BHARAT BIJLEE LTD, MUMBAI V. ASST DIT (IT) 3(2), MUMBAI

ITA 5329/MUM/2014

• Counselvise Citation: [2017] 126 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 8967 (ITAT-MUMBAI)
• Duration Of Justice: 3 year(s) 2 month(s) 13 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 03-11-2017
• Appeal Filed By: Department
• Order Result: Allowed
• Bench Allotted: B
• Assessment Year: misc
• Appeal Filed On: 21-08-2014
• Result in Favour of: Revenue
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Department Lawyers: RAJGURU M V
• Assessee Lawyers: RONAK DOSHIHARDIK NIRMAL
• Keywords: Double taxation relief; Retrospective amendment; Permanent establishment; Question of law
• Section: 14A; 6

Judgement Text

IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL L BENCH, MUM BAI , , BEFORE S/SHRI RAJENDRA, A.M. AND SANDEEP GOSAIN,J.M . ./ ././ ./ ITA NO. 5326-5329/MUM/2014 / ASSESSMENT YEAR: NOT APPLICABLE BHARAT BIJLEE LTD. 6TH FLOOR EECTRIC MANSION, APPASAHEB MARATHE MARG, PRABHADEVI MUMBAI-400 025. PAN: AAACB 2900 K VS. ASSTT. DIRECTOR INCOME TAX-(INTL. TAXATION)-3(2) 1ST FLOOR, ROOM NO.132, SCINDIA HOUSE N.M. MARG, BALLARD PIER MUMBAI-400 038. ( / // / APPELLANT ) ( / RESPONDENT ) REVENUE BY: SHRI RAJGURU M.V. ASSESSEE BY: S/SHRI RONAK DOSHI/HARDIK NIRMAL / // / DATE OF HEARING: 20/09/2017 !' / DATE OF PRONOUNCEMENT: 03.11.2017 , ,, , 1961 254(1) ORDER U/S.254(1)OF THE INCOME-TAX ACT,1961(ACT) , ,, , / // / PER RAJENDRA,AM: CHALLENGING THE ORDERS,DATED 21/2/2014 OF THE CIT(A )-10,MUMBAI,THE ASSESSEE HAS FILED THE ABOVE MENTIONED APPEALS.AS THE ISSUE INVOLVED IN TH ESE APPEALS IS IDENTICAL,SO, WE ARE ADJUDI -CATING THEM TOGETHER.ASSESSEE, A PUBLIC LIMITED C OMPANY, IS ENGAGED IN MANUFACTURING OF ELECTRIC MOTORS,TRANSFORMERS, GEARLESS MACHINES FOR ELEVATORS AND MARKETING OF DRIVES AND MAINTENANCE PRODUCTS. ITA/5326/MUM/2014: 2. EFFECTIVE GROUND OF APPEAL IS ABOUT UPHOLDING THE D IRECTION OF THE ASSESSING OFFICER (AO)TO DEDUCT TAX FOR MAKING PAYMENT TO A FOREIGN ENTITY.T HE ASSESSEE MADE AN APPLICATION TO THE AO AND REQUESTED HIM TO ALLOW IT TO REMIT USD 14,00 0 TO INHERENT SIMPLICITY LTD., ISRAEL (ISL) WITHOUT DEDUCTING TAX.IN ITS LETTER,THE ASSES SEE MENTIONED THAT IT HAD SUBSCRIBED TO A SOFTWARE FROM ISL ON ANNUAL USES BASIS,THAT THE SUB SCRIPTION PRICE WAS USD 34,000 FOR THE FIRST YEAR INCLUDING A ONETIME ON SIGHT INSTALLATIO N AND TRAINING SUPPORT FOR UP TO THREE DAYS,THAT ASSESSEE WAS REQUIRED TO PAY ANNUAL SUBS CRIPTION FEE OF USD 14,000 PER YEAR, THAT ISL DID NOT HAVE ANY PERMANENT ESTABLISHMENT (PE) I N INDIA, THAT THE SOFTWARE WAS ALLOWED TO BE USED BY THE ASSESSEE WITHOUT ANY RIGHT TO EXP LOIT THE COPYRIGHT, THAT THE SAME RESTED WITH ISL, THAT THE PROPOSED PAYMENT DID NOT FALL WITHIN THE EARNING OF ROYALTY AS PER ARTICLE-12 OF THE INDIA ISRAEL TAX TREATY.THE AO,VIDE HIS ORDER,D T.24/12/2012,PASSED U/S.195(2) OF THE ACT, 5326-29/M/14- BHARAT BIJLEE LTD. 2 HELD THAT A RIGHT WAS CONFORRED ON ASSESSEE TO USE THE COPY RIGHT OVER THE SOFTWARE FOR ITS PURPOSE AND EVEN TO COPY IT FOR THE USE OF ITS BUSI NESS PURPOSES,THAT IT WAS A RIGHT TO USE THE COPY RIGHT, THAT THE USE OF COPY RIGHT WAS GIVEN TO THE ASSESSEE FOR CONSIDERATION,THAT THE PAYMENT WAS ROYALTY IN TERMS OF THE INDO- ISRAEL DT AA .HE DIRECTED ASSESSEE TO DEDUCT TAX @10% OF THE PAYMENT TO BE MADE TO ISL.ACCORDINGLY, HE ISSUED A CERTIFICATE TO THE ASSESSEE. 2.1. AGGRIEVED BY THE ORDER OF AO,THE ASSESSEE PREFERR ED AN APPEAL BEFORE THE FIRST APPELLATE AUTHORITY (FAA) AND MADE ELABORATE SUBMISSIONS. IT ALSO RELIED UPON CERTAIN CASE LAWS. AFTER CONSIDERING THE AVAILABLE MATERIAL,HE HELD THAT THE AO WAS JUSTIFIED IN HOLDING THAT THE PAYMENT BY THE ASSESSEE TO ISL WAS IN THE NATURE OF ROYALTY WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE-12 OF INDIA ISRAEL TAX TREATY. HE REFERRED TO THE CASE OF SAMSUNG INDIA ELECTRONICS LTD. (203ITR477)OF HONBLE KARNATAKA HIGH COURT AND HEL D THAT THE CASES RELIED UPON BY THE ASSESSEE WERE DISTINGUISHABLE ON THE FACTS.FINALLY, HE UPHELD THE ORDER OF THE AO. 2.2. BEFORE US,THE AUTHORISED REPRESENTATIVE(AR)STATED T HAT THE ASSESSEE DID NOT HAVE ANY RIGHT FOR THE SOFTWARE,THAT SALE OF SOFTWARE WAS A SALE OF COPYRIGHTED ARTICLE,THAT IT WAS NOT SALE OF COPYRIGHT, THAT THE PURCHASE OF SOFTWARE WA S NOT COVERED WITHIN THE AMBIT OF THE TERM ROYALTY AS PER ARTICLE-12.3 OF DTAA , THAT THE ASSE SSEE HAD NOT EXPLOITED THE COPYRIGHT OF LITERARY/ARTISTIC OR SCIENTIFIC WORK , THAT IN ABSE NCE OF COMMERCIAL EXPLOITATION OF COPYRIGHT, PAYMENT MADE BY THE ASSESSEE TOWARDS THE SOFTWARE WAS NOT TAXABLE AS ROYALTY PAYMENT, THAT AMENDMENT OF DEFINITION OF ROYALTY UNDER THE ACT CO ULD NOT BE READ INTO THE DTAA. HE REFERRED TO THE CASES OF ERICSSON A.B.(343ITR470)( DEL);ALCATEL LUCENT USA INC.(ITA / 7299/MUM/ 2010;ANTWERP DIAMOND BANK NV (ITA/8480/MU M/ 2011);TII TEAM TELECOM INTERNATIONAL PVT.LTD.(47 SOT 76)AND SIEMENS AKTION GESELLSCHAFT (310 ITR 320). THE DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVE (DR) SUPPORTED THE ORDER OF THE FAA. 2.3. WE HAVE HEARD THE RIVAL SUBMISSIONS AND PERUSED THE MATERIAL AVAILABLE ON RECORD.WE FIND THAT THE ASSESSEE HAD APPROACHED THE AO TO IS SUE A CERTIFICATE U/S.195 OF THE ACT FOR MAKING REMITTANCE TO ISL WITHOUT DEDUCTING TAX AT S OURCE,THAT THE AO HELD THAT PAYMENT TO BE MADE TO ASSESSEE WAS PAYMENT OF ROYALTY AS PER ART ICLE 12 OF THE INDO ISRAEL TAX TREATY,THAT IT SHOULD PAY TAX @10% BEFORE MAKING REMITTANCE,THAT T HE FAA CONFIRMED THE ORDER OF THE AO, THAT THE PAYMENT BY THE ASSESSEE TO FOREIGN ENTITY WAS ON ACCOUNT OF PURCHASE FOR TRANSFORMER DESIGNING SOFTWARE, THAT THE ASSESSEE WAS REQUIRED TO PAY ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION FEE AS WELL AS SUBSCRIPTION PRICE OF USD 34,000 FOR THE FIRST YEAR,THAT IN CASE OF NON-PAYMENT OF SUBSCRIPTION FEE FOR THE SUBSEQUENT YEARS THE SO FTWARE WAS TO BE GOT LOCKED, THAT ISL DID 5326-29/M/14- BHARAT BIJLEE LTD. 3 NOT HAVE ANY PE IN INDIA.IT IS CLEAR THAT THE ASSES SEE DID NOT HAVE ANY RIGHT TO EXPLOIT THE COPYRIGHT OF THE SOFTWARE AND THAT ISL HAD THE COPY RIGHT OVER THE SOFTWARE. IN OTHER WORDS THE ASSESSEE WAS USING A COPYRIGHTED ARTICLE. ISL HAD S OLD COPYRIGHTED ARTICLE AND NOT THE COPYRIGHT ITSELF. WE FIND THAT IN THE CASE OF ALCATEL LUCENT, USA (SU PRA), THE TRIBUNAL HAS DEALT WITH THE ISSUE OF SALE OF COPYRIGHTED ARTICLE AND SALE OF COPYRIGH T.WE ARE REPRODUCING THE RELEVANT PORTION OF THE ORDER: 2. EFFECTIVE GROUND OF APPEAL,FILED BY THE ASSESSEE,DE ALS WITH NATURE OF PAYMENT RECEIVED BY IT FROM SUPPLY OF SOFTWARE I.E.AS TO WHETHER SAME IS IN NAT URE OF ROYALTY UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE ACT AND UNDER ARTICLE 12 OF THE DOUBLE TAXATION AVOIDANCE A GREEMENT (DTAA/TAX TREATY) ENTERED IN TO BY INDIA AND USA. DURING THE ASSESSMENT PROCEEDINGS,THE AO FOUND THAT THE ASSESSEE HAD SUPPLIED SOFTWARES TO RELIANCE INFOCOM LTD.,THAT IT HAD RAISED BILLS WORTH RS. 19. 89 CRORE, THAT IN THE NOTES ENCLOSED WITH THE RETUR N OF INCOME IT WAS CLAIMED THAT THE PAYMENTS RECEIVED BY IT WERE NOT TAXABLE IN INDIA. THE AO DIRECTED THE ASSESSEE TO GIVE REASONS FOR CLAIMING THE CONSIDERA TION RECEIVED FROM RELIANCE AS NOT TAXABLE IN INDIA.AFTER CONSIDERING THE SUBMISSIONS OF THE ASSE SSEE DATED 07/09/ 2009 AND 22/09/2009,THE AO HELD THAT THE ASSESSEE HAD MAINLY LAID EMPHASIS ON THE D EFINITIONS RATHER THAN THE SUBJECT MATTER,THAT IN T HE AY.2003-04,THE THEN AO HAD TAXED REVENUE/RECEIPTS F ROM THE SOFTWARE PROVIDED BY THE ASSESSEE TO RELIANCE AS ROYALTY. HE REFERRED TO THE RULING OF A AR IN THE CASE OF AIRPORT AUTHORITY OF INDIA AND HE LD THAT RECEIPT FROM SALE/SUPPLY OF SOFTWARE WAS NOTHI NG BUT INCOME FROM ROYALTY AND THAT SAME WAS TAXABLE IN INDIA. HE ALSO REFERRED TO THE REPLY TO THE NOTICE ISSUED BY HIM UNDER SECTION 133 (6) TO RELIANCE,FOR THE AY.2006-07AND OBSERVED THAT THE PA YER HAD ACCEPTED THAT PAYMENTS MADE BY IT TO THE ASSESSEE WERE TO BE TREATED AS ROYALTY UNDER ARTICL E 12 OF THE TAX TREATY WITH USA,THAT REVENUE FROM SUPPLY OF SOFTWARE BY THE ASSESSEE WAS INCOME FROM ROYALTY AND NOT SALE AS CLAIMED BY THE ASSESSEE, THAT SAME WAS TAXABLE IN INDIA. 3. ABOVE-MENTIONED OBSERVATIONS OF THE AO,IN THE DRAFT ORDER,WERE CHALLENGED BY THE ASSESSEE BEFORE THE DRP BY FILING OBJECTIONS.VIDE ITS DIRECTIONS, D ATED 06/086 2010, THE DRP OBSERVED THAT THE ASSESSEE HAD FAILED TO PROVIDE THE REQUISITE INFORM ATION TO DECIDE THE ISSUE AS TO WHETHER THE SOFTWAR E TRANSFERRED BY IT WAS IN THE NATURE OF GOODS SOLD O R IN THE NATURE OF COPYRIGHT ALONG WITH SECRET CODE FOR CREATING MULTIPLE SOFTWARE COPIES TO BE USED BY THE PAYING, THAT RELIANCE HAD EXPENDED ITS BUSINES S TO LARGE NUMBER OF SITES AND USE NUMBER OF SOFTWARE S WHICH WAS FAR MORE IN NUMBER THAN SOLD BY THE ASSESSEE,THAT THE NATURAL INFERENCE WAS THAT THE BU YER HAD RIGHT TO CREATE COPIES BY USING THE SECRET CODES OF THE ASSESSEE, THAT THE NATURE OF PAYMENT B Y RELIANCE WAS CORRECTLY TAKEN AS ROYALTY.IN PURSUANCE OF THE DIRECTIONS OF THE DRP,THE AO FINAL ISED ASSESSMENT AND TREATED THE CONSIDERATION RECEIVED BY THE ASSESSEE FROM RELIANCE AS ROYALTY A ND TAXED IT ACCORDINGLY. 4. DURING THE COURSE OF HEARING BEFORE US,THE AUTHORIS ED REPRESENTATIVE(AR)CONTENDED THAT THE AMOUNTS RECEIVED FROM THE SUPPLIER OF SOFTWARE TO R ELIANCE WERE NOT IN THE NATURE OF ROYALTY UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 12 OF THE INDIA-USA TAX TREAT Y,THAT THE ASSESSEE WAS NOT LIABLE TO PAY TAX IN INDIA,THAT IDENTICAL ISSUE WAS DECIDED IN FAVOUR OF THE ASSESSEE BY THE TRIBUNAL WHILE ADJUDICATING APPEALS FOR THE AY.S.2003-04 AND 2004-05. HE RELIED UPON THE CASES OF (I) INFRASOFT LTD. (220 TAXMAN 273) (II) QAD EUROPE B.V. (53 ITR(T) 259) (III) COLGATE PALMOLIVE MARKETING SDN BHD, ITA NO.2 129-2130/8311/MUM/2004 (IV) VINZAS SOLUTIONS INDIA (P.) LTD. (392 ITR 155) (V) BAAN GLOBAL BV (49 ITR (T) 73) (VI) FIRST ADVANTAGE (P.) LTD. (77 TAXMANN.COM 195) (VII) GALATEA LTD. (46 ITR (T) 690) (VIII) DATAMINE INTERNATIONAL LTD. (68 TAXMAN.COM) (IX) RELIANCE INDUSTRIES LTD. (69 TAXMAN.COM 311) (X) ERICSSON A.B. (16 TAXMAN.COM 371) (XI) SOLID WORKS CORPORATION (51 20T 34) (XII) FINANCIAL SOFTWARE & SYSTEM (P.) LTD. (47 TAX MAN.COM 140) (XIII) ANTWERP DIAMOND BANK NV ENGINEERING CENTRE ( 65 SOT 23) (XIV) ASPECT SOFTWARE INC. (61 TAXMAN.COM 36) 5326-29/M/14- BHARAT BIJLEE LTD. 4 (XV) TII TEAM TELECOM INTERNATIONAL (P.) LTD. (12 I TR (T) 688 AND STATED THAT CONSIDERATION RECEIVED BY THE ASSES SEE FROM SUPPLY OF SOFTWARE WAS NOT IN THE NATURE O F ROYALTY,THAT AMENDMENT OF THE ACT COULD NOT BE READ INTO THE ACT,THAT THE DECISION OF THE HIGH COURT I N THE CASE OF SIEMENS DID NOT HOLD THAT AMENDMENTS TH E ACT COULD BE READ INTO TREATY.FOR THIS PROPOSITIO N BE RELIED UPON THE CASES OF NEW SKIES SATELLITE BV (282 ITR 114) SOFTWARE & SYSTEM(P) LTD (47 TAXMAN.COM 140).HE STATED THAT IN THE CASE OF ANTWE RP DIAMOND BANK NV(ITA/5498/ MUM/2014DTD.26.10.2016)THE TRIBUNAL HAD SPECIFICALL Y DEALT WITH ALL THE ARGUMENTS ADVANCED BY THE DR,THAT THE TRIBNAL HAD ALSO HELD THAT AMENDMENT IN THE ACT CANNOT BE READ IN TO DTAA WHILE INTERPRETING THE PROVISIONS OF THE DTAA,THAT IN CAS E OF DIVERGENT VIEWS OF HONOURABLE HIGH COURTS VIEW FAVOURING THE ASSESSEE HAD TO BE ADOPTED,THAT CASES OF L&T AND GLOBAL TELESYSTEM WERE SENT BACK DUE TO PECULIAR FACTS OF THOSE CASES. 4.1. THE DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVE(DR)ARGUED THAT THE ASSESSEE HAD REFERRED TO THE ORDERS OF THE TRIBUNAL FOR THE AY.S 2003-04 AND 2004-05, THAT THE ORDER OF THE TRIBUNAL CAME MUCH BEFORE THE INSERTION OF EXPLANATION 4 TO SECTION 9 (1) (VI) BY THE FINANCE ACT, 2012 RETROSPECTIVELY WITH EFFECT FROM 01/06/1976,THAT IF THE SAID EXPLANATION WAS APPLIED RETROSPECTIVELY TO THE CASE OF THE ASSESSEE THE PAYMENTS RECEIVED BY IT FOR SUPPLY OF SOFTWARE WOUL D CONSTITUTE ROYALTY UNDER THE ACT AS WELL AS UNDER THE TAX TREATY,THAT IN SOME OF THE CASES THE TRIBUN AL HAD DECIDED THE ISSUE OF PURCHASE/SUPPLY OF SOFTWARE WHETHER SHRINK WRAP OR EMBEDDED SOFTWARE,I N FAVOUR OF THE ASSESSEE BY HOLDING THE CONSIDERATION PAID FOR PURCHASE/ LEASE/SUPPLY OF SO FTWARE AS NOT ROYALTY UNDER THE RELEVANT TAX TREATIES,THAT WHILE HOLDING SO THE TRIBUNAL HAD REL IED UPON THE JUDGMENT OF THE HONBLE DELHI HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF INFRASOFT LTD(264CTR329),NOKIA NETWORKS OY(358 ITR259),ERICSSON AB(343ITR470),THAT THE TRIBUNAL HAD HELD THAT UNLES S TAX TREATIES WERE AMENDED THE AMENDMENTS IN THE ACT COULD NOT READ INTO TREATIES UNDER THE DTAA AND THAT SUCH CONSIDERATION WOULD NOT AMOUNT TO ROYALTY,THAT THE HONBLE KARNATAKA HIGH COURT HAD D ECIDED THE ISSUE IN FAVOUR OF THE DEPARTMENT IN THE CASES OF SYNOPSIS INTERNATIONAL OLD LTD.(212 TA XMAN 454)SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD(345 ITR 494),WIPRO LTD.(355ITR284),THAT THE HONBLE KARNATA KA HIGH COURT HAD DECIDED THE ISSUE OF SOFTWARE ROYALTY BOTH BEFORE THE INSERTION OF EXPLANATIONS 4 ,5 AND 6 TO SECTION 9 (1) (VI) OF THE ACT BY THE FINANCE ACT, 2012 AND EVEN AFTER THEIR INSERTION,TH AT THE INSERTION HAD NOT ALTERED THE VIEWS OF HONB LE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, THAT THE MUMBAI TRIBUNAL W HILE DEALING WITH THE ISSUE OF SOFTWARE ROYALTY IN THE CASE OF RELIANCE INFOCOMM LTD. HAD DECIDED THE ISSUE IN FAVOUR OF THE REVENUE,THAT LATER ON THE TRIBUNAL RECORD ITS ORDER ON A MISCELLANEOUS APPLIC ATION FILED BEFORE IT,THAT THE DEPARTMENT WAS CONSIDERING FILING A PETITION AGAINST THE RECALLING OF THE ORDER,THAT THE ASSESSEE BEING A PAYEE HAVIN G RECEIVED CONSIDERATION FROM RELIANCE,THE HIGH COURT ORDER IN THE PETITION WOULD HAVE BEARING ON THE PRESENT APPEAL,THAT THE APPEAL MAY BE AHJOURNED TIL L THE DECISION OF AFORESAID WRIT PETITION. HE FURTH ER REFERRED TO THE PROVISIONS OF EXPLANATION 4 TO SECT ION 9 (1) (VI) AND STATED THAT EXPLANATION WAS OF CLARIFICATORY NATURE,THAT SAME WAS INSERTED RETROSP ECTIVELY,THAT IF THE EXPLANATION WAS APPLIED TO THE ASSESSEES CASE THE CONSIDERATION RECEIVED BY IT WO ULD BE NATURE OF ROYALTY BOTH UNDER THE ACT AND UNDER THE TAX TREATY,THAT THE HONBLE BOMBAY HIGH C OURT IN THE CASE OF SIEMENS(310ITR320)HAD IMPLIEDLY HELD THAT CLARIFICATORY EXPLANATIONS COUL D BE READ INTO MODERN TAX TREATIES,THAT IT HAD APPROVED AMBULATORY APPROACH TO INTERPRETATION OF T REATIES AGAINST STATIC APPROACH, THAT IN THE CASE O F VAICOM 18 MEDIA PRIVATE LTD (162 TTJ 336),THE TRIBU NAL HAD HELD THAT AMENDMENTS IN THE ACT COULD READ INTO TAX TREATIES.HE FINALLY STATED THAT MATTE R COULD BE RESTORED BACK TO THE FILE OF THE REVENUE AUTHORITIES.IN THAT REGARD HE REFERRED TO THE CASES OF GLOBAL TELESYSTEMS LTD. (ORDER DATED 20/04/2016 ) AND L &T LTD. (152 ITD 873). 5. WE HAVE HEARD THE RIVAL SUBMISSIONS AND PERUSED THE MATERIAL BEFORE US.WE FIND THAT THE BASIC ISSUE TO BE DECIDED IS AS TO WHETHER THE PAYMENTS RECEIVE D BY THE ASSESSEE FROM RELIANCE CAN BE TAXED AS ROYALTY IN VIEW OF THE AMENDMENT TO SECTION 9(1)OF THE ACT.IT IS SAID THAT A DTAA IS A RESULT OF NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES AS TO THE EXTENT TO WHICH SPECIAL CONCESSIONAL TAX PROVISIONS CAN B E MADE NOTWITHSTANDING THAT THERE MIGHT BE A LOSS OF REVENUE.A PLAIN READING OF SECTION 90(2) OF THE ACT MAKES IT CLEAR THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THE DTAA WOUL D PREVAIL OVER THE ACT UNLESS THE ACT IS MORE BENEFICIAL TO THE ASSESSEE.THEREFORE, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT A PROVISION OF THE ACT IS MORE BENEFICIAL T O IT,THE DTAA WILL OVERRIDE THE ACT.THIS IS IRRESPECT IVE OF WHETHER THE ACT CONTAINS A PROVISION THAT CORRESPONDS TO THE TREATY PROVISION.IN OUR OPINION, INTERNATIONAL- TAXATION ISSUES HAVE TO BE DECIDED KEEPING IN MIND THE ABOVE BROAD PRINCIPLES. 5.1. IT IS FOUND THAT ALL THE ISSUES RAISED BY THE DR,BE FORE US,HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH BY THE TRIBUNAL IN THE CASE OF ANTWERP DIAMOND(SUPRA).WE ARE REPRODUCING T HE ARGUMENTS OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF BOTH THE SIDES AND THE RELEVANT PORTION OF THAT ORDER AND IT READS AS UNDER: 2. AT THE OUTSET, THE LD. COUNSEL, MR. K. K. VED S UBMITTED THAT SIMILAR ISSUE HAS BEEN DECIDED BY THE TRIBUNAL IN FAVOUR OF THE ASSESSEE IN ASSESSEE S OWN CASE RIGHT FROM THE ASSESSMENT YEARS 2004- 05, 2005-06 AND 2008-09. THE SECOND ISSUE RELATING TO DISALLOWANCE OF INTEREST PAID TO THE HEAD 5326-29/M/14- BHARAT BIJLEE LTD. 5 OFFICE ALSO HAS BEEN DECIDED IN FAVOUR OF THE ASSES SEE BY THE SPECIAL BENCH IN SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPN., WHEREIN, THE ASSESSEE WAS ONE OF TH E PARTY. 3. ON THE OTHER HAND, LD. DR STRONGLY RELIED UPON T HE ORDER OF THE ASSESSING OFFICER AND SUBMITTED THAT, SO FAR AS DATA PROCESSING COST IS CONCERNED, THE SAME IS IN THE NATURE OF ROYALTY AND IN SUPPORT HE HAS STRONGLY RELIED UPON THE TWO KARNATA KA HIGH COURT DECISIONS IN THE CASE OF :- I) CIT VS. WIPRO LTD., REPORTED IN 355 ITR 284; II) CI T VS. CGI INFORMATION SYSTEMS & MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS (P) LTD., 226 TAXMAN 319 THE ISSUE WHET HER THE AMENDMENT BROUGHT BY FINANCE ACT 2012 IN SECTION 9(1)(VI) BY WAY OF EXPLANATIONS INS ERTED IN THE INCOME-TAX ACT WITH RETROSPECTIVE EFFECT CAN BE READ INTO DTAA OR NOT HAS TO BE SEEN IN THE LIGHT OF THE DECISION OF HONBLE BOMBAY HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF CIT V SIEMENS AKTIONGESEL LSCHAFT, REPORTED IN 310 ITR 320 (BOM HC) ACCORDINGLY, HE SUBMITTED THAT OTHER DECISIONS REND ERED BY THE DELHI HIGH COURT AND THE TRIBUNAL MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE. WHILE APPRECIATING THE SIEME NS AG (SUPRA) HE SUBMITTED THAT, IT MAY KIND BE BORNE IN MIND THAT: I) THE QUESTION OF LAW BEFOR E THE HONBLE HIGH COURT WAS NOT THAT WHETHER AMENDMENTS IN THE INCOME-TAX ACT CAN BE READ INTO T HE DTAA OR NOT; II) IN THE SAID CASE, OLD DTAA (1960) BETWEEN INDIA AND GERMANY WAS UNDER CON SIDERATION; III) THE SAID DECISION WAS RENDERED IN 20008 WHEN THE ONLY CLARIFICATORY PROVI SION BY WAY OF EXPLANATION IN SECTION 9 WAS THE EXPLANATION BELOW S.9(2) INSERTED BY THE FINANC E ACT, 2007 DOING WITH THE REQUIREMENT OF PE FOR ROYALTY; IV) THAT AMENDMENTS/EXPLANATIONS IN TH E INCOME-TAX ACT ARE BEING SOUGHT TO BE READ INTO DTAA BY VIRTUE OF ARTICLE 3(12) OF THE MODERN TREATIES; V) SECTION 9(1)(VI) UP TO AND INCLUDING EXPLANATION 2 ARE SUBSTANTIVE PROVISIONS AS INSERTE D BY FINANCE ACT 1976 AND THEREAFTER, EXPLANATION 3 TO 6 ARE ONLY CLARIFICATORY PROVISION S INSERTED SUBSEQUENTLY; AND VI) IT IS NOT DISPUTED BY THE REVENUE THAT THE PROVISIONS OF DTAA IF BENEFICIAL TO THE ASSESSEE SHALL BE PREFERRED OVER THE PROVISIONS OF THE INCOME-TAX ACT. HE FURTH ER SUBMITTED THAT, THE HONBLE BOMBAY HIGH COURT DECISION IN THE CASE OF SIEMENS AKTIONGESELLS CHAFT (SUPRA) WOULD REVEAL THAT, I) NOWHERE IN THE SAID ORDER, THE HIGH COURT HAS HELD THAT AMENDM ENTS/EXPLANATIONS CANNOT BE READ INTO DTAA AS IT WAS NOT QUESTION BEFORE THE HONBLE HIGH COUR T; II) THE NATURES OF SERVICES RENDERED IN THE SAID CASE WERE FOUND TO BE NOT ROYALTY UNDER THE DT AA THOUGH FOUND TO BE ROYALTY UNDER THE ACT. THOSE SERVICES WERE FOUND TO FALL UNDER THE EXPRESS ION COMMERCIAL OR INDUSTRIAL PROFITS AS PER THE THEN DTAA (OLD) AND THEREFORE COULD NOT BE TAXE D IN INDIA IN ABSENCE OF PE. THE PROVISIONS OF DTAA BEING THE BENEFICIAL TO THE ASSESSEE WERE PREF ERRED OVER THE PROVISIONS OF THE INCOME-TAX ACT; III) IN PARAS 13, 22 AND 28 OF ITS ORDER, THE HONBLE HIGH COURT HAS APPROVED THE INSERTION OF EXPLANATION BELOW SECTION 9(2) INSERTED BY THE FINA NCE ACT 2007, THEREBY IMPLYING THAT THE EXPLANATIONS INSERTED BY FA 2007 COULD BE READ INTO MODERN DTAAS; IV) MUMBAI TRIBUNAL IN THE CASE OF VIACOM 18 MEDIA (P.) LTD. [2014] 162 TTJ 33 6 (MUM) HAS EXPLAINED THE IMPORT OF BOMBAY HIGH COURT DECISION IN RIGHT PERSPECTIVE IN PARAS 16 AND 17 OF ITS ORDER WHILE REJECTING THE ASSESSEES ARGUMENT THAT THE HC HAS HELD THAT A MENDMENTS IN THE ACT CANNOT BE READ INTO DTAAS; AND V) THE BOMBAY HIGH COURT HAS APPROVED AM BULATORY APPROACH (PARA 22) TO INTERPRETATION OF TREATIES AGAINST STATIC APPROACH ADOPTED BY THE DELHI HIGH COURT. SO FAR AS THE INTEREST PAID BY THE BRANCH OFFICE TO THE HEAD OFFI CE INCOME OF HEADQUARTER, HE SUBMITTED THAT, EXPENDITURE INCLUDING INTEREST ATTRIBUTABLE OF EARN ING OF INCOME WHICH DOES NOT FORM PART OF THE TOTAL INCOME HAS TO BE DISALLOWED UNDER SECTION 14A IF IT HAS TO BE HELD THAT IN VIEW OF THE SPECIAL BENCH DECISION IN THE CASE OF THE ASSESSEE, THE INT EREST PAID BY THE BRANCH OFFICE TO THE HEAD OFFICE IS NOT THE COMMISSION OF THE HEAD OFFICE. IN SUPPORT, HE RELIED UPON THE DECISION OF OMAN INTERNATIONAL BANK AG ON THE ADMISSIBILITY OF THE B ELIEF, HE RELIED UPON THE DECISION OF HONBLE SUPREME COURT IN THE CASE OF NTPC VS. CIT, REPORTED IN 229 ITR 383. 4. AFTER CONSIDERING THE AFORESAID SUBMISSIONS AND ON PERUSAL OF THE IMPUGNED ORDERS, WE FIND THAT SO FAR AS THE ISSUE RAISED VIDE GROUND NO.1 TO 3 IS CONCERNED IT IS A RECURRING ISSUE IN THE CASE OF T HE ASSESSEE RIGHT FROM THE EARLIER YEARS. THE LD. CIT (A) TOO HAS FOLLOWED THE CIT(A)S ORDERS FOR THE ASSESSMENT YEARS 2003-04 TO 2004-05, 2005-06 AND 20 08-09. THE TRIBUNAL IN THE ASSESSMENT YEAR 2004-05 IN ITA NO.7347/MUM/2007 ON THE ISSUE OF DIS ALLOWANCE OF DATA PROCESSING COST HAS DEALT AND DECIDED THIS ISSUE IN THE FOLLOWING MANNE R:- 15. NOW, COMING TO THE MAIN ISSUE I.E., WHETHER T HE REIMBURSEMENT OF DATA PROCESSING COST OF RS.34,03,734, AMOUNTS TO ROYALTY OR NOT, WE FIND FR OM THE RECORD THAT THE ASSESSEE IS ENGAGED IN THE BANKING BUSINESS AND OPERATES IN INDIA THROUGH BRANCH IN MUMBAI. IT HAS ACQUIRED BANKING APPLICATION SOFTWARE NAMED AS FLEXCUBE FROM AN IN DIAN SOFTWARE COMPANY WHICH IS EXCLUSIVELY USED FOR THE BANKING PURPOSE BY THE ASSESSEE ALL OV ER THE WORLD. WHEN THE MUMBAI BRANCH WAS SETUP, THE BRANCH WAS ALLOWED TO USE THE SAID SOFT WARE BY MAKING IT ASSESSABLE THROUGH SERVERS LOCATED AT BELGIUM. THE BRANCH SENDS ITS DATA TO TH E BELGIUM SERVER FROM WHERE THE DATA GETS PROCESSED AS PER THE REQUIREMENT OF THE BANKING OPE RATIONS. AS PER THE TERMS OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE BRANCH AND THE HEAD OFFICE FOR THE USAG E OF SOFTWARE BY THE BRANCH, WHICH HAS BEEN 5326-29/M/14- BHARAT BIJLEE LTD. 6 INCORPORATED ABOVE, IT IS EVIDENT THAT THE HEAD OFF ICE ONLY HAS THE NONEXCLUSIVE NON TRANSFERRABLE RIGHTS TO USE THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE B ROUGHT FOR PERSONAL USE AND CLAUSE 16 OF THE SAID AGREEMENT SPECIFICALLY PROVIDES THAT THE HEAD OFFICE DOES NOT HAVE ANY RIGHT TO ASSIGN, SUB LICENSE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THE LICENSE OF THIS A GREEMENT. THUS, THE PAYMENT BY THE BRANCH FOR USE OF COMPUTER SOFTWARE IS NOT THE RIGHT IN THE CO PY RIGHT BUT ONLY FOR DOING THE WORK FROM THE SAID SOFTWARE WHICH SUBSIST IN THE COPY RIGHT OF THE SOF TWARE. THE BRANCH IS USING THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE AND THE I.T. RESOURCES INSTALLED AT BELGIUM FOR WHI CH THE PAYMENT IS MADE BY THE HEAD OFFICE TOWARDS THE USE OF SUCH SOFTWARE LICENSE. SINCE THE BRANCH IS USING THE SAME SOFTWARE FOR THE PURPOSE OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS, THE HEAD OFFICE ALL OCATES THE SAID EXPENDITURE ON A PRORATA BASIS FOR THE USE OF THE SAID RESOURCES WHICH IS BEING RE IMBURSED BY THE BRANCH TO THE HEAD OFFICE. IT IS NOT IN DISPUTE THAT THE ASSESSEE HAS SOUGHT THE BEN EFIT OF TREATY BETWEEN INDIA AND BELGIUM AND HAD SPECIFICALLY RELIED UPON THE DEFINITION OF ROYALTY AS GIVEN IN THE ARTICLE 12. CLAUSE (A) OF PARA3 OF ARTICLE12, WHICH DEFINES THE TERM ROYALTY IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER: 3(A) THE TERM ROYALTIES AS USED IN THIS ARTICLE MEANS PAYMENTS OF ANY KIND RECEIVED AS A CONSIDERATION FOR THE USE OF, OR THE RIGHT TO USE, ANY COPYRIGHT OF LITER ARY, ARTISTIC OR SCIENTIFIC WORK INCLUDING CINEMATOGRAPH FILMS, ANY PATENT, TRADE MARK, DESIGN OR MODEL, PLAN, SECRET FORMULA OR PROCESS, OR FOR INFORMATION CONCERNING INDUSTRIAL, COMMERCIAL O R SCIENTIFIC EXPERIENCE. 16. THE ABOVE DEFINITION OF ROYALTY THUS PROVIDES THAT, WHEN TH E PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS RECEIVED AS A CONSIDERATION FOR USE OF OR THE RIGHT TO USE OF ANY OF THE COPY RIGHT OF ANY ITEM OR FOR VARIOUS TERMS USED IN THE SAID ARTICLE, THEN ONLY IT CAN BE HELD TO BE FOR THE PURPOSE OF ROYALTY. THE SAID DEFINITION OF ROYALTY IS EXHAUSTIVE AND NOT INCLU SIVE AND, THEREFORE, IT HAS TO BE GIVEN THE MEANING AS CONTAINED IN THE ARTICLE ITSELF AND NO O THER MEANING SHOULD BE LOOKED UPON. IF THE ASSESSEE IS CLAIMING THE APPLICATION OF THE DTAA, T HEN THE DEFINITION AND SCOPE OF ROYALTY GIVEN IN THE DOMESTIC LAW, IN THE PRESENT CASE, SECTION 9 (1)(VI) SHOULD NOT BE READ INTO OR LOOKED UPON. THE CHARACTER OF PAYMENT TOWARDS ROYALTY DEPENDS UP ON THE INDEPENDENT USE OR THE RIGHT TO USE OF THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE, WHICH IS A KIND OF C OPY RIGHT. IN THE PRESENT CASE, THE PAYMENT MADE BY THE BRANCH IS NOT FOR USE OF OR RIGHT TO USE OF SOFTWARE WHICH IS BEING EXCLUSIVELY DONE BY THE HEAD OFFICE ONLY, INSTALLED IN BELGIUM. THE BRANCH DOES NOT HAVE ANY INDEPENDENT RIGHT TO USE OR CONTROL OVER SUCH MAIN FRAME OF THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE INSTALLED IN BELGIUM, BUT IT SIMPLY SENDS THE DATA TO THE HEAD OFFICE FOR GETTIN G IT PROCESSED. INSOFAR AS THE BRANCH IS CONCERNED, IT IS ONLY REIMBURSING THE COST OF PROCE SSING OF SUCH DATA TO THE HEAD OFFICE, WHICH HAS BEEN ALLOCATED ON PRORATA BASIS. SUCH REIMBURSEMENT OF PAYMENT DOES NOT FALL WITHIN THE AMBIT OF DEFINITION OF ROYALTY WITHIN THE ARTICLE 12(3)(A) . TO FALL WITHIN ITS AMBIT, THE BRANCH SHOULD HAVE EXCLUSIVE AND INDEPENDENT USE OR RIGHT TO USE THE S OFTWARE AND FOR SUCH USAGE, PAYMENT HAS TO BE MADE IN CONSIDERATION THEREOF. IT IS NOT THE CASE O F THE REVENUE THAT THE HEAD OFFICE HAS PROVIDED ANY COPY RIGHT OF SOFTWARE OR ANY COPYRIGHTED ARTIC LE DEVELOPED BY THE HEAD OFFICE FOR THE EXCLUSIVE USE OF THE ASSESSEE FOR, WHICH THE ASSESS EE IS MAKING THE PAYMENT ALONG WITH THE MARK UP EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF ROYALTY. IF THE P AYMENT FOR LICENSE FOR THE SOFTWARE WHICH IS INSTALLED IN THE HEAD OFFICE IS BEING MADE BY THE H EAD OFFICE, THEN ANY ALLOCATION OF COST AND REIMBURSEMENT THEREOF BY THE BRANCH TO THE HEAD OFF ICE CANNOT BE TERMED AS INDEPENDENT PAYMENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF ROYALTY. TO FALL WITHIN THE AMBI T OF ROYALTY UNDER ARTICLE, THE PAYMENT SHOULD BE EXCLUSIVELY QUA THE USE OR THE RIGHT TO USE THE SOFTWARE EXCLUSIVELY BY THE BRANCH. THE CHARACTER OF THE PAYMENT UNDER THE ROYALTY TRANSACTIONS DEPEN DS UPON THE RIGHTS THAT THE TRANSFEREE ACQUIRES IN RELATION TO THE USE AND EXPLOITATION OF THE SOFT WARE PROGRAMME. HERE, THERE IS NO SUCH RIGHT WHICH HAS BEEN ACQUIRED BY THE BRANCH IN RELATION T O THE USAGE OF SOFTWARE, BECAUSE THE HEAD OFFICE ALONE HAS THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT OF THE LICENSE TO USE THE SOFTWARE. THUS, THE REIMBURSEMENT OF THE DATA PROCESSING COST TO THE HEAD OFFICE DOES NO T FALL WITHIN THE AMBIT OF DEFINITION OF ROYALTY UNDER ARTICLE 12(3)(A). 17. THE LEARNED COMMISSIONER (APPEALS) AND THE LEAR NED SENIOR COUNSEL HAVE STRONGLY RELIED UPON THE DECISION OF THE CO ORDINATE BENCH OF THE TRIBUNAL IN KOTAK MAHINDRA PRIMUS LTD. (SUPRA). ON A PERUSAL OF THE SAID DECISION, IT IS S EEN THAT THE CONCLUSION DRAWN BY THE TRIBUNAL, IS DIRECTLY APPLICABLE TO THE FACTS OF THE ASSESSEES CASE ALSO, WHICH IS EVIDENT FROM THE FOLLOWING OBSERVATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS DRAWN BY THE TRIBUNAL: 11. THE CONSIDERATION OF PAYMENT IS ONLY THIS DATA PROCESS WORK. NO PART OF THIS PAYMENT CAN BE SAID TO BE FOR THE USE OF SPECIALIZED SOFTWARE ON W HICH DATA IS PROCESSED OR FOR THE USE OF MAINFRAME COMPUTER BECAUSE THE INDIAN COMPANY DOES NOT HAVE ANY INDEPENDENT RIGHT TO USE THE COMPUTER OR EVEN PHYSICAL ACCESS TO THE MAINFRAME C OMPUTER, SO AS TO USE THE MAINFRAME COMPUTER OR THE SPECIALIZED SOFTWARE. ALL THAT THE RIGHT IS FOR PROCESSING OF DATA, AND THE USE OF MAINFRAME COMPUTER IS PERMITTED ONLY FOR THAT PURPO SE. THE INDIAN COMPANY CAN FEED THE RAW DATA IN THE MAINFRAME COMPUTER IN AUSTRALIA, WITH THE HE LP OF THE TELECOMMUNICATION LINK, AND THE 5326-29/M/14- BHARAT BIJLEE LTD. 7 OUTPUT DATA, AFTER DUE PROCESSING IS TRANSMITTED BA CK TO THE INDIAN COMPANY. THERE IS NO PRIVILEGE OR RIGHT GRANTED TO THE INDIAN COMPANY BY THE AUSTR ALIAN COMPANY. THE CONTROL OF THE INDIAN COMPANY IS ONLY ON THE INPUT TRANSMISSION AND THE R IGHT IS TO GET THE OUTPUT PROCESSED DATA BACK. THE ACTUAL PROCESSING OF DATA IS THE EXCLUSIVE CONT ROL OF THE AUSTRALIAN COMPANY AND IT IS FOR THIS WORK THAT THE AUSTRALIAN COMPANY GETS PAID. IN OUR CONSIDERED VIEW, THEREFORE, IN ESSENCE THE IMPUGNED PAYMENT IS MADE TO THE AUSTRALIAN COMPANY IN CONSIDERATION OF ITS PROCESSING OF DATA BELONGING TO THE INDIAN COMPANY.AS FAR AS THE SCOPE OF ARTICLE 12(3)(A) IS CONCERNED, WE FIND THAT IT COVERS ONLY A PAYMENT FOR THE USE OF, OR THE RIG HT TO USE OF, ANY COPYRIGHT, PATENT, DESIGN OR MODEL, PLAN, SECRET FORMULA OR PROCESS, TRADEMARK, OR OTHER LIKE PROPERTY OR RIGHT. THE CASE OF THE REVENUE IS THAT THE PAYMENT IS MADE FOR THE USE OF SPECIALIZED SOFTWARE WITH THE HELP OF WHICH DATA IS PROCESSED. WE ARE NOT PERSUADED. AS WE HAVE CONC LUDED EARLIER IN THIS ORDER, ON THE FACTS OF THIS CASE, THE PAYMENT MADE BY THE INDIAN COMPANY IS NOT FOR THE USE OF, OR RIGHT TO USE OF, SOFTWARE, THE PAYMENT IS FOR DATA PROCESSING. BE THAT AS IT M AY, EVEN IF STAND OF THE REVENUE IS TO BE UPHELD AND IT IS TO BE CONCLUDED THAT THE PAYMENT IS MADE FOR SOFTWARE PER SE, THAT DOES NOT LEAD TO TAXABILITY OF RECEIPT IN THE .HANDS OF THE AUSTRALI AN COMPANY EITHER. IT IS ALSO BY NOW SETTLED THAT THE PAYMENT FOR SOFTWARE IS FOR A COPYRIGHTED ARTIC LE AND NOT COPYRIGHT PER SE, AND, THEREFORE, IS NOT COVERED BY THE SCOPE OF PAYMENT FOR COPYRIGHT. THE AUTHORITY FOR THIS PROPOSITION IS CONTAINED IN SPECIAL BENCH DECISION IN THE CASE OF MOTOROLA I NC. V. DY. CIT (2005) 95 ITD 269 (DEL)(SB), SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS COMPANY LTD. V. ITO (2005) 94 I TD 91 (BANG), AND LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES HINDUSTAN LTD. V. ITO (2005) 92 ITD 366 (BANG). IT IS NOT EVEN THE REVENUES CASE THAT THE PAYMENT IN QUESTION IS NOT (SIC) FOR THE USE OF, OR RIGHT T O USE OF, PATENT, DESIGN OR MODEL, PLAN, SECRET FORMULA OR PROCESS, OR TRADE MARK. IN ANY EVENT, HA VING PERUSED THESE CLASSIFICATIONS AND HAVING CONSIDERED THE FACTS BEFORE US, WE ARE OF THE CONSI DERED VIEW THAT THE PAYMENT DOES NOT FIT INTO ANY OF THESE CLASSIFICATIONS. IT IS, HOWEVER, CONTENDED THAT THE IMPUGNED PAYMENT IS COVERED BY THE RESIDUARY CLAUSE, I.E., 'OTHER LIKE PROPERTY OR RIG HT'. IT IS CONTENDED THAT BY MAKING PAYMENT OF US $ 60,000 PER ANNUM, THE INDIAN COMPANY GETS A VALUA BLE PROPERTY AND RIGHT AS THE PAYMENT CANNOT BE SAID TO. HAVE BEEN MADE IN VACUUM AND WITHOUT AN Y CONSIDERATION. THIS PLEA ALSO DOES NOT IMPRESS US. IT IS NOT EVERY PROPERTY OR RIGHT WHICH CAN BE COVERED BY THESE EXPRESSIONS APPEARING IN THE END OF ARTICLE 12(3)(A), BECAUSE, FOLLOWING THE PRINCIPLES OF EJUSDEM GENERIS MEANING OF THE GENERAL WORDS FOLLOWING THE SPECIFIC WORDS HAVE TO TAKE COLOUR FROM THE SPECIFIC WORDS PRECEDING IT. WHEN THAT PROPERTY OR RIGHT, EVEN IF IT SO EXIS TS, IS NOT OF THE NATURE OF ANY OF THE SPECIFIC CATEGORIES SET OUT IN ARTICLE 12(3)(A), IT CANNOT B E COVERED BY THE GENERAL WORDS FOLLOWING THOSE CATEGORIES EITHER. FOR ALL THESE REASONS, WE ARE OF THE CONSIDERED VIEW THAT PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 12(3)(A) CANNOT BE INVOKED ON THE FACTS OF THE CASE BEFORE US. THAT TAKES US TO THE QUESTION WHETHER THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 12(3)(B), AS RELIED UPON BY THE REVENUE AUTHORITIES, CAN BE INVOKED ON THE FACTS OF THE PRESENT CASE. ARTICLE 12(3)(B) CAN APP LY ONLY WHEN THE PAYMENT IN QUESTION CAN BE HELD TO BE PAYMENT FOR 'THE USE OF, OR THE RIGHT TO USE, ANY INDUSTRIAL, COMMERCIAL OR SCIENTIFIC EQUIPMENT'. THIS CONDITION CAN ONLY BE SATISFIED WH EN IT IS ESTABLISHED THAT THE IMPUGNED PAYMENT IS MADE FOR THE USE OF, OR RIGHT TO USE OF, MAINFRA ME COMPUTER. THE INDIAN COMPANY DOES NOT HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER, OR PHYSICAL ACCESS TO, THE MAINFR AME COMPUTER IN AUSTRALIA. THERE CANNOT, THEREFORE, BE ANY QUESTION OF PAYMENT FOR USE OF TH E MAINFRAME COMPUTER. IT IS INDEED TRUE THAT THE USE OF MAINFRAME COMPUTER IS INTEGRAL TO THE DATA P ROCESSING BUT WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO BEAR IN MIND IS THE FACT THAT THE PAYMENT IS NOT FOR THE USE OF MAINFRAME COMPUTER PER SE, THAT THE INDIAN COMPANY DOES NOT HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER THE MAINFRAM E COMPUTER OR PHYSICAL ACCESS TO THE MAINFRAME COMPUTER, AND THAT THE PAYMENT IS FOR ACT OF SPECIALIZED DATA PROCESSING BY THE AUSTRALIAN COMPANY. USE OF MAINFRAME COMPUTER IN TH E COURSE OF PROCESSING OF DATA IS ONE OF THE IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF THE WHOLE ACTIVITY BUT THAT IS NOT THE PURPOSE OF, AND CONSIDERATION FOR, THE IMPUGNED PAYMENT BEING MADE TO AUSTRALIAN COMPANY. THE PAYMENT, AS WE HAVE OBSERVED EARLIER, IS FOR THE ACTIVITY OF SPECIALIZED DATA PROCESSING. IT IS NEITHER PRACTICABLE, NOR PERMISSIBLE, TO ASSIGN MONETARY VALUE TO EACH OF THE SEGMENT OF THI S ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND CONSIDER THAT AMOUNT IN ISOLATION, FOR THE PURPOSE OF DECIDING CHARACTER OF THAT AMOUNT. THEREFORE, NEITHER THE IMPUGNED PAYMENT CAN BE SAID TO BE TOWARDS USE OF, OR RIGHT TO USE OF, THE MAINFRAME COMPUTER, NOR IS IT PERMISSIBLE TO ALLOCATE A PART OF THE IMPUGNED PAYM ENT, AS ATTRIBUTABLE TO USE OF, OR RIGHT TO USE OF, MAINFRAME COMPUTER. ACCORDINGLY, THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 12(3)(B) CANNOT HAVE ANY APPLICATION IN THE MATTER. 18. INSOFAR AS THE RELIANCE PLACED BY THE LEARNED D EPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVE ON THE DECISIONS OF THE MADRAS HIGH COURT AND ALSO THE SCOPE OF ROYALT Y AS GIVEN IN EXPLANATION 4 AND 5 TO SECTION 9(1)(VI) BROUGHT IN STATUTE BY THE FINANCE ACT, 201 2 ARE CONCERNED, WE FIND THAT THE SAME IS NOT TENABLE FOR THE REASON THAT ONCE THE ASSESSEE HAS O PTED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE DTAA, THEN THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT FOR RESORTING TO THE DEFINITION AND THE SCOPE OF ROYALTY AS GIVEN IN SECTION 5326-29/M/14- BHARAT BIJLEE LTD. 8 9(1)(VI). THE SAID AMENDMENT CANNOT BE READ INTO TH E TREATY AND WILL NOT INFLUENCE THE DEFINITION OF ROYALTY, AS GIVEN IN ARTICLE 12(3). THIS PROPOSIT ION IS SQUARELY COVERED BY THE DECISION OF THE BOMBAY HIGH COURT IN SIEMENS AKTIONGESELLSCHAFT (SU PRA), THE DECISION OF DELHI HIGH COURT IN NOKIA NETWORK (SUPRA) AND DIT V/S ERICSON AB, [2012 ] 343 ITR 470. EVEN THE DECISIONS OF MADRAS HIGH COURT AS RELIED UPON BY THE LEARNED DEP ARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVE IS NOT APPLICABLE WHICH IS EVIDENT FROM THE ISSUE INVOLVED AS IS EVID ENT FROM THE SUBSTANTIAL QUESTION OF LAW WHICH WERE FORMULATED BY THE HIGH COURT FOR ADJUDICATION. HENCE, THE SAID DECISIONS ARE NOT APPLICABLE. 19.THUS, IN VIEW OF THE AFORESAID REASONS, WE HOLD THAT THE IMPUGNED PAYMENT MADE BY THE BRANCH TO THE H.O. TOWARDS REIMBURSEMENT OF COST OF DATA P ROCESSING CANNOT BE HELD TO BE COVERED WITHIN THE SCOPE OF EXPRESSION ROYALTY UNDER ARTICLE 12( 3)(A) OF THE INDIA BELGIUM DTAA. ACCORDINGLY, THE CONCLUSION DRAWN BY THE LEARNED COMMISSIONER (A PPEALS) IS AFFIRMED. 20. SINCE WE HAVE ALREADY HELD THAT THE DATA PROCESSING COST PAID BY THE ASSESSEE DOES NOT AMOUNT TO ROYALTY, CONSEQUENTLY, THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT FOR DEDUCTING TAX AT SOURCE ON SUCH PAYMENT. THEREFORE, THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 40(A)(I) WILL NOT APPLY. ACCO RDINGLY, THE ISSUE ARISING OUT OF GROUND NO.1 AND 2 IS DISMISSED. THIS DECISION OF THE TRIBUNAL HAVE BEEN FOLLOWED IN THE SUBSEQUENT YEARS BY THE TRIBUNAL, I.E., IN AY 2006-07 AND 2007-08. IN THE A FORESAID DECISION OF THE TRIBUNAL, THE DECISION OF BOMBAY HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF SIEMENS AKTIONG ESELLSCHAFT (SUPRA) AND DELHI HIGH COURT DECISION IN THE CASE OF NOKIA NETWORK, REPORTED IN [2012] 253 CTR (DE) 417 AND DIT V SONY ERICSON AB, REPORTED IN [2012] 343 ITR 470 HAVE BEE N TAKEN NOTE OF. THUS, THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN DECIDED IN FAVOUR OF THE ASSESSEE AFTER DETAIL ANAL YSIS AND DISCUSSION. MOREOVER, WE FIND THAT IN THE LATEST DECISION OF HONBLE DELHI HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF DIT VS. NEWS SKY SATELLITE BV PASSED IN ITA 473/2012, ORDER DATED 8.02.2016 HAVE EXPLAINED THE RATIO AND PRINCIPLE OF HONBLE BOMBAY HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF SIEMENS AKTIONGESELLSCHAF T (SUPRA). THE RELEVANT OBSERVATION OF THE HONBLE DELHI HIGH COURT IN THE SAID CASE READS AS UNDER:- 48 IN COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX V. SEIMENS AKTION GESSELLSCHAFT, [2009] 310 ITR 320 (BOM), THE BOMBAY HIGH COURT CITING R V. MELFORD DEVELOPME NTS INC. HELD THAT 'THE RATIO OF THE JUDGMENT, IN OUR OPINION, WOULD MEAN THAT BY A UNIL ATERAL AMENDMENT IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR ONE NATION WHICH IS PARTY TO AN AGREEMENT TO TAX INCOME WHICH OTHERWISE WAS NOT SUBJECT TO TAX. SUCH INCOME WOULD NOT BE SUBJECT TO TAX UNDER THE EXPRES SION 'LAWS IN FORCE'. WHILE CONSIDERING THE DOUBLE TAX AVOIDANCE AGREEMENT THE EXPRESSION 'LAWS IN FORCE' WOULD NOT ONLY INCLUDE A TAX ALREADY COVERED BY THE TREATY BUT WOULD ALSO INCLUD E ANY OTHER TAX AS TAXES OF A SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR CHARACTER SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE OF THE AGR EEMENT AS SET OUT IN ARTICLE 1(2). CONSIDERING THE EXPRESS LANGUAGE OF ARTICLE 1(2) IT IS NOT POSS IBLE TO ACCEPT THE BROAD PROPOSITION URGED ON BEHALF OF THE ASSESSEE THAT THE LAW WOULD BE THE LA W AS APPLICABLE OR AS DEFINE WHEN THE DOUBLE TAX AVOIDANCE AGREEMENT WAS ENTERED INTO.' 49. IT IS ESSENTIAL TO NOTE THE CONTEXT IN WHICH TH IS JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED. THERE, THE COURT WAS CONFRONTED WITH A SITUATION WHERE THE WORD ROYALTY WAS NOT DEFINED IN THE GERMAN DTAA. FOLLOWING FROM OUR PREVIOUS DISCUSSION ON THE BIFUR CATION OF TERMS WITHIN THE TREATY, IN SITUATIONS WHERE WORDS REMAIN UNDEFINED, ASSISTANCE IS TO BE D RAWN FROM THE DEFINITION AND IMPORT OF THE WORDS AS THEY EXIST IN THE DOMESTIC 'LAWS IN FORCE' . IT WAS IN THIS CONTEXT THAT THE BOMBAY HIGH COURT HELD THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ACCEPT THE ASSE SSE'S CONTENTION THAT THE LAW APPLICABLE WOULD BE THE LAW AS IT EXISTED AT THE TIME THE DOUBLE TAX AVOIDANCE AGREEMENT WAS ENTERED INTO. THIS IS THE CONTEXT IN WHICH THE AMBULATORY APPROACH TO TAX TREATY INTERPRETATION WAS NOT REJECTED. THE SITUATION BEFORE THIS COURT HOWEVER IS MATERIALLY D IFFERENT AS THERE IS IN FACT A DEFINITION OF THE WORD ROYALTY UNDER ARTICLE 12 OF BOTH DTAA, THUS DI SPENSING WITH THE NEED FOR RECOURSE TO ARTICLE 50. THERE ARE THEREFORE TWO SETS OF CIRCUMSTANCES. FIRST, WHERE THERE EXISTS NO DEFINITION OF A WORD IN ISSUE WITHIN THE DTAA ITSELF, REGARD IS TO BE HA D TO THE LAWS IN FORCE IN THE JURISDICTION OF THE STATE CALLED UPON TO INTERPRET THE WORD. THE BOMBAY HIGH COURT SEEMS TO ACCEPT THE AMBULATORY APPROACH IN SUCH A SITUATION, THUS ALLOWING FOR SUC CESSIVE AMENDMENTS INTO THE REALM OF 'LAWS IN FORCE'. WE EXPRESS NO OPINION IN THIS REGARD SINCE IT IS NOT IN ISSUE BEFORE THIS COURT. THIS COURT'S FINDING IS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE SECOND SITUATION, WHERE THERE DOES EXIST A DEFINITION OF A TERM WITHI N THE DTAA. WHEN THAT IS THE CASE, THERE IS NO NEED T O REFER TO THE LAWS IN FORCE IN THE CONTRACTING STATES, ESPECIALLY TO DEDUCE THE MEANING OF THE DEF INITION UNDER THE DTAA AND THE ULTIMATE TAXABILITY OF THE INCOME UNDER THE AGREEMENT. THAT IS NOT TO SAY THAT THE COURT MAY BE INCONSISTENT IN ITS INTERPRETATION OF SIMILAR DEFINITIONS. WHAT THAT DOES IMPLY HOWEVER, IS THAT JUST BECAUSE THERE IS A DOMESTIC DEFINITION SIMILAR TO THE ONE UNDER T HE DTAA, AMENDMENTS TO THE DOMESTIC LAW, IN AN ATTEMPT TO CONTOUR, RESTRICT OR EXPAND THE DEFINITI ON UNDER ITS STATUTE, CANNOT EXTEND TO THE DEFINITION UNDER THE DTAA. IN OTHER WORDS, THE DOME STIC LAW REMAINS STATIC FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE DTAA. 5326-29/M/14- BHARAT BIJLEE LTD. 9 5.THUS, ON THE FACTS OF THE PRESENT CASE, WE ARE BO UND TO FOLLOW THE JUDICIAL PRECEDENCE IN ASSESSEES OWN CASE FOR THE EARLIER YEARS AND IN VI EW OF THE FINDING GIVEN THEREIN, WE UPHELD THE ORDER OF THE CIT (A) AND DISMISS THE GROUNDS RAISED BY THE REVENUE. ACCORDINGLY, GROUNDS NO.1, 2 & 3 ARE DISMISSED. 5.2. AS FAR AS FILING OF WRIT PETITION TO BE FILED BEFOR E THE HONBLE HIGH COURT IS CONCERNED IF WOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO MENTION THAT NOTHING WAS BROUGHT O N RECORD TO PROVE THAT WRIT HAD BEEN FILED AND HEARD.HAD THE FINAL HEARING TAKEN PLACE,IT WOULD HA VE BEEN A DIFFERENT SITUATION.SO,IN ANTICIPATION OF FILING OF A WRIT-PETITION,WE ARE NOT INCLINED TO DEFER THE DECISION ESPECIALLY WHEN SAME IS COVERED BY THE ORDERS FOR THE EARLIER YEARS. CONSIDERING THE ABOVE AND RESPECTFULLY FOLLOWING TH E ORDERS OF THE TRIBUNAL IN THE CASES OF ANTWERP DIAMOND BANK NV ENGINEERING CENTRE(SUPRA)AND ANTWER P DIAMOND BANK NV(SUPRA), WE DECIDE THE EFFECTIVE GROUND OF APPEAL IN FAVOUR OF THE ASSESSE E. 2.4. WE ALSO AGREE WITH THE SUBMISSION OF THE ASSESSEE T HAT THE AMENDMENT OF DEFINITION OF ROYALTY CANNOT BE USED TO READ THE DTAA. WE ARE REP RODUCING THE RELEVANT PORTION OF JUDGMENT OF SIEMENS AKTIONGESELLSCHAFT OF HON'BLE B OMBAY HIGH COURT AND IT READS AS FOLLOW: ON A READING OF ARTICLE II(2) OF THE DOUBLE TAXATI ON AVOIDANCE AGREEMENT BETWEEN GERMANY AND INDIA IT WOULD BE CLEAR THAT IF A TERM IS NOT DEFIN ED IN THE AGREEMENT IT WILL HAVE THE MEANING WHICH IT HAS UNDER THE LAWS IN FORCE IN THAT TERRITORY RELAT ING TO THE TAXES WHICH ARE THE SUBJECT-MATTER OF TH E AGREEMENT. BY A UNILATERAL AMENDMENT IT IS NOT POSS IBLE FOR ONE NATION WHICH IS PARTY TO AN AGREEMENT TO TAX INCOME WHICH OTHERWISE WAS NOT SUBJECT TO TA X. SUCH INCOME WOULD NOT BE SUBJECT TO TAX UNDER THE EXPRESSION LAWS IN FORCE. ARTICLE III(1) OF T HE AGREEMENT PROVIDES THAT TAX SHALL NOT BE LEVIED IN ONE OF THE TERRITORIES ON THE INDUSTRIAL OR COMMERC IAL PROFITS OF AN ENTERPRISE OF THE OTHER TERRITORY UNLESS PROFITS ARE DERIVED IN THE FIRST MENTIONED T ERRITORY THROUGH A PERMANENT ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ENTERPRISE SITUATED IN THE FIRST MENTIONED TERRITOR Y. ..THAT THE FINANCE ACT, 2007, HAS INSERTED AN EXPLANATION TO SECTION 9(2) WITH RETROSPECTIVE EFFECT FROM JUNE 1, 1976. AS A RESULT INCOME FROM RECEIPT OF ROYALTIES AS SET OUT IN SECTION 9(1)(VI) ARE TAX ABLE IN INDIA WHETHER OR NOT THE NON-RESIDENT HAS A PLACE OF RESIDENCE, OR PLACE OF BUSINESS OR BUSINES S CONNECTION IN INDIA. IN THE ASSESSEES CASE, THOU GH THE AGREEMENTS WERE ENTERED INTO BEFORE JUNE 1, 197 6, INCOME WAS RECEIVED FOR SEVERAL ASSESSMENT YEARS. THE CORRECT INTERPRETATION OF THE DOUBLE TAX ATION AVOIDANCE AGREEMENT WOULD BE TO INCLUDE THE ROYALTIES FROM PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS OR TRADE MARKS A ND THE LIKE WITHIN THE EXPRESSION INDUSTRIAL OR COMMERCIAL PRO-FITS. THIS INCOME WOULD NOT BE ROY ALTIES WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE DOUBLE TAXATION AVOIDANCE AGREEMENT BUT WOULD FALL UNDER THE EXPRES SION COMMERCIAL OR INDUSTRIAL PROFITS. IN THE ABSENCE OF A PERMANENT ESTABLISHMENT SUCH INCOME WO ULD NOT BE TAXABLE IN INDIA CONSIDERING THE ABOVE,WE ARE OF THE OPINION, THAT O RDER OF FAA CONFIRMING THE AO CANNOT BE ENDORSED. THEREFORE, REVERSING HIS ORDER WE DECIDE EFFECTIVE GROUND OF APPEAL IN FAVOUR OF THE ASSESSEE. ITA.S 5327 TO 5329/MUM/2014: 3. FOLLOWING OUR EARLIER ORDER, WE ALLOW THE EFFECTIV E GROUNDS OF APPEAL IN FAVOUR OF THE ASSESSEE. AS A RESULT, ALL THE AP PEALS FILED BY THE ASSESSEE STAND ALLOWED. # $%& ' ( ) *+,-./ . ORDER PRONOUNCED IN THE OPEN COURT ON 03 RD NOVEMBER, 2017. +* 0, 03 , 2017 SD/- SD/- ( /SANDEEP GOSAIN) ( / RAJENDRA) / JUDICIAL MEMBER / ACCOUNTANT MEMBER MUMBAI; /DATED :03.11.2017. 5326-29/M/14- BHARAT BIJLEE LTD. 10 JV.SR.PS. / COPY OF THE ORDER FORWARDED TO : 1. APPELLANT / 2. RESPONDENT / 3. THE CONCERNED CIT(A)/ , 4. THE CONCERNED CIT / 5. DR E BENCH, ITAT, MUMBAI / , , . . . 6. GUARD FILE/ //TRUE COPY// / BY ORDER, / DY./ASST. REGISTRAR , /ITAT, MUMBAI.