURE BY THE APPELLANT ON THIS AC COUNT CALLS FOR DISALLOWANCE AS NO LIABILITY AS ARISEN IN THE HANDS OF THE APPEL LANT. FURTHER, SINCE REVENUE DID NOT ACCRUE OR ARISE IN THE HANDS OF THE APPELLA NT, THEREFORE, THE ADDITION OF RS. 1493.10 MILLION MADE BY THE AO CANNOT BE JUSTIF IED. THE CAUSE LAWS RELIED ON BY THE AR ARE NOT APPLICABLE IN THE INSTANT CASE BECAUSE THE CONTRACTOR IS NOT LEGALLY ENTITLED TO THE ADDITIONAL CLAIMS AND L IABILITY CLAIMED BY THE EPC CONTRACTORS WHICH IS PENDING IN ARBITRATION TRIBUNA L IS NOT ACCEPTED BY THE APPELLANT. IN VIEW OF THE ABOVE, THE ADDITION MADE BY THE AO IS REDUCED FROM RS. 1493.10 MILLION TO RS. 1026.08 MILLION. THE APP EAL IS PARTLY ALLOWED IN THIS GROUND. 17. SO FAR AS THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSES IS CONCERNED, THE LD.CIT(A) HELD THAT THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSE OF RS.1026.8 MILLION PROVIDED AS EXPENDITURE BY THE ASSESSEE CALLS FOR DISALLOWANCE AS NO LIABILITY HAS ARISEN I N THE HANDS OF THE ASSESSEE. HE ACCORDINGLY DELETED THE ADDITION OF RS.1493.10 MILL ION MADE BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER AND SIMULTANEOUSLY DIRECTED THE A.O. TO SUS TAIN THE ADDITION OF RS.1026.08 MILLION BEING THE EXPENDITURE CLAIMED BY THE ASSESS EE IN RESPECT OF SUDAN PIPELINE. ITA NOS.3150 & 3208/DEL/2018 15 18. AGGRIEVED WITH SUCH ORDER OF THE CIT(A), THE AS SESSEE AS WELL AS THE REVENUE ARE IN APPEAL BEFORE THE TRIBUNAL BY RAISING THE AB OVE GROUNDS 19. THE LD. COUNSEL FOR THE ASSESSEE STRONGLY CHALL ENGED THE ORDER OF THE CIT(A) IN SUSTAINING AN AMOUNT OF RS.1026.08 MILLION. HE DREW THE ATTENTION OF THE BENCH TO THE DATE-WISE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS IN RESPECT OF T HE MULTIPRODUCT PIPELINE FROM KHARTOUM REFINERY SUDAN TO PORT SUDAN ON BUILD, OWN , LEASE AND TRANSFER (BOLT) BASIS:- DATE EVENTS PAGE NO. OF PAPER BOOK 30.06.2004 RELEVANT EXTRACT OF PIPELINE C ONTRACT AGREEMENT (PCA) ENTERED WITH THE MINISTRY OF ENERGY & MINING OF THE GOVERNMENT OF SUDAN (MEM, SUDAN) 184 - 190 17.08.2004 TECHNICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AGREEMENT (TASA) ENTERED WITH ONGC LIMITED (ONGC) FOR MANAGING THE ENTIRE PROJECT OF PIPEL INE EXECUTION ON ITS BEHALF 1388-1401 [COMPILATION OF AGREEMENTS PAPER BOOK] 31.08.2004 RELEVANT EXTRACT OF AGREEMENT ENTERED WITH M/S DODS AL PTE LTD. & M/S DODSAL PRIVATE LIMITED (REFERRED AS DODSAL OR EPC CONTRACTOR) FOR ENGINEERING, PROCUREMENT & CONSTRUCTION OF SUDAN PIPELINE 202 10.11.2004 PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT ENTERED WITH OIL INDIA LIMI TED WHEREIN 10% RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS IN RELATION TO T HIS PROJECT HAVE BEEN TRANSFERRED TO OIL INDIA LIMITED 1164-1202 [COMPILATION OF AGREEMENTS PAPER BOOK] 31.08.2005 THE PROJECT STOOD COMPLETED AND THE PRODUCT PIPELIN E SYSTEM WAS HANDED OVER TO MEM, SUDAN AS ADMITTED BY THE AO 1.12.2005 AND 09.01. 2006 EPC CONTRACTOR CLAIMED ADDITIONAL COSTS AMOUNTING T O USD 2,69,82,643, USD 12,70,435 AND USD 88,94,325 (AG GREGATING TO RS. 1,659 MILLION) ON THE ASSESSEE & FORWARDED AN INVOICE OF USD 88,94,325 196-200 31.03.2006 THE ASSESSEE ADMITTED THE CLAIM OF USD 2,54,87,295 (ASSESSEES SHARE USD 2,29,38,566 BEING 90% OF USD 2,54,87,295) OUT OF AFORESAID THREE CLAIMS AN D PROVIDED FOR IN THE BOOKS AMOUNTING TO RS.L,026.08 MILLION. REMAINING AMOUNT WAS NOT PROVIDED AS IT HAD NOT YET BEEN APPROVED. NO AMOUNT WAS CLAIMED IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS. NO CLAIM OF ANY INCOME WAS EVEN MADE ON MEM SUDAN IN AY 2006-07, CLAIM WAS MADE ON 17.04.2006. 17.04.2006 ASSESSEE MADE A CLAIM OF USD 3,41,28,976 ON MEM SUDAN [EQUIVALENT TO RS. 1,524.20 MILLION (ASSESSEE S SHARE BEING RS. 1,371.78 MILLION)]. IT REMAIN MERE CLAIM NOT YET ADMITTED. 208-211 ITA NOS.3150 & 3208/DEL/2018 16 25.05.2006 ONGC INFORMED THE EPC CONTRACTOR TH AT ITS FIRST CLAIM HAS BEEN SCRUTINIZED & PROCESSED FOR PAYMENT OF AN AMOUNT OF USD 2,42,57,643 OUT OF TOTAL CLAIM OF USD 3,71,47,403 AND THE OTHER TWO PROPOSALS ARE STILL U NDER PROCESS 201 06.07.2006 ASSESSEE MADE ADDITIONAL CLAIMS OF USD 1,18,78,586 AND USD 1,69,147 ON MEM SUDAN [EQUIVALENT TO RS. 523.71 MILLION (ASSESSEES SHARE BEING RS. 471.34 MILLION)]. IT REMAIN MERE CLAIM NOT YET ADMITTED. 212-228 09.12.2006 LETTER WRITTEN BY LEGAL DEPARTMENT OF MINISTRY OF ENERGY & MINING OF THE GOVERNMENT OF SUD AN (MEM) REJECTING CLAIMSOF THE ASSESSEE 229-230 05.10.2007 ONGC ALSO APPROVED THE SECOND CLAIM OF EPC CONTRACTOR FOR AN AMOUNT OF USD 1,229,652 AND REJECTED THE CLAIM OF USD 8,894,325 NOT IN PAPER BOOK 31.07.2008 ASSESSEE WRITTEN A LETTER TO EPC CONTRAC TOR THAT ITS CLAIMS HAVE BEEN ASSESSED QUANTITATIVELY BY ONGC AN D SUCH CLAIMS ARE NOW BEING LEGALLY SCRUTINIZED IN TO TALITY FOR THEIR ADMISSIBILITY NOT IN PAPER BOOK 26.12. 2008 EPC CONTRACTOR INITIATED ARBITRATION PROCEEDINGS AG AINST THE ASSESSEE NOT IN P APER BOOK 07.01.2014 (CORRECTED ON 27.03.2014) USD 30,00,000 ON ACCOUNT OF ADJUSTMENT CLAIM AND USD 3,13,100.35 ON ACCOUNT OF CHANGE ORDER ALONGWIT H WITH INTEREST AWARDED TO EPC CONTRACTOR NOT IN PAPER BOOK 30.06.2014 PETITION FILED BY THE EPC CONTRACTOR BEFORE THE DELHI HIGH COURT AGAINST THE ARBITRAL AWARD - NOT YET DEC IDED NOT IN PAPER BOOK 03.07.2014 PETITION FILED BY THE ASSESSEE BEFORE THE DELHI HIG H COURT IN RESPECT OF ARBITRAL AWARD OF USD 30,00,000 ON ACCOUNT OF ADJUSTMENT CLAIM - NOT YET DECIDED NOT IN PAPER BOOK 31.10.2014 ASSESSEE PAID A SUM OF USD 452,195 TO EPC CONTRACTO R WHICH COMPRISES USD 313,100.35 ALONG WITH INTEREST NOT IN PAPER BOOK 20. HE SUBMITTED THAT THE ASSESSEE HAD ENTERED INTO A PIPELINE CONTRACT AGREEMENT (PCA) WITH THE MINISTRY OF ENERGY & MININ G OF THE GOVERNMENT OF SUDAN (MEM) ON 30.06.2004 FOR CONSTRUCTION OF 12 X 741 KMS. MULTI-PRODUCT PIPELINE SYSTEM FROM KHARTOUM REFINERY TO PORT SUDA N ON BUILD, OWN, LEASE AND TRANSFER (BOLT) BASIS. THE ASSESSEE HAD ENTERED A P ARTICIPATION AGREEMENT WITH OIL INDIA LIMITED ON 10.11.2004 WHEREIN 10% RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS IN RELATION TO THIS PROJECT HAVE BEEN TRANSFERRED TO OIL INDIA LIMITED. THE PROJECT WAS EXECUTED BY THE ASSESSEE THROUGH EPC CONTRACTOR AND THE SAME WAS AW ARDED TO CONSORTIUM OF M/S ITA NOS.3150 & 3208/DEL/2018 17 DODSAL PTE LTD. & M/S DODSAL PRIVATE LIMITED (REFER RED AS DODSAL OR EPC CONTRACTOR) VIDE AGREEMENT DATED 31.08.2004. THE A SSESSEE HAD ALSO APPOINTED ONGC LIMITED (ONGC) AS ITS CONSULTANT VIDE AGREEMEN T DATED 17.08.2004 FOR MANAGING THE ENTIRE PROJECT OF PIPELINE EXECUTION A ND HAD DIRECTED DODSAL TO DIRECTLY DEAL/CORRESPOND WITH THE ENGINEERING SERVI CES, DIVISION OF ONGC ON ALL MATTERS RELATING TO THE PROJECT. THE ASSESSEE HAD C OMPLETED THE PROJECT AND THE PRODUCT PIPELINE SYSTEM WAS HANDED OVER TO MEM ON 3 1.08.2005, I.E. BEFORE THE YEAR END. 21. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE EPC CONTRACTOR CLAIMED ADDITI ONAL COSTS AMOUNTING TO USD 2,69,82,643, USD 12,70,435 AND USD 88,94,325 (AGGRE GATING TO RS. 1,659 MILLION) VIDE ITS LETTERS AND INVOICE DATED 1 DECEMBER 2005 AND 09 JANUARY 2006. SUCH LETTERS/INVOICE WERE SUBMITTED WITH ONGC (CONSULTAN T) FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL. VIDE ITS LETTER DATED 25.05.2006, THE CONSULTANT IN FORMED THE EPC CONTRACTOR THAT ITS FIRST CLAIM HAS BEEN SCRUTINIZED & PROCESSED FOR PA YMENT OF AN AMOUNT OF USD 2,42,57,643 AND THE OTHER TWO PROPOSALS ARE UNDER P ROCESS. SUBSEQUENTLY, VIDE LETTER DATED 05.10.2007, THE CONSULTANT APPROVED THE SECON D CLAIM FOR AN AMOUNT OF USD 12,29,652 AND REJECTED THE CLAIM OF USD 88,94,325. THUS THE AMOUNT APPROVED BY THE CONSULTANT AGGREGATING TO USD 2,54,87,295 (ASSE SSEES SHARE USD 2,29,38,566 BEING 90% OF USD 2,54,87,295). BASED ON THE DISCUSS ION WITH THE CONSULTANT, THE ASSESSEE HAD PROVIDED EXPENDITURE IN THE BOOKS OF A CCOUNTS AMOUNTING TO RS. 1,026.08 MILLION (BEING ASSESSEES SHARE OUT OF RS. 1,140.08 MILLION) UNDER ITA NOS.3150 & 3208/DEL/2018 18 SCHEDULE 19 AS PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION EXPENSES AND CLAIMED AS DEDUCTION U/S 37 OF THE ACT. 22. FURTHER, THE ASSESSEE HAD ISSUED A LETTER DATE D 31.07.2008, WHEREIN, THE EPC CONTRACTOR HAS BEEN COMMUNICATED THAT ITS CLAIMS HA VE BEEN ASSESSED QUANTITATIVELY BY ONGC (CONSULTANT) AND SUCH CLAIMS ARE NOW BEING LEGALLY SCRUTINIZED IN TOTALITY FOR THEIR ADMISSIBILITY. UPON RECEIPT OF THE ABOVE LETTER, THE EPC CONTRACTOR INITIATED ARBITRATION PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE ASSESSEE, VIDE ITS LETTER DATED 26.12.2008. 23. ARBITRAL AWARD DATED 07.01.2014 (AS CORRECTED ON 27 MARCH 2014) WAS PASSED ACCORDING TO WHICH DODSAL IS ENTITLED TO USD 30,00,000 (ADJUSTMENT CLAIM) AND USD 3,13,100 (FOR CHANGE ORDER) ALONGWITH WITH INTEREST. EPC CONTRACTOR DID NOT ACCEPT THE AWARD. ASSESSEE HAD ACCEPTED AWARD I N RESPECT OF CHANGE ORDER AND ON 31.10.2014 VOLUNTARILY PAID A SUM OF USD 4,52,19 5 TO EPC CONTRACTOR WHICH COMPRISES USD 3,13,100.35 ALONG WITH INTEREST. HOWE VER, THE ASSESSEE HAD NOT ACCEPTED AWARD IN RESPECT OF ADJUSTMENT CLAIMS. ACC ORDINGLY, BOTH THE EPC CONTRACTOR AND THE ASSESSEE HAVE CHALLENGED THE AWA RD IN DELHI HIGH COURT AND THE MATTER IS PENDING WITH THE HIGH COURT. 24. REFERRING TO THE ABOVE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS HE S UBMITTED THAT THE ASSESSEE HAS NOT MERELY INCURRED EXPENDITURE BUT SUCH EXPENDITUR E HAS DULY BEEN ADMITTED BY IT AND DEBITED IN THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNTS. FURTHER, SAID EXPENDITURE HAD DULY BEEN APPROVED BY THE CONSULTANT M/S ONGC WHO WERE APPOIN TED TO SUPERVISE AND MANAGE THE PROJECT. HOWEVER, IN VIEW OF THE FACT T HAT THE ASSESSEE HAD NOT BEEN ITA NOS.3150 & 3208/DEL/2018 19 PAID IN RESPECT OF ADDITIONAL CLAIM MADE BY THE GOV ERNMENT OF SUDAN, THE ASSESSEE HAD NOT RECOGNIZED ADDITIONAL INCOME IN THE BOOKS O F ACCOUNT. 25. THE LD. COUNSEL FOR THE ASSESSEE SUBMITTED THAT THE AO HAS INCLUDED THE AMOUNT CLAIMED BY IT FROM SUDAN GOVERNMENT AGGREGAT ING TO RS 1,49,31,02,715/- AS ITS INCOME (CORRECT AMOUNT SHOULD BE RS. 1371.78 MILLION) AND IN THE ALTERNATIVE IT WAS HELD IN PARA 8.12 THAT THE PROVISION MADE BY THE ASSESSEE FOR ADDITIONAL EXPENSES TO THE EXTENT OF RS.1026.08 MILLION SHOULD BE DISALLOWED ON MATCHING PRINCIPLES. HE SUBMITTED THAT THE FINDINGS RECORDED BY THE AO IN THE ORDER THAT THE AFORESAID EXPENDITURE IS MERELY A PROVISION MADE IS CONTRARY TO THE NOTES OF ACCOUNTS. REFERRING TO PAGE 32 OF THE PAPER BOOK, THE LD. COUNSEL FOR THE ASSESSEE DREW THE ATTENTION OF THE BENCH TO THE NOTES ON ACC OUNTS WHICH READ AS UNDER:- DURING THE YEAR, THE COMPANY COMPLETED THE EXECUTI ON OF THE 12 X 741 KMS. MULTI-PRODUCT PIPELINE SYSTEM FROM KHARTOUM RE FINERY TO PORT SUDAN FOR THE MINISTRY OF ENERGY & MINING OF THE GOVERNME NT OF SUDAN (MEM) ON BUILD, OWN, LEASE AND TRANSFER (BOLT) BASIS AND HAN DED OVER THE SAME TO MEM. THE PROJECT HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN CONSORTIUM WITH OIL INDIA LIMITED, COMPANY SHARES BEING 90%. 26. THE EPC CONTRACTOR EXECUTING THE PROJECT HAS CL AIMED ADDITIONAL COSTS AGGREGATING TO RS. 1,659.00 MILLION (COMPANYS SHAR E BEING RS. 1,493.10 MILLION), WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE COMPANY AS YET. HOWEVER, PART OF THE CLAIMS HAS BEEN FORWARDED TO MEM FOR THEIR APPROVAL FOR AN AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF RECEIVABLES FROM MEM RS. 1,524.20 MILLION (COMPANY S SHARE BEING RS. 1371.78 MILLION), WHILE THE BALANCE CLAIMS MAY BE FORWARDED TO MEM AFTER FURTHER VERIFICATION. PENDING SETTLEMENT WITH THE EPC CONTR ACTOR, AN AMOUNT OF RS. ITA NOS.3150 & 3208/DEL/2018 20 1,026.08 MILLION, BEING THE COMPANYS SHARE OUT OF RS. 1,140.08 MILLION HAS BEEN PROVIDED AS EXPENDITURE DURING THE YEAR BASED UPON THE ADVICES RECEIVED BY THE COMPANY FROM ITS CONSULTANT. THE COMPANYS SHARE OF THE BALANCE AMOUNT HAS BEEN SHOWN AS CLAIMS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED AS DEBT. HOWEVER, NO REVENUE IN THIS RESPECT HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED PENDING FINAL APPROVALS BY MEM. 27. HE SUBMITTED THAT THE ASSESSING OFFICER IN HIS ORDER HAS REFERRED TO THE MATCHING PRINCIPLES WHICH IS INAPPLICABLE IN THE IN STANT CASE. THE ASSESSEE IS FOLLOWING CONSISTENTLY MERCANTILE METHOD OF ACCOUNT S AND MAINTAINED ITS ACCOUNTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH AS-1 AS PROVIDED U/S 145A OF THE AC T. REFERRING TO THE DECISION OF THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT IN THE CASE OF CIT VS. BILAHARI INVESTMENT PVT. LTD. REPORTED IN 299 1TR 1, HE SUBMITTED THAT THE HON'BLE APEX COURT HAS HELD THAT EVERY ASSESSEE IS ENTITLED TO ARRANGE ITS AFFAIRS AND FOL LOW THE METHOD OF ACCOUNTING, WHICH THE DEPARTMENT HAS EARLIER ACCEPTED. IT IS ONLY IN THOSE CASES WHERE THE DEPARTMENT RECORDS A FINDING THAT THE METHOD ADOPTED BY THE AS SESSEE RESULTS IN DISTORTION OF PROFITS THAT THE DEPARTMENT CAN INSIST ON SUBSTITUT ION OF THE EXISTING METHOD. HE SUBMITTED THAT IN THE INSTANT CASE THE EXPENDITURE INCURRED IS TO BE ALLOWED AS AND WHEN SUCH EXPENDITURE IS INCURRED WHICH ADMITTEDLY HAS BEEN INCURRED BY THE ASSESSEE. HOWEVER, IN SO FAR AS THE INCOME IS CONCE RNED, NO SUCH ACCRUAL AS YET HAS TAKEN PLACE SINCE THE GOVERNMENT OF SUDAN HAS NOT A DMITTED ITS LIABILITY AND NO INCOME AS SUCH HAS ACCRUED. THUS IN VIEW OF THE JUD GMENT OF THE SUPREME COURT IN THE CASE OF E D SASSOON & CO. LTD. VS CIT REPORTED IN 26 ITR 27 UNLESS THE ITA NOS.3150 & 3208/DEL/2018 21 INCOME ACCRUES, SAID AMOUNT OF ADDITION MADE AGGREG ATING TO RS. 1,49,31,02,715/- AS INCLUDED BY THE A.O. CANNOT BE MADE THE BASIS TO DISALLOW THE CLAIM OF EXPENDITURE. 28. IN SO FAR AS THE AMOUNT OF RS. 1,49,31,02,715/ - (CORRECT AMOUNT RS.1,371.78 MILLION) IS CONCERNED, HE SUBMITTED THAT THE ASSESS EE HAS NOT YET RAISED ANY INVOICE ON THE GOVERNMENT OF SUDAN IN RESPECT OF ITS ADDITI ONAL INCOME. HOWEVER, IN RESPECT OF THE INCOME ACCRUING FOR THE YEAR AS A RE SULT OF CONTRACT ENTERED WITH GOVERNMENT OF SUDAN FOR THE EXECUTION OF MULTIPRODU CT PIPELINE FROM KHARTOUM REFINERY SUDAN TO PORT SUDAN HAS BEEN DULY RECOGNIZ ED BY THE ASSESSEE IN THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNTS WHICH AGGREGATES TO RS. 2,444.79 MILLIO N. REFERRING TO PAPER BOOK PAGE 28, HE DREW THE ATTENTION OF THE BENCH TO THE DETAILS WHICH ARE AS UNDER: (I) CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT REVENUE RS. 217 3.53 MILLION (APPEARING IN SCHEDULE 16) (II) LEASE INCOME RS.271.26 MILLION (APPEARING I N SCHEDULE 17) 29. HE ACCORDINGLY SUBMITTED THAT IN VIEW THEREOF T HERE WAS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR THE A.O. TO HAVE DISALLOWED THE CLAIM OF EXPENDITUR E WHICH HAS ACTUALLY BEEN INCURRED BY IT. THE CLAIM OF EXPENDITURE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN DISALLOWED MERELY ON THE GROUND THAT THE ASSESSEE HAS NOT RECOGNIZED THE REVENUE DESPITE THE FACT NO SUCH INCOME HAD ACCRUED. ACCORDING TO THE LD. AR IT IS T HE SETTLED LAW THAT EXPENDITURE IS TO BE ALLOWED IN THE YEAR IN WHICH IT INCURRED AND WHEREAS THE INCOME IS TO BE RECOGNIZED AS AND WHEN THE SAME ACCRUES. IN OTHER W ORDS, EXPENDITURE IS TO BE ITA NOS.3150 & 3208/DEL/2018 22 ALLOWED AS DEDUCTION IN THE YEAR WHEN THE SAME IS I NCURRED AND IN RESPECT OF WHICH INCOME IS RECOGNIZED ONLY WHEN THE SAME ACCRUES. 30. REFERRING TO THE DECISION OF THE HON'BLE DELHI HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF ADDL. CIT VS. RATTAN CHAND KAPOOR 149 ITR 1 (DEL), HE SUBMITTED THAT THE HON'BLE HIGH COURT HAS IN THE SAID DECISION HAS HELD THAT SINCE THE ENTRY MADE BY THE ASSESSEE ON THE BASIS OF A DEMAND AND NO DIFFERENT SYSTEM HAD B EEN PREVIOUSLY FOLLOWED BY HIM, THE ASSESSEE HAD ADOPTED A HYBRID SYSTEM OF ACCOUNT ING WHICH WAS OPEN TO HIM AND, HENCE, ON THE PRINCIPLE OF ACCOUNTANCY FOLLOWED BY THE ASSESSEE, THE AMOUNT WAS A DEDUCTIBLE EXPENDITURE FOR THE ASSESSMENT YEAR 1964 -65. 31. REFERRING TO THE DECISION OF THE HON'BLE MADRAS HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF CIT VS. COIMBATORE LAKSHMI INV. & FINANCE COMPANY L TD. REPORTED IN 331 ITR 229 (MAD) , HE SUBMITTED THAT IT HAS BEEN HELD THAT THE ASSES SEE HAD CLASSIFIED ITS ASSETS ON THE BASIS OF THE NOTIFICATION ISSUED BY THE RBI AND WAS JUSTIFIED IN NOT RECOGNIZING THE INCOME AS SUCH. IN THAT CASE, THER E WAS NO OCCASION TO CONSIDER THE PRINCIPLE OF ACCRUAL. RELYING ON VARIOUS OTHER DEC ISIONS, HE SUBMITTED THAT INCURRING OF EXPENDITURE U/S 37 AND ACCRUAL OF INCOME ARE NOT SAME CONCEPT. 32. HE SUBMITTED THAT PAYMENT HAS BEEN MADE OR NOT MADE IS NOT RELEVANT AND THE ASSESSEE HIMSELF HAS ADMITTED THE LIABILITY FOR CLA IMING THE SAME AS AN EXPENDITURE. IN THE PRESENT CASE, THE ASSESSEE, IN FACT, HAS ADM ITTED SUCH LIABILITY. REFERRING TO THE DECISION OF THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT IN THE CASE OF CALCUTTA COMPA NY LTD. VS. ITA NOS.3150 & 3208/DEL/2018 23 CIT, 37 ITR 1, HE SUBMITTED THAT THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT IN THE SAID DECISION HAS HELD THAT THE EXPRESSION PROFITS OR GAINS IN SECT ION 10(1) OF THE IT ACT HAS TO BE UNDERSTOOD IN ITS COMMERCIAL SENSE AND THERE CAN BE NO COMPUTATION OF SUCH PROFITS AND GAINS UNTIL THE EXPENDITURE WHICH IS NECESSARY FOR THE PURPOSE OF EARNING THE RECEIPTS IS DEDUCTED THEREFROM WHETHER THE EXPEND ITURE IS ACTUALLY INCURRED OR LIABILITY IN RESPECT THEREOF HAS ACCRUED EVEN THOUG H IT MAY HAVE TO BE DISCHARGED AT SOME FUTURE DATE. 33. REFERRING TO THE DECISION OF THE HON'BLE DELHI HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF AGGARWAL AND MODI ENTERPRISES (CINEMA PROJECT) CO. PVT. LTD. [2016]381 ITR 469 (DELHI), HE SUBMITTED THAT THE HON'BLE HIGH COURT IN THE SA ID DECISION HAS HELD THAT THE QUESTION WHETHER A LIABILITY IS ASCERTAINED OR CONTINGENT IS DEPENDENT ON FACTS OF EACH CASE. MERELY BECAUSE A LIABILITY MAY BE CONTR ACTUAL OR NON-STATUTORY THAT WOULD NOT MAKE IT INCAPABLE OF BEING ASCERTAINED. WHERE AN ASSESSEE FOLLOWS THE MERCANTILE SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTING, IT IS NOT NECESSAR Y THAT THE LIABILITY MUST HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN INCURRED DURING THE ASSESSMENT YEAR I N QUESTION TO ENABLE THE ASSESSEE TO CLAIM IT AS AN EXPENSE OR DEDUCTION AS THE CASE MAY BE. THE CRUX OF THE MATTER IS THE REASONABLE CERTAINTY WITH WHICH THE LIABILITY C AN BE ASCERTAINED. THE HON'BLE HIGH COURT ACCORDINGLY REVERSED THE DECISION OF THE TRIBUNAL AND ALLOWED THE ENTIRE LICENCE FEE AND INTEREST ON ARREARS OF LICENCE FEE AS DEDUCTIBLE. HE ALSO RELIED ON VARIOUS OTHER DECISIONS AS PLACED IN THE PAPER BOOK . 34. THE LD. DR, ON THE OTHER HAND, HEAVILY RELIED O N THE ORDER OF THE CIT(A). ITA NOS.3150 & 3208/DEL/2018 24 35. WE HAVE CONSIDERED THE RIVAL ARGUMENTS MADE BY BOTH THE SIDES, PERUSED ORDERS OF THE ASSESSING OFFICER AND CIT(A) AND THE PAPER BOOK FILED ON BEHALF OF THE ASSESSEE. WE HAVE ALSO CONSIDERED THE VARIOUS DECISIONS CITED BEFORE US. WE FIND THE EPC CONTRACTOR EXECUTING THE PROJECT ON BE HALF OF THE CONSORTIUM CLAIMED ADDITIONAL COSTS AGGREGATING TO RS.1659 MILLION FRO M THE ASSESSEE AND, CONSEQUENTLY, AN AMOUNT OF RS.1026.08 MILLION BEING THE ASSESSEES SHARE OUT OF RS.1140.08 MILLION AS APPROVED BY ONGC (CONSULTANT) WAS PROVIDED IN THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNT AND WAS CLAIMED AS AN EXPENDITURE IN THE RETURN OF INCOME. THE ASSESSEE FORWARDED THE COUNTER CLAIM TO ITS CUSTOMER, MEM AM OUNTING TO RS.1524.20 MILLION (ASSESSEES SHARE BEING RS.1371.78 MILLION) WHICH HAS NOT BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE MEM. THEREFORE, THE ASSESSEE DID NOT CONSIDER ANY REVENUE ON THIS ACCOUNT IN ITS BOOKS OF ACCOUNT ON THE GROUND THAT THE ASSESSE E CANNOT BE SAID TO HAVE ACQUIRED ANY RIGHT TO RECEIVE SUCH INCOME TILL THE TIME THE CLAIM IS ACCEPTED BY THE MEM. ACCORDING TO THE ASSESSING OFFICER, SINCE THE PROJE CT HAS BEEN COMPLETED IN THE RELEVANT ASSESSMENT YEAR, THE ASSESSEE ACQUIRED CER TAIN RIGHT TO RECEIVE SUCH AMOUNT FROM MEM AND THE SAME WAS TAXABLE IN THE HANDS OF T HE ASSESSEE ON ACCRUAL BASIS AND, ACCORDINGLY, MADE AN ADDITION OF RS.149.31 LAK HS TO THE TOTAL INCOME OF THE ASSESSEE. ALTERNATIVELY, HE HELD THAT IF THE ASSES SEES CLAIM OF TREATING THE REVENUE AS NON-TAXABLE ON ACCOUNT OF IT BEING UNASCERTAINED IS ACCEPTED IN APPEAL, THEN, THE PROVISION MADE BY THE ASSESSEE FOR THE EXPENSES TO THE EXTENT OF RS.1026.08 MILLION SHOULD BE DISALLOWED ON MATCHING PRINCIPLES AND ON THE SAME LOGIC AS PER EXCLUSION OF REVENUES. WE FIND IN APPEAL, THE LD.CIT(A) DELET ED THE ADDITION OF ITA NOS.3150 & 3208/DEL/2018 25 RS.1,49,31,000/- ON THE GROUND THAT THE REVENUE DID NOT ACCRUE OR ARISE IN THE HANDS OF THE ASSESSEE. HE, HOWEVER, ACCEPTED THE ALTERNA TE PLEA OF THE ASSESSING OFFICER ON THE GROUND THAT THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSES OF RS.10 26.08 MILLION PROVIDED AS EXPENDITURE BY THE ASSESSEE HAS TO BE DISALLOWED AS NO LIABILITY HAS ARISEN IN THE HANDS OF THE ASSESSEE. IT IS THE SUBMISSION OF THE LD. COUNSEL FOR THE ASSESSEE THAT IT IS FOLLOWING MERCANTILE SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTING. IT H AS ADMITTED THE LIABILITY IN ITS BOOKS OF ACCOUNT TOTALING TO RS.1026.08 MILLION AND PROVIDED FOR IN THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNT AFTER THE SAME WAS RECEIVED FROM THE EPC CO NTRACTOR. THEREFORE, SUCH EXPENDITURE WHICH IS AN ASCERTAINED LIABILITY AND W HICH HAS BEEN PROVIDED IN THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNT HAS TO BE ALLOWED AS EXPENDITURE. SO FAR AS THE COUNTER CLAIM MADE BY THE ASSESSEE AGAINST EPC CONTRACTOR IS CONCERNED , THEY HAVE NOT ACCEPTED THE SAME. THEREFORE, THE ASSESSEE HAS NOT CONSIDERED A NY REVENUE ON THIS ACCOUNT IN ITS BOOKS OF ACCOUNT SINCE THE ASSESSEE CANNOT BE SAID TO HAVE ACQUIRED ANY RIGHT TO RECEIVE SUCH INCOME TILL THE TIME THE CLAIM IS ACCE PTED BY MEM. IT IS THE SUBMISSION OF THE LD. DR THAT THE ASSESSEE CANNOT T AKE CONTRADICTORY STANDS I.E., CLAIM AN EXPENDITURE ON THE BASIS THAT HE HAS PROVI DED FOR THE SAME IN THE BOOKS AFTER ADMITTING THE SAME, BUT, WILL NOT SHOW THE RE VENUE IN ITS BOOKS OF ACCOUNT ON THE GROUND THE REVENUE DID NOT ACCRUE OR ARISE TO T HE ASSESSEE ESPECIALLY WHEN THE ASSESSEE IS FOLLOWING MERCANTILE SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTI NG. 36. WE FIND THE ASSESSEE, DURING THE YEAR UNDER CON SIDERATION HAS COMPLETED THE EXECUTION OF THE PIPELINE FROM KHARTOUM REFINERY TO PORT SUDAN. THE EPC ITA NOS.3150 & 3208/DEL/2018 26 CONTRACTOR EXECUTING THE PROJECT ON BEHALF OF THE C ONSORTIUM HAS CLAIMED ADDITIONAL COSTS AGGREGATING TO RS.1026.08 MILLION BEING THE S HARE OF THE COMPANY OUT OF RS.1140.08 MILLION AS APPROVED BY ONGC (CONSULTANT) WHICH HAS BEEN PROVIDED AS EXPENDITURE DURING THE YEAR. THE CLAIM FORWARDED B Y THE COMPANY HAS NOT BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE MEM FOR WHICH THE COMPANY HAS NOT C ONSIDERED ANY REVENUE IN THE P & L ACCOUNT. HOWEVER, IT HAS MADE A PROVISION FO R ADDITIONAL EXPENSES OF RS.1026.08 MILLION BEING THE COMPANYS SHARE IN THE CONSORTIUM. FROM THE FINDINGS GIVEN BY THE CIT(A), WE FIND THE ADDITIONAL COST OF RS.1659.00 MILLION COMPANYS SHARE BEING RS.1493.10 MILLION CLAIMED BY THE EPC C ONTRACTOR IS PENDING IN ARBITRATION IN ITS ENTIRETY. THE CLAIM OF THE EPC CONTRACTOR HAS NOT BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE ASSESSEE COMPANY. PART OF THE COST OF RS.1524.2 0 MILLION (COMPANYS SHARE BEING RS.1371.78 MILLION) CLAIMED BY THE COMPANY HA S BEEN FORWARDED TO MEM FOR THEIR APPROVAL. IT HAS BEEN CLARIFIED BEFORE THE C IT(A) THAT NO PAYMENT HAS BEEN MADE BY THE ASSESSEE COMPANY TO THE CONTRACTOR FOR WHICH THE LD.CIT(A) HAS GIVEN THE FINDING THAT NEITHER THE ADDITIONAL COST CLAIME D BY THE EPC CONTRACTOR HAS BEEN ACCEPTED NOR ANY PART OF IT HAS BEEN PAID. THEREFO RE, THE CIT(A) HELD THAT THE LIABILITY TOWARDS THE ADDITIONAL COST CLAIMED BY TH E EPC CONTRACTOR HAS NOT ARISEN TO THE COMPANY DURING THE RELEVANT YEAR. THUS, WE FIN D THAT WHILE CLAIM MADE BY THE ASSESSEE TO EPC CONTRACTOR HAS NOT BEEN ACCEPTED BY THEM, THE CLAIM MADE BY THE EPC CONTRACTOR AGAINST THE ASSESSEE TOWARDS ADDITIO NAL EXPENDITURE THOUGH ADMITTED BY THE ASSESSEE IN ITS BOOKS OF ACCOUNT IS UNDER LITIGATION AND NO AMOUNT HAS BEEN PAID. WE, THEREFORE, FIND MERIT IN THE FI NDINGS GIVEN BY THE LD.CIT(A) THAT ITA NOS.3150 & 3208/DEL/2018 27 THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSES OF RS.1026.08 MILLION PROVI DED AS EXPENDITURE BY THE ASSESSEE CALLS FOR DISALLOWANCE AS NO LIABILITY HAS ARISEN IN THE HANDS OF THE ASSESSEE AND SINCE THE REVENUE DID NOT ACCRUE OR ARISE IN TH E HANDS OF THE ASSESSEE, THEREFORE, THE ADDITION OF RS.1493.10 MILLION MADE BY THE ASSE SSING OFFICER CANNOT BE JUSTIFIED. WE ACCORDINGLY DISMISS THE GROUND OF AP PEAL NO.2 RAISED BY THE ASSESSEE AND THE GROUND NOS.6,7 AND 8 BY THE REVENUE. THE V ARIOUS DECISIONS RELIED ON BY THE LD. COUNSEL FOR THE ASSESSEE ARE DISTINGUISHABL E AND NOT APPLICABLE TO THE FACTS OF THE PRESENT CASE. IN OUR OPINION, THE APPROACH OF THE ASSESSEE SHOULD BE CONSISTENT BOTH FOR THE REVENUE AS WELL AS EXPENDITURE. THE AS SESSEE CANNOT TAKE ONE STAND FOR CLAIMING THE EXPENDITURE AS AN ALLOWABLE DEDUCTION AND, AT THE SAME TIME, DO NOT RECOGNIZE THE REVENUE. IN THE INSTANT CASE, SINCE THE CLAIM HAS NOT BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE EPC CONTRACTOR, THEREFORE, THE ADDITION MADE BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER IS NOT JUSTIFIED. AT THE SAME TIME, ALTHOUGH THE ASSESSEE HAS PROVIDED IN ITS PROFIT & LOSS ACCOUNT REGARDING THE ADDITIONAL CLAIM MADE BY THE EPC CONTRACTOR, HOWEVER, THE ASSESSEE HAS CHALLENGED THE SAME BEFORE THE ARBITRA TOR AND NO PAYMENT HAVING BEEN MADE AND THE SAME IS ALSO UNDER LITIGATION AND, THE REFORE, FOLLOWING MATCHING PRINCIPLE THE CLAIM OF ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURE MADE BY THE ASSESSEE IN ITS BOOKS OF ACCOUNT HAS TO BE DISALLOWED. WE ACCORDINGLY UPHOL D THE ORDER OF THE CIT(A) ON THIS ISSUE AND THE GROUNDS RAISED BY THE ASSESSEE A S WELL AS THE REVENUE ARE ACCORDINGLY DISMISSED. 37. GROUND OF APPEAL NO.5 BY THE REVENUE READS AS U NDER:- ITA NOS.3150 & 3208/DEL/2018 28 5. THE LD. CIT(A) HAS ERRED IN LAW AND ON FACTS BY IGNORING THE THOROUGH DISCUSSION MADE BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER, IN HIS OR DER REGARDING THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 37 AND SECTION 42 AND REASON TO WHY THE EXP ENSES SHALL BE CLAIMED U/S 42 OF THE ACT. 38. FACTS OF THE CASE, IN BRIEF, ARE THAT DURING TH E RELEVANT ASSESSMENT YEAR, THE ASSESSEE INCURRED EXPENSE OF RS.1,125,125,851 ON PU RCHASE OF SEISMIC DATA / SUBMISSION OF TENDERS OR BIDS ETC. FOR EVALUATION O F OIL BLOCKS PROPOSED TO BE ACQUIRED BY THE ASSESSEE AND CLAIMED THE SAME AS RE VENUE EXPENDITURE ALLOWABLE UNDER SECTION 37(1) OF THE ACT ON THE GROUND THAT T HE SAID EXPENDITURE WAS INCURRED FOR EXPANSION / EXTENSION OF THE EXISTING BUSINESS OF THE ASSESSEE. THE AO DISALLOWED THE CLAIM OF THE ASSESSEE AND HELD THAT AFORESAID EXPENDITURE MAY BE CLAIMED BY THE ASSESSEE AS DEDUCTION UNDER SECTION 42 OF THE ACT IN TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT IN THE SUBSEQUENT ASSESSMENT YEARS ONLY A FTER THE COMMENCEMENT OF COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION / ABANDONMENT OF THE RELEVANT PROJECTS. 39. IN APPEAL, THE LD.CIT(A) FOLLOWING THE ORDER OF THE TRIBUNAL IN ASSESSEES WON CASE FOR ASSESSMENT YEAR 2002-03, 2004-05 AND 2005- 06, DELETED THE ADDITION BY OBSERVING AS UNDER:- 7.5.1 GROUND NO. 5 OF APPEAL IS DIRECTED AGAINST DISALLOWANCE OF PRE- ACQUISITION EXPENSES OF RS 112,51,25,851/- CLAIMED BY THE APPELLANT UNDER SECTION 37 OF THE ACT BY HOLDING THAT THE SAME WAS ALLOWABLE DEDUCTION UNDER SECTION 42 OF THE ACT IN TERMS OF THE SECTION 42 AG REEMENT IN THE SUBSEQUENT ASSESSMENT YEARS ONLY AFTER THE COMMENCEMENT OF COM MERCIAL PRODUCTION / ABANDONMENT OF THE RELEVANT PROJECTS. DURING THE RE LEVANT ASSESSMENT YEAR, THE APPELLANT INCURRED AN EXPENSE OF RS. 112,51,25,851/ - AT THE TIME TO EVALUATION OF PROJECTS IN ACQUISITION AND PRE-BID PHASE. THE APPE LLANT CLAIMED ABOVE EXPENDITURE AS REVENUE EXPENDITURE ALLOWABLE UNDER SECTION 37(1) OF THE ACT ON THE GROUND THAT THE SAID EXPENDITURE WERE INCURRED FOR EXPANSION / EXTENSION OF THE EXISTING BUSINESS OF THE APPELLANT. THESE EXPEN SES INCLUDE EXPENSES INCURRED FOR FOREIGN BLOCK EVALUATION, FOR MAKING BID, LEGAL AND PROFESSIONAL FEES PAID TO ITA NOS.3150 & 3208/DEL/2018 29 LAWYERS AND CONSULTANTS, TRAVELLING, COMMUNICATION, BOARDING AND LODGING EXPENSES ETC. AO HELD THAT THE ABOVE CLAIM OF PRE-A CQUISITION EXPENSES U/S 37(1) TO THE EXTENT OF RS. 112,51,25,851/- IS NOT PROPER AS THE SAME IS ELIGIBLE U/S 42 AS PER THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT. THEREFORE, AO DISAL LOWED THE CLAIM BEING PREMATURE AND ERRONEOUS. 7.5.2 THE APPELLANT IS ENGAGED IN THE BUSINESS OF EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION OF OIL AND NATURAL GAS. THE EXPENSES ARE INCURRED O N SUBMISSION OF BIDS/ TENDERS, CONSULTANCY FEE PAID TO CONSULTANTS, PURCHASE AND E VALUATION OF SEISMIC DATA ETC. THE APPELLANT HAS INCURRED THE EXPENSES TO EVALUATE THE PROSPECTS OF PROPOSED ACQUISITION TO DETERMINE THE PROFITABILITY OF THE O IL BLOCK OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. EXPENSES ARE INCURRED ON SUBMISSION OF BIDS/ TENDER S, CONSULTANCY FEE PAID TO CONSULTANTS, PURCHASE AND EVALUATION OF SEISMIC DAT A ETC. THERE IS NO DISPUTE THAT THE AFORESAID EXPENDITURE HAS BEEN INCURRED BY THE APPELLANT FOR THE FURTHERANCE OF ITS BUSINESS AND EVALUATION OF NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR EARNING PROFITS. A PERUSAL OF THE NATURE OF THE EXPENSES INCURRED REVEAL THAT THE SAME ARE IN THE NATURE OF REVENUE EXPENSES INCURRED IN THE NORMAL COURSE OF B USINESS. IT IS ONLY THAT THE EXPENSES ARE INCURRED ON EVALUATION OF PROJECTS FOR ACQUISITION AND IN PRE-BID PHASE. THESE EXPENDITURE HAVE TO BE INCURRED BY THE APPELLANT IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER ANY PARTICIPATING INTEREST IS ACQUIRED BY T HE APPELLANT OR NOT. BY INCURRING THESE EXPENSES, THE APPELLANT EVALUATES T HE VIABILITY OF THE VARIOUS PROJECTS AND DECIDES WHETHER TO INVEST IN SUCH VENT URE OR NOT, WITHOUT WHICH THE APPELLANT MAY INCUR SEVERE LOSSES. AO ERRED IN DISA LLOWING THE PRE-ACQUISITION EXPENSES OF RS. 112,51,25,851/- CLAIMED UNDER SECTI ON 37 OF THE ACT BY HOLDING THAT THE SAME WERE ALLOWABLE AS DEDUCTION UNDER SEC TION 42 OF THE ACT IN THE SUBSEQUENT ASSESSMENT YEARS ONLY AFTER THE COMMENCE MENT OF COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION / ABANDONMENT OF THE RELEVANT PROJECTS. SECTION 42 AGREEMENT MAKES IT CLEAR THAT ONLY EXPENDITURE ON EXPLORATION ARE G OVERNED BY THE AGREEMENT. HOWEVER, IN THE PRESENT CASE, THE EXPENDITURE HAS N OT BEEN INCURRED ON EXPLORATION, RATHER THE EXPENDITURE HAS BEEN INCURR ED ON EVALUATING WHETHER A PROJECT IS VIABLE OR NOT. IN VIEW OF THE ABOVE, THE EXPENDITURE INCURRED BY THE APPELLANT ARE RELATABLE TO SECTION 37 OF THE ACT AN D NOT TO SEC 42 OF THE ACT. 7.5.3 SIMILAR ADDITIONS WAS MADE IN AY 2002-03 WHIC H WAS DELETED BY HONBLE 1TAT. IN AY 2004-05 AND AY 2005-06 SIMILAR ADDITIONS WAS DELETED BY ID. CIT(A) FOLLOWING THE DECISION OF HONBLE 1TAT. IN AY 2002-03 HONBLE ITAT IN ITA NO. 472/D/08 IN ITS DECISION DT. 30.10. 2009 WHILE ALLOWING THE CLAIM OF THE APPELLANT HELD: WITH REGARD TO DISALLOWING CLAIM OF EXPENSES OF RS .43.85 LACS INCURRED FOR PURCHASE AND EVALUATION OF THE SEISMIC DATA OF FOREIGN BLOCKS, ON THE PLEA OF SAME BEING CAPITAL IN NATURE, WE FOUND THAT ASSESSEE BEING ENGAGED IN THE BUSINESS OF EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTI ON OF HYDROCARBONS IN OTHER COUNTRIES TO AUGMENT THE OIL RESOURCES OF IND IA, IT WAS CONTINUOUSLY EVALUATING VARIOUS BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES BEFORE AC QUIRING A PARTICULAR FIELD/BLOCK. SINCE ALL THESE OPPORTUNITIES HAVE TO BE EVALUATED AND STUDIED ITA NOS.3150 & 3208/DEL/2018 30 BEFORE TAKING DECISION TO INVEST AND ENTER INTO A C ONTRACT, THE PROCESS OF EVALUATION OF THE BLOCK STARTED WITH SUBMITTING TEN DER FEE/DATA FEE ETC. AND THEN THE SEISMIC DATA HAD TO BE EVALUATED IN SE ISMIC PROCESSING CENTER. AFTER EVALUATING THE SAME, THE ASSESSEE WAS TO TAKE DECISION AS TO WHETHER INVESTMENTS TO BE MADE IN THE PROJECT OR NO T. THERE IS NO DISPUTE TO THE FACT THAT IN ALL INDUSTRIES AN ACTIVITY OF F URTHERANCE OF ITS BUSINESS OR EVALUATION OF BETTER PROFIT EARNING PROCESS IN O NE MANNER OR OTHER ARE UNDERTAKEN. EFFORTS TO EVALUATE THE PROSPECTS OF BE TTER EARNING PROFIT IS NOT A SEPARATE ACTIVITY BUT IS IN THE COURSE OF CON DUCT OF NORMAL DAY TO DAY BUSINESS. THESE EXPENDITURE CANNOT BE SAID TO B RING AN ENDURING BENEFIT TO THE BUSINESS NOR THE SAME CAN BE SAID AS INITIAL OUTLAY FOR EXPANSION OF BUSINESS. IN THE INSTANT CASE, THE EXP ENDITURE SO INCURRED BY THE ASSESSEE IS FOR FURTHERANCE OF ACTIVITIES UNDER TAKEN BY IT IN THE NORMAL COURSE OF ITS BUSINESS. THE SAME ARE INCURRED ON CO NTINUOUS BASIS FOR EVALUATION OF BUSINESS ACTIVITIES. IN VIEW OF THE D ECISION OF BOMBAY HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF ESSAR OIL LTD. - (2008) TIOL 5 30, SUCH EXPENDITURE IS TO BE ALLOWED AS REVENUE EXPENDITURE. HON'BLE I CALCUTTA HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF KESHORAM INDUSTRIES AND COTTON MILLS - 196 ITR 845 HELD THAT WHERE THE SETTING UP DOES NOT AMOUNT TO STARTI NG OF NEW BUSINESS BUT EXPANSION OR EXTENSION OF THE BUSINESS ALREADY BEIN G CARRIED ON BY THE ASSESSEE, EXPENSES IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH EXPANSIO N OR I EXTENSION OF THE BUSINESS MUST BE HELD TO BE DEDUCTIBLE AS REVEN UE EXPENSES. I ONE HAS TO CONSIDER PURPOSE OF THE EXPENDITURE AND ITS OBJECT AND EFFECT. ACCORDINGLY, IT WAS HELD THAT, EXPENSES PERTAINING TO EXPLORING FEASIBILITY OF EXPANSION OR EXTENSION OF BUSINESS ARE REVENUE E XPENDITURE AND NOT CAPITAL EXPENDITURE. THE EXPENDITURE SO INCURRED BY THE ASSESSEE WAS IN THE NORMAL COURSE OF BUSINESS OF EXPLORATION AND PR ODUCTION OF OIL, BEING REVENUE IN NATURE IS LIABLE TO BE ALLOWED AS A DEDU CTION. SIMILAR CLAIM WAS ALSO MADE BY THE ASSESSEE IN THE EARLIER YEAR. WE THEREFORE DIRECT THE AO TO ALLOW THE SAME AS REVENUE EXPENDITURE. AS WE HAVE ALLOWED GROUND NO. 3 TO 3.2, THE ALTERNATE GROUND NO. 3.3 A S TAKEN BY ASSESSEE BECOME ANFRACTUOUS. 16. THE EXPENDITURE OF RS.5.64 CRORES INCURRED ON P ROJECTS PENDING FINAL APPROVAL, EVEN THOUGH THE SAID EXPENDITURE WAS WRIT TEN OFF IN THE ACCOUNTS OVER A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS THE AO DISALLO WED THE SAME. WE HAVE CONSIDERED RIVAL CONTENTIONS. THE ASSESSEE IN THE INSTANT CASE HAS INCURRED EXPENSES RELATING TO PROJECT PENDING FINAL EVALUATION. THE ASSESSEE HAD MADE DISTINCTION BETWEEN CONTRACT PROJ ECTS FOR WHICH AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO AND THE BOARD APPROVED PR OJECTS I.E. PROJECTS FOR WHICH NO AGREEMENT/CONTRACT HAS BEEN ENTERED. T HE ASSESSEE USED TO CAPITALIZE EXPENDITURE INCURRED ON PROJECTS FOR WHI CH NO AGREEMENT/CONTRACT HAS BEEN ENTERED, HOWEVER, THE C OST OF SUCH PROJECTS WHICH ARE ABUNDANT WAS WRITTEN OFF OVER A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS IN THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNT OF THE ASSESSEE. THE ASSESSEE HAD CLAIMED THE EXPENSES PERTAINING TO ABANDONED PROJECT AS REVENUE EXPENSES . THE EXPENDITURE ITA NOS.3150 & 3208/DEL/2018 31 INCURRED FOR THIS PURPOSE WAS IN THE NATURE OF TRAV EL COST, MEETING AND CONFERENCE EXPENSES, DELEGATION, SALARIES AND PROFE SSIONAL FEES ETC. THESE EXPENDITURE WERE CLAIMED BY THE ASSESSEE IN ITS RET URN OF INCOME IN THE YEAR OF ITS INCURRENCE. THE ISSUE UNDER CONSIDERATI ON IS COVERED IN FAVOUR OF THE ASSESSEE BY THE ORDER OF BOMBAY HIGH COURT I N THE CASE OF CIT VS. ESSAR OIL LTD. 2008 TIOL 530 WHEREIN THE HIGH C OURT HAS OBSERVED THAT SUBMITTING TENDERS AND BIDS IN THE FIELD OF OI L EXPLORATION IS A HIGHLY SOPHISTICATED TECHNICAL TASK FOR WHICH THE ASSESSEE COMPANY HAD TO INCUR SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF EXPENDITURE BEFORE SUBMITTING ITS BID. IF THE ASSESSEE IS NOT SUCCESSFUL IN OBTAINING BID, SUCH E XPENDITURE IS ALLOWABLE AS REVENUE EXPENDITURE. AS THE ASSESSEE WAS CONTINU OUSLY IN THE BUSINESS OF EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION OF OIL, THE EXPENDITU RE SO INCURRED WAS IN THE NORMAL COURSE OF ITS BUSINESS, SUCH EXPENDITURE BEING REVENUE IN NATURE INCURRED FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXISTING EXPLORA TION AND PRODUCTION BUSINESS WAS REQUIRED TO BE ALLOWED U/S 37(1) OF TH E IT ACT. SIMILAR CLAIM WAS ALSO MADE BY THE ASSESSEE IN EARLIER YEAR S. ACCORDINGLY, WE DIRECT THE AO TO ALLOW THE SAME. IN VIEW OF THE ABOVE, LEGAL AND FACTUAL POSITION, T HE EXPENSES INCURRED ON SUBMISSION OF BIDS/ TENDERS, CONSULTANCY FEE PAID T O CONSULTANTS, PURCHASE AND EVALUATION OF SEISMIC DATA ETC ARE NORMAL BUSINESS EXPENDITURE OF THE APPELLANT AND ALLOWABLE UNDER SECTION 37 OF THE ACT AND PROVI SIONS OF SECTION 42 OF THE ACT ARE NOT APPLICABLE. THEREFORE, THE ADDITION MADE BY THE AO IS LEGALLY NOT SUSTAINABLE. THE APPEAL IS ALLOWED IN THIS GROUND. 40. AGGRIEVED WITH SUCH ORDER OF THE LD.CIT(A), THE REVENUE IS IN APPEAL BEFORE THE TRIBUNAL. 41. WE HAVE CONSIDERED THE RIVAL ARGUMENTS MADE BY BOTH THE SIDES AND PERUSED THE ORDERS OF THE AUTHORITIES BELOW. WE FIND THE L D.CIT(A), IN THE INSTANT CASE, FOLLOWING THE ORDER OF THE TRIBUNAL IN ASSESSEES O WN CASE FOR THE THREE PRECEDING YEARS, HAS DELETED THE ADDITION ON THE GROUND THAT THE EXPENSES INCURRED ON SUBMISSION OF BIDS/TENDERS, CONSULTANCY FEE PAID TO CONSULTANTS AND PURCHASE AND EVALUATION OF SEISMIC DATA ETC., ARE NORMAL BUSINES S EXPENDITURE OF THE ASSESSEE AND ALLOWABLE UNDER SECTION 37 OF THE ACT AND PROVISION S OF SECTION 42 OF THE ACT ARE ITA NOS.3150 & 3208/DEL/2018 32 NOT APPLICABLE. THE LD. DR COULD NOT CONTROVERT BY BRINGING ANY DISTINGUISHABLE FEATURES SO AS TO TAKE A DIFFERENT VIEW THAN THE VI E TAKEN BY THE TRIBUNAL WHICH HAS BEEN FOLLOWED BY THE CIT(A) WHILE DELETING THE ADDI TION. IN VIEW OF THE ABOVE, WE UPHOLD THE ORDER OF THE CIT(A) AND THE GROUND RAISE D BY THE REVENUE IS DISMISSED. 42. IN THE RESULT, THE APPEAL FILED BY THE AS SESSEE AS WELL AS BY THE REVENUE ARE DISMISSED. THE DECISION WAS PRONOUNCED IN THE OPEN COURT ON 0 1.07.2019. SD/- SD/- (KULDIP SINGH) (R.K. PANDA) JUDICIAL MEMBER ACCOUN TANT MEMFBER DATED: 01 ST JULY, 2019 DK COPY FORWARDED TO : 1. APPELLANT 2. RESPONDENT 3. CIT 4. CIT(A) 5. DR ASSTT. REGISTRAR, ITAT, NEW DELHI