DCIT, Cir-3(1), Kolkata, Kolkata V. M/s Saregama India Ltd, Kolkata

ITA 472/KOL/2017

• Counselvise Citation: [2020] 111 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 7468 (ITAT-KOLKATA)
• Duration Of Justice: 2 year(s) 10 month(s) 21 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 29-01-2020
• Appeal Filed By: Department
• Order Result: Dismissed
• Bench Allotted: B
• Next Hearing Date: 13-01-2020
• Assessment Year: 2005-2006
• Appeal Filed On: 09-03-2017
• Result in Favour of: Assessee
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Department Lawyers: RAM BILASH MEENA; DHRUBAJYOTI
• Assessee Lawyers: P JHUNJHUNWALA; J P KHETAN SENIOR
• Keywords: Capital asset; Earning of tax free income; Revenue expenditure; Capital expenditure; TDS; Rule 8D
• Section: 143(3); 14A; 37(1); 48; 13; 22

Judgement Text

, , IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL KOLKATA BENCH A KOLKATA BEFORE SHRI S.S.GODARA, JUDICIAL MEMBER AND DR. A.L. SAINI, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER ITA NO. 309, 310 & 312 / KOL / 2017 ASSESSMENT YEARS :2003-04, 2004-05 & 2010-11 M/S SAREGAMA INDIA LTD., 33, JESSORE ROAD, DUM DUM, KOLKATA-028 [ PAN NO. AAACT 9815 B ] V/S . DCIT, CIRCLE-3(1), AAYKAR BHAWVAN, 7 TH FLOOR, KOLKATA-700 069 /APPELLANT .. / RESPONDENT ITA NO.470 - 473/KOL/2017 ASSESSMENT YEARS : 2003-04 TO 2006-07 DCIT, CIRCLE-3(1), AAYKAR BHAWVAN, 4 TH FLOOR, ROOM NO. 19, P-7, KOLKATA-700 069 V/S . M/S SAREGAMA INDIA LTD., 33, JESSORE ROAD, DUM DUM, KOLKATA-028 [ PAN NO. AAACT 9815 B ] /APPELLANT .. / RESPONDENT /BY ASSESSEE SHRI J.P. KHETAN, SENIOR ADVOCATE & SHRI P. JHUNJHUNWALA, ADVOCATE /BY REVENUE SHRI RAM BILASH MEENA, CIT-DR & SHRI DHRUBAJYOTI ROY, JCIT-DR /DATE OF HEARING 13-01-2020 /DATE OF PRONOUNCEMENT 29-01-2020 / O R D E R PER S.S.GODARA, JUDICIAL MEMBER:- THE INSTANT BATCH OF SEVEN CASES PERTAINS TO A SIN GLE ASSESSEE M/S SAREGAMA INDIA LTD. FIRST TWO ASSESSMENT YEAR(S) 20 03-04 & 2004-05 INVOLVE ITA NOS.309-310, 312/K/17 & 470-473/K/17 A.YS. 0 3-04 TO 06-07 & 11-12 M/S SAREGAMA INDIA LTD. VS. DCIT, CIR-3(1), KOL PAGE 2 ASSESSEES AND REVENUES CROSS APPEAL(S) ITA NO.309 AND 470/KOL/2017 AND ITA NOS. 310 & 471/KOL/2017. ASSESSMENT YEAR(S) 200 5-06 AND 2006-07 CONTAIN LATTER APPEAL(S) ITA NO.S 472 & 473/KOL/201 7 AND ASSESSMENT YEAR 2010-11 INCLUDES TAXPAYERS APPEAL ITA NO.312/KOL/2 017, ARISING AGAINST THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (APPEALS)-22 KOLKATAS S EPARATE ORDERS; DATED 07.12.2016 ( FORMER TWO ), 08.12.2016 ( IN 3 RD AND 4 TH ) AND 09.12.2016 ( IN LAST ASSESSMENT YEAR ) PASSED IN CASE NO.S.155/CIT(A)-22/KOL/03-04/15-16 , 157/CIT(A)-22/KOL/04-05/15-16, 156/CIT(A)-22/KOL/10 -11/15-16, 160/CIT(A)- 22/KOL/01-02/15-16 & 163/CIT(A)-22/06-07/15-16,ASSE SSMENT YEAR-WISE; RESPECTIVELY RELEVANT PROCEEDINGS IN ALL CASES ARE U/S 143(3) OF THE INCOME TAX ACT, 1961; IN SHORT THE ACT. LEARNED SHRI J.P.KHETAN, SENIOR ADVOCATE / AUTHORIZ ED REPRESENTATIVE WITH SHRI P. JHUNJHUNWALA REPRESENTING ASSESSEE AND SHRI MEENA, LEARNED CIT-DR AND SHRI ROY APPEARING AT THE REVENU ES BEHEST. CASE FILE(S) PERUSED. 2. A COMBINED PERUSAL OF THE SEVEN APPEAL(S) SUGGES TS THAT VARIOUS ISSUES RAISED HEREIN ARE ALMOST IDENTICAL / INTER-CONNECTE D. THESE SEVEN APPEAL(S) ARE THEREFORE DISPOSED OF VIDE OUR INSTANT COMMON A DJUDICATION. WE PROCEED ASSESSMENT YEAR-WISE / ISSUE-WISE FOR TH E SAKE OF CONVENIENCE AND BREVITY. ASSESSMENT YEAR:2003-04:- 3. THE REVENUES SEVEN SUBSTANTIVE GROUNDS IN ITS A PPEAL ITA NO.470/KOL/2017 SEEK TO REVERSE THE CIT(A)S ACTION DELETING MINIMUM GUARANTEE ROYALTY PAYMENTS DISALLOWANCE ADDITION OF 19,62,00,000/-, RESTRICTING ADVERTISEMENT / SALES PROMOTION, CONSUL TANCY EXPENSES, OTHER AD HOC EXPENSES AND RECORDING EXPENSES INVOLVING VARYI NG SUMS FROM 10% ESTIMATED DISALLOWANCE MADE IN THE COURSE OF ASSESS MENT TO 2% IN LOWER APPELLATE PROCEEDINGS DELETING DISALLOWANCE OF TRAI NING AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES OF 1982,000/- BY TREATING IT UNDER REVENUE THAN CAPITA L HEAD AND SHORTAGE OF STOCK BREAKAGE ( PRE-RECORDED CASSETTES ) DISALLOWANCE OF 54 LAKHS; RESPECTIVELY MADE BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER D URING THE COURSE OF ITA NOS.309-310, 312/K/17 & 470-473/K/17 A.YS. 0 3-04 TO 06-07 & 11-12 M/S SAREGAMA INDIA LTD. VS. DCIT, CIR-3(1), KOL PAGE 3 ASSESSMENT. THE ASSESSEES CROSS-APPEAL ITA NO.309/KOL/2017 ALSO RAISES FOUR IDENTICAL ISSUES AS ARE IN REVENUES SUBSTANTI VE GROUNDS NO. 2 TO 5 SEEKING TO DELETE THE ENTIRE 2% ESTIMATED DISALLOWA NCE(S) AS WELL. 4. IT IN THIS BACKDROP OF PLEADINGS THAT WE COME TO REVENUES FIRST SUBSTANTIVE GROUND SEEKING TO REVIVE THE ASSESSING OFFICERS ACTION DISALLOWING THE ASSESSEES MINIMUM GUARANTEE ROYALT Y OF 19,62,00,000/- AS CAPITAL IN NATURE. THE CIT(A)S DETAILED DISCUSSION TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION THE ASSESSEES STAND ADOPTED THROUGHOUT AS WELL AS ASSE SSING OFFICERS FINDINGS WHILST DISALLOWING THE IMPUGNED CLAIM AS FOLLOWS:- 04. GROUND NO.1(A) TO 1(C) TAKEN BY THE APPELLANT-C OMPANY RELATE TO THE ACTION OF THE LD. AO IN DISALLOWING A SUM OF RS.19,62,00,000/- I NCURRED BY THE APPELLANT DURING THE YEAR ON ACCOUNT OF MG ROYALTY BY TREATING THE S AME AS CAPITAL EXPENDITURE. THE MATTER HAS BEEN DEALT WITH BY THE LD. AO AS UNDER: 1. M.G. ROYALTY: 'EXAMINATION OF COMPUTATION OF TOTAL INCOME ENCLOSE D WITH THE RETURN REVEAL THAT THE ASSESSEE HAS ADDED RS.32,72,15,567/- AS DE BITED TO P&L A/C. UNDER THE HEAD ROYALTIES AND SUBSEQUENTLY RS.34,50,15,567 /- HAVE BEEN DEDUCTED TO ARRIVE AT THE LOSS AS RETURNED BY THE ASSESSEE. THE ASSESSEE WAS ASKED TO FILE DETAILS WITH RESPECT TO THESE ITEMS AND IN COU RSE OF HEARING THE ASSESSEE SUBMITTED THAT ' OUT OF TOTAL DEDUCTED AMOUNT OF RS.34,50,15,567/-, RS.19,62,00,00/- IS MINIMUM GUARANTEED ROYALTY '. THE ASSESSEE WAS ASKED TO SUBMIT COPY OF AGREEMENT ALONG WITH NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF THE PARTIES IN RESPECT OF MINIMUM GUARANTEED ROYALTY AN D THE SAME WAS SUBMITTED ITS EXAMINATION REVEAL THAT THE ASSESSEE HAS ACQUIRED THE ABSOLUTE RIGHT OF PRODUCTION AND SALE OF CASSETTES, COMPACT DISC ETC. ITS NATURE APPEARED TO BE CAPITAL IN NATURE BECAUSE THIS PAYME NT IS ONE TIME CONTRACTUAL EXPENDITURE INCURRED FOR THE PURPOSE OF ACQUIRING T HE ABSOLUTE/MONOPOLY RIGHT. AS THE RIGHT WITH RESPECT TO PRODUCTION OF MUSIC CA SSETTES/CD IS A CAPITAL ASSET HENCE THE ASSESSEE WAS ASKED TO EXPLAIN AS TO WHY THE SAME SHOULD NOT BE DISALLOWED. THE ASSESSEE SUBMITTED REPLY ON 17.02.2006 - 'AS YOUR KIND SELF IS AWARE, THAT THE COMPANY IS ENGAGED INT ER-ALIA IN THE BUSINESS OF MANUFACTURE AND SALE OF AUDIO CASSETTES, CDS ETC. A ND ALSO IN PRODUCTION OF FILMS/TV SERIALS ETC. FOR THIS PURPOSE, THE COMPANY ENTERS INTO AGREEMENTS WITH VARIOUS PRODUCERS ETC. FOR PURCHASING THE RIGH T TO REPRODUCE FILM -MUSIC (HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS ' MUSIC ') ON PAYMENT OR ROYALTY. IT MAY BE PERTINENT TO MENTION THAT IN THE NATURE OF BUSINESS IN WHICH THE COMPANY IS ENGAGED, SUCH RIGHT TO REPRODUCE THE SELL MUSIC OBTAINED BY THE COMPANY UNDER THESE AGREEMENTS FROM THE RESPECTIVE PRODUCERS CONSTITUTE ITS BASIC RAW MATERIAL. IN SOME OF THE SAID AGREEMENT ENTERED BY THE COMPANY W ITH THE RESPECTIVE PRODUCERS, THE MUSIC IS PURCHASED ON THE TERMS THAT A MINIMUM GUARANTEED PAYMENT WOULD BE MADE TO THE PRODUCER TIFF A SPECIF IC SALE VOLUME IS REACHED. AFTER SUCH SPECIFIED SALE VOLUME, THE PRODUCERS ARE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE FURTHER ROYALTY DEPENDING ON THE SALE VOLUME ACHIEVED BY TH E COMPANY. FOR THE PURPOSE OF ITS ACCOUNTS, THE COMPANY CONSIS TENTLY TREATS AND AMORTIZES THE SAME OVER A FEW YEARS. IN THE PREVIOU S YEAR RELEVANT TO THE ITA NOS.309-310, 312/K/17 & 470-473/K/17 A.YS. 0 3-04 TO 06-07 & 11-12 M/S SAREGAMA INDIA LTD. VS. DCIT, CIR-3(1), KOL PAGE 4 A.Y.2003-04, THE COMPANY IN THE RETURN OF INCOME HA D CLAIMED RS.34,50,15,567/- BEING THE EXPENDITURE INCURRED ON ROYALTY USED WHOLLY AND EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF ITS BUSINESS. ON THE OTHER HAND, IN THE RETURN OF INCOME THE COMPANY HAD ADDED BACK THE ENTIRE AMOUNT OF RS.33,72,15,567/- DEBITED IN ITS PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT UNDER THE HE AD 'ROYALTY'. THE SAID CLAIM OF RS.34,50,15,567/- ALSO INCLUDED MG ROYALTY ACCRU ED DURING THE YEAR OF RS.19,62,00,000/-.THE SAID DETAILS ARE ALREADY FURN ISHED BEFORE YOUR KIND SELF UNDER THE COVER LETTER DATED 14TH NOVEMBER, 2005. AS EXPLAINED ABOVE, THE COMPANY'S BUSINESS IS THAT OF MANUFACTURING OF RECORDED MUSIC CASSETTE AND CDS WHICH IT SELLS TO T HE PUBLIC AT LARGE AND IN THE NORMAL COURSE OF ITS BUSINESS THE COMPANY REQUI RES MUSIC AS ITS RAW MATERIALS. SINCE THE COMPANY'S BUSINESS IT CONSIST OF REPRODUCING AND SELLING RECORDED MUSIC, THE MG ROYALTY PAYMENT FOR THE PURC HASE OF THE ORIGINAL MUSIC IS PAYMENT TOWARDS PURCHASE OF SUCH RAW MATER IAL. THE EXPENDITURE HAS BEEN INCURRED OUT OF BUSINESS NECESSITY AND FUR THER THE PAYMENT IS RELATED TO THE CONDUCT THE COMPANY'S BUSINESS THAT IT MUST BE REGARDED AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE PROFIT EARNING PROCESS AND NOT FOR ACQUISITION OF ANY RIGHT OF A PERMANENT CHARACTER. YOUR KIND SELF-ATTENTION IS ALSO DRAWN TO THE DECIS ION OF THE HON'BLE KOLKATA TRIBUNAL IN THE COMPANY'S OWN CASE FOR A.Y.1984-85 [REPORTED IN 48 ITO 145, 156, 157 (CA I)] WHEREIN THE HON'BLE ITAT HAS HELD THAT ' CONSIDERING THE NATURE OF THE ASSESSEE'S BUSINESS, MUSIC MUST BE TR EATED AS ITS RAW MATERIAL. THE ROYALTY PAYMENT IS THEREFORE IS DIREC TLY RELATED TO THE RAW MATERIAL. IT IS FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING THE RA W MATERIAL.. ... IN THE PRESENT CASE, APPLYING THE TEST LAID DOWN IN THE AF ORESAID DECISION, IT IS FOUND THAT THE ASSESSEE HAS TO OBTAIN MUSIC FOR THE PURPO SE OF ITS BUSINESS. THE ASSESSEE'S BUSINESS ITSELF CONSISTS OF PURCHASING O F MUSIC, REPRODUCING THE SAME IN GRAMOPHONE RECORD AND MUSIC CASSETTE AND SE LLING THEM TO THE PUBLIC. THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT ITSELF IN THE AFO RESAID DECISION HAS LAID DOWN THAT THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THE PARTICULAR EX PENDITURE IS CAPITAL OR REVENUE MUST BE DECIDED IN LARGE CONTEXT OF BUSINES S NECESSITY OR EXPEDIENCY. SINCE, THE ASSESSEE'S BUSINESS ITSELF C ONSTITUTE OF REPRODUCING AND SELLING RECORDED MUSIC, THE ROYALTY PAYMENT FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE ORIGINAL MUSIC, WHICH FORMS THE RAW MATERIAL, IS AN EXPENDITURE INCURRED OUT OF BUSINESS NECESSITY SUCH AS A SUGAR MANUFACTURE REQU IRE A SUGARCANE AS ITS RAW MATERIAL. THE PAYMENT IS SO RELATED TO THE COND UCT OF THE ASSESSEE'S BUSINESS THAT IT MUST BE REGARDED AS AN INTEGRAL PA RT OF THE PROFIT EARNING PROCESS AND NOT FOR ACQUISITION OF ANY ASSET OR ANY RIGHT OF A PERMANENT CHARACTER'. 'IT IS SUBMITTED THAT THE PRINCIPLE LAID DOWN BY TH E HON'BLE TRIBUNAL WOULD APPLY TO ALL PAYMENT FOR PURCHASE OF RAW MATE RIAL ( MUSIC ) IRRESPECTIVE OF THE DETERMINATION OF THE QUANTUM/MO DE/TERMS OF PAYMENT. ON PERUSAL OF THE ORDER OF THE HON'BLE ITA T, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE MUSIC IS THE RAW MATERIAL OF THE COMPANY AND PU RCHASING OF MUSIC IS MADE TO REPRODUCE THE SAME IN MUSIC CASSETTES, C DS FOR SELLING THEM TO THE PUBLIC. THE HON'BLE ITAT HAS ALSO COMPA RED THE SITUATION WITH A SUGAR MANUFACTURE WHO WOULD REQUIRE SUGARCAN E AS ITS RAW MATERIAL. SINCE PURCHASE OF SUGARCANE FOR THE MANUF ACTURE OF THE SUGAR ( I.E. FOR THE PRODUCTION ) IS A REVENUE EXPENDITURE, PURCHASE OF MUSIC FOR THE PURPOSE OF REPRODUCING THE SAME IN TH E MUSIC CASSETTE AND CDS WOULD ALSO BE A REVENUE EXPENDITURE. YOUR K IND SELF WOULD APPRECIATE THAT BY WHATEVER METHOD THE PAYMENT IS M ADE (I.E. IN THE ITA NOS.309-310, 312/K/17 & 470-473/K/17 A.YS. 0 3-04 TO 06-07 & 11-12 M/S SAREGAMA INDIA LTD. VS. DCIT, CIR-3(1), KOL PAGE 5 FORM OF MG ROYALTY TILL A SPECIFIED SALE AND THEN F URTHER ROYALTY ON ACHIEVING DIFFERENT SALES VOLUME), THE PAYMENT IS M ADE FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE MUSIC I.E. THE BASIS RAW MATERIAL A ND THEREFORE THE SAME SHOULD BE ALLOWED AS A REVENUE EXPENDITURE. WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO ABOVE, FACTUALLY IT IS ALSO SU BMITTED THAT THE ACTUAL SHELF LIFE OF THE MUSIC FOR WHICH EXPENDITURE BY WAY OF M G ROYALTY IS INCURRED BY THE COMPANY IS VERY SHORT ( BEING THREE TO SIX MONTHS REF: ANNEXURE 1 ) AND ACCORDINGLY, THE QUESTION OF ENDURING ADVANTAGE DER IVED BY THE COMPANY FROM PAYMENT MADE TOWARDS MG ROYALTY DOES NOT ARISE AT A LL. THE ABOVE CONTENTION OF THE ASSESSEE REGARDING CONS ISTENTLY TREATING THE MG ROYALTY AS REVENUE EXPENDITURE AGAINST THE PURCHASE OF RAW MATERIAL, NOT OF ENDURING BENEFIT AND OTHER CIRCUMSTANTIAL FACTS DOE S NOT ALTER THE REAL FACTS THAT THE ASSESSEE WILL DERIVE AND ENJOY THE BENEFIT S OF SUCH EXPENDITURE/INVESTMENT FOR A LONGER PERIOD INSTEAD OF LIMITED TO THE CONCERNED YEAR ONLY. IT IS TRUE THAT THE ASSESSEE HAS CONTEND ED THAT THE BENEFIT BY WAY OF SALE OF THESE PRODUCED MUSIC ARE LIMITED TO A SH ORTER PERIOD THOUGH NOT PROVED BY DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE DOES NOT EXTINGUISHE S ITS RIGHT/CLAIM OVER THE ACQUIRED RIGHT TO PRODUCE MUSIC AS PER AGREEMEN T ENTERED. EVEN IN THE AGREEMENT THERE IS NO CLAUSE OF SUCH EXTINCTION OF RIGHT. THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT IN THE CASE OF MEWAR SUGAR MILLS LTD. VS CIT REPORTED IN 87 ITR 400 HELD THAT PAYMENT FOR OBTAINING MONOPOLY/ABSOLUTE R IGHT IS A CAPITAL EXPENDITURE. IN THE INSTANT CASE, THE RATIO OF' JUD GMENT IS APPLICABLE BECAUSE THE PERSONS FROM WHERE/WHOM THE RIGHT HAS BEEN PURC HASED CANNOT RESALE THE RIGHT OVER IT TO OTHER PERSONS AND FOR IT M.G. ROYALTY FOR THE PRODUCTION OF FIXED NUMBER OF ASSETS AND ROYALTY FOR SUBSEQUENT N UMBER ARE PAYABLE/PAID. THE ASSESSEE IN ITS EXPLANATION ALSO TOOK SHELTER T O THE JUDGMENT OF THE HON'BLE JURISDICTIONAL ITAT, KOLKATA ( ITA NO.1528/CAL/89 ) AND IN ASSESSEE'S OWN CASE FOR A. Y .1984-85 WHEREIN IT HAS BEEN HELD THAT SUCH EXPENDITURE ON ACCOUNT OF ROYALTY IS IN THE NATURE OF REVENUE EXPE NDITURE AND ACCORDINGLY IT IS ALLOWABLE AS DEDUCTION WHILE COMPUTING THE TOTAL IN COME OF THE COMPANY UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE ACT BUT THIS JUDGMENT I S DISTINGUISHED IN AS THAT IT RELATES TO ROYALTY PAID AND NOT FOR M.G. ROYALTY PA ID FOR THE ACQUISITION OF MONOPOLY RIGHT. THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT IN THE CASE OF J.K. COTTO N MANUFACTURES LTD. VS. CIT 101 ITR 221 TO DETERMINE THE NATURE OF EXPENDITURE, SEVERAL TESTS THAT HAVE BEEN EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS BY THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT AS ALSO BY THE HIGH COURT, AND THEY MAY BRIEFLY BE FORMULATED AS FOLLOWS: (I) BRINGING INTO EXISTENCE AN ASSET OR ADVANTAGE O F ENDURING NATURE WOULD LEAD TO THE INFERENCE THAT THE EXPENDITURE DISBURSE D IS OF A CAPITAL NATURE. THESE TERMS, SUCH AS ' ASSET ' OR ' ADVANTAGE OF ENDURING NATURE ' ARE, HOWEVER, PURELY DESCRIPTIVE RATHER THAN DEFINITE AN D NO RULE OF UNIVERSAL APPLICATION CAN BE LAID DOWN. ULTIMATELY, THE QUEST ION WILL HAVE TO DEPEND ON THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF EACH CASE, NAMELY, Q UALITY AND QUANTUM OF THE AMOUNT, THE POSITION OF THE PARTIES, THE OBJECT OF THE TRANSACTION WHICH HAS IMPACT ON THE BUSINESS, THE NATURE OF TRADE FOR WHI CH THE EXPENDITURE IS INCURRED AND THE PURPOSE THEREOF, ETC. (II) AN ITEM OF DISBURSEMENT MAY BE REGARDED AS OF A CAPITAL NATURE WHEN IT IS RELATABLE TO FIXED ASSET OR CAPITAL, WHEREAS IF IT IS RELATED TO CIRCULATING CAPITAL OR STOCK-IN-TRADE IT WOULD BE TREATED AS REVENUE EX PENDITURE. ITA NOS.309-310, 312/K/17 & 470-473/K/17 A.YS. 0 3-04 TO 06-07 & 11-12 M/S SAREGAMA INDIA LTD. VS. DCIT, CIR-3(1), KOL PAGE 6 (III) EXPENDITURE RELATING TO FRAMEWORK OF BUSINESS IS GENERALLY CAPITAL EXPENDITURE. IN THE SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES, IF THE EXPENDITURE IS MADE FOR ACQUIRING OR BRINGING INTO EXISTENCE AN ASSET OR ADVANTAGE FOR THE ENDURING BE NEFIT OF THE BUSINESS, IT IS PROPERLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO CAPITAL AND IS OF THE NATU RE OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURE; IF, ON THE OTHER HAND, IT IS NOT MADE FOR THE PURPOSE OF BRING ING INTO EXISTENCE ANY SUCH ASSET OR ADVANTAGE BUT FOR RUNNING THE BUSINESS OF WORKING I T WITH A VIEW TO PRODUCE THE PROFITS, IT IS REVENUE EXPENDITURE. THIS VIEW HAS B EEN CONFIRMED BY SEVERAL DECISIONS DELIVERED BY THE HON'BLE APEX COURT AND OTHER HIGH COURT OF THE LAW. ASSAM BENGAL CEMENT CO. LTD. VS. CIT [1995] 27 ITR 34 (SC)/CIT VS. SHRI DIGVIJAY CEMENT CO. LTD. [1986] 159 ITR 253 (GUJ./LAKSHMIJI SUGAR MILLS CO. (P) LTD. VS. CIT [1971] 82 ITR 376 (SC)/CIT VS MENORA HOSIERY WORKS (P) LTD. [1977] 109 ITR 714 (BOM.)/PREMIER AUTOMOBILES LTD. VS. CIT [1984] 150 ITR 28 (BOM.)/CIT VS. PANIPAT WOOLLEN & GENERAL MILLS CO. LTD. [1976] 103 ITR 66 (SC)/CIT VS. AMALGAMATED JAM BAD SYNDICATE (P) LTD. [1979] 117 ITR 698 (CAL.)/CI T VS. D. MANDAL [1988] 41 TAXMAN 129 (CAL.)/CIT VS. ZOROASTER & CO. [1982] 13 3 ITR 559 (RAJ.)/HINDUSTAN ALUMINIUM CORPORATION LTD. VS. CIT [1983] 144 ITR 4 74 (CAL.)/GUJRAT MINERAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LTD. VS. CIT [-1983]143 ITR 822 (GUJ.). THE ABOVE ARGUMENT OF THE ASSESSEE IS NOT CONSIDERE D TO BE TENABLE WITH FOLLOWING OBSERVATIONS: 1. THE ASSESSEE HAS ACCEPTED THAT MG ROYALTY IS PA ID FOR ACQUIRING ABSOLUTE RIGHT FOR THE REPRODUCTION OF THE MUSIC CASSETTE/CC ON A PARTICULAR FILM AS PER AGREEMENT WITH VARIOUS PARTIES. HENCE, THE BENEFIT COMING TO THE ASSESSEE OUT OF INVESTMENT/EXPENDITURE IS A CAPITAL ASSET. 2. THE OBSERVATION/DECISION OF THE HON'BLE ITAT IN THE ASSESSEE'S CASE REFERRED ABOVE IS DISTINGUISHED BECAUSE IN THAT CAS E THE ISSUE CONSIDERED WAS ROYALTY AS A WHOLE BUT IN THE INSTANT CASE, IT IS, WITH RESPECT TO MINIMUM GUARANTEED ROYALTY WITHOUT WHICH THE ASSESSEE CANNO T PROCEED TO PRODUCE MUSIC/CASSETTES/CD ETC. AND THIS RIGHT CANNOT BE WI THDRAWN. THE GENERAL ROYALTY IS RELATED TO EXPENSES MADE AFTER THE PRODU CTION OF SPECIFIED NUMBER AS MENTIONED IN THE AGREEMENT. THE GENERAL ROYALTY MAY BE CONSIDERED OF REVENUE NATURE BECAUSE IT IS PAID AT A SPECIFIED RA TE ON SALES WHICH MEANS THAT THE AMOUNT OF ROYALTY IS VARIABLE WITH QUANTUM OF SALE BUT IN THIS CASE IT IS FIXED AND CONTRACTUAL AND THE COMPANY IS COMPETENT TO PRODUCE MUSIC ONLY AFTER ENTERING THE CONTRACT AND MAKING PAYMENT AT T HE INITIAL STAGE. IN OTHER WORDS, THE MG ROYALTY IS PURCHASE PRICE TO ACQUIRE THAT RIGHT. AGAIN, IT CAN BE INFERRED THAT EVEN IF NO PRODUCTION OF MUSIC/CASSET TE IS MADE EVEN THEN MG ROYALTY IS TO BE PAID BECAUSE WITHOUT MAKING THIS P AYMENT COMPANY IS NOT COMPETENT TO PRODUCE THE MUSIC CASSETTE/CD. IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE ABOVE JUDGMENT IS DISTING UISHED FROM THE INSTANT CASE AND IN VIEW OF THESE DISCUSSIONS, THE PAYMENT/INVESTMEN TS OF MG ROYALTY FOR RS.19,62,00,000/- IS CONSIDERED AS CAPITAL EXPENDIT URE AND THE SAME IS BEING ADDED TO THE TOTAL INCOME. [ADDITION: 19,62,00,000/-] 05 . DURING THE COURSE OF THE APPEAL, THE APPELLANT I LD. A.R FOR THE APPELLANT - COMPANY HAVE SUBMITTED AS FOLLOWS: ' NOS.1(A) -1(E): MINIMUM GUARANTEE ROYALTY: RS.19,62 ,00,000/- THE APPELLANT IS ENGAGED INTER-ALIA IN THE BUSINESS OF MANUFACTURING AND SALE OF MUSIC CASSETTES, COMPACT DISCS (CDS) ETC. AS STA TED ABOVE. FOR THIS PURPOSE, THE APPELLANT ENTERS INTO AGREEMENTS WITH VARIOUS PRODU CERS ETC. FOR PURCHASING THE RIGHT ITA NOS.309-310, 312/K/17 & 470-473/K/17 A.YS. 0 3-04 TO 06-07 & 11-12 M/S SAREGAMA INDIA LTD. VS. DCIT, CIR-3(1), KOL PAGE 7 TO REPRODUCE FILM-MUSIC (HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS ' MUSIC ') ON PAYMENT OF ROYALTY. UNDER THE TERMS OF THESE AGREEMENTS THE APPELLANT P URCHASES THE MUSIC, REPRODUCES IT IN CASSETTES AND COS AND SALE THE SAME TO THE PU BLIC AT LARGE. IT MAY BE PERTINENT TO MENTION THAT IN THE NATURE OF BUSINESS IN WHICH THE APPELLANT IS ENGAGED, SUCH RIGHT TO THE MUSIC OBTAINED BY THE APPELLANT UNDER THESE AGREEMENTS FROM THE RESPECTIVE PRODUCERS CONSTITUTES ITS BASIC RAW MATE RIAL. IN SOME OF THE AGREEMENTS ENTERED BY THE APPELLANT WITH THE RESPECTIVE PRODUCERS, THE MUSIC IS PURCHASED ON THE TERMS THAT A MINIMUM GUARANTEED PAYMENT (HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS ' MG ROYALTY ') WOULD BE MADE TO THE PRODUCERS TILL A SPECIFIC SALE VOLUME IS REACHED. AFTER SUCH SPECIFI ED SALE VOLUME, THE PRODUCERS ARE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE FURTHER ROYALTY DEPENDING ON TH E SALE VOLUME ACHIEVED BY THE COMPANY. COPY OF SUCH AGREEMENTS WITH THE PRODUCERS IS ENCLOSED HEREWITH ( PGS.1 - 114 ). FOR THE PURPOSE OF ITS ACCOUNTS, THE APPELLANT CONS ISTENTLY TREATS THE MG ROYALTY PAID DURING THE YEAR IN TERMS OF THE SAID AGREEMENTS AS DEFERRED REVENUE EXPENDITURE AND AMORTIZES THE SAME OVER A FEW YEARS. IN COMPUTING I TS INCOME UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE INCOME TAX ACT, THE APPELLANT HAD CLAIMED EX PENDITURE INCURRED ON ACCOUNT OF MG ROYALTY AMOUNTING TO RS.19,62,00,000/- AS REVENU E EXPENDITURE TO BE ALLOWED UNDER SECTION 37(1) OF THE ACT. IN ITS RETURN OF IN COME FOR THE YEAR UNDER APPEAL WHILE ARRIVING AT ITS INCOME CHARGEABLE TO TAX UNDER THE PROVISION OF THE ACT OTHER THAN SECTION 115JB, THE APPELLANT ADDED BACK THE ENTIRE AMOUNT OF RS.33,72,15,567/- DEBITED IN ITS PROFIT & LOSS A/C. UNDER THE ACCOUNT -HEAD ' ROYALTY ' AND CLAIMED DEDUCTION OF AN AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF RS.34,50,15,567 /- WHICH RELATED TO ROYALTY ACCRUED DURING THE YEAR. THE SAID AMOUNT INCLUDED M G ROYALTY OF RS.19,62,00,000/- ACCRUED DURING THE YEAR UNDER APPEAL. A COPY OF THE COMPUTATION ANNEXED WITH THE RETURN ( PG. 115 ). ON SPECIFIC QUERY RAISED BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER D URING THE COURSE OF THE ASSESSMENT PROCEEDINGS, THE APPELLANT DULY FURNISHE D COPIES OF AGREEMENTS OF MG ROYALTY AND EXPLAINED ITS CONTENTION TOWARDS ALLOW ABILITY OF SUCH MG ROYALTY AS REVENUE EXPENDITURE WHILE COMPUTING ITS INCOME CHAR GEABLE TO TAX. THE ASSESSING OFFICER HOWEVER REJECTED THE CONTENTION OF THE APPE LLANT BY HOLDING THAT THE EXPENDITURE INCURRED TOWARDS MG ROYALTY IS A CAPITA L EXPENDITURE AS THE SAME HAS BEEN INCURRED TO ACQUIRE THE ABSOLUTE RIGHT FOR REP RODUCTION AND SALE OF CASSETTES. THE APPELLANT DOES NOT AGREE WITH THE AFORESAID ACT ION OF THE ASSESSING OFFICER FOR REASONS STATED HEREIN BELOW - AT THE OUTSET WE WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT THAT THE SAID ISSUE HAS BEEN DECIDED BY YOUR KIND SELF IN FAVOUR OF THE APPELLANT IN ASSESSMENT YEAR 2002-03 . YOUR KIND SELF IN THE SAID ORDER HAS HELD THAT MG ROYALT Y IS ALLOWABLE AS REVENUE EXPENDITURE. COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 02-08-2005 FOR ASSESSMENT YEAR 2002-03 IS ATTACHED (PGS. 116-125). FURTHER WE WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT AS FOLLOWS: (I) RAW MATERIAL IS MUSIC: THE APPELLANT'S BUSINESS IS THAT OF MANUFACTURING OF RECORDED MUSIC CASSETTES AND COS WHICH IT SELLS TO THE PUBLIC AT LARGE AND IN THE NORMAL COURSE OF ITS BUSINESS THE APPELLANT REQ UIRES MUSIC AS ITS RAW MATERIAL. SUCH MUSIC IS OBTAINED FROM VARIOUS SOURC ES INCLUDING THROUGH THE SUBJECT AGREEMENTS UNDER WHICH THE RIGHT TO REPRODU CE MUSIC IS TRANSFERRED AND ASSIGNED TO THE APPELLANT BY THE RESPECTIVE PRO DUCERS. SINCE THE APPELLANT'S BUSINESS ITSELF CONSISTS OF REPRODUCING AND SELLING RECORDED MUSIC, THE MG ROYALTY PAYMENT FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE ORIG INAL MUSIC IS PAYMENT TOWARDS PURCHASE OF SUCH RAW MATERIAL. THE EXPENDIT URE HAS BEEN INCURRED OUT OF BUSINESS NECESSITY AND FURTHER THE PAYMENT I S RELATED TO THE CONDUCT OF ITA NOS.309-310, 312/K/17 & 470-473/K/17 A.YS. 0 3-04 TO 06-07 & 11-12 M/S SAREGAMA INDIA LTD. VS. DCIT, CIR-3(1), KOL PAGE 8 THE APPELLANT'S BUSINESS THAT IT MUST BE REGARDED A S AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE PROFIT EARNING PROCESS AND NOT FOR ACQUISITION OF A NY ASSET OR ANY RIGHT OF A PERMANENT CHARACTER. THE LEARNED CIT(APPEALS) MAY KINDLY NOTE THAT THE I SSUE IN HAND IS SQUARELY COVERED IN FAVOUR OF THE ASSESSEE BY THE DECISION O F THE HON'BLE KOLKATA TRIBUNAL IN THE ASSESSEE'S OWN CASE FOR ASSESSMENT YEAR 1984-85 . A COPY OF THE SAID ORDER OF THE KOLKATA TRIBUNAL BEARING ITA. NO. 1528/CA1/89 DATED 13TH JULY, 1993 IS ENCLOSED HEREWITH ( PGS, 126-144 ). ATTENTION OF THE LEARNED CIT(APPEALS) IS DRAWN TO T HE DECISION OF THE HON'BLE KOLKATA TRIBUNAL IN THE APPELLANT'S OWN CASE FOR ASSESSMENT YEAR 1984 - 85 WHEREIN IT HAS BEEN HELD AT PAGES 15 - 16 & 17 ( PGS. 140-142 ) THAT 'CONSIDERING THE NATURE OF THE ASSESSEE'S BUSINESS, MUSIC MUST BE TREATED AS ITS R AW- MATERIAL. THE ROYALTY PAYMENT IS THEREFORE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE RAW-MA TERIAL. IT IS FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING THE RAW MATERIAL. IN THE PRESENT CASE, AP PLYING THE TEST LAID DOWN IN THE AFORESAID DECISION, IT IS FOUND THAT THE ASSESSEE H AS TO OBTAIN MUSIC FOR THE PURPOSE OF ITS BUSINESS. THE ASSESSEE'S BUSINESS ITSELF CON SISTS OF PURCHASING OF MUSIC, REPRODUCING THE SAME IN GRAMOPHONE RECORDS AND MUSI C CASSETTES AND SELLING THEM TO THE PUBLIC. THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT ITSELF IN THE AFORESAID DECISION HAS LAID DOWN THAT THE QUESTION WHETHER A PARTICULAR EXPENDI TURE IS CAPITAL OR REVENUE MUST BE DECIDED IN THE LARGER CONTEXT OF BUSINESS NECESSITY OR EXPEDIENCY. SINCE THE ASSESSEE'S BUSINESS ITSELF CONSISTS OF REPRODUCING AND SELLING RECORDED MUSIC, THE ROYALTY PAYMENT FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE ORIGINAL MU SIC, WHICH FORMS THE RAW MATERIAL, IS AN EXPENDITURE INCURRED OUT OF BUSINESS NECESSIT Y JUST AS A SUGAR MANUFACTURER WOULD REQUIRE SUGARCANE AS ITS RAW MATERIAL. THE PA YMENT IS SO RELATED TO THE CONDUCT OF THE ASSESSEE'S BUSINESS THAT IT MUST BE REGARDED AS IN INTEGRAL PART OF THE PROFIT EARNING PROCESS AND NOT FOR ACQUISITION OF A NY ASSET OR ANY RIGHT OF A PERMANENT CHARACTER.' THE LEARNED CIT (APPEALS) ATTENTION IS DRAWN TO PAG E 13 (PG. 138) OF THE AFORESAID HON'BLE TRIBUNAL'S ORDER WHERE THE AGREEMENT BASED ON WHICH THE ROYALTY PAID HAS BEEN STATED AT PARAGRAPH 11 . THE SAID PARAGRAPH READ AS FOLLOWS - 'THE AGREEMENT WITH THE PRODUCERS OF FILMS FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING THE COPYRIGHT IN THE FILM SONGS AND MUSIC OF THE ORIGIN AL SOUND TRACK ALSO CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING CLAUSE: (3)(A) THE PRODUCER HEREBY ASSIGNS AND TRANSFERS AN D AGREES TO ASSIGN AND TRANSFER TO THE COMPANY ABSOLUTELY AND BENEFICIALLY FOR THE WORLD:- (I) THE COPYRIGHT FOR MAKING RECORDS OF ALL CONTRAC T WORKS WHICH ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE COMPANY UNDER THE TERMS OF THIS AG REEMENT AND THE COPYRIGHT, PERFORMING RIGHT AND ALL OTHER RIGHTS TI TLE AND INTEREST IN AND TO THE LITERARY DRAMATIC AND MUSICAL WORKS EMBODIED IN THE PRODUCER'S FILMS INCLUDING ALL RIGHTS OF PUBLICATION, SOUND AND TELE VISION BROADCASTING PUBLIC PERFORMANCE AND MECHANICAL REPRODUCTION OF THE SAID WORKS. (II) THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO MAKE OR AUTHOR ISE THE MAKING OF ANY RECORD EMBODYING THE CONTRACT RECORDINGS, EITHER ALONE OR TOGETHER WITH ANY OTHER RECORDINGS ..... ' ON PERUSAL OF THE SAID CLAUSE OF THE AGREEMENT STAT ED HEREINABOVE, THE LEARNED CIT(APPEALS) WOULD APPRECIATE THAT IN THE CASE BEFO RE THE HON'BLE KOLKATA TRIBUNAL IN APPELLANT'S OWN CASE FOR EARLIER YEAR, THE COPYRIGH T AND RIGHTS WERE TRANSFERRED AND ITA NOS.309-310, 312/K/17 & 470-473/K/17 A.YS. 0 3-04 TO 06-07 & 11-12 M/S SAREGAMA INDIA LTD. VS. DCIT, CIR-3(1), KOL PAGE 9 ASSIGNED BY THE PRODUCERS TO THE COMPANY AS HAS BEE N DONE IN THE PRESENT CASE. CONSIDERING ALL THESE FACTS, THE HON'BLE TRIBUNAL H ELD THAT ROYALTY PAID FOR PURCHASING OF MUSIC WAS TO BE ALLOWED AS REVENUE EXPENDITURE A S THE SAID MUSIC WAS USED AS RAW MATERIAL IN ASSESSEE'S BUSINESS. THE HON'BLE TR IBUNAL HAS HELD THAT THE PAYMENT IS SO RELATED TO THE CONDUCT OF THE ASSESSEE'S BUSI NESS THAT IT MUST BE REGARDED AS IN INTEGRAL PART OF THE PROFIT EARNING PROCESS AND NOT FOR ACQUISITION OF ANY ASSET OR ANY RIGHT OF A PERMANENT CHARACTER. IT IS SUBMITTED THA T THE PRINCIPLE LAID DOWN BY THE HON'BLE TRIBUNAL WOULD APPLY TO ALL PAYMENTS FOR PU RCHASE OF RAW MATERIAL. IT MAY BE PERTINENT TO MENTION THAT THE SAID DECISI ON OF THE HON'BLE KOIKATA TRIBUNAL HAS ATTAINED FINALITY AS NO APPEAL WAS PREFERRED BY THE REVENUE AUTHORITIES AGAINST SUBSEQUENT REJECTION OF ITS REFERENCE APPLICATION U NDER SECTION 256(2) OF THE ACT BY THE HON'BLE CALCUTTA HIGH COURT. IT IS SUBMITTED TH AT AS THE DEPARTMENT HAS ACCEPTED THE DECISION OF THE HON'BLE TRIBUNAL, IT IS NOT OPE N TO THE DEPARTMENT TO AGITATE ON THE SAME ISSUE AGAIN WITHOUT JUST CAUSE. RELIANCE IN TH IS REGARD IS PLACED ON THE DECISIONS OF THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT IN BERGER PAINTS INDIA LTD. VS. CIT [266 ITR 99 (SC.) ], CIT VS. SHIVSAGAR ESTATE [257 ITR 59 (SC.) ] AND CIT VS. NARENDRA DOSHI [254 ITR 606 (SC.) ] WHEREIN IT HAS BEEN HELD THAT IF THE REVENUE HAS NOT CHALLENGED THE CORRECTNESS OF THE LAW AND HAS ACCEP TED IT, THEN IT IS NOT OPEN TO THE REVENUE TO CHALLENGE ITS CORRECTNESS WITHOUT JUST C AUSE. ON PERUSAL OF THE ORDER OF THE HON'BLE TRIBUNAL, IT IS CLEAR THAT MUSIC IS A RAW MATERIAL OF THE ASSESSEE COMPANY AND PURCHASING OF MUSIC (RA W MATERIAL) IS MADE TO REPRODUCE THE SAME IN MUSIC CASSETTES AND CDS FOR S ELLING THEM TO THE PUBLIC. THE HON'BLE TRIBUNAL HAS ALSO COMPARED THE SITUATION WI TH A SUGAR MANUFACTURER WHO WOULD REQUIRE SUGARCANE AS ITS RAW MATERIAL. SINCE PURCHASE OF SUGARCANE FOR THE PURPOSE OF MANUFACTURE OF SUGAR (I.E. FOR THE PRODU CTION) IS A REVENUE EXPENDITURE, PURCHASE OF MUSIC FOR THE PURPOSE OF REPRODUCING TH E SAME IN THE MUSIC CASSETTES AND CDS WOULD ALSO BE REVENUE EXPENDITURE. THE LEAR NED CIT (APPEALS) WOULD APPRECIATE THAT BY WHATEVER METHOD THE PAYMENT IS M ADE (I.E. IN THE FORM OF MG ROYALTY TILL A SPECIFIED SALE AND THEN FURTHER ROYA LTY ON ACHIEVING DIFFERENT SALES VOLUME), THE PAYMENT IS MADE FOR THE PURCHASE OF TH E MUSIC I.E. THE BASK RAW MATERIAL AND THEREFORE THE SAME SHOULD BE ALLOWED A S REVENUE EXPENDITURE. MOREOVER, THE ASSESSING OFFICER HAD CONTRADICTED TO HIS OWN STAND BY HOLDING THAT ' SO FAR AS GENERAL ROYALTY IS CONCERNED THIS EXPENDI TURE IS OF REVENUE NATURE ' (BY GENERAL ROYALTY, HE MEANT THAT ROYALTY WHICH IS PAID AFTER ACHIEVING THE SALES VOLUME UP TO WHICH MG ROYALTY IS PAID) WITHOUT APPR ECIATING THE FACT THAT THE ENTIRE AMOUNT WHICH IS BEING PAID TO THE PRODUCER IN THE F ORM OF MG ROYALTY AND OTHER ROYALTIES, IS THE PURCHASE PRICE OF ' MUSIC ' WHICH IS THE RAW MATERIAL. IF A PART OF THE PURCHASE PRICE (OTHER ROYALTIES) IS ALLOWABLE AS RE VENUE EXPENDITURE AS HELD BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER, ANOTHER PART (MG ROYALTY) SHOULD ALSO BE REVENUE EXPENDITURE. IT IS SUBMITTED THAT A PART OF THE PURCHASE PRICE OF R AW MATERIAL CANNOT BE TREATED AS CAPITAL AND ANOTHER PART AS REVENUE. IN THIS CONNEC TION IT MAY BE HUMBLY POINTED OUT THAT THE ASSESSING OFFICER HAS FAILED TO UNDERSTOOD THE PRINCIPLE LAID DOWN BY THE HON'BLE TRIBUNAL IN APPELLANT'S OWN CASE (I.E. MUSI C IS THE RAW MATERIAL TO APPELLANT'S BUSINESS AND BASED ON THIS FACT ROYALTY PAID FOR PU RCHASING THE MUSIC WAS ALLOWABLE) AND THEREFORE HAS WRONGLY COMMENTED THAT THE SAID D ECISION OF THE HON'BLE TRIBUNAL IS NOT APPLICABLE TO THE INSTANT CASE. THE ATTENTION OF THE LEARNED CIT(APPEALS) IS DRAWN TO THE DECISION OF THE HON'BLE MUMBAI TRIBUNAL RENDERED IN THE CASE OF TIPS CASSETTES & RECORD CO. VS. ACIT [76 TTJ 396,(MUM.) ] APPLYING THE PRINCIPLES LAID DOWN BY THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT IN EMPIRE JUTE CO. LTD. VS. CIT [124 ITR 1 (SC.) ] AND ALEMBIC CHEMICAL WORKS LTD. VS, CIT [177 ITR 377 (SC.)] IT HAS BEEN HELD THAT P AYMENT MADE BY ASSESSEE, A ITA NOS.309-310, 312/K/17 & 470-473/K/17 A.YS. 0 3-04 TO 06-07 & 11-12 M/S SAREGAMA INDIA LTD. VS. DCIT, CIR-3(1), KOL PAGE 10 MANUFACTURER AND SELLER OF AUDIO CASSETTES AND COS FOR ACQUIRING COPYRIGHTS OF ORIGINAL SOUND-TRACKS OF FILMS BY ASSIGNMENT FROM F ILM PRODUCERS FOR A FIXED SUM BEING PAYMENT FOR PROCUREMENT OF RAW MATERIAL WAS R EVENUE EXPENDITURE. IT MAY BE KINDLY NOTED THAT IN THE AFORESAID CASE BEFORE THE HON'BLE MUMBAI TRIBUNAL, THE ASSESSEE WAS MANUFACTURER OF AUDIO CASSETTES AND CD S AND ACQUIRED SOUND TRACKS COMMONLY KNOWN AS ' AUDIO RIGHTS ' FROM PRODUCERS AND FOR CONSIDERATION THE COPYRIGHTS OWNED BY THE FILM PRODUCERS WERE ASSIGNE D TO THE ASSESSEE BY WAY OF WRITTEN AGREEMENTS. WHILE DECIDING THE ISSUE, THE H ON'BLE MUMBAI TRIBUNAL HAD REFERRED TO THE DECISION OF THE HON'BLE SUPREME COU RT IN R.B.SETH MULCHAND SUGANCHAND VS. CIT [86 ITR 647 (SC.)] WHERE THE CAS E WAS THAT OF N1IPING LEASES WHERE MINERALS ARE PART OF THE LAND AND HAVE TO BE WON, EXTRACTED AND BROUGHT TO THE SURFACE, EXPENDITURE FOR ACQUIRING THE RIGHT OVER O R IN THE LAND TO WIN THE MINERALS WOULD BE OF CAPITAL NATURE. IT WAS ALSO HELD THAT H OWEVER, THE MINERAL HAS ALREADY BEEN GOTTEN AND IS ON THE SURFACE, EXPENDITURE INCU RRED FOR OBTAINING THE RIGHT TO ACQUIRE THE RAW MATERIALS I.E. WOULD BE REVENUE EXP ENDITURE. THE HON'BLE MUMBAI TRIBUNAL HELD THAT IN THE CASE OF PRODUCTION OF AUD IO CASSETTES THE MASTER CASSETTE REPRESENTS THE ORIGINAL SOUND MUSIC IS LIKE THE MIN ERAL WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN GOTTEN ON THE SURFACE. THE ASSESSEE HAD INCURRED EXPENDITU RE FOR OBTAINING THE RIGHT TO ACQUIRE THIS MUSIC I.E. RAW MATERIAL AND THEREFORE APPLYING THE PRINCIPLE LAID DOWN BY THE SUPREME COURT THE SAID EXPENDITURE WAS HELD TO BE REVENUE IN NATURE. REFERENCE IN THIS REGARD IS ALSO MADE TO THE DECISI ON OF THE HON'BLE DELHI TRIBUNAL IN SUPER CASSETTES INDUSTRIES (P) LTD. VS. CIT [ 41 ITD 530 (DEL) WHERE BESIDES MAKING PAYMENT OF ROYALTY SOME INITIAL PAYMENTS WAS ALSO M ADE WHICH HAS ALSO BEEN TREATED AS REVENUE EXPENDITURE ON THE GROUND THAT THE PAYME NT WAS MADE TO OBTAIN RAW MATERIAL FOR THE BUSINESS OF THE ASSESSEE. IT WAS H ELD THAT THE ' MASTER PLATE ' COULD BE TERMED AS RAW MATERIAL AND THE ACTIVITY OF THE A SSESSEE WAS ABSOLUTELY THAT OF JOBBER. THE PLATE IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD NOT BE TERMED TO BE CAPITAL IN NATURE. IN PARA 11 OF THE ORDER IT IS MENTIONED THAT: ' THE INITIAL PAYMENT OF LUMP SUM ALSO DOES NOT CHANGE ITS BASIC CHARACTER AS ELUCIDATED A BOVE . ' THE ATTENTION OF THE LEARNED CIT (APPEALS) IS DRAWN TO THE DECISION OF THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT RENDERED IN GOTAN LIME SYNDICATE VS. CIT [ 59 ITR 718 (SC.) ] WHEREIN IT HAS BEEN HELD THAT THE REASON WHY THE RO YALTY HAS TO BE ALLOWED AS A REVENUE EXPENDITURE IS THE RELATION WHICH IT HAS TO THE RAW MATERIAL TO BE EXCAVATED OR EXTRACTED: THE MORE IT IS TAKEN THE MORE ROYALTY IS PAID AND THE MINIMUM PAYMENT OR THE DEAD RENT ALSO HAVE THE SAME CHARACTERISTIC. THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT IN THE SAID DECISION OF GOTAN LIME (SUPRA) HAS ALSO HE LD THAT ' ON THE FACTS OF THIS CASE, WE MUST HOLD THAT THE ROYALTY PAYMENT, INCLUD ING THE DEAD-RENT, HAVE RELATION ONLY TO THE LIME DEPOSITS TO BE GOT. WE, T HEREFORE, HOLD THAT THE YEARLY PAYMENT OF RS.96,000/- SHOULD BE TREATED AS REVENUE EXPENDITURE '. THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT IN GOTAN LIME SYNDICATE ( SUPRA.) FOLLOWED ANOTHER SUPREME COURT DECISION IN THE CASE OF ABDUL KAYOOM VS. CIT [ 44 ITR 689(SC.) ] WHEREIN IT HAS BEEN HELD THAT IT IS NOT THE LAW IN EVERY CASE, THAT IF AN ENDURING ADVANTAGE IS OBTAINED THE EXPENDITURE FOR SECURING IT MUST BE TREATED AS CAPITAL EXPENDITURE, FOR N IN THE ORDINARY CASE, THE COST O F THE MATERIAL WORKED UP IN A MANUFACTORY IS NOT A CAPITAL EXPENDITURE, IT IS A C URRENT EXPENDITURE, AND DOES NOT BECOME A CAPITAL EXPENDITURE MERELY BECAUSE THE MAT ERIAL IS PROVIDED BY SOMETHING LIKE A FORWARD CONTRACT, UNDER WHICH A PERSON FOR T HE PAYMENT OF LUMP SUM DOWN SECURES SUPPLY OF THE RAW MATERIAL FOR A PERIOD EXT ENDING OVER SEVERAL YEARS. IT IS SUBMITTED THAT THE AFORESAID DECISIONS OF THE HON'BLE JURISDICTION TRIBUNAL IN THE APPELLANT'S OWN CASE, HON'BLE MUMBAI & DELHI TRIBUN AL WHICH ARE DIRECTLY ON THE ISSUE AND THE DECISIONS OF THE HON'BLE SUPREME COUR T WHICH LAID DOWN THE PRINCIPLE ITA NOS.309-310, 312/K/17 & 470-473/K/17 A.YS. 0 3-04 TO 06-07 & 11-12 M/S SAREGAMA INDIA LTD. VS. DCIT, CIR-3(1), KOL PAGE 11 APPLY ON ALL FOURS TO THE FACTS OF THE CASE AND FOL LOWING THE SAID DECISIONS THE LEARNED CIT(APPEALS) IS REQUESTED TO DELETE THE DISALLOWANC E OF RS.19,62,00,000/-, REPRESENTING MG ROYALTY PAID FOR THE PURPOSE OF PUR CHASING RAW MATERIAL I.E. MUSIC.' 06. DECISION : 1. I HAVE CAREFULLY EXAMINED THE GROUNDS 1(A) TO 1( C) WHICH ARISE ON ACCOUNT OF THE ACTION OF THE LD AO IN MAKING A DISALLOWANCE OF RS.19,62,000/- CLAIMED BY THE APPELLANT-COMPANY AS MINIMUM GUARANTEE ROYALTY ( M G ROYALTY ). THE LD AO HAS TREATED THE CLAIMED EXPENDITURE AS PARTAKING THE NA TURE OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURE, INTER- ALIA ON ACCOUNT OF THE FOLLOWING REASONS: A. THE ASSESSEE-COMPANY HAS ACCEPTED THAT MG ROYALTY IS PAID FOR ACQUIRING ABSOLUTE RIGHT FOR THE REPRODUCTION OF THE MUSIC CA SSETTE/CD ON A PARTICULAR FILM AS PER AGREEMENT WITH VARIOUS PARTIES, AND THEREFORE T HE BENEFIT COMING TO THE ASSESSEE OUT OF INVESTMENT/EXPENDITURE IS A CAPITAL ASSET. B. THE OBSERVATION/DECISION OF THE HON'BLE ITAT IN TH E ASSESSEE'S CASE FOR THE A.Y 1984-85 [ REPORTED IN 48 ITD 145, 156, 157 (CAL) ] IS DISTINGUISHED BECAUSE IN THAT CASE THE ISSUE CONSIDERED WAS ROYALTY AS A WHOLE BU T IN THE INSTANT CASE, IT IS, WITH RESPECT TO MINIMUM GUARANTEED ROYALTY WITHOUT WHICH THE ASSESSEE CANNOT PROCEED TO PRODUCE MUSIC/CASSETTES/CD ETC. AND THIS RIGHT C ANNOT BE WITHDRAWN. C. THE GENERAL ROYALTY IS RELATED TO EXPENSES MADE AF TER THE PRODUCTION OF SPECIFIED NUMBER AS MENTIONED IN THE AGREEMENT. THE GENERAL R OYALTY MAY BE CONSIDERED OF REVENUE NATURE BECAUSE IT IS PAID AT A SPECIFIED RA TE ON SALES WHICH MEANS THAT THE AMOUNT OF ROYALTY IS VARIABLE WITH QUANTUM OF SALE BUT IN THIS CASE IT IS FIXED AND CONTRACTUAL AND THE COMPANY IS COMPETENT TO PRODUCE MUSIC ONLY AFTER ENTERING THE CONTRACT AND MAKING PAYMENT AT THE INITIAL STAGE. I N OTHER WORDS, THE MG ROYALTY IS PURCHASE PRICE TO ACQUIRE THAT RIGHT. D. AGAIN, IT CAN BE INFERRED THAT EVEN IF NO PRODUCTI ON OF MUSIC/CASSETTE IS MADE EVEN THEN MG ROYALTY IS TO BE PAID BECAUSE WITHOUT MAKIN G THIS PAYMENT COMPANY IS NOT COMPETENT TO PRODUCE THE MUSIC CASSETTE/CD. 2. THE DETAILED COUNTER ARGUMENTS OF THE APPELLANT- COMPANY / LD. A.RS FOR THE APPELLANT, BOTH DURING ASSESSMENT PROCEEDINGS AS WE LL AS DURING APPEAL HAVE BEEN REPRODUCED SUPRA. IN SUMMARY, IT IS THE CLAIM OF TH E APPELLANT-COMPANY THAT: A. THE APPELLANT IS ENGAGED INTER-ALIA IN THE BUSINES S OF MANUFACTURING AND SALE OF MUSIC CASSETTES, COMPACT DISCS (CDS) ETC. A S STATED ABOVE. FOR THIS PURPOSE, THE APPELLANT ENTERS INTO AGREEMENTS WITH VARIOUS PRODUCERS ETC. FOR PURCHASING THE RIGHT TO REPRODUCE FILM-MUSIC (HEREI NAFTER REFERRED TO AS ' MUSIC ') ON PAYMENT OF ROYALTY. UNDER THE TERMS OF THESE AGREEMENTS THE APPELLANT PURCHASES THE MUSIC, REPRODUCES IT IN CAS SETTES AND CDS AND SALE THE SAME TO THE PUBLIC AT LARGE. IT MAY BE PERTINEN T TO MENTION THAT IN THE NATURE OF BUSINESS IN WHICH THE APPELLANT IS ENGAGE D, SUCH RIGHT TO THE MUSIC OBTAINED BY THE APPELLANT UNDER THESE AGREEME NTS FROM THE RESPECTIVE PRODUCERS CONSTITUTES ITS BASIC RAW MATE RIAL . B. IN SOME OF THE AGREEMENTS ENTERED BY THE APPELLANT WITH THE RESPECTIVE PRODUCERS, THE MUSIC IS PURCHASED ON THE TERMS THAT A MINIMUM GUARANTEED PAYMENT (HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS ' MG ROYALTY ') WOULD BE MADE TO THE PRODUCERS TILL A SPECIFIC SALE VOLUME IS REACHED. A FTER SUCH SPECIFIED SALE VOLUME, THE PRODUCERS ARE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE FURTH ER ROYALTY DEPENDING ON THE ITA NOS.309-310, 312/K/17 & 470-473/K/17 A.YS. 0 3-04 TO 06-07 & 11-12 M/S SAREGAMA INDIA LTD. VS. DCIT, CIR-3(1), KOL PAGE 12 SALE VOLUME ACHIEVED BY THE COMPANY. COPY OF SUCH A GREEMENTS WITH THE PRODUCERS IS ENCLOSED HEREWITH ( PGS.1 - 114 ). C. FOR THE PURPOSE OF ITS ACCOUNTS, THE APPELLANT CON SISTENTLY TREATS THE MG ROYALTY PAID DURING THE YEAR IN TERMS OF THE SAID A GREEMENTS AS DEFERRED REVENUE EXPENDITURE AND AMORTIZES THE SAME OVER A F EW YEARS. IN COMPUTING ITS INCOME UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE INCOME TAX A CT, THE APPELLANT HAD CLAIMED EXPENDITURE INCURRED ON ACCOUNT OF MG ROYAL TY AMOUNTING TO RS.19,62,00,000/- AS REVENUE EXPENDITURE TO BE ALLO WED UNDER SECTION 37(1) OF THE ACT. IN ITS RETURN OF INCOME FOR THE YEAR UN DER APPEAL WHILE ARRIVING AT ITS INCOME CHARGEABLE TO TAX UNDER THE PROVISION OF THE ACT OTHER THAN SECTION 115JB, THE APPELLANT ADDED BACK THE ENTIRE AMOUNT O F RS.33,72,15,567/- DEBITED IN ITS PROFIT & LOSS A/C. UNDER THE ACCOUNT -HEAD ' ROYALTY ' AND CLAIMED DEDUCTION OF AN AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF RS.34,50,15,567 /- WHICH RELATED TO ROYALTY ACCRUED DURING THE YEAR. THE SAID AMOUNT IN CLUDED MG ROYALTY OF RS.19,62,00,000/- ACCRUED DURING THE YEAR UNDER APP EAL. A COPY OF THE COMPUTATION ANNEXED WITH THE RETURN ( PG. 115 ). D. ON SPECIFIC QUERY RAISED BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER DURING THE COURSE OF THE ASSESSMENT PROCEEDINGS, THE APPELLANT DULY FURNISHE D COPIES OF AGREEMENTS OF MG ROYALTY AND EXPLAINED ITS CONTENTION TOWARDS ALLOW ABILITY OF SUCH MG ROYALTY AS REVENUE EXPENDITURE WHILE COMPUTING ITS INCOME CHARGEABLE TO TAX. THE ASSESSING OFFICER HOWEVER REJECTED THE CONTENTI ON OF THE APPELLANT BY HOLDING THAT THE EXPENDITURE INCURRED TOWARDS MG RO YALTY IS A CAPITAL EXPENDITURE AS THE SAME HAS BEEN INCURRED TO ACQUIR E THE ABSOLUTE RIGHT FOR REPRODUCTION AND SALE OF CASSETTES. E. AT THE OUTSET WE WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT THAT THE SAI D ISSUE HAS BEEN DECIDED BY YOUR KIND SELF IN FAVOUR OF THE APPELLANT IN ASS ESSMENT YEAR 2002-03. YOUR KIND SELF IN THE SAID ORDER HAS HELD THAT MG ROYALT Y IS ALLOWABLE AS REVENUE EXPENDITURE. COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 02-08-2005 FOR ASSESSMENT YEAR 2002- 03 IS ATTACHED ( PGS. 116-125 ). FURTHER WE WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT AS FOLLOWS: (I) RAW MATERIAL IS MUSIC: THE APPELLANT'S BUSINESS IS THAT OF MANUFACTURING OF RECORDED MUSIC CASSETTES AND COS WHICH IT SELLS TO THE PUBLIC AT LARGE AND IN THE NORMAL COURSE OF ITS BUSINESS THE APPELLANT REQ UIRES MUSIC AS ITS RAW MATERIAL. SUCH MUSIC IS OBTAINED FROM VARIOUS SOURC ES INCLUDING THROUGH THE SUBJECT AGREEMENTS UNDER WHICH THE RIGHT TO REPRODU CE MUSIC IS TRANSFERRED AND ASSIGNED TO THE APPELLANT BY THE RESPECTIVE PRO DUCERS. SINCE THE APPELLANT'S BUSINESS ITSELF CONSISTS OF REPRODUCING AND SELLING RECORDED MUSIC, THE MG ROYALTY PAYMENT FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE ORIG INAL MUSIC IS PAYMENT TOWARDS PURCHASE OF SUCH RAW MATERIAL. THE EXPENDIT URE HAS BEEN INCURRED OUT OF BUSINESS NECESSITY AND FURTHER THE PAYMENT I S RELATED TO THE CONDUCT OF THE APPELLANT'S BUSINESS THAT IT MUST BE REGARDED A S AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE PROFIT EARNING PROCESS AND NOT FOR ACQUISITION OF A NY ASSET OR ANY RIGHT OF A PERMANENT CHARACTER. F. THE LEARNED CIT(APPEALS) MAY KINDLY NOTE THAT THE ISSUE IN HAND IS SQUARELY COVERED IN FAVOUR OF THE ASSESSEE BY THE DECISION O F THE HON'BLE KOLKATA TRIBUNAL IN THE ASSESSEE'S OWN CASE FOR ASSESSMENT YEAR 1984-85 . A COPY OF THE SAID ORDER OF THE KOLKATA TRIBUNAL BEARING ITA.NO.1528/CAI/89 DATED 13TH JULY, 1993 IS ENCLOSED HEREWITH ( PGS. 126-144 ).ATTENTION OF THE LEARNED CIT(APPEALS) IS DRAWN TO THE DECISION OF THE HON'BL E KOLKATA TRIBUNAL IN THE APPELLANT'S OWN CASE FOR ASSESSMENT YEAR 1984-85 WH EREIN IT HAS BEEN HELD AT PAGES 15 - 16 S.. 17 ( PGS. 140-142 ) THAT ' CONSIDERING THE NATURE OF THE ASSESSEE'S BUSINESS, MUSIC MUST BE TREATED AS ITS R AW-MATERIAL. THE ITA NOS.309-310, 312/K/17 & 470-473/K/17 A.YS. 0 3-04 TO 06-07 & 11-12 M/S SAREGAMA INDIA LTD. VS. DCIT, CIR-3(1), KOL PAGE 13 ROYALTY PAYMENT IS THEREFORE DIRECTLY RELATED TO TH E RAW-MATERIAL. IT IS FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING THE RAW MATERIAL. IN THE P RESENT CASE, APPLYING THE TEST LAID DOWN IN THE AFORESAID DECISION, IT IS FOUND THAT THE ASSESSEE HAS TO OBTAIN MUSIC FOR THE PURPOSE OF ITS BUSINESS . THE ASSESSEE'S BUSINESS ITSELF CONSISTS OF PURCHASING OF MUSIC, RE PRODUCING THE SAME IN GRAMOPHONE RECORDS AND MUSIC CASSETTES AND SELLI NG THEM TO THE PUBLIC. THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT ITSELF IN THE AFO RESAID DECISION HAS LAID DOWN THAT THE QUESTION WHETHER A PARTICULAR EX PENDITURE IS CAPITAL OR REVENUE MUST BE DECIDED IN THE LARGER CONTEXT OF BUSINESS NECESSITY OR EXPEDIENCY. SINCE THE ASSESSEE'S BUSINESS ITSELF CONSISTS OF REPRODUCING AND SELLING RECORDED MUSIC, THE ROYALTY PAYMENT FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE ORIGINAL MUSIC, WHICH FORMS THE RAW MATERIAL, IS AN EXPENDITURE INCURRED OUT OF BUSINESS NECESSITY JUST AS A SUGAR MANUFACTURER WOULD REQUIRE SUGARCANE AS ITS RAW MAT ERIAL. THE PAYMENT IS SO RELATED TO THE CONDUCT OF THE ASSESSEE'S BUSI NESS THAT IT MUST BE REGARDED AS IN INTEGRAL PART OF THE PROFIT EARNING PROCESS AND NOT FOR ACQUISITION OF ANY ASSET OR ANY RIGHT OF A PERMANEN T CHARACTER . ' G. THE LEARNED CIT (APPEALS) ATTENTION IS DRAWN TO PA GE 13 ( PG. 138 ) OF THE AFORESAID HON'BLE TRIBUNAL'S ORDER WHERE THE AGREEM ENT BASED ON WHICH THE ROYALTY PAID HAS BEEN STATED AT PARAGRAPH 11 . THE SAID PARAGRAPH READ AS FOLLOWS - 'THE AGREEMENT WITH THE PRODUCERS OF FILMS FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING THE COPYRIGHT IN THE FILM SONGS AND MUSIC OF THE ORIGINAL SOUND TRACK ALSO CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING CLAUSE: (3)(A) THE PRODUCER HEREBY ASSIGNS AND TRANSFERS AN D AGREES TO ASSIGN AND TRANSFER TO THE COMPANY ABSOLUTELY AND BONA FIDELY FOR THE WORLD:- (I) THE COPYRIGHT FOR MAKING RECORDS OF ALL CONTRAC T WORKS WHICH ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE COMPANY UNDER THE TERMS OF TH IS AGREEMENT AND THE COPYRIGHT, PERFORMING RIGHT AND ALL OTHER R IGHTS TITLE AND INTEREST IN AND TO THE LITERARY DRAMATIC AND MUSICAL WORKS E MBODIED IN THE PRODUCERS FILMS INCLUDING ALL RIGHTS OF PUBLICATION , SOUND AND TELEVISION BROADCASTING PUBLIC PERFORMANCE AND MECH ANICAL REPRODUCTION OF THE SAID WORKS. (II) THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO MAKE OR AUTHOR ISE THE MAKING OF ANY RECORD EMBODYING THE CONTRACT RECORDINGS, EITHE R ALONE OR TOGETHER WITH ANY OTHER RECORDINGS .....' H. ON PERUSAL OF THE SAID CLAUSE OF THE AGREEMENT STA TED HEREINABOVE, THE LEARNED CIT(APPEALS) WOULD APPRECIATE THAT IN THE C ASE BEFORE THE HON'BLE KOLKATA TRIBUNAL IN APPELLANT'S OWN CASE FOR EARLIE R YEAR, THE COPYRIGHT AND RIGHTS WERE TRANSFERRED AND ASSIGNED BY THE PRODUCE RS TO THE COMPANY AS HAS BEEN DONE IN. THE PRESENT CASE. CONSIDERING ALL THE SE FACTS, THE HON'BLE TRIBUNAL HELD THAT ROYALTY PAID FOR PURCHASING OF M USIC WAS TO BE ALLOWED AS REVENUE EXPENDITURE AS THE SAID MUSIC WAS USED AS R AW MATERIAL IN ASSESSEE'S BUSINESS. THE HON'BLE TRIBUNAL HAS HELD THAT THE PAYMENT IS SO RELATED TO THE CONDUCT OF THE ASSESSEE'S BUSINESS T HAT IT MUST BE REGARDED AS IN INTEGRAL PART OF THE PROFIT EARNING PROCESS AND NOT FOR ACQUISITION OF ANY ASSET OR ANY RIGHT OF A PERMANENT CHARACTER. IT IS SUBMITTED THAT THE PRINCIPLE LAID DOWN BY THE HON'BLE TRIBUNAL WOULD APPLY TO AL L PAYMENTS FOR PURCHASE OF RAW MATERIAL. ITA NOS.309-310, 312/K/17 & 470-473/K/17 A.YS. 0 3-04 TO 06-07 & 11-12 M/S SAREGAMA INDIA LTD. VS. DCIT, CIR-3(1), KOL PAGE 14 I. IT MAY BE PERTINENT TO MENTION THAT THE SAID DECIS ION OF THE HON'BLE KOLKATA TRIBUNAL HAS ATTAINED FINALITY AS NO APPEAL WAS PRE FERRED BY THE REVENUE AUTHORITIES AGAINST SUBSEQUENT REJECTION OF ITS REF ERENCE APPLICATION UNDER SECTION 256(2) OF THE ACT BY THE HON'BLE CALCUTTA H IGH COURT. IT IS SUBMITTED THAT AS THE DEPARTMENT HAS ACCEPTED THE DEDSION OF THE HON'BLE TRIBUNAL, IT IS NOT OPEN TO THE DEPARTMENT TO AGITATE ON THE SAME I SSUE AGAIN WITHOUT JUST CAUSE. RELIANCE IN THIS REGARD IS PLACED ON THE DEC ISIONS OF THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT IN BERGER PAINTS INDIA LTD. VS. CIT [ 266 ITR 99 (SC.)], CIT VS. SHIVSAGAR ESTATE [257 ITR 59 (SC.)] AND CIT VS. NARENDRA DOSHI [254 ITR 606 (SC.)] WHEREIN IT HAS BEEN HELD THAT IF THE REVENUE HAS N OT CHALLENGED THE CORRECTNESS OF THE LAW AND HAS ACCEP TED IT, THEN IT IS NOT OPEN TO THE REVENUE TO CHALLENGE ITS CORRECTNESS WITHOUT JUST CAUSE. J. ON PERUSAL OF THE ORDER OF THE HON'BLE TRIBUNAL, I T IS CLEAR THAT MUSIC IS A RAW MATERIAL OF THE ASSESSEE COMPANY AND PURCHASING OF MUSIC (RAW MATERIAL) IS MADE TO REPRODUCE THE SAME IN MUSIC CASSETTES AND C DS FOR SELLING THEM TO THE PUBLIC. THE HON'BLE TRIBUNAL HAS ALSO COMPARED THE SITUATION WITH A SUGAR MANUFACTURER WHO WOULD REQUIRE SUGARCANE AS ITS RAW MATERIAL. SINCE PURCHASE OF SUGARCANE FOR THE PURPOSE OF MANUFACTUR E OF SUGAR ( I.E. FOR THE PRODUCTION ) IS A REVENUE EXPENDITURE, PURCHASE OF MUSIC FOR T HE PURPOSE OF REPRODUCING THE SAME IN THE MUSIC CASSETTES AND CDS WOULD ALSO BE REVENUE EXPENDITURE. THE LEARNED CIT (APPEALS) WOULD APPREC IATE THAT BY WHATEVER METHOD THE PAYMENT IS MADE (I.E. IN THE FORM OF MG ROYALTY TILL A SPECIFIED SALE AND THEN FURTHER ROYALTY ON ACHIEVING DIFFEREN T SALES VOLUME), THE PAYMENT IS MADE FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE MUSIC I.E. THE BASIC RAW MATERIAL AND THEREFORE THE SAME SHOULD BE ALLOWED AS REVENUE EXP ENDITURE. K. MOREOVER, THE ASSESSING OFFICER HAD CONTRADICTED TO HIS OWN STAN D BY HOLDING THAT ' SO FAR AS GENERAL ROYALTY IS CONCERNED THIS EXPENDI TURE IS OF REVENUE NATURE ' ( BY GENERAL ROYALTY, HE MEANT THAT ROYALTY WHICH IS PAID AFTER ACHIEVING THE SALES VOLUME UP TO WHICH MG ROY ALTY IS PAID ) WITHOUT APPRECIATING THE FACT THAT THE ENTIRE AMOUNT WHICH IS BEING PAID TO THE PRODUCER IN THE FORM OF MG ROYALTY AND OTHER ROYALT IES IS THE PURCHASE PRICE OF ' MUSIC ' WHICH IS THE RAW MATERIAL. IF A PART OF THE PURCH ASE PRICE ( OTHER ROYALTIES ) IS ALLOWABLE AS REVENUE EXPENDITURE AS HELD BY TH E ASSESSING OFFICER, ANOTHER PART (MG ROYALTY) SHOULD ALSO BE R EVENUE EXPENDITURE. IT IS SUBMITTED THAT A PART OF THE PURCHASE PRICE OF RAW MATERIAL CANNOT BE TREATED AS CAPITAL AND ANOTHER PART AS REVENUE. IN THIS CON NECTION IT MAY BE HUMBLY POINTED OUT THAT THE ASSESSING OFFICER HAS FAILED T O UNDERSTOOD THE PRINCIPLE LAID DOWN BY THE HON'BLE TRIBUNAL IN APPELLANT'S OW N CASE ( I.E. MUSIC IS THE RAW MATERIAL TO APPELLANT'S BUSINESS AND BASED ON T HIS FACT ROYALTY PAID FOR PURCHASING THE MUSIC WAS ALLOWABLE ) AND THEREFORE HAS WRONGLY COMMENTED THAT THE SAID DECISION OF THE HON'BLE TRI BUNAL IS NOT APPLICABLE TO THE INSTANT CASE. I. THE ATTENTION OF THE LEARNED CIT(APPEALS) IS DRAWN TO THE DECISION OF THE HON'BLE MUMBAI TRIBUNAL RENDERED IN THE CASE OF TIPS CASSETTES & RECORD CO. VS. ACIT [76 TTJ 396,(MUM.)] APPLYING THE PRINCIPLES LAID DOWN BY THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT IN EMPIRE JUTE CO. LTD. VS. C IT [124 ITR 1 (SC.)] AND ALEMBIC CHEMICAL WORKS LTD. VS. CIT [177 ITR 37 7 (SC.) ] IT HAS BEEN HELD THAT PAYMENT MADE BY ASSESSEE, A MANUFACTURER AND SELLER OF AUDIO CASSETTES AND COS FOR ACQUIRING COPYRIGHTS OF ORIGI NAL SOUND-TRACKS OF FILMS BY ASSIGNMENT FROM FILM PRODUCERS FOR A FIXED SUM BEING PAYMENT FOR PROCUREMENT OF RAW MATERIAL WAS REVENUE EXPENDI TURE . IT MAY BE KINDLY NOTED THAT IN THE AFORESAID CASE BEFORE THE HON'BLE MUMBAI TRIBUNAL, ITA NOS.309-310, 312/K/17 & 470-473/K/17 A.YS. 0 3-04 TO 06-07 & 11-12 M/S SAREGAMA INDIA LTD. VS. DCIT, CIR-3(1), KOL PAGE 15 THE ASSESSEE WAS MANUFACTURER OF AUDIO CASSETTES AN D CDS AND ACQUIRED SOUND TRACKS COMMONLY KNOWN AS ' AUDIO RIGHTS ' FROM PRODUCERS AND FOR CONSIDERATION THE COPYRIGHTS OWNED BY THE FILM PROD UCERS WERE ASSIGNED TO THE ASSESSEE BY WAY OF WRITTEN AGREEMENTS. WHILE DE CIDING THE ISSUE, THE HON'BLE MUMBAI TRIBUNAL HAD REFERRED TO THE DECISIO N OF THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT IN R.B.SETH MULCHAND SUGANCHAND VS. C IT [86 ITR 647 (SC.) ] WHERE THE CASE WAS THAT OF MINING LEASES WHERE MI NERALS ARE PART OF THE LAND AND HAVE TO BE WON, EXTRACTED AND BROUGHT TO THE SURFACE, EXPENDITURE FOR ACQUIRING THE RIGHT OVER OR IN THE LAND TO WIN THE MINERALS WOULD BE OF CAPITAL NATURE. IT WAS ALSO HELD THAT H OWEVER, THE MINERAL HAS ALREADY BEEN GOTTEN AND IS ON THE SURFACE, EXPENDIT URE INCURRED FOR OBTAINING THE RIGHT TO ACQUIRE THE RAW MATERIALS I.E. WOULD B E REVENUE EXPENDITURE. THE HON'BLE MUMBAI TRIBUNAL HELD THAT IN THE CASE OF PR ODUCTION OF AUDIO CASSETTES THE MASTER CASSETTE REPRESENTS THE ORIGIN AL SOUND MUSIC IS LIKE THE MINERAL WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN GOTTEN ON THE SURFAC E. THE ASSESSEE HAD INCURRED EXPENDITURE FOR OBTAINING THE RIGHT TO ACQ UIRE THIS MUSIC I.E. RAW MATERIAL AND THEREFORE APPLYING THE PRINCIPLE LAID DOWN BY THE SUPREME COURT THE SAID EXPENDITURE WAS HELD TO BE REVENUE IN NATU RE. M. REFERENCE IN THIS REGARD IS ALSO MADE TO THE DECIS ION OF THE HON'BLE DELHI TRIBUNAL IN SUPER CASSETTES INDUSTRIES (P) LTD. VS. CIT [41 ITD 530 (DEL) WHERE BESIDES MAKING PAYMENT OF ROYALTY SOME INITIA L PAYMENTS WAS ALSO MADE WHICH HAS ALSO BEEN TREATED AS REVENUE EXPENDI TURE ON THE GROUND THAT THE PAYMENT WAS MADE TO OBTAIN RAW MATERIAL FOR THE BUSINESS OF THE ASSESSEE. IT WAS HELD THAT THE 'MASTER PLATE' COULD BE TERMED AS RAW MATERIAL AND THE ACTIVITY OF THE ASSESSEE WAS ABSOLUTELY THA T OF JOBBER. THE PLATE IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD NOT BE TERMED TO BE CAPIT AL IN NATURE. IN PARA 11 OF THE ORDER IT IS MENTIONED THAT: ' THE INITIAL PAYMENT OF LUMP SUM ALSO DOES NOT CHANGE ITS BASIC CHARACTER AS ELUCIDATED ABOVE . ' N. THE ATTENTION OF THE LEARNED CIT (APPEALS) IS DRAW N TO THE DECISION OF THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT RENDERED IN GOTAN LIME SYNDIC ATE VS. CIT [59 ITR 718 (SC.)] WHEREIN IT HAS BEEN HELD THAT THE REASON WHY THE ROYALTY HAS TO BE ALLOWED AS A REVENUE EXPENDITURE IS THE RELATION WH ICH IT HAS TO THE RAW MATERIAL TO BE EXCAVATED OR EXTRACTED: THE MORE IT IS TAKEN THE MORE ROYALTY IS PAID ARID THE MINIMUM PAYMENT OR THE DEAD RENT ALSO HAVE THE SAME CHARACTERISTIC. THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT IN THE SA ID DECISION OF GOTAN LIME (SUPRA) HAS ALSO HELD THAT ' ON THE FADS OF THIS CASE, WE MUST HOLD THAT THE ROYALTY PAYMENT, INCLUDING THE DEAD-RENT, HAVE RELA TION ONLY TO THE LIME DEPOSITS TO BE GOT. WE, THEREFORE, HOLD THAT THE YE ARLY PAYMENT OF RS.96,00/- SHOULD BE TREATED AS REVENUE EXPENDITURE '. THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT IN GOTAN LIME SYNDICATE (SUPRA.) FOLL OWED ANOTHER SUPREME COURT DECISION IN THE CASE OF ABDUL KAYOOM VS. CIT [44 ITR 689(SC.)] WHEREIN IT HAS BEEN HELD THAT IT IS NOT THE LAW IN EVERY CASE, THAT IF AN ENDURING ADVANTAGE IS OBTAINED THE EXPENDITURE FOR SECURING IT MUST BE TREATED AS CAPITAL EXPENDITURE, FOR IN THE ORDINARY CASE, THE COST OF THE MATERIAL WORKED UP IN A MANUFACTORY IS NOT A CAPITAL EXPENDITURE, I T IS A CURRENT EXPENDITURE, AND DOES NOT BECOME A CAPITAL EXPENDITURE MERELY BE CAUSE THE MATERIAL IS PROVIDED BY SOMETHING LIKE A FORWARD CONTRACT, UNDE R WHICH A PERSON FOR THE PAYMENT OF LUMP SUM DOWN SECURES SUPPLY OF THE RAW MATERIAL FOR A PERIOD EXTENDING OVER SEVERAL YEARS. O. IT IS SUBMITTED THAT THE AFORESAID DECISIONS OF TH E HON'BLE JURISDICTION TRIBUNAL IN THE APPELLANT'S OWN CASE, HON'BLE MUMBA I & DELHI TRIBUNAL WHICH ARE DIRECTLY ON THE ISSUE AND THE DECISIONS OF THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT ITA NOS.309-310, 312/K/17 & 470-473/K/17 A.YS. 0 3-04 TO 06-07 & 11-12 M/S SAREGAMA INDIA LTD. VS. DCIT, CIR-3(1), KOL PAGE 16 WHICH LAID DOWN THE PRINCIPLE APPLY ON ALL FOURS TO THE FACTS OF THE CASE AND FOLLOWING THE SAID DECISIONS THE LEARNED CIT(APPEAL S) IS REQUESTED TO DELETE THE DISALLOWANCE OF RS.19,62,00,000/-, REPRESENTING MG ROYALTY PAID FOR THE PURPOSE OF PURCHASING RAW MATERIAL I.E. MUSIC. 3. AFTER CAREFULLY PERUSING THE ACTION OF THE LD.AO AND THE SUBMISSIONS OF THE LD. A.RS, I FIND THAT THE IDENTICAL ISSUE HAS TRAVELLED TO THE HON'BLE ITAT ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE MATTER HAS ALSO BEEN DECIDED IN FAVO UR OF THE APPELLANT-COMPANY FOR THE A.Y 2001-02 BY THE FIRST APPELLATE AUTHORITY IN APPEAL NO 902/CIT(A)- 1/C- 3/2014-15 DATED 11TH MARCH, 2015 . FOR THE A.V 2002-03, THE MATTER HAD TRAVELLED TO THE ITAT. THE HON'BLE ITAT-' D '-BENCH IN THEIR DECISION IN ITA NO.2236 (KOL) / 2005 FOR THE A.Y 2002-03 DATED 22.06.2007 HAVE ADJUDICAT ED THE MATTER IN FAVOUR OF THE APPELLANT-COMPANY. THE RELEVANT PORTION OF THE ORDE R OF THE HON'BLE ITAT IS REPRODUCED AS UNDER: [ QUOTE ] '5. WE HAVE CAREFULLY GONE THROUGH THE ARGUMENTS OF THE PARTIES, THE FACTS OF THE CASE AND THE DOCUMENTS ON RECORD AND ARE INCLIN ED TO ACCEPT THE ORDER PASSED BY THE LD CIT(APPEAL) HOLDING M G ROYALTY AS REVENUE EXPENDITURE. IN OUR CONSIDERED VIEW, GIVEN THE NATURE OF BUSINES S OF THE ASSESSEE IN THE PRESENT CASE, IT CANNOT BE DISPUTED THAT MUSIC IS A RAW MATERIAL IN THE CASE OF THE ASSESSEE, A FACT WHICH HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY TH E TRIBUNAL IN A.Y 1984- 85. IT PURCHASES MUSIC ON PAYMENT OF ROYALTY AND RE PRODUCES THE SAME IN MUSICAL CASSETTES, CDS MANUFACTURED AND SOLD BY IT. ANY PAYMENT FOR PROCURING RAW MATERIAL FOR ONE'S BUSINESS IS AN EXP ENDITURE IN THE REVENUE FIELD IRRESPECTIVE OF THE MADE OF PAYMENT. PAYMENT OF A MINIMUM GUARANTEE AND THEN RECURRING ROYALTY THEREAFTER FOR MUSIC ( RAW MATERIAL ) IS NOTHING BUT MODE OF PAYMENT FOR PURCHASE OF RAW MATERIAL OUT OF BUSINESS. WE FIND SUPPORT IN OUR ABOVE CONCLUSION FROM THE DECISION O F THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT IN GOTAM LIME SYNDICATE'S CASE, WHEREIN AT PA GE 726 OF THE REPORT, THE HON'BLE COURT HELD THAT ' .... HE HAD NO DOUBT IN HIS MIND THAT RENT AND ROYALTY PAYMENTS WOULD BE DEDUCTIBLE AS REVENUE EXP ENDITURE. IN PINGLE INDUSTRIES LTD VS COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX, THE A SSESSEE HAS ALREADY BEEN ALLOWED PAYMENTS OF ROYALTY AS REVENUE EXPENDI TURE AND THE ONLY DISPUTE WAS REGARDING LUMP SUM PAYMENT ............ ...... THE REASON WHY ROYALTY HAS TO BE ALLOWED AS REVENUE EXPENDITURE MUST BE THE RELATION WHICH THE ROYALTY HAS TO THE RAW MATERIAL WHICH IS GOING TO BE EXCAVATED OR EXTRACTED. THE MORE YOU TAKE, THE MORE ROYALTY YOU PAY, AND THE MINIMUM PAYMENT OR DEAD RENT HAS ALSO THE SAME CHARACTERIST IC '( EMPHASIS OURS ). FURTHER, WE ALSO FIND SUPPORT TO OUR ABOVE CONCLUSI ON IN THE ORDER PASSED BY THIS TRIBUNAL IN THE ASSESSEE'S OWN CASE FOR THE A. Y 1984-95, WHICH IS REPRODUCED HEREUNDER- ' 12 . IN THE PRESENT CASE, APPLYING THE TEST LAID DOWN IN THE AFORESAID DECISION, IT IS FOUND THAT THE ASSESSEE HAS TO OBTA IN MUSIC FOR THE PURPOSE OF ITS BUSINESS. THE ASSESSEE'S BUSINESS IT SELF CONSISTS OF PURCHASING OF MUSIC, REPRODUCING THE SAME IN GRAMOP HONE RECORDS AND MUSIC CASSETTES AND SELLING THEM TO THE PUBLIC. THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT ITSELF IN THE AFORESAID DECISION HAS LAID DOWN THAT THE QUESTION WHETHER A PARTICULAR EXPENDITURE IS CAPITA L OR REVENUE MUST BE DECIDED IN THE LARGER CONTEXT OF BUSINESS NECESS ITY OR EXPEDIENCY. SINCE THE ASSESSEE'S BUSINESS ITSELF CONSISTS OF RE PRODUCING AND SELLING RECORDED MUSIC, THE ROYALTY PAYMENT FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE ORIGINAL MUSIC, WHICH FORMS THE RAW MATERIAL, IS AN EXPENDITURE INCURRED OUT OF BUSINESS NECESSITY JUST AS A SUGAR MANUFACTURER WOULD ITA NOS.309-310, 312/K/17 & 470-473/K/17 A.YS. 0 3-04 TO 06-07 & 11-12 M/S SAREGAMA INDIA LTD. VS. DCIT, CIR-3(1), KOL PAGE 17 REQUIRE SUGARCANE AS ITS RAW MATERIAL. THE PAYMENT IS SO RELATED TO THE CONDUCT OF THE ASSESSEE'S BUSINESS THAT IT MUST BE REGARDED AS IN INTEGRAL PART OF THE PROFIT EARNING PROCESS AND NOT FOR ACQUISITION OF ANY ASSET OR ANY RIGHT OF A PERMANENT CHARACTER. '(EMPH ASIS OURS) WE ARE OF THE CONSIDERED VIEW THAT THE AFORESAID PR INCIPLE EMERGED FROM THE SAID ORDER OF THE HON'BLE TRIBUNAL IN THE ASSESSEE' S OWN CASE WOULD ALSO HOLD GOOD IN THE CASE OF THE ASSESSEE FOR M G ROYALTY PA ID FOR PURCHASE OF MUSIC, I.E. RAW MATERIAL IN THE YEAR UNDER CONSIDERATION. IN THIS RESPECT WE MUST POINT OUT THAT EXPENDITURE INCURRED FOR PURCHASE OF RAW M ATERIAL IS ALWAYS REVENUE EXPENDITURE IRRESPECTIVE OF MODE OF PAYMENT VIZ. MI NIMUM GUARANTEE ROYALTY OR RECURRING ROYALTY & THEREFORE MODE OF PAYMENT CA NNOT CHANGE THE BASIC CHARACTER OF THE EXPENDITURE I.E., EXPENDITURE INCU RRED FOR PURCHASE OF RAW MATERIAL (MUSIC IN THE PRESENT CASE) WHICH IS ALWAY S REVENUE. ONE HAS TO SEE FOR WHAT THE EXPENDITURE HAS BEEN MADE. IN THE PRES ENT CASE, THE EXPENDITURE HAS BEEN INCURRED TO PURCHASE MUSIC AND THEREFORE T HE SAME IS ALLOWABLE AS REVENUE EXPENDITURE. WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD IN T HIS REGARD THAT AS WE HAVE ALREADY NOTED THAT A REFERENCE APPLICATION U/S 256( 2) FILED BY THE DEPARTMENT AGAINST THE SAID ORDER PASSED BY THIS TRIBUNAL HAS BEEN DISMISSED BY THE HON'BLE CALCUTTA HIGH COURT AND THE DEPARTMENT HAS ACCEPTED THE SAME. FURTHERMORE, THE AO HAS HIMSELF ALLOWED M G ROYALTY AS REVENUE EXPENDITURE IN THE ASSESSMENT ORDER PASSED IN THE C ASE OF THE ASSESSEE FOR THE A. Y 2004-05. WITH REGARD TO THE DECISION OF TH E HON'BLE SUPREME COURT IN MEWAR SUGAR MILL'S CASE WHICH HAS BEEN RELIED UPON BY THE LD. D/R, WE ARE CONSTRAINED TO STATE THAT IN OUR VIEW, THE FACTS OF THE CASE DO NOT APPLY TO THE FACTS OF THE PRESENT CASE RATHER, AS ALREADY HELD B Y US, THE ISSUE IS COVERED IN FAVOUR OF THE ASSESSEE BY THE DECISION OF THIS TRIB UNAL IN THE ASSESSEE'S OWN CASE FOR THE A.Y 1984-85 AND ALSO SUPREME COURT REF ERRED BY US HEREIN ABOVE. MOREOVER, WE ALSO AGREE WITH THE ID A/R THAT THE ISSUE IS ALSO COVERED IN FAVOUR OF THE ASSESSEE BY THE DECISIONS OF THE I TAT, DELHI BENCH IN SUPER CASSETTES INDUSTRIES P. LTD [ 41 ITD 530 ] AND THAT RENDERED BY BOMBAY BENCH IN TIPS CASSETTES & RECORD CO, VS ACIT [ 76 TTJ 396 ] WHEREIN EXPENDITURE ON ACQUISITION OF RIGHT TO REPRODUCE MUSIC HAVE BEE N HELD TO BEAR THE CHARACTER OF REVENUE EXPENDITURE. ............. ........... 'DISMISSING GROUNDS NO.1 TO 4 OF THE APPEAL FILED B Y THE DEPARTMENT AND RESPECTFULLY FOLLOWING THE DECISION OF THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT IN GOTAM LIME SYNDICATE'S DECISION (SUPRA), DECISION OF THIS TRIBUNAL IN THE ASSESSEE'S OWN CASE FOR THE A. Y 1984-85 AND DECISIONS OF THE DELHI & MUMBAI TRIBUNALS, WE HOLD THAT THE EXPENDITURE OF RS.1.88 CRORE INCURRED DURING THE YEAR BY THE ASSESSEE TOWARDS M G ROYALTY IS ALLOWAB LE AS REVENUE EXPENDITURE.' [ UNQUOTE] IN VIEW OF THE ABOVE JUDGMENT OF THE HON'BLE ITAT F OR THE A.Y 2002-03, IT IS SEEN THAT THE MATTER HAS BEEN DECIDED IN FAVOUR OF THE APPELL ANT-COMPANY, AS THE EXPENDITURE TOWARDS MINIMUM GUARANTEE. ROYALTY HAS BEEN HELD TO BE REVENUE EXPENDITURE. ACCORDINGLY, RESPECTFULLY FOLLOWING THIS JUDGMENT [ ALSO AFFIRMED BY THE HON'BLE HIGH COURT FOR AN IDENTICAL ISSUE FOR THE A.Y 1984-85, A S MENTIONED IN THE ORDER OF THE HON'BLE ITAT ], IT IS TO BE SAID THAT THE ACTION OF THE LD AO IN DISALLOWING AN AMOUNT OF RS.19,62,000/- CLAIMED BY THE APPELLANT-C OMPANY AS MINIMUM GUARANTEE ROYALTY CM G ROYALTY, CANNOT BE SUSTAINED, AND IS O RDERED TO BE DELETED . ITA NOS.309-310, 312/K/17 & 470-473/K/17 A.YS. 0 3-04 TO 06-07 & 11-12 M/S SAREGAMA INDIA LTD. VS. DCIT, CIR-3(1), KOL PAGE 18 5. LEARNED CIT-DR VEHEMENTLY CONTENDS DURING THE CO URSE OF HEARING THAT THE CIT(A) HAS ERRED IN LAW AND ON FACTS IN DELETIN G THE IMPUGNED MINIMUM GUARANTEE ROYALTY RELATING TO ACQUISITION OF MUSIC RIGHTS AS REVENUE EXPENDITURE. MR. MEENA IS VERY FAIR IN NOT DISPUTIN G THE CLINCHING FACT THAT THE INSTANT ISSUE IS NO MORE RES INTEGRA SINCE THE ASSESSEE HAS SUCCEEDED QUA THE SAME UP TO HON'BLE JURISDICTIONAL HIGH COURT IN EARLIER ASSESSMENT YEARS (SUPRA). HE SEEKS TO PIN-POINT AN EXCEPTION IN ASSE SSEES IMPUGNED MINIMUM GUARANTY ROYALTY CLAIM BASED ON PER CASSETTE-WISE P AYMENT. HIS CASE IS THAT SINCE IT HAS UNDERTAKEN TO PAY THE IMPUGNED ROYALTY BASED ON CASSETTE SALES IN ADDITION TO THE FORMER LIMB OF LUMP SUM FIGURE A S PER THE AGREEMENT CLAUSES, THIS SAID COMPONENT; EVEN IF TREATED AS RE VENUE EXPENDITURE, OUGHT TO HAVE BEEN BOOKED IN THE YEAR OF MUSIC / CASSETTE / CD RECORDS SALES. WE FIND NO MERIT IN REVENUES INSTANT ARGUMENT. THE FACT RE MAINS THAT THE ASSESSEES IMPUGNED CASSETTES SALE-WISE ROYALTY IS PAYABLE ON ACHIEVING THE FIXED TARGET COMPONENT SUFFICIENTLY SUGGESTS THAT THE SALES PERT AINING TO THE INSTANT LIMB REMAIN UNCERTAIN GOING BY THE CORRESPONDING MARKET TREND DYNAMIC OF MUSIC INDUSTRY. BE THAT AS IT MAY, HON'BLE APEX COURTS R ECENT DECISION IN TAPARIA TOOLS VS. JCIT (2015) 55 TAXMANN.COM 41 ITR 481 (SC) HAS SETTLED T HE LAW THAT OF A REVENUE EXPENDITURE IS OTHERWISE ALLOWABL E, THE MERE FACT THAT THE SAME OUGHT TO HAVE BEEN SPLIT UP OR CLAIMED LUMP SU M IS NOT THE DECIDING FACTOR. THEIR LORDSHIPS YET ANOTHER LANDMARK DECISI ON IN CHAINRUP SAMPATRAM VS. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (1953) 23 ITR 481 (SC) ALSO HELD LONG BACK THAT THE PRINCIPLES OF CONSERVATISM CONSIDERATION O F PRUDENCE IN THE ACCOUNTING TREATMENT REQUIRE THAT NO ANTICIPATED PR OFITS BE TREATED AS INCOME ONLY IF THE SAME ARE UTILIZED AND CONVERSE IS NOT T RUE AS ANTICIPATED LOSSES CAN BE ALLOWED TO BE DEDUCTED FROM COMMERCIAL PROFITS A T THE FIRST SIGHT OF REASONABLE POSSIBILITY. WE WISH TO MAKE CLEAR IN LI GHT OF THE FOREGOING FACTS THAT THE ASSESSEE HAD EVERY REASON TO RAISE THE IMP UGNED MINIMUM GUARANTEE ROYALTY CLAIM PERTAINING TO ACQUISITION O F MUSIC RIGHTS IN THE YEAR OF ACTUAL PAYMENT GOING BY THE MUSIC INDUSTRY MARKET T RENDS. WE CONCLUDE IN ITA NOS.309-310, 312/K/17 & 470-473/K/17 A.YS. 0 3-04 TO 06-07 & 11-12 M/S SAREGAMA INDIA LTD. VS. DCIT, CIR-3(1), KOL PAGE 19 THIS BACKDROP OF FACTS THAT THE REVENUES LATTER AR GUMENT ALSO CARRIES NO SUBSTANCE. THIS ISSUE IS ACCORDINGLY DECIDED IN ASS ESSEES FAVOUR. 6. SAME REASONING TO FOLLOW IN REVENUES APPEAL(S) ITA NO.471 TO 473/KOL/2017 FOR ASSESSMENT YEAR(S) 2004-05 TO 2006-07 RAISING FIRST, FIFTH AND FIRST SUBSTANTIVE GROUNDS; ASSESSMENT YEAR-WISE WHILST SEEKING TO REVIVE THE CORRESPONDING MINIMUM GUARANTEE ROYALTY DISALLO WANCE /ADDITION(S) OF 14,42,59,141/-, 11,17,007/- & 2,09,06,044/-; RESPECTIVELY IN ABSENCE OF ANY DISTINCTIONS IN FACTS OR LAW INDICATED THEREIN. 7. WE REVERT BACK TO ASSESSMENT YEAR 2003-04 ONCE A GAIN. IT HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE CLEAR THAT THE REVENUES 2 ND TO 5 TH AS WELL AS ASSESSEES 1 ST TO 4 TH SUBSTANTIVE GROUNDS CHALLENGE CORRECTNESS OF CIT(A) S IDENTICAL ACTION RESTRICTING ADVERTISEMENT AND SALES PROMOTION, CONS ULTANCY, AD HOC HEAD(S) AND RECORDING EXPENDITURE DISALLOWANCE(S) FROM 10% MADE BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER TO 2% IN THE LOWER APPELLATE PROCEEDINGS. WE NOTICE HEREIN AS WELL THAT ALL THESE ISSUES ARE ALSO NO MORE RES INTEGRA SINCE THIS TRIBUNALS CO- ORDINATE BENCHS ORDER (SUPRA) IN EARLIER ASSESSMEN T YEAR(S) HAS AFFIRMED 2% DISALLOWANCE ONLY. LEARNED CIT-DR VEHEMENTLY CONTEN DED HEREIN AS WELL THAT THE ASSESSING OFFICER HAD RIGHTLY INVOKED THE IMPUG NED DISALLOWANCE @ 10% SINCE THE ASSESSEE HAD MADE CASH PAYMENTS THEREOF T O ... OTHER PROFITS. HIS CASE THEREFORE IS THAT THE ASSESSING OFFICER HAD RI GHTLY NOTED THE ABOVE TWIN DISCREPANCIES IN ALL THESE FOUR HEADS TO ESTIMATE 1 0% DISALLOWANCE THEREIN. WE FIND NO SUBSTANCE IN REVENUES INSTANT ARGUMENT SEEKING TO REVIVE THE IMPUGNED AD HOC DISALLOWANCE UNDER FOUR HEAD(S). APART FROM THE FA CT THAT THE EARLIER CO-ORDINATE BENCHS ORDER(S) (SUPRA) HAVE A LREADY UPHELD THE CIT(A)S IDENTICAL ACTION, WE NOTE THAT THE ASSESSING AUTHOR ITY ITSELF IS VERY FAIR IN ESTIMATING THE IMPUGNED DISALLOWANCE @ 10% MEANING THEREBY THAT ASSESSEES CLAIM(S) STAND ACCEPTED IN PRINCIPLE @ 9 0%. WE THEREFORE ADOPT JUDICIAL CONSISTENCY TO AFFIRM CIT(A)S FINDINGS RE STRICTING ALL FOUR DISALLOWANCE(S) ITEMS FROM 10% TO 2% ONLY. THE REVE NUE AS WELL AS ITA NOS.309-310, 312/K/17 & 470-473/K/17 A.YS. 0 3-04 TO 06-07 & 11-12 M/S SAREGAMA INDIA LTD. VS. DCIT, CIR-3(1), KOL PAGE 20 ASSESSEES CORRESPONDING GROUNDS FAIL THEREFORE AS A NECESSARY COROLLARY. THE ASSESSEES MAIN APPEAL ITA NO.309/KOL/2017 REJECTED THESE FOUR ISSUES FAILS. 8. THE REVENUES SIXTH SUBSTANTIVE GROUND PLEADS TH AT THE CIT(A) HAS ERRED IN LAW AND ON FACTS IN HOLDING THAT THE ASSES SEES TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES AMOUNTING TO 19,82,000/- ARE REVENUE IN NATURE AS AGAINST THAT HELD AS CAPITAL IN THE ASSESSMENT ORDE R DATED 23.03.2006. SUFFICE TO SAY, WE FIND NO SUBSTANCE IN REVENUES GRIEVANCE AT THE THRESHOLD ITSELF SINCE MOTOR SALES VS. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (1973) 87 ITR 595 (ALL) HAS ALREADY DECIDED THE ISSUE IN ASSESSEES FAVOUR. THE CIT(A)S FINDINGS UNDER CHALLENGE TO THIS EFFECT ARE AFFIRMED THEREFO RE. 9. THE REVENUES SEVENTH SUBSTANTIVE GROUND SEEKS TO REVIVE THE ASSESSING OFFICERS ACTION DISALLOWING / SHORTAGE O F STOCK / BREAKAGE (PRE- RECORDED CASSETTES) DISALLOWANCE OF 54,00,000/- MADE BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER AND DELETED IN THE LOWER APPELLATE PROCEEDI NGS. THE REVENUE FAILS TO DISPUTE THE CLINCHING FACT THAT THE ASSESSEES CORR ESPONDING RECEIPTS DERIVED FROM THE CORRESPONDING OF SCRAP SALES ON ACCOUNT OF BROKEN CASSETTES HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED. THIS TRIBUNALS DECISION DATED 22.06 .2007 IN ITA NO.2236/KOL/2005 FOR ASSESSMENT YEAR 2002-03 HAS ALREADY DECIDED TH IS VERY ISSUE IN ASSESSEES FAVOUR. WE THEREFORE ADOPT JUDI CIAL CONSISTENCY TO AFFIRM THE CIT(A)S FINDINGS UNDER CHALLENGE. THIS REVENUE S FIRST APPEAL ITA NO.470/KOL/2017 RAISING AS MANY ABOVE STATED SEVEN SUBSTANTIVE GRO UNDS FAIL THEREFORE. 10. SAME ORDER TO FOLLOW IN REVENUES APPEAL ITA NO .471/KOL/2017 FOR ASSESSMENT YEAR 2004-05 RAISING THE SECOND SUBSTANT IVE GRIEVANCE OF SHORTAGE STOCK / BREAKAGE OF PRE-RECORDED CASSETTES & CDS INVOLVING CORRESPONDING OF 21,86,535/- SINCE WE HAVE ALREADY DECIDED THE FORME R ISSUE OF MINIMUM GUARANTEE ROYALTY (SUPRA). ITA NOS.309-310, 312/K/17 & 470-473/K/17 A.YS. 0 3-04 TO 06-07 & 11-12 M/S SAREGAMA INDIA LTD. VS. DCIT, CIR-3(1), KOL PAGE 21 11. NEXT COMES THE ASSESSEES CROSS APPEAL ITA NO.3 10/KOL/2017 FOR ASSESSMENT YEAR 2004-05 RAISING SOLE SUBSTANTIVE GR OUND OF CHALLENGING ADDITION ON ACCOUNT OF RENT TO THE TUNE OF 9,90,000/- MADE IN BOTH THE LOWER PROCEEDINGS. THE CIT(A)S FINDINGS UNDER AFFIRMING THE ASSESSING OFFICERS ACTION TO THIS EFFECT READS AS UNDER:- GROUND 10(A)-10(B): ADDITION ON ACCOUNT OF RENT (RS . 990,000/- ) THE APPELLANT HAD GIVEN A PROPERTY ON RENT TO SPRIN T RPG FOR LAST FEW YEARS. THE APPELLANT HAD ALL ALONG OFFERED THE SAID RENTAL IN COME TO TAX IN RESPECTIVE YEARS. DURING THE COURSE OF ASSESSMENT PROCEEDINGS, ON SPE CIFIC QUERY RAISED BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER, THE APPELLANT HAD SUBMITTED THAT RENT AMOUNTING TO RS.7,50,000 WAS BOOKED DURING THE YEAR ON ACCOUNT OF SPRINT RPG . HOWEVER, PURSUANT TO THE DOWNWARD RATE REVISION DURING THE YEAR IN RESPECT O F THE RENT FOR EARLIER PERIOD, THERE WAS AN ADJUSTMENT/REVERSAL OF RS.12,50,000. ACCORDI NGLY, A NET AMOUNT OF RS. (-) 500,000/- (INCOME FOR THE YEAR RS.7,50,000/- LESS R S.12,50,000/- ADJUSTMENT/ REVERSAL DURING THE YEAR) WAS CONSIDERED WHILE COMP UTING THE TOTAL RENT CHARGEABLE TO TAX FOR THE YEAR. COPY OF THE LETTERS DATED 13 NOVE MBER, 2006 AND 12 SEPTEMBER, 2006 FILED DURING THE COURSE OF ASSESSMENT PROCEEDI NGS IS MARKED AS ANNEXURE-3 & 7 ( REFER PG 210-219 AND PG 245-248 OF THE WS ), RESPECTIVELY. THE ASSESSING OFFICER, WITHOUT APPRECIATING THE FAC TS OF THE CASE, HAS INFLICTED AN ADDITION OF RS.990,000/- WHICH HAS NO BASIS WHATSOE VER AND IS LIABLE TO BE DELETED SUMMARILY. BY MAKING THE ABOVE ADJUSTMENT, THE AO HAS VIRTUALL Y TAXED A NOTIONAL INCOME WHICH IS NOT ALLOWABLE. YOUR KINDSELF WILL NOTE THAT THE ACTUAL INCOME OF THE COMPANY FROM SPRINT RPG IS (RS. 500,000) [I.E. RS.12,50,000/- ON REVERSAL LESS RS.7,50,000/- INCOME BOOKED DURING THE YEAR]. THE APPELLANT HAS A LREADY OFFERED THE RENTAL INCOME OF RS.12,50,000/- TO TAX IN EARLIER YEARS, HENCE TO PAY TAX ON REAL INCOME, THE ADJUSTMENT WAS CARRIED OUT. BY REJECTING THE ADJUST MENT, THE ASSESSING OFFICER HAS IGNORED THE PRINCIPLE OF TAX ON REAL INCOME. IT IS SUBMITTED THAT FOR THE PURPOSE OF INCOME-TAX, WHAT IS TO BE TAXED IS THE REAL INCOME WHICH IS TO BE DEDUCED ON THE BASIS OF THE A CCOUNTING SYSTEM REGULARLY MAINTAINED BY THE ASSESSEE AND THAT WAS DONE BY THE APPELLANT IN THE PRESENT CASE. THE ATTENTION OF THE LEARNED CIT(APPEALS) IS DRAWN TO THE DECISION OF THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT IN THE CASE OF CIT VS SHOORJI VALLABH DAS AND CO. [ 46 ITR 144, 148 (SC.) ], WHEREIN IT HAS BEEN HELD THAT- 'INCOME - TAX IS A LEVY ON INCOME. THOUGH THE INCOM E-TAX ACT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT TWO POINTS OF TIME AT WHICH THE LIABILITY T O TAX IS ATTRACTED, VIZ.., THE ACCRUAL OF THE INCOME OR ITS RECEIPT, YET THE SUBST ANCE OF THE MATTER IS THE INCOME. IF INCOME DOES NOT RESULT AT ALL, THERE CAN NOT BE A TAX, EVEN THOUGH IN BOOK - KEEPING, AN ENTRY IS MADE ABOUT A ' HYPOTHETICAL INCOME ', WHICH DOES NOT MATERIALIZE WHERE, HOWEVER, THE INCOME CAN BE S AID NOT TO HAVE RESULTED AT ALL, THERE IS OBVIOUSLY NEITHER ACCRUAL NOR RECE IPT OF INCOME, EVEN THOUGH AN ENTRY TO THAT EFFECT MIGHT, IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCE S, HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNT. ' THIS PRINCIPLE HAS BEEN FOLLOWED BY THE HON'BLE APE X COURT AGAIN IN THE DECISION OF CIT VS. BIRLA GWALIOR (P.) LTD. [ 89 ITR 266, 273 (SC.) ]. PRAYER: ITA NOS.309-310, 312/K/17 & 470-473/K/17 A.YS. 0 3-04 TO 06-07 & 11-12 M/S SAREGAMA INDIA LTD. VS. DCIT, CIR-3(1), KOL PAGE 22 IN THIS REGARD, YOUR APPELLANT HUMBLY REQUESTS THAT NECESSARY DIRECTION MAY PLEASE BE GIVEN TO ASSESSING OFFICER TO DELETE THE DISALLO WANCE OF RS. 9,90,000 IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE. 33. DECISION : 1. I HAVE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED THE ACTION OF THE LD . AO IN MAKING AN ADDITION OF RS.9,90,00/- ON ACCOUNT OF RENT. IN SUMMARY, THE LD. AO HAS BASE D HIS FINDINGS ONLY ON THE TDS CERTIFICATES, AND HAS NOT ACCEPTED THE S UBMISSION OF THE APPELLANT- COMPANY THAT FOR THE YEAR UNDER CONSIDERATION, THER E WAS A DOWNWARD REVISION OF RENT CHARGED TO ONE OF ITS TENANTS, A SISTER CONCER N. THE LD. AO HAS NOT GIVEN COGNIZANCE TO THE SUBMISSION ON GROUNDS THAT THE AP PELLANT WAS UNABLE TO PRODUCE A COPY OF THE COMPUTATION AND TREATMENT GIVEN TO SUCH RENT PAID BY THE SISTER CONCERN. 2. ON THE OTHER HAND, DURING THE APPEAL STAGE, THE APPELLANT-COMPANY HAS PLEADED AS UNDER: A. THE APPELLANT HAD GIVEN A PROPERTY ON RENT TO SPRI NT RPG FOR LAST FEW YEARS. THE APPELLANT HAD ALL ALONG OFFERED THE SAID RENTAL INCOME TO TAX IN RESPECTIVE YEARS. B. DURING THE COURSE OF ASSESSMENT PROCEEDINGS, ON SP ECIFIC QUERY RAISED BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER, THE APPELLANT HAD SUBMITTED THAT RENT AMOUNTING TO RS.7,50,000 WAS BOOKED DURING THE YEAR ON ACCOUNT O F SPRINT RPG. HOWEVER, PURSUANT TO THE DOWNWARD RATE REVISION DURING THE Y EAR IN RESPECT OF THE RENT FOR EARLIER PERIOD, THERE WAS AN ADJUSTMENT/REVERSA L OF RS.12,50,000. ACCORDINGLY, A NET AMOUNT OF RS. (-) 500,000/- (INCOME FOR THE YEAR RS.7,50,000/- LESS RS. 12,50,000/- ADJUSTMENT/ REVE RSAL DURING THE YEAR) WAS CONSIDERED WHILE COMPUTING THE TOTAL RENT CHARGEABL E TO TAX FOR THE YEAR. COPY OF THE LETTERS DATED 13 NOVEMBER, 2006 AND 12 SEPTE MBER, 2006 FILED DURING THE COURSE OF ASSESSMENT PROCEEDINGS IS MARKED AS ANNEXURE-3 & 7 (REFER PG 210-219 AND PG 245-248 OF THE WS), RESPECTIVELY. C. THE ASSESSING OFFICER, WITHOUT APPRECIATING THE FA CTS OF THE CASE, HAS INFLICTED AN ADDITION OF RS.990,000/- WHICH HAS NO BASIS WHATSOEVER AND IS LIABLE TO BE DELETED SUMMARILY. BY MAKING THE ABOVE ADJUSTMENT, THE AO HAS VIRTUALLY TAXED A NOTIONAL INCOME WHICH IS NOT ALLO WABLE. YOUR KIND SELF WILL NOTE THAT THE ACTUAL INCOME OF THE COMPANY FROM SPR INT RPG IS ( RS.500,000 ) [ I.E. RS.12,50,000/- ON REVERSAL LESS RS.7,50,000/- INCOME BOOKED DURING THE YEAR ]. THE APPELLANT HAS ALREADY OFFERED THE RENTAL INC OME OF RS.12,50,000/- TO TAX IN EARLIER YEARS, HENCE TO PA Y TAX ON REAL INCOME, THE ADJUSTMENT WAS CARRIED OUT. BY REJECTING THE ADJUST MENT, THE ASSESSING OFFICER HAS IGNORED THE PRINCIPLE OF TAX ON REAL IN COME. D. IT IS SUBMITTED THAT FOR THE PURPOSE OF INCOME-TAX , WHAT IS TO BE TAXED IS THE REAL INCOME WHICH IS TO BE DEDUCED ON THE BASIS OF THE ACCOUNTING SYSTEM REGULARLY MAINTAINED BY THE ASSESSEE AND THAT WAS D ONE BY THE APPELLANT IN THE PRESENT CASE. THE ATTENTION OF THE LEARNED CIT( APPEALS) IS DRAWN TO THE DECISION OF THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT IN THE CASE O F CIT VS SHOORJI VALLABHDAS AND CO. [46 ITR 144, 148 (SC.) ], WHEREIN IT HAS BEEN HELD THAT- 'INCOME - TAX IS A LEVY ON INCOME. THOUGH THE INCOM E- TAX ACT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT TWO POINTS OF TIME AT WHICH THE LIABILITY T O TAX IS ATTRACTED, VIZ.., THE ACCRUAL OF THE INCOME OR ITS RECEIPT, YET THE SUBST ANCE OF THE MATTER IS THE INCOME. IF INCOME DOES NOT RESULT AT ALL, THERE CAN NOT BE A TAX, EVEN THOUGH IN BOOK - KEEPING, AN ENTRY IS MADE ABOUT A ' HYPOTHETICAL INCOME ', WHICH DOES NOT MATERIALIZE WHERE, HOWEVER, THE INCOME CAN BE S AID NOT TO HAVE RESULTED AT ALL, THERE IS OBVIOUSLY NEITHER ACCRUAL NOR RECE IPT OF INCOME, EVEN THOUGH AN ENTRY TO THAT EFFECT MIGHT, IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCE S, HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE ITA NOS.309-310, 312/K/17 & 470-473/K/17 A.YS. 0 3-04 TO 06-07 & 11-12 M/S SAREGAMA INDIA LTD. VS. DCIT, CIR-3(1), KOL PAGE 23 BOOKS OF ACCOUNT.' THIS PRINCIPLE HAS BEEN FOLLOWED BY THE HON'BLE APEX COURT AGAIN IN THE DECISION OF CIT VS. BIRLA GWALIOR (P.) LTD. [89 ITR 266, 273 (SC.) ]. 3. I HAVE CAREFULLY EXAMINED THE ACTION OF THE LD.AO AND THE SUBMISSIONS MADE BY THE APPELLANT-COMPANY. I HAVE ALSO EXAMINED THE SUB MISSIONS MADE DURING THE STAGE OF SCRUTINY BY THE APPELLANT, AS AVAILABLE AT ANNEXURE-3 & 7 OF THE PAPER BOOK FILED BEFORE ME. AS BROUGHT OUT IN THE SUBMISSION F ILED BY THE APPELLANT, THE RENT AMOUNTING TO RS.7,50,000 WAS BOOKED BY THE APPELLAN T-COMPANY DURING THE YEAR ON ACCOUNT OF M/S SPRINT RPG, A SISTER-CONCERN WHICH W AS A TENANT WITH THE ASSESSEE. IT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED THAT PURSUANT TO THE DOWNWARD RA TE REVISION DURING THE YEAR IN RESPECT OF THE RENT FOR EARLIER PERIOD, THERE WAS A N ADJUSTMENT/REVERSAL OF RS.12,50,000, AS IS APPARENT FROM THE RENTAL AGREEM ENTS. THEREFORE, ACCORDING TO THE APPELLANT, A NET AMOUNT OF RS. (-) 500,000/- ( INCOME FOR THE YEAR RS.7,50,000/- LESS RS. 12,50,000/- ADJUSTMENT/ REVERSAL DURING THE YEA R ) WAS CONSIDERED BY THE APPELLANT WHILE COMPUTING THE TOTAL RENT CHARGEABLE TO TAX FOR THE YEAR. BE THAT THE CASE, THE DEDUCTIONS AVAILABLE FOR HOUSE PROPERTY I NCOME HAVE BEEN SPECIFIED IN THE INCOME TAX ACT UNDER SEC 24, AND THE LD AO HAS QUIT E CORRECTLY, IN MY CONSIDERED OPINION ALLOWED THE NECESSARY DEDUCTIONS AND DISALL OWED THE BALANCE AMOUNT OF RS.9,90,000/-. IN SUMMARY, THE ADDITION MADE BY THE LD. AO STANDS CONFIRMED, AND THE GROUND IS DECIDED AGAINST THE APPELLANT-ASSESSEE. THE GROUND OF APPEAL STANDS DISMISSED . 12. WE HAVE GIVEN OUR THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION QUA ABOVE STATED SOLE ISSUE OF RENT AMOUNT ADDITION. BOTH THE LEARNED REPRESENT ATIVES ARE AD IDEM DURING THE COURSE OF HEARING THAT THE ASSESSEES CLAIM OF IMPUGNED DOWNWARD REVISION OF RENT CHARGE AND RECEIVED IN CASE OF ITS SISTER CONCERN REQUIRES NECESSARY FACTUAL VERIFICATION / COMPUTATION ONCE A GAIN IN VIEW OF THE LEARNED LOWER AUTHORITIES ALLEGED FAILURE IN GETTING ALL TH E SETTLEMENT RECORDS TO THIS EFFECT. WE THEREFORE DEEM IT APPROPRIATE TO RESTORE THE SAME BACK TO THE ASSESSING OFFICER TO DECIDE AFRESH AS PER LAW WITHI N THREE EFFECTIVE OPPORTUNITIES OF HEARING. THE ASSESSEES MAIN APPEA L ITA NO.310/KOL/2017 IS ACCEPTED FOR STATISTICAL PURPOSES. ASSESSMENT YEAR 2005-06 : - 13. THE REVENUES FORMER TWO SUBSTANTIVE GROUNDS IN ITA NO.472/KOL/2017 SEEK TO REVIVE THE ASSESSING OFFICERS ACTION DISAL LOWING / ADDING 9,21,706 AND 1,82,197/- PERTAINING TO TURNOVER MIS-MATCH IN TDS CERTIFICATES ( IN CASE OF CESC AND INDEA STREAMZ ) AS WELL AS PART TDS CREDIT; RESPECTIVELY. IT FAIL S TO DISPUTE THE CLINCHING FACT THAT THE CIT(A) HAS D IRECTED THE ASSESSING OFFICER TO FINALIZE THE CONSEQUENTIAL RECONCILIATION / FACT UAL VERIFICATION QUA THE FORMER ITA NOS.309-310, 312/K/17 & 470-473/K/17 A.YS. 0 3-04 TO 06-07 & 11-12 M/S SAREGAMA INDIA LTD. VS. DCIT, CIR-3(1), KOL PAGE 24 AND TO ALLOW THE TDS CREDIT IN THE YEAR IN WHICH TH E CORRESPONDING INCOME OFFERED FOR ASSESSMENT; RESPECTIVELY. MR. MEENAS O NLY CASE IS THAT SUCH AN OPTION IS NO MORE AVAILABLE TO THE CIT(A) AS PER LA W AMENDED SEC.251(1)(A) W.E.F. 01.06.2001. AFTER GIVING OUR THOUGHTFUL CONS IDERATION, WE FIND THAT ALTHOUGH THE REVENUES INSTANT TECHNICAL ARGUMENT D ESERVES TO BE ACCEPTED THE FACT ALSO REMAINS THAT THE ASSESSING OFFICER HA D NOT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION ALL THE FOREGOING ASPECT(S) WHILST MA KING THE IMPUGNED DISALLOWANCE(S) / ADDITION(S). WE THEREFORE CONCLUD E IN THIS FACTUAL BACKDROP THAT THE INSTANT ISSUE HAS BEEN RIGHTLY RESTORED BA CK TO THE ASSESSING AUTHORITY FOR AFRESH COMPUTATION AS PER LAW. WE MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE ISSUES AS TO WHETHER THE ASSESSEE DESERVES CREDIT OF THE IMPUGNE D TDS IN THE YEAR WHEN IT OFFERS THE CORRESPONDING INCOME FOR ASSESSMENT I S FAIRLY CONCEDED BY THE DEPARTMENT DURING THE COURSE OF HEARING. WE ACCORDI NGLY AFFIRM THE CIT(A)S FINDINGS QUA THESE TWO FORMER ISSUES. 14. THE REVENUES FIFTH SUBSTANTIVE GROUND OF MINIM UM GUARANTEE ROYALTY ALREADY STAND DECLINED (SUPRA). 15. THE REVENUES FOURTH AND SIXTH SUBSTANTIVE GROU NDS RAISED IN THE INSTANT APPEAL SEEK TO REVIVE THE ASSESSING OFFICER S ACTION DISALLOWING 5,03,740/- AND 10 LAKH QUA EXPENDITURE ON SHARE INVESTMENTS AND I NTEREST FREE LOANS GIVEN TO SISTER CONCERN. IT HAS COME ON RECORD THAT THE ASSESSEE HAS NOT DERIVED ANY EXEMPT INCOME IN THE IMPUGNED A SSESSMENT YEAR. HON'BLE JURISDICTIONAL HIGH COURTS DECISION IN ITA T 100 OF 2014 GA NO. 2122 OF 2014 COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX VS. M/S ASHIKA GLOBAL SE CURITIES LTD . DATED 1106.2018 HOLDS THAT THE IMPUGNED DISALLOWANC E DOES NOT COME INTO PLAY IN CASE OF ABSENCE OF EXEMPT INCOME. COMING TO LATTER ASPECT OF INTEREST FREE LOANS TO SISTER CONCERN, WE NOTICE THAT ASSESS EE HAD NO INTEREST FREE FUNDS IN THE NATURE OF SHARE CAPITAL, RESERVES AND SURPLUS OF 60.26 CRORES AS AGAINST INTEREST FREE LOANS OF 24.17 CRORES; RESPECTIVELY. THE CIT(A) HAS FOLLOWED HON'BLES BOMBAY HIGH COURTS DECISION IN CIT VS. RELIANCE UTILITIES ITA NOS.309-310, 312/K/17 & 470-473/K/17 A.YS. 0 3-04 TO 06-07 & 11-12 M/S SAREGAMA INDIA LTD. VS. DCIT, CIR-3(1), KOL PAGE 25 AND POWER LTD. IN (2009) 313 ITR 340 (BOM) THAT THE NECESSARY PRE SUMPTION IN SUCH AN INSTANCE IS OF UTILIZATION OF INTEREST F REE FUNDS ONLY. WE ACCORDINGLY AFFIRM THE CIT(A)S FINDINGS UNDER CHALLENGE. THIS REVENUES APPEAL ITA NO. 472/KOL/2017 IS DISMISSED. ASSESSMENT YEAR 2006-07 :- 16. THIS FOURTH ASSESSMENT YEAR 2006-07 INVOLVES RE VENUES APPEAL IN ITA NO.473/KOL/2017. ITS FIRST SUBSTANTIVE GRIEVANCE OF MINIMUM GUARANTEE ROYALTY OF 2,09,06,044/- ALREADY STAND REJECTED (SUPRA). 17. NEXT COMES THE REVENUES SECOND SUBSTANTIVE GRO UND THAT THE ASSESSING OFFICER HAD RIGHTLY INVOKED SEC. 14A R.W. RULE 8D ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE DISALLOWANCE OF 80 LAKH QUA THE ASSESSEES DIVIDEND INCOME OF 24.23 LAKHS. THERE CAN HARDLY BE ANY QUARREL THAT H ON'BLE BOMBAY HIGH COURTS JUDGMENT IN GODREJ & BOYCE MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD. VS. DCIT 328 ITR 81 (BOM) AS UPHELD IN HON'BLE APEX COURTS HAS MADE IT CLEAR THAT RULE 8D CARRIES PROSPECTIVE EFFECT ONLY FROM ASSESS MENT YEAR 2008-09. WE NOTICE THAT THE CIT(A) HAS RESTRICTED THE IMPUGNED DISALLOWANCE TO 1% OF THE EXEMPT INCOME ONLY; COMING TO 23,230/- IN HIS LOWER APPELLATE ORDER UNDER CHALLENGE. THE ASSESSEES SHARE CAPITAL AND RESERVE S AGAINST THE EXEMPT INVESTMENTS READ FIGURES 84.13 CRORES AND 59.99 CORES; RESPECTIVELY. THE CIT(A) HAS FOLLOWED A CATENA OF CASE LAW INCOME TAX OFFICER WARD-12(1) KOLKATA VS. NUPUR CARPETS LTD., IN ITA NO.783/KOL/2014 (AY 2005-06) DECIDED ON 01.07.2015 THAT NECESSARY DISALLOWANCE @ 1% PRIOR TO ASSESSMENT YEAR 2008-09 IS JUST AND PROPER. WE THER EFORE DECLINE THE REVENUES INSTANT SECOND SUBSTANTIVE GRIEVANCE AS W ELL. 18. LASTLY COMES THE BAD DEBT / BUSINESS ADVANCE DI SALLOWANCE OF 46,65,000/- MADE IN THE COURSE OF ASSESSMENT AND DE LETED IN THE LOWER APPELLATE PROCEEDINGS. WE NOTICE THAT THE ASSESSING OFFICER HAD MADE THE IMPUGNED DISALLOWANCE AFTER HOLDING THAT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF THE ITA NOS.309-310, 312/K/17 & 470-473/K/17 A.YS. 0 3-04 TO 06-07 & 11-12 M/S SAREGAMA INDIA LTD. VS. DCIT, CIR-3(1), KOL PAGE 26 IMPUGNED DEBT SUMS TO HAVE BECOME ACTUALLY BAD. THI S THIS ISSUE IS NO MORE RES INTEGRA IN VIEW OF IN T.R.F. VS. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (2010) 323 ITR 396 (SC) THAT SEC. 36(1)(VII) NO MORE REQUIRES W.E.F 01.04.1989. THE REVENUES INSTANT LAST SUBSTANTIVE GRIEVANCE AS WEL L AS ITS MAIN APPEAL ITA NO.473/KOL/2017 ARE REJECTED THEREFORE. 19. THIS LEAVES US WITH ASSESSMENT YEAR 2010-11 INV OLVING ASSESSEES APPEAL ITA NO.312/KOL/2017 . ITS FORMER SUBSTANTIVE GROUND SEEKS TO REVERSE BOTH THE LOWER AUTHORITIES BY MAKING ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE DISALLOWANCE OF 12,86,840/- OVER AND ABOVE SUO MOTU FIGURE(S) 7LAKH QUA EXEMPT INCOME FROM DIVIDENDS TO THE TUNE OF 61,80,942/-. LEARNED SENIOR COUNSELS ONLY CASE IS THAT THE SAME OUGHT TO HAVE BEEN RESTR ICTED TO EXEMPT INCOME YIELDING INVESTMENT ONLY AS PER THE TRIBUNALS CO-O RDINATE BENCHS DECISION IN REI AGRO LTD. VS. DCIT (2013) 144 ITD 141 (KOL) AS UPHELD IN HON'BLE JURISDICTIONAL HIGH COURT. LEARNED CIT-DR FAILS TO REBUTTAL THE CRUCIAL FACT THAT LOWER AUTHORITIES HAVE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THE ASSES SEES NON EXEMPT INCOME YIELDING INVESTMENT AS WELL. THE FACT ALSO REMAINS THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH AN INDIRECT HEAD OF EXPENDITURE WHEREIN SOME KIND OF P ROPORTIONAL LOCATION ON ESTIMATE BASIS IS ALWAYS INVOLVED. WE THEREFORE DEE M IT APPROPRIATE THAT A LUMP SUM DISALLOWANCE OF 8 LAKH INCLUDING SUO MOTU FIGURE OF 7 LAKH WOULD BE JUST AND PROPER WITH A RIDER THAT SAME SHALL NOT BE TREATED AS A PRECEDENT IN ANY OTHER ASSESSMENT YEAR. THE ASSESSEE GETS PART R ELIEF. NECESSARY COMPUTATION TO FOLLOW AS PER LAW. 20. LASTLY COMES ASSESSEES LATTER SUBSTANTIVE GROU ND THAT THE LOWER AUTHORITIES HAVE ERRED IN LAW AND ON FACT IN DISALL OWANCE ITS LEAVE ENCASHMENT PROVISION OF 13,52,190/- U/S 43B(F) FOR WANT OF ACTUAL PAYMENT. BOTH PARTIES INFORM US DURING THE COURSE OF HEARING THAT HON'BLE JURISDICTIONAL HIGH COURTS DECISION IN EXIDE INDUSTRIES LTD. VS. UNION OF INDIA (2007) 292 ITR 470 (CAL) QUASHING THE STATUTORY PROVISION ITSELF TO BE ULTRA VIRES STANDS HAS STAYED ON 08.05.2009 IN HON'BLE APEX COURT. THEREFORE THE INS TANT ISSUE RESTORED BACK TO ITA NOS.309-310, 312/K/17 & 470-473/K/17 A.YS. 0 3-04 TO 06-07 & 11-12 M/S SAREGAMA INDIA LTD. VS. DCIT, CIR-3(1), KOL PAGE 27 THE ASSESSING OFFICER TO BE DECIDED AFRESH AFTER FI NAL OUTCOME IN EXIDE INDUSTRIES LTD. CASE. THIS LAST SUBSTANTIVE GRIEVANCE OF ASSESSEE IS ACCEPTED FOR STATISTICAL PURPOSES. THIS ASSESSEES LAST APPE AL ITA NO.312/KOL/2017 IS PARTLY ALLOWED IN ABOVE TERMS. 21. TO SUM UP, REVENUES APPEAL(S) ITA NO.470 TO 473/KOL/2017 ARE DISMISSED WHEREAS ASSESSEES APPEAL(S) ITA NO.S 309 /KO/2017 IS DISMISSED, ITA NO.310/KOL/2017 & ITA NO.312/KOL/2017 ARE PARTLY ALLOWED FOR STATISTICAL PURPOSES & PARTLY ALLOWED IN ABOVE TERMS; RESPECTIV ELY. A COPY OF THIS COMMON ORDER BE PLACED IN THE RESPECTIVE CASE FILE( S) . ORDER PRONOUNCED IN THE OPEN COURT 29/ 01/2020 SD/- SD/- ( ) () ) ( A.L.SAINI) (S.S.GODARA) (ACCOUNTANT MEMBER) (JUDICIAL MEMBER) KOLKATA, *DKP *- 29 / 01 /20 20 / COPY OF ORDER FORWARDED TO:- 1. /ASSESSEE-M/S SAREGAMA INDIA LTD, 33, JESSORE ROAD, DUM DUM, KOLKATA-28 2. /REVENUE-DCIT, CIR-3(1), AAYKAR BHAWAN, 7 TH /4 TH FL. R.NO.19, P-7, CHOWRINGHEE SQUARE, KOLKATA-69 3. 5 6 / CONCERNED CIT KOLKATA 4. 6- / CIT (A) KOLKATA 5. 9 ))5, 5, / DR, ITAT, KOLKATA 6. > / GUARD FILE. BY ORDER/ , /TRUE COPY/ 5,