, , IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL DIVISION BENCH, B,CHANDIGARH . . , , BEFORE SHRI N.K. SAINI, VICE PRESIDENT & SHRI SANJAY GARG, JUDICIAL MEMBER ./ ITA NO. 716/CHD/2019 ! / ASSESSMENT YEAR : 2015-16 THE PUNJAB STATE COOP MILK PRODUCERS FEDERATION LTD SCO 153-55, SECTOR 34A, CHANDIGARH '# THE A CIT, CIRCLE 4(1), CHANDIGARH $ % ./PAN NO: AAAAP1208Q $&/ APPELLANT ()$& /RESPONDENT HEARING THOUGH VIDEO CONFERENCING *+ , - /ASSESSEE BY : SHRI AMITAOZ SINGH KAMBOJ, CA , - / REVENUE BY : DR. G.S. PHANI KISHORE, CIT . / , +0% /DATE OF HEARING : 08.06.2020 12! , +0% / DATE OF PRONOUNCEMENT : 08.06.2020 / ORDER PER SANJAY GARG, JUDICIAL MEMBER: THE PRESENT APPEAL HAS BEEN PREFERRED BY THE ASSESS EE AGAINST THE ORDER DATED 18.02.2019 OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INCO ME TAX (APPEALS)- 2, CHANDIGARH [HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS CIT(A) ] 2. THE ASSESSEE IN THIS APPEAL HAS TAKEN FOLLOWING GROUNDS OF APPEAL:- 1. THAT THE ORDER OF THE LD. AO IS BAD IN LAW AND IS B EYOND ALL THE CANNONS OF LAW AND JUSTICE. ITA NO. 716-CHD-2019 PUNJAB STATE COOP MILK PRODUCERS FEDERATION LTD, C HANDIGARH 2 2. THAT THE ORDER OF THE LD. AO HOLDING THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 14A ARE APPLICABLE WITH RESPECT TO THE INCOME ENTIT LED TO DEDUCTION UNDER THE PROVISION OF SECTION 80P(2)(D) TO THE APPELLANT BEING A CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY IN VIEW OF T HE DECISION OF THE HON'BLE DELHI HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF COM MISSIONER OF INCOME TAX VS. KRIBHCO 349 ITR 618 AS UPHELD BY THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA IS BAD IN LAW. 3. THAT THE ORDER OF THE LD. AO HOLDING RS. 9,58,95,32 6/- AS EXPENSES ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE INCOME NOT ENTITLED TO DEDUCTION UNDER SECTION 80P(2)(D) AS PER RULE 8D IS BAD IN LA W AND ON FACTS AS THE METHODS ADOPTED AND CALCULATIONS DONE ARE NOT IN LINE WITH THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE ASSESSEE. 3 . THE SOLE ISSUE RAISED IN THIS APPEAL IS AS TO WHETH ER THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 14A ARE ATTRACTED TO AN INCOME CLAIMED AS EXEMPT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 80P(2)(D) OF THE INCOME TAX A CT. AT THE OUTSET, BOTH THE LD. REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PARTIES HAVE SU BMITTED THAT THE ISSUE RAISED THROUGH ABOVE GROUNDS OF APPEAL IS SQUARELY COVERED BY THE DECISION OF THE TRIBUNAL DATED 25.2.2019 IN THE ASS ESSEES OWN CASE FOR ASSESSMENT YEAR 2014-15 ITA NO. 686/CHD/2018. A COP Y OF THE ORDER OF THE TRIBUNAL DATED 25.2.2019 (SUPRA) HAS BEEN PLAC ED ON THE FILE. 4. WE FIND THAT THE ISSUE INVOLVED IN THIS APPEA L IS SQUARELY COVERED BY THE ORDER OF THE TRIBUNAL DATED 25.2.2019 (SUPRA ) RENDERED IN THE OWN CASE OF THE ASSESSEE FOR ASSESSMENT YEAR 2014-15, WHEREIN, THE TRIBUNAL AFTER DELIBERATING UPON THE ISSUE HAS DISMISSED THE APPEAL OF THE ASSESSEE OBSERVING AS UNDER:- 4. WE HAVE HEARD THE RIVAL SUBMISSIONS AND PERUSED THE MATERIAL ON RECORD. WE FIND THAT ON SIMILAR SET OF FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES, THE CO-ORDINATE BENCH CONSIDERED AN IDENTICAL PRAYER OF THE ASSESSEE. FOR READY REFERENCE, WE EXT RACT THE SPECIFIC ITA NO. 716-CHD-2019 PUNJAB STATE COOP MILK PRODUCERS FEDERATION LTD, C HANDIGARH 3 GROUNDS RAISED BY THE ASSESSEE IN 2013-14 ASSESSMEN T YEAR CONSIDERED IN ITA 1666/CHD/2017 : 1. THAT THE ORDER OF THE ASSESSING 'OFFICER AS UPHELD BY THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (APPEALS)-2, CHANDIGARH IS BAD IN LAW AND IS BEYOND ALL THE CANNONS OF LAW AND JUSTICE. 2. THAT THE ORDER OF THE ASSESSING OFFICER AS UPHELD B Y THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (APPEALS)-2, CHANDIGARH ATTRIBUTING E XPENSES TO THE INCOME WHICH IS ENTITLE TO DEDUCTION U/S 80P(2)(D) AMOUNTING TO RS. 11,63,94,666/- AGAINST THE GROSS INTEREST INCOME OF RS. 14,85,23,410/-BY INCORRECTLY APPLYING THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 14-A READ WITH RULE 8-D IS BAD IN LAW AND IS AGAINST THE JUDICIAL DECISIONS IN THIS BEHALF. 3. THAT THE APPELLANT CRAVES LEAVE TO ADD, AMEND OR DE LETE ANY OF THE GROUNDS OF APPEAL BEFORE THE SAME IS FINALLY HEARD. IT IS THEREFORE HUMBLY PRAYED THAT THE ORDER ALLOCA TING EXPENSES U/S 14A READ WITH RULE 8D AMOUNTING TO RS. 11,63,94,666/- T O THE EARNING OF INTEREST INCOME OF RS. 14,85,23,410/- MAY KINDLY BE SET-ASID E IN VIEW OF THE FACTS, CIRCUMSTANCES AND JUDICIAL DECISIONS IN THIS BEHALF . 4. WE NOTE THAT THE FOLLOWING SUBMISSIONS OF THE PA RTIES HAVE BEEN RECORDED IN THE ORDER: 2. THE LD. AR INVITING ATTENTION TO APPLICATION DATED 25 TH MAY,2013 U/S 158A BY THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE ASSESSEE SOCIETY MA DE A PRAYER THAT IN ORDER TO AVOID MULTIPLICATION OF APPEALS, THE ASSESSEE RE QUESTS THAT HE WOULD ABIDE BY THE DECISION OF APEX COURT WHERE SLP OF THE ASSESSE E STOOD ADMITTED BY THE COURT ON SAME FACTS AND SIMILAR ISSUES AS IN THE PR ESENT APPEAL. MR. D.S.KALYAN CIT -DR APPEARING ON BEHALF OF THE REVEN UE SOUGHT TIME TO PLACE ASSESSING OFFICERS REPORT THEREON. IT WAS ALSO HI S SUBMISSION THAT CONSISTENTLY THE ISSUE IS COVERED AGAINST THE ASSESSEE. TAKING NOTE OF THE SUBMISSIONS, TIME WAS GRANTED. 3. ON THE NEXT DATE, LD. CIT-DR FILING REPORT OF TH E AO DATED 27.06.2018 STATED THAT THE AO HAS NO OBJECTION TO BE BOUND BY THE DECISION OF THE APEX COURT ON SIMILAR FACTS IN THE CASE OF THE ASSESSEE ITSELF. 5. IT IS SEEN THAT CONSIDERING IDENTICAL FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES, THE ISSUE WAS DECIDED IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER : 4. WE HAVE HEARD THE RIVAL SUBMISSIONS AND PERUSED THE MATERIAL ON RECORD. WE FIND THAT THE ASSESSEE IS AN APEX COOPERATIVE SOCIETY DULY REGISTERED UNDER THE PUNJAB COOP SOCIETIES ACT, 196 1. THE MAIN ACTIVITY OF THE ASSESSEE SOCIETY AS NOTED IS TO ASSIST ITS MEMB ER CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES IN PROMOTING PRODUCTION, PROCUREMENT, PROCESSING AN D MARKETING OF MILK AND MILK PRODUCTS. THE ASSESSEE IS ALSO STATED TO B E PROVIDING FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF DAIRY FARMERS WHO ARE THE M EMBERS OF THE SOCIETIES WHO ARE FURTHER MEMBERS OF THE ASSESSEE SOCIETY. TH E ASSESSEE IS ALSO ASSISTING ITS MEMBERS IN ARRANGING CITY SUPPLY OF M ILK, MILK PRODUCTS I.E. GHEE, PANEER, CURD, KHEER AND OTHER MILK PRODUCTS. THE ASSESSEE IS ALSO ASSISTING THE FARMERS THROUGH THEIR MEMBERS SOCIETI ES IN PROVIDING QUALITY CATTLE FEED THROUGH ITS TWO CATTLE FEED PLANTS IN T HE STATE OF PUNJAB. CONSIDERING THE VIEW TAKEN IN 2002-03 ASSESSMENT YE ARS, ADDITIONS BY WAY OF DISALLOWANCES WERE MADE IN THE YEAR UNDER CONSIDERA TION BY THE AO. ITA NO. 716-CHD-2019 PUNJAB STATE COOP MILK PRODUCERS FEDERATION LTD, C HANDIGARH 4 4.1. IN APPEAL BEFORE CIT(A), THE FOLLOWING SUBM ISSIONS WERE MADE ON BEHALF OF THE ASSESSEE ASSAILING THE ACTION OF THE AO : 6.1 DURING THE COURSE OF APPELLATE PROCEEDINGS THE APPELLANT MADE THE FOLLOWING SUBMISSIONS :- '4. THAT THE APPELLANT DURING THE YEAR UNDER CONSID ERATION WHILE FILING ITS RETURN OF INCOME COMPUTED THE INCOME AND PREPARED A COMPUTATION CHART. THE APPELLANT FILED COMPUTATION CHART ALONG WITH THE ANNUAL ACCOUNTS AND THE AUDIT REPORTS IN RESPON SE TO NOTICE OF THE ASSESSING OFFICER. THE PERUSAL OF THE COMPUTATION C HART REVEALS THAT THE ASSESSES HAD COMPUTED BUSINESS LOSS TO THE EXTE NT OF RS 11,63, 94, 666/- AS COMPUTED IN THE COMPUTATION CHA RT. FURTHER THE ASSESSEE HAD INTEREST INCOME FROM OTHER MEMBER COOP ERATIVE SOCIETIES AMOUNTING TO RS 14,85,23,410/-INCOME FROM THE SALE OF SEED AMOUNTING TO RS 2,65,89,053/-DIVIDEND INCOME R S 4,01,460/- INTEREST INCOME ON FDR RS 7,42,777/- AND INTEREST I NCOME RS 3,86,682/- AS PER SCHEDULE-M BESIDES NET AGRICULTUR AL INCOME AT RS 57,37,775/-. THE BALANCE INCOME WORKS OUT TO RS 5,9 6,48,727/- AS MENTIONED ABOVE. THE APPELLANT AS PER THE CHART OF COMPUTATION FILED ALONG WITH THE RETURN OF INCOME WAS ELIGIBLE FOR RS 77,57,62,468/- AS DEDUCTION U/S 80P OF THE INCOME TAX ACT. THE SAID C LAIM HAS BEEN DULY MADE IN THE RETURN OF INCOME AND THE RETURNED INCOM E HAS BEEN DECLARED BY THE ASSESSEE AT NIL, WHICH FACT IS EVID ENT FROM THE PERUSAL OF THE COMPUTATION CHART. 5. THAT DURING THE COURSE OF HEARING THE APPELLANT WAS ASKED TO FILE VARIOUS DETAILS BY THE ASSESSING OFFICERS, WHI CH WERE DULY FILED AS IS EVIDENT FROM THE PERUSAL OF THE ORDER OF ASSE SSMENT. THE ASSESSING OFFICER ALSO DESIRED TO EXAMINE THE BOOKS OF ACCOUNT WHICH WERE ALSO PRODUCED BEFORE THE ASSESSING OFFICER AS ADMITTED N THE ORDER OF ASSESSMENT PASSED IN THIS CASE. 6. THAT DURING THE COURSE OF THE ASSESSMENT PROCEEDING S THE APPELLANT ALSO BROUGHT TO THE NOTICE OF THE ASSESSI NG OFFICER THAT WHILE ALLOWING DEDUCTION U/S80P(2)(D) IT IS THE GROSS TOT AL INCOME WHICH AN ASSESSEE /S ENTITLE TO DEDUCTION AND NOT THE NET IN COME. THIS VIEW HAS BEEN EXPRESSED BY THE PUNJAB AND HARYANA HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX VS. DOABA COOPERATIVE SUGAR MILLS LTD. 230 ITR PAGE 774 IT W AS ALSO BROUGHT TO THE NOTICE OF THE ASSESSING OFFICER THAT THE SLP FI LED AGAINST THIS ORDER HAS ALSO BEEN DISMISSED BY THE HON'BLE SUPREME COUR T OF INDIA AND AS SUCH THIS ORDER HAS ATTAINED FINALITY. THE ASSES SING OFFICER HAS ALTHOUGH REFERRED TO THE SUBMISSIONS MADE BY THE APPELLANT B UT HAS NOT FOLLOWED THE SAME WITHOUT ASSIGNING ANY REASON OR CONTRARY DECIS ION IN THIS BEHALF. 7. THAT THE ASSESSING OFFICER WHILE COMPLETING THE ASSESSMENT HAS ADMITTED THAT AN AMOUNT OF RS 14,85,23,410/- HAS BE EN RECEIVED BY THE APPELLANT AS INTEREST ON THE LOANS ADVANCED TO THE MEMBER COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES AS PER ITS BYE LAWS. THE ASSESSING OFFICE R WHILE COMPLETING THE ASSESSMENT HAS ON THE BASIS OF RULE 8D WORKED OUT R S 77,63,94,666/- AS EXPENSES ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE EARNING OF INCOME BY W AY OF INTEREST FROM THE MEMBER COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES AT RS 14,85,23,470/- B Y APPLYING THE RATIO OF THE DECISION IN THE CASE OF T HE ASSESSEE WITH REGARD TO THE DISALLOWANCE OF EXPENSES IN VIEW OF T HE PROVISION AS CONTAINED U/S 14-A OF THE INCOME TAX ACT. THUS IT I S EVIDENT FROM THE ITA NO. 716-CHD-2019 PUNJAB STATE COOP MILK PRODUCERS FEDERATION LTD, C HANDIGARH 5 PERUSAL OF THE ORDER OF ASSESSMENT THAT THE ASSESSI NG OFFICER HAS DETERMINED RS 77,63,94,666/- AS EXPENSES TO EARN TH E INCOME BY WAY OF INTEREST AMOUNTING TO RS 14,85,23,470/-. 8. THAT THE HON'BLE P&H HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF C IT VS. KINGS EXPORT 378 ITR PAGE 100 HAS HELD THAT THE PROVISION OF SECTION 14A RELATES TO THE EXEMPTION AND NOT DEDUCTION. SINCE I N THE PRESENT CASE THE DEDUCTION U/S HAS BEEN CLAIMED UNDER CHAPTER VI TO THE INCOME TAX ACT AS SUCH NO EXPENSES CAN BE ATTRIBUTED IN VIEW OF TH E SAID JUDICIAL DECISION OF THE JURISDICTIONAL HIGH COURT. 9. THAT SUBSEQUENTLY THE HON'BLE DELHI COURT IN THE CASE OF CIT VS. KRIBHCO 349 ITR PAGE 618 AS HELD AS UNDER: THAT THE TRIBUNAL WAS CORRECT IN LAW IN HOLDING THA T NO DISALLOWANCE COULD BE MADE AGAINST INCOME WHICH WAS NOT SPECIFICALLY E XEMPT UNDER THE ACT. THUS THE PROVISION OF SECTION 14-A ARE NOT APPLICAB LE TO THE PRESENT CASE AS IT IS A CASE OF SPECIAL DEDUCTION U/S 80P AND AS SUCH THE DISALLOWANCE MADE NEEDS TO BE DELETED. 10. THAT THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX FILED SLP AGAIN ST THE ORDER OF THE DELHI HIGH COURT REFERRED TO ABOVE BEF ORE THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA. THE SAID SLP HAS BEEN DISMI SSED. ACCORDINGLY IN VIEW OF THESE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES AND THE LEGAL POSITION IN THIS BEHALF THE DISALLOWANCE U/S 14A IS NOT CALLED FOR. THUS TH E DISALLOWANCE MADE AMOUNTING TO RS 77,63,94,666/- BY THE ASSESSING OFF ICER IS BAD IN LAW AND NEEDS TO BE DELETED. 11. THAT THE HON'BLE DELHI HIGH COURT IN ITA NO 548/201 5 VIDE ORDER DATED 23.02.2017 UPHELD THE ORDER OF THE IT A T WITH REGARD TO THE APPLICABILITY OF RULE 8-DEDUCTION OF THE INCOME TAX ACT. 12. THAT THE APPELLANT ASSESSEE HAS FILED SLP NO 9585 O F 2076 BEFORE THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT ON INDIA WHERE THE LEAVE HAS BEEN GRANTED TO THE ABOVE NOTED ASSESSEE. A COPY OF THE SAME IS BEING ENCLOSED FOR YOUR PERUSAL AND RECORD.' 4 .2 THE CIT(A) CONSIDERING THE SAME, CAME TO THE FO LLOWING CONCLUSION: '6.2 THE ASSESSMENT ORDER AND THE SUBMISSIONS MADE DURING THE COURSE OF APPELLATE PROCEEDINGS ARE PERUSED. IT IS SEEN THAT THIS ISSUE IS COVERED AGAINST THE ASSESSEE BY THE ORDER DATED 10.04.2015 OF ITAT CHANDIGARH BENCH 'A 1 IN THE CASE OF THE APPELLANT FOR A.Y. 211-12 IN IT A NO. 97/CHD/2015. RESPECTFULLY FOLLOWING THE DECISION OF HON'BLE ITAT, THE DISALLOWANCE MADE BY THE A.O OF RS. 11,63,94,666/- UNDER SECTION 14A AS PER RULE 8D IS CONFIRMED. GROUND OF APPEAL NO. 2 IS DISMISSED. 4.3 THE ABOVE CONCLUSION ON FACTS AS PER POSITIO N OF LAW APPLICABLE TO THE ASSESSEE ON FACTS, WE NOTICE HAS CONSISTENTLY B EEN FOLLOWED WHICH TILL DATE HAS NOT BEEN UPSET BY ANY HIGHER FORUM. IT IS FURTHER SEEN THAT THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS OF LAW HAVE BEEN RAISED BY THE ASSESSEE BEFORE THE APEX COURT : A. WHETHER IN THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CA SE THE HON'BLE HIGH COURT WAS CORRECT IN LAW IN UPHOLDING THE ORDERS OF THE ITAT TO THE EFFECT THAT DISALLOWANCE U/S 14A CAN BE MADE AGAINS T THE INCOME WHICH IS NOT SPECIFICALLY EXEMPT U/S 10 OF THE INCO ME TAX ACT, 1961? ITA NO. 716-CHD-2019 PUNJAB STATE COOP MILK PRODUCERS FEDERATION LTD, C HANDIGARH 6 B. WHETHER IN THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CA SE THE HON'BLE HIGH COURT WAS CORRECT IN LAW IN UPHOLDING THE DECI SION OF THE ITAT WITH REGARD TO THE APPLICABILITY OF PROVISION OF SE CTION 14A OF THE INCOME TAX ACT EVEN IN RESPECT OF INCOME WHICH HAS BEEN CLAIMED AS A DEDUCTION UNDER CHAPTER VI-A AND M ORE SPECIFICALLY U/S 80P(2)(D) OF THE INCOME TAX ACT, 1961? C. WHETHER IN THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CA SE THE HON'BLE HIGH COURT WAS CORRECT IN LAW IN UPHOLDING THE DECI SION OF THE ITAT WITH REGARD TO THE APPLICABILITY OF SECTION 14A TO THE DEDUCTION WHICH FORMED PART OF TOTAL INCOME AS DEFINED IN SEC TION 2(45) OF THE INCOME TAX ACT 1961 PRIOR TO THE DEDUCTIONS CLAIMED U/S 80P(2)(D) ARE LEGALLY SUSTAINABLE IN LAW MORE SO WHEN THERE I S A DECISION OF THE HON'BLE DELHI HIGH COURT IN THE CAS E OF COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX VS. KRIBHCO IN ITA NO. 4 44 OF 2011 IN FAVOUR OF THE APPELLANT AGAINST WHICH THE SLP FILED HAS ALSO BEEN DISMISSED BY THIS HON'BLE COURT? D. WHETHER IN THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CA SE THE HON'BLE HIGH COURT WAS CORRECT IN LAW IN NOT PLACING RELIAN CE ON THE JUDGMENT OF DELHI HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF COMMISS IONER OF INCOME TAX VS. KRIBHCO IN ITA NO.444 OF 2011, MORE SO WHEN SLP FILED BY THE REVENUE IN THIS HON'BLE COURT WAS ALSO DISMISSE D IN LIMINE? E. WHETHER IN THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CA SE THE HON'BLE HIGH COURT WAS CORRECT IN LAW IN FOLLOWING ITS OWN DECISION ENUNCIATED IN ITA NO. 530 OF 2006 DATED 28.03.2011 AGAINST THE PETITIONER SINCE THE JUDGMENT OF THE HON'BLE HI GH COURT OF DELHI IN THE CASE OF COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX VS. KRIBHCO IN ITA NO. 444 OF 2011 DATED 18.07.2012 WAS PASSED LAT ER IN TIME AND WAS NOT AVAILABLE THEN? F. WHETHER IN THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CA SE THE JUDGMENT AND FINAL ORDER OF THE HON'BLE DELHI IN THE CASE OF COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX VS. KRIBHCO IN ITA NO. 444 OF 2011 WHERE IN THE APPEAL FILED BY THE RESPONDENT DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN DISMISSED BY REFERRING TO VARIOUS JUDGMENTS OF THIS HON'BLE COURT, IS EXHAUSTIVE AND SETTLES THE LAW CORRECTLY ON THE ISS UE EXACTLY THE SAME AS RAISED IN THE PRESENT PETITION. THE JUDGMEN T OF THE PUNJAB & HARYANA HIGH COURT ON WHICH RELIANCE IS PLACED DOES NOT LAY THE CORRECT LAW ON THE ISSUE IN HAND? 5. ACCORDINGLY, CONSIDERING THE DECLARATION MADE BY THE ASSESSEE U/S 158A(1) OF THE ACT IN RESPONSE TO WHICH THE REPORT OF THE AO UNDER SUB- SECTION (2) OF SECTION 158A IS AVAILABLE, WE CONFIR M THE ORDER OF THE CIT(A) RELYING ON PAST PRECEDENT SUBJECT TO THE OUTCOME OF THE DECISION OF THE APEX COURT. THE AO, ACCORDINGLY IS DIRECTED TO PASS AN APPROPRIATE ORDER IN TERMS OF SUB-SECTION (5) OF SECTION 158A WHEN THE DECISIO N ON THE QUESTION OF LAW BECOMES FINAL. WITH THE ABOVE OBSERVATIONS, THE AP PEAL OF THE ASSESSEE IS DISMISSED. 6. IN THE RESULT, THE APPEAL OF THE ASSESSEE IS DIS MISSED. 4. THUS, IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY CHANGE IN FACTS, CIR CUMSTANCES OR POSITION OF LAW, WE DISMISS THE APPEAL OF THE AS SESSEE TAKING NOTE OF THE FACT THAT THE PARTIES IN TERMS OF APPLI CATION U/S 158A ITA NO. 716-CHD-2019 PUNJAB STATE COOP MILK PRODUCERS FEDERATION LTD, C HANDIGARH 7 OF THE ACT AND THE CONSENT GIVEN THEREUNDER, WHEREB Y THE PARTIES ARGUE TO BE BOUND BY THE DECISION OF THE AP EX COURT ON THE QUESTION OF LAW RAISED BY THE ASSESSEE. THE AP PEAL OF THE ASSESSEE IS DISMISSED. SAID ORDER WAS PRONOUNCED IN THE OPEN COURT AT THE TIME OF HEARING ITSELF. 5. IN THE RESULT, APPEAL OF THE ASSESSEE IS DISMISS ED. 5. IN VIEW OF THIS, FOLLOWING THE ORDER OF THE TRIB UNAL DATED 25.2.2019 (SUPRA), THIS APPEAL OF THE ASSESSEE IS H EREBY DISMISSED. ORDER PRONOUNCED ON 08.06.2020. SD/- SD/- ( . . / N.K. SAINI) ( ! ' / SANJAY GARG) #$% / VICE PRESIDENT &' / JUDICIAL MEMBER DATED : 08.06.2020 .. 3,(+45 65!+ / COPY OF THE ORDER FORWARDED TO : 1. $& / THE APPELLANT 2. ()$& / THE RESPONDENT 3. . 7+ / CIT 4. . 7+ ( )/ THE CIT(A) 5. 58(+9 , 09 , :;<= / DR, ITAT, CHANDIGARH 6. <>/ / GUARD FILE 3 . / BY ORDER, ? / ASSISTANT REGISTRAR