DIAGEO INDIA P. LTD, MUMBAI V. DCIT RG 7(3), MUMBAI

ITA 8602/MUM/2010

• Counselvise Citation: 860219914 RSA 2010
• Duration Of Justice: 8 month(s) 25 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 05-09-2011
• Appeal Filed By: Assessee
• Order Result: Partly Allowed
• Bench Allotted: D
• Next Hearing Date: 18-04-2011
• Assessment Year: 2006-2007
• Appeal Filed On: 10-12-2010
• Result in Favour of: Partly Allowed
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Assessee Lawyers: SUBHACHAN RAM
• Keywords: Depreciation; Transfer pricing; International transaction; Revenue expenditure; Capital expenditure
• Section: 92C; 143(3); 92; 92D; 92A; 92E; 234B

Judgement Text

IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL MUMBAI D BENCH, MUMBAI BEFORE SHRI PRAMOD KUMAR , ACCOUNTANT MEMBER, AND SMT ASHA VIJAYARAGHVAN, JUDICIAL MEMBER ITA NO. 8602/MUM/2010 ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2006-07 DIAGEO INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED ...APPELLANT 4 TH FLOOR, NICHOLS PIRAMAL TOWER PENINSULA CORPORATE PARK GANPATRAO KADAM MARG, LOWER PAREL, MUMBAI 400 013 [PAN : AAACI3378L] VS. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX RESPONDE NT CIRCLE 7(3), MUMBAI 400 020 APPEARANCES: P J PARDIWALA, ALONGWITH NIRAJ SETH, RAJAN VORA, AJAY SHAH AND NIMESH VORA, FOR THE APPELLANT SUBHACHAN RAM, FOR THE RESPONDENT DATE OF HEARING : JUNE 07,2011. DATE OF PRONOUNCEMENT : SEPTEMBER 05,2011. O R D E R PER PRAMOD KUMAR: 1. BY WAY OF THIS APPEAL, THE ASSESSEE APPELLANT HAS CALL ED INTO QUESTION CORRECTNESS OF THE ORDER DATED 25 TH OCTOBER 2010, PASSED BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER UNDER SECTION 143(3) R.W.S. 144C OF THE INCOME TAX AC T, 1961, FOR THE ASSESSMENT YEAR 2006-07. AS THE IMPUGNED ASSESSMENT ORDER IS PASSED AFTER ASSESSEES OBJECTIONS, AGAINST PROPOSED ADDITIONS TO THE RETUNED I NCOME, HAVE BEEN EXAMINED BY THE DISPUTE RESOLUTION PANEL, THIS IS A DIRECT APPEA L AGAINST THE ASSESSMENT ORDER. 2. THE ASSESSEE HAS RAISE AS MANY AS TWENTY FOUR GROUNDS O F APPEAL BUT, WITH THE CONSENT OF PARTIES, THE GROUNDS OF APPEAL ARE SUMMARI ZED AS FOLLOWS:- ITA NO. 860 2 /MUM/2010 ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2006- 07 PAGE 2 OF 20 ON THE FACTS AND IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE A ND IN LAW, THE LEARNED ASSESSING OFFICER/TRANSFER PRICING OFFICER, BASED O N THE DIRECTIONS OF THE DISPUTE RESOLUTION PANEL, 1. ERRED IN MAKING TRANSFER PRICING ADJUSTMENT OF R S 31.54 CRORES ON ACCOUNT OF ADVERTISING, MARKETING AND PROMOTION EXPENSES ALLEGED TO HAVE BEEN INCURRED TOWARDS STRENGTHENING OF THE AE; 2. ERRED IN MAKING TRANSFER PRICING ADJUSTMENT OF RS 1.20 CRORES ON ACCOUNT OF PURCHASE OF RAW MATERIAL FROM AES BY KONKAN AGRO MARINE INDUSTRIES PVT LTD; 3. ERRED IN TREATING REVENUE EXPENDITURE OF RS 2,11 ,674 (NET DISALLOWANCE OF RS 84,670 AFTER ALLOWING DEPRECIATI ON @60%) INCURRED BY THE APPELLANT ON THE SOFTWARE; 4. ERRED IN HOLDING THAT CLUB EXPENSES OF RS 54,807 HAVE NOT BEEN INCURRED BY THE APPELLANT FOR THE PURPOSE OF ITS BU SINESS AND THEREBY DISALLOWING THE SAME; 5. ERRED IN NOT GRANTING DEPRECIATION OF RS 2,90,78 0 ON THE TAX WRITTEN DOWN VALUE AS ON 1 ST APRIL 2005, OF THE EXPENSES INCURRED BY THE APPELLANT ON SOFTWARE AND REPAIRS TO FURNITU RE, WHICH WERE TREATED AS CAPITAL EXPENDITURE BY THE LEARNED AO IN THE EARLIER ASSESSMENT YEARS; AND 6. ERRED IN LEVYING INTEREST UNDER SECTION 234B OF THE ACT OF RS 5,05,10,710 WHICH IS NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW. 3. WE WILL TAKE UP THE ABOVE GRIEVANCES ONE BY ONE. 4. SO FAR AS THE FIRST TWO ISSUES THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO ADJUDICATE, [I.E., (I) WHETHER OR NOT THE ASSESSING OFFICER WAS JUSTIFIED IN MAKIN G TRANSFER PRICING ADJUSTMENT OF RS 31.54 CRORES ON ACCOUNT OF ADVERTISING, MARKETING A ND PROMOTION EXPENSES ALLEGED TO HAVE BEEN INCURRED TOWARDS STRENGTHENING OF THE AE; AND (II) WHETHER OR NOT THE ASSESSING OFFICER WAS JUSTIFIED IN MAKING AN ALP AD JUSTMENT OF RS 1.20 CRORES IN RESPECT OF PURCHASED MADE BY ASSESSEES CONTRACT BOTTLING U NIT NAMELY KONKAN AGRO MARINE INDUSTRIES PVT LTD] ARE CONCERNED , THE RELEVANT MATERIAL FACTS ARE LIKE THIS. THE ASSESSEE IS ENGAGED IN THE BUSINESS OF PROCURING, EITHER BY WAY OF GETTING IT MANUFACTURED FROM VENDORS FACILITIES IN INDIA OR BY WAY OF IMPORTS FROM ITS ASSOCIATED ENTERPRISES ABROAD, AND MARKETING ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES IN INDIA. AS FAR ITA NO. 860 2 /MUM/2010 ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2006- 07 PAGE 3 OF 20 IMPORTING AND MARKETING IMPORTED ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE S IS CONCERNED, THIS OPERATION IS CONFINED TO IMPORTING THE BOTTLED DRINKS FROM ASSOCI ATED ENTERPRISE FROM ABROAD AND MARKETING THE SAME IN INDIA. THE ASSESSEE ALSO PROVI DES SALES AGENCY SERVICES TO ONE OF ITS AES, NAMELY DIAGEO SCOTLAND LIMITED, FOR DIRECT SALES TO INDIAN TOURISM DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, AIRLINES SUCH AS AIR INDIA AN D INDIAN AIRLINES, CERTAIN DUTY FREE SHOPS AND LICENSED BONDERS AND DISTRIBUTORS. AS REGA RDS THE MANUFACTURING OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES IN INDIA, THE ENTIRE OPERATION I S DONE THROUGH CONTRACT BOTTLING UNITS (CBUS). THE ASSESSEE FOLLOWS TWO DISTINCT APPROACHES IN TWO DISTINCT SEGMENTS IN THIS BUSINESS- NAMELY WHISKEY SEGMENT, AND OTW (I.E. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES OTHER THAN WHISKEY, SUCH AS RUM, VODKA ETC.) SEGMENT. IN THE WHISKEY SEGMENT OF THIS BUSINESS, THE ASSESSEE IS IMPORTING THE CONCENTRATE OR FL AVOURS AND, WITH THE HELP OF THE IMPORTED CONCENTRATE OR FLAVOURS, BOTTLES THE BEV ERAGES IN INDIA, WHILE IN THE OTS SEGMENT, THE ASSESSEE IS GETTING THE BEVERAGES MANUFACTURE D IN INDIA WITH THE HELP OF INPUTS AVAILABLE LOCALLY I.E. LOCAL PURCHASES. IN OTHER WORDS, WHILE IN BOTH THE SEGMENTS, MANUFACTURING IS DONE THROUGH CBUS, WHILE THE RE ARE NO IMPORTED INPUTS OF FLAVOURS IN MANUFACTURING OTW SEGMENT, THE FLAVOUR O R THE CONCENTRATE USED IN MANUFACTURING BEVERAGES IN WHISKEY SEGMENT IS IMPORTED FROM ASSOCIATED ENTERPRISES ABROAD. THE INPUTS IN OTW ARE ALSO DOMESTI C, WHILE NON OTW HAS SOME INPUTS IMPORTED FROM AES ABROAD. HOWEVER, IN RESPECT O F MANUFACTURING DONE BY THE CBUS UNDER BOTH OF THESE SEGMENTS, THE MANUFACTURERS AR E TO MEET ALL THE COSTS THEMSELVES AND REALIZE ALL THE SALE PROCEEDS ON THEIR O WN, BUT ANY DIFFERENCE, OVER THEIR COSTS AND AGREED MARGIN OF PROFIT, IS TO THE CRE DIT OF THE ASSESSEE. TO GIVE A SIMPLE ILLUSTRATION, IN CASE THE COSTS INCURRED BY THE C BU IS X , THE CBU IS ALLOWED PROFIT MARGIN OF 30% ON COSTS, AND SALE PROCEEDS OF TH E GOODS SO PRODUCED IS Y , THE ASSESSEES ENTITLEMENT FOR GROSS RECEIPT FROM THE CBU IS Y- 1.2X . IN THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT WITH KONKAN AGRO MARINE INDUSTRIES PVT LTD, THE PROFIT PERMITTED TO THIS CBU CONSISTED OF SEVERAL FACTORS SUCH AS BASIC MINIMUM M ONTHLY SUM, ADDITIONAL SUM BASED ON OUTPUTS AND INCENTIVES BASED ON QUALITY NOR MS. THE BALANCE AMOUNT OUT OF GROSS SALES, COMPUTED IN THE PRESCRIBED MANNER, A FTER DEDUCTING ALL THE ELIGIBLE COSTS SUCH AS EXCISE DUTY, SALES TAX OR VALUE ADDED TAX, R AW MATERIALS, DISTRIBUTION COSTS AND OTHER ELIGIBLE COSTS -AS AGREED UPON BETWEEN THE A SSESSEE AND THE CBU, AND THE PROFIT MARGIN PERMITTED TO THE CBU, WAS ASSESSEES ENTIT LEMENT. IT WAS IN THIS ITA NO. 860 2 /MUM/2010 ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2006- 07 PAGE 4 OF 20 BACKGROUND THAT THE ASSESSEE REPORTED ALL THE INTERNATI ONAL TRANSACTIONS WITH AES, INCLUDING IN RESPECT OF PURCHASES OF CONCENTRATE AND OTHER INPUTS BY THE CBUS, IN FORM 3CEB. IN THE COURSE OF THE ASSESSMENT PROCEEDINGS, T HE ASSESSING OFFICER MADE REFERENCE TO THE TRANSFER PRICING OFFICER FOR DETERM INATION OF ARMS LENGTH PRICE WITH RESPECT TO ALL THE TRANSACTIONS REPORTED IN FORM 3 CEB FILED BY THE ASSESSEE. IN THE COURSE OF ENSUING PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE TRANSFER PRIC ING OFFICER, IT WAS NOTED THAT WHILE THE ASSESSEE HAS INCURRED A LOSS (OP/TC) OF 4.93% I N THE BUSINESS SEGMENT INVOLVING NO AE TRANSACTIONS (OTW SEGMENT), THE ASSESSE E HAS MADE A PROFIT (OP/TC) OF 1.16 % IN THE BUSINESS SEGMENT INVOLVING AE TRANSACTIONS (WHISKEY SEGMENT). OVERALL, AS NOTED BY THE TPO, THE ASSESSEE HAD MADE A LOSS (OP/TC) OF 3.07%. THE TPO WAS OF THE VIEW THAT SINCE COMPUTATIO N OF GROSS PROFIT MARGINS IS NOT REQUIRED TO BE SHOWN UNDER THE COMPANY LAW, AND, ACCORDINGLY, THE SAME MAY NOT BE IN PUBLIC DOMAIN, THE RIGHT COURSE WILL BE TO COM PARE OPERATING PROFIT TO TOTAL SALES. THE ASSESSEE WAS ALSO ASKED TO FURNISH OP/TC AND OP/TS MARGINS WITH RESPECT TO THE COMPARABLE CASES. ACCORDINGLY, THE ASSESSEE SUBMI TTED THE FIGURES OF NPM (NET PROFIT MARGINS) AND NCP (NET COST PLUS MARKUP) OF THE COMPARABLE CASES, AND THE ARITHMETIC MEAN OF THESE FIGURES WORKED OUT TO 5 .25% AND 7.07% RESPECTIVELY. ACCORDINGLY, THE TPO MADE THE ALP ADJUSTMENT OF RS 1 .20 CRORES IN RESPECT OF PURCHASES FROM AES, IN RESPECT OF PROFITABILITY OF THE WHISKEY SEGMENT, BY APPLYING 5.25% AS OP/TS, AS FOLLOWS: HEADS ASSESSEES ALP AS TRANSACTIONS DETERMINED (IN CRORES) (IN CRORES ) SALES (CONSTANT) 29.16 29.16 PURCHASES 28.82 27.63 - FROM AES (VARIABLE) 4.50 3.31* - FROM NON AES 24.32 24.32 OPERATING PROFIT/ LOSS 0.33 1.53 OP/SALES 1.14% 5.25% (* TAKEN AS THE BALANCING FIGURE) 5. ACCORDINGLY, THE TPO RECOMMENDED AN ALP ADJUSTMEN T OF RS 1.20 CRORES, IN RESPECT OF THE PURCHASES OF RAW MATERIALS MADE BY ASSESSEE S CONTRACT BOTTLER (I.E. ITA NO. 860 2 /MUM/2010 ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2006- 07 PAGE 5 OF 20 KONKAN AGRO MARINE PRODUCTS PVT LTD) FROM THE ASSESSEE S ASSOCIATED ENTERPRISES. THE TRANSFER PRICING OFFICER FURTHER NOTED THAT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ALP DETERMINED BY HIM VIS--VIS TRANSACTION VALUE TAKEN B Y THE ASSESSEE IS MORE THAN 5%, AND, ACCORDINGLY, ADJUSTMENT CONTEMPLATED IN PROVISO TO SECTION 92 C(2) IS NOT ADMISSIBLE. THE ASSESSEES OBJECTIONS AT THE ASSESSMENT STAGE, AS ALSO BEFORE THE DISPUTE RESOLUTION PANEL, DID NOT FETCH ANY RELIEF TO THE ASSESSE. THE MATTER DID NOT REST AT THIS ALP ADJUSTMENT IN THE PURCHASES. THE TRANSFE R PRICING OFFICE FURTHER NOTED THAT THE ASSESSEE HAS INCURRED AN EXPENDITURE OF R S 37.22 CRORES ON ACCOUNT OF SALES PROMOTION AND ADVERTISING, WHICH WORKS OUT TO 40. 64% OF ENTIRE TURNOVER OF RS 91.58 CRORES. THE TPO WAS OF THE VIEW THAT THE ASSESSEE H AS SPENT HUGE AMOUNTS ON ADVERTISEMENT AND SALES PROMOTION WHICH PERTAIN TO THE BRANDS OWNED BY THE AES, AND THE ASSESSEE HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY COMPENSATION FROM ITS AES FOR THE BRAND PROMOTION. HE WAS OF THE VIEW THAT AN INDEPENDENT E NTERPRISE, WITH A SIMILAR BUSINESS MODEL WOULD EXPECT AN ARMS LENGTH REIMBURSEMEN T FOR DOING BRAND PROMOTION ACTIVITIES ALONGWITH A MARK UP FOR PERFORM ING THESE ACTIVITIES SINCE INCREASE IN SALES, OF MAINTENANCE OF SALES AT A PARTIC ULAR LEVEL, WOULD NOT GENERATE SO MUCH OF PROFIT AS TO COMPENSATE THE ASSESSEE FOR THESE EX PENSES. THE TRANSFER PRICING OFFICER, ACCORDINGLY, HELD AS FOLLOWS: THE ASSESSEE HAS INCURRED SUBSTANTIAL ADVERTISING EXPENDITU RE. THIS WOULD RESULT IN CREATION OF A MARKETING INTANGIBLE. THE VA LUE OF THE BRAND IN THE CONCERNED MARKETS WOULD INCREASE. THIS WOULD BENEFIT THE OWNER OF THE BRAND. SUPPOSE THE OWNER SUBSEQUENTLY DECIDES TO SELL TH E BRANDS, THEN IT WOULD SELL THE BRAND FOR THESE MARKETS AT A MUCH HIGH ER PREMIUM. THE ASSESSEE WOULD NOT BENEFIT FROM THE SAME. IT ALSO INDICAT ES THAT THE ASSESSEE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM MARKETING AND DISTRI BUTION EXPENDITURE IT INCURS AT ITS OWN RISK. THE ASSESSEE HAS ACTED TO INCREASE T HE VALUE OF BRAND NAMES OWNED BY AE. AE SHOULD, THEREFORE, HAVE COMPENSA TED THE ASSESSEE FOR PROMOTING THIS BRAND. 6. A REFERENCE WAS THEN MADE TO THE DEFINITION OF IN TERNATIONAL TRANSACTION WHICH, ACCORDING TO THE TPO, COVERS AN ARRANGEMENT, UNDERSTANDING OR ACTION IN CONCERT, ( A ) WHETHER OR NOT SUCH ARRANGEMENT, UNDERSTANDING OR ACTION IS FORMAL OR IN WRITING; OR ( B ) WHETHER OR NOT SUCH ARRANGEMENT, UNDERSTANDING OR ACTION IS INTENDED TO BE ENFORCEABLE BY LEGAL PROCEEDING. TH E TPO OBSERVED THAT THE ITA NO. 860 2 /MUM/2010 ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2006- 07 PAGE 6 OF 20 TRANSACTION RELATING TO BRAND PROMOTION IS THUS CLEARL Y COVERED, AS IT WOULD HAVE BEARING ON PROFITS, INCOMES, LOSSES OR ASSETS OF THE ASSESSEE. THE TPO THEN PROCEEDED TO COMPUTE HOW MUCH ADVERTISEMENT EXPENSES T HE ASSESSEE OUGHT TO HAVE INCURRED, AND, IN DOING SO, HE RELIED UPON THE HIGHEST ADVERTISEMENT EXPENSES INCURRED BY ANY OF THE COMPARABLE CASES SELECTED BY T HE ASSESSEE FOR THE PURPOSE OF COMPUTING ALP OF PURCHASES FROM AE. HE NOTED THAT THE HIGHEST ADVERTISEMENT EXPENDITURE INCURRED IN THESE CASES IN BY UNITED SPIRI TS LIMITED, WHICH IS 6.2% OF SALES, AND THE AMOUNT SPENT BY THE ASSESSEE IN EXCESS OF TH IS RATIO WAS CONSIDERED TO BE FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE ASSOCIATED ENTERPRISE OWNING THE RELATED BRANDS. ACCORDINGLY, THE TPO CONCLUDED THAT OUT OF ADVERTISE MENT AND SALES PROMOTION EXPENSES INCURRED TO THE TUNE OF RS 37.22 CRORES, ONLY THE AMOUNT OF RS 5.68 CRORES CAN BE SAID TO BE FOR THE PURPOSES OF BUSINESS OF THE ASSESSE E, AND THE BALANCE AMOUNT OF RS 31.54 CRORES SHOULD HAVE BEEN REIMBURSED B Y THE ASSOCIATED ENTERPRISES TO THE ASSESSEE. ACCORDINGLY, HE DISALLOWED RS 31.54 CRORES AND HELD IT TO BE TRANSFER PRICING ADJUSTMENT WITH REFERENCE TO THE CONTRIBUTION BY THE ASSESSEE TOWARDS THE STRENGTHENING THE BRANDS OWNED BY T HE AE. BASED ON THE REPORT SO GIVEN BY THE TRANSFER PRICING OFFICER, THE ASSESSING OFFICER PROCEEDED TO DISALLOW RS 31.54 CRORES. THE ASSESSEE FILED HIS OBJECTION TO THIS ACTION OF THE ASSESSING OFFICER BEFORE THE DISPUTE RESOLUTION PANEL, BU T THE DISPUTE RESOLUTION PANEL, IT DOES MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, RATHER SUMMARILY REJECTED THE OBJECTIONS. THE DRP, IN A RATHER BRIEF ORDER, WENT ON TO OBSERVE THA T MOREOVER, THE TPO HAS ALLOWED HIGHEST POSSIBLE PERCENTAGE OF ADVERTISEMENT EXPENDITUR E, WHICH IS IN THE CASE OF UNITED SPIRITS, AND THUS RESULTING IN MAXIMUM BENEFIT TO THE ASSESSEE. AGGRIEVED BY THESE ADJUSTMENTS, OF RS 1.20 CRORES IN RESPECT OF PURC HASES BY ASSESSEES CONTRACT BOTTLING UNIT NAMELY KONKAN AGRO MARINE PRODUCTS L IMITED, AND OF RS 31.54 CRORES IN RESPECT OF, WHAT THE TPO HAS TERMED AS, CONTRIBUT ION BY THE ASSESSEE TOWARDS THE STRENGTHENING THE BRANDS OWNED BY THE AE, THE ASSESSEE I S IN APPEAL BEFORE US. 7. WE HAVE HEARD THE RIVAL CONTENTIONS, PERUSED THE MATERIAL ON RECORD AND DULY CONSIDERED FACTUAL MATRIX OF THE CASE AS ALSO THE APPLICABLE LEGAL POSITION. ITA NO. 860 2 /MUM/2010 ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2006- 07 PAGE 7 OF 20 8. AS REGARDS THE ARMS LENGTH PRICE ADJUSTMENT IN THE PURCHASES OF RAW MATERIAL BY ASSESSEES CBU, FIRST OBJECTION OF THE ASSESSEE I S THAT KONKAN AGRO MARINE INDUSTRIES PVT LTD, ASSESSES CONTRACT BOTTLING UNI T, IS AN UNRELATED PARTY AND, THEREFORE, IT CANNOT BE TREATED AS AN ASSOCIATE ENTERP RISE OF THE ASSESSEE. AS A COROLLARY TO THIS PROPOSITION, IT IS CONTENDED THAT TH E ASSESSING OFFICER ERRED IN CONSIDERING PURCHASE OF RAW MATERIAL BY THE SAID CBU F ROM ASSESSEES AES AS INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS WITH AES OF THE ASSESSEE. LEAR NED COUNSEL HAS FAIRLY STATED THAT AS A MEASURE OF ABUNDANT CAUTION THE ASSESSEE HAD DISCLOSED THESE TRANSACTIONS IN FORM NO. 3 CEB, BUT THE MERE FACT TH AT A TRANSACTION HAS BEEN REPORTED IN FORM NO. 3 CEB CANNOT CONVERT A TRANSACT ION WITH INDEPENDENT ENTERPRISE INTO A TRANSACTION WITH ASSOCIATED ENTERPRI SE. HOWEVER, WHEN LEARNED COUNSELS ATTENTION WAS DRAWN TO THE WIDE SCOPE OF DEF INITION OF AN AE UNDER SECTION 92A (1) (B) AND DEEMING FICTION UNDER SECTION 92A(2)(G), AND IT WAS PUT TO HIM THAT THE CBU WAS EFFECTIVELY CONTROLLED BY DIAG EO GROUP, THOUGH THROUGH THE ASSESSEE AS AN INTERMEDIARY, LEARNED COUNSEL SUBMITTED THA T THERE IS NOTHING ON RECORD TO SUGGEST THAT THE ENTERPRISES FROM WHICH CBU HAS IMPORTED RAW MATERIALS WAS COVERED BY THIS DEEMING FICTION. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT THE CBU HAS ENTERED INTO ARRANGEMENTS FROM THE ASSESSEE AND, AS A RESULT OF THIS ASSOC IATION, THE RELATIONSHIP AS ASSOCIATED ENTERPRISES COULD AT BEST BE BETWEEN THE ASSE SSEE AND THE CBU, AND IT DOES NOT EXTEND BEYOND THAT. LEARNED DEPARTMENTAL R EPRESENTATIVE, ON THE OTHER HAND, RELIED UPON THE STAND OF THE ASSESSING OFFICER AN D CONTENDED THAT WHAT WAS BEING MANUFACTURED BY THE CBU WAS WHOLLY DEPENDENT O N THE TRADEMARK BEING OWNED BY THE DIAGEO GROUP, AND ON WHICH THE DIAGEO GROUP HAD EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS, THE ENTITIES WITHIN THE DIAGEO GROUP ARE CLEARLY COVERE D BY THE SCOPE OF SECTION 92 A(1)(A) AS ALSO THE DEEMING FICTION SET OUT IN SECTION 92A(2)(G). IT IS THUS SUBMITTED THAT ASSESSEES OBJECTION IS DEVOID OF LEGALLY SUSTAINABLE MERITS. HE FURTHER SUBMITTED THAT THE DEFINITION OF ASSOCIATED ENTERPRISES, UNDER SECTION 92 A(1), IS COMPREHENSIVE ENOUGH TO COVER THE SITUATIONS IN WHICH THE ASSESSEE CONTROLS, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, THE OTHER ENTERPRISES. LEARN ED DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVE ALSO REFERRED TO AND RELIED UPON THE STAND TAKEN BY THE DISPUTE RESOLUTION PANEL IN THE ORDER REJECTING ASSESSEES OBJECTIONS IN THIS REGARD. ITA NO. 860 2 /MUM/2010 ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2006- 07 PAGE 8 OF 20 9. SECTION 92 A OF THE INCOME TAX ACT, 1961, WHICH DEFINES THE EXPRESSION ASSOCIATED ENTERPRISES, IS REPRODUCED BELOW FOR READY REFERENCE: MEANING OF ASSOCIATED ENTERPRISE. 92A. (1) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION AND SECT IONS 92, 92B, 92C, 92D, 92E AND 92F, ASSOCIATED ENTERPRISE, IN RELATION TO ANOTHER ENTERPRISE, MEANS AN ENTERPRISE (A) WHICH PARTICIPATES, DIRECTLY OR INDI RECTLY, OR THROUGH ONE OR MORE INTERMEDIARIES, IN THE MANAGEMENT OR CONTROL OR CAP ITAL OF THE OTHER ENTERPRISE; OR (B) IN RESPECT OF WHICH ONE OR MORE PER SONS WHO PARTICIPATE, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, OR THROUGH ONE OR MORE INTERMEDIARIES, IN ITS MANAGEMENT OR CONTROL OR CAPITAL, ARE THE SAME PERSONS WHO PAR TICIPATE, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, OR THROUGH ONE OR MORE INTERMEDIARIES, IN THE MANAGEMENT OR CONTROL OR CAPITAL OF THE OTHER ENTERPRISE. (2) FOR THE PURPOSES OF SUB-SECTION (1), TWO ENTERP RISES SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE ASSOCIATED ENTERPRISES IF, AT ANY TIME DURING THE P REVIOUS YEAR, (A) ONE ENTERPRISE HOLDS, DIRECTLY OR IN DIRECTLY, SHARES CARRYING NOT LESS THAN TWENTY-SIX PER CENT OF THE VOTING POWER IN THE OTHER ENTERPRISE; OR (B) ANY PERSON OR ENTERPRISE HOLDS, DIRE CTLY OR INDIRECTLY, SHARES CARRYING NOT LESS THAN TWENTY-SIX PER CENT OF THE VOTING POW ER IN EACH OF SUCH ENTERPRISES; OR (C) A LOAN ADVANCED BY ONE ENTERPRISE T O THE OTHER ENTERPRISE CONSTITUTES NOT LESS THAN FIFTY-ONE PER CENT OF THE BOOK VALUE OF THE TOTAL ASSETS OF THE OTHER ENTERPRISE; OR (D) ONE ENTERPRISE GUARANTEES NOT LESS T HAN TEN PER CENT OF THE TOTAL BORROWINGS OF THE OTHER ENTERPRISE; OR (E) MORE THAN HALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRE CTORS OR MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING BOARD, OR ONE OR MORE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS OR EXECUT IVE MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING BOARD OF ONE ENTERPRISE, ARE APPOINTED BY THE OTHER ENTERPRISE; OR (F) MORE THAN HALF OF THE DIRECTORS OR MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING BOARD, OR ONE OR MORE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS OR MEMBERS O F THE GOVERNING BOARD, OF EACH OF THE TWO ENTERPRISES ARE APPOINTED BY THE SAME PERSON OR PERSONS; OR (G) THE MANUFACTURE OR PROCESSING OF GOO DS OR ARTICLES OR BUSINESS CARRIED OUT BY ONE ENTERPRISE IS WHOLLY DEPENDENT ON THE US E OF KNOW-HOW, PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS, TRADE-MARKS, LICENCES, FRANCHI SES OR ANY OTHER BUSINESS OR COMMERCIAL RIGHTS OF SIMILAR NATURE, OR ANY DATA, DOCUMENTATION, DRAWING OR SPECIFICATION RELATING TO ANY PATENT, INVENTION, MODEL, DESIGN, SECRET FORMULA OR PROCESS , OF WHICH THE OTHER ENTERPRISE IS THE OWNER OR IN RESPECT OF WHICH THE OTHER ENTERPRISE HAS EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS; OR (H) NINETY PER CENT OR MORE OF THE RAW M ATERIALS AND CONSUMABLES REQUIRED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR PROCESS ING OF GOODS OR ARTICLES CARRIED OUT BY ONE ENTERPRISE, ARE SUPPLIE D BY THE OTHER ITA NO. 860 2 /MUM/2010 ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2006- 07 PAGE 9 OF 20 ENTERPRISE, OR BY PERSONS SPECIFIED BY THE OTHER EN TERPRISE, AND THE PRICES AND OTHER CONDITIONS RELATING TO THE SUPPLY ARE INFLUENCED BY SUCH OTHER ENTERPRISE; OR (I) THE GOODS OR ARTICLES MANUFACTURED OR PROCESSED BY ONE ENTERPRISE, ARE SOLD TO THE OTHER ENTERPRISE OR TO PERSONS SPECIFIE D BY THE OTHER ENTERPRISE, AND THE PRICES AND OTHER CONDITIONS REL ATING THERETO ARE INFLUENCED BY SUCH OTHER ENTERPRISE; OR (J) WHERE ONE ENTERPRISE IS CONTROLLED BY AN INDIVIDUAL, THE OTHER ENTERPRISE IS ALSO CONTROLLED BY SUCH INDIVIDUAL OR HIS RELATIVE OR JOINTLY BY SUCH INDIVIDUAL AND RELATIVE OF SUCH IND IVIDUAL; OR (K) WHERE ONE ENTERPRISE IS CONTROLLED BY A HINDU UNDIVIDED FAMILY, THE OTHER ENTERPRISE IS CONTROLLED BY A MEMBER OF SUCH HINDU UNDIVIDED FAMILY OR BY A RELATIVE OF A MEMBER OF SUCH HINDU U NDIVIDED FAMILY OR JOINTLY BY SUCH MEMBER AND HIS RELATIVE; OR (L) WHERE ONE ENTERPRISE IS A FIRM, ASS OCIATION OF PERSONS OR BODY OF INDIVIDUALS, THE OTHER ENTERPRISE HOLDS NOT LESS TH AN TEN PER CENT INTEREST IN SUCH FIRM, ASSOCIATION OF PERSONS OR BO DY OF INDIVIDUALS; OR (M) THERE EXISTS BETWEEN THE TWO ENTERPRI SES, ANY RELATIONSHIP OF MUTUAL INTEREST, AS MAY BE PRESCRIBED. 10. WE FIND THAT, IN TERMS OF THE PROVISIONS OF SECTI ON 92 A(1)(A), THE EXPRESSION ASSOCIATED ENTERPRISES REFERS TO AN ENTERPRISE S WHICH PARTICIPATES, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, OR THROUGH ONE OR MORE INTE RMEDIARIES, IN THE MANAGEMENT OR CONTROL OR CAPITAL OF THE OTHER ENTER PRISE. THE SCOPE OF ASSOCIATED ENTERPRISES IS EXPANDED FURTHER BY SECTION 92A(1)(B), TAKING INTO ACCOUNT GROUP CONCERNS, AND IT IS PROVIDED THAT ASSO CIATED ENTERPRISES COVERS AN ENTERPRISE IN RESPECT OF WHICH ONE OR MORE PERSONS WHO PARTICI PATE, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, OR THROUGH ONE OR MORE INTERMEDIARIE S, IN ITS MANAGEMENT OR CONTROL OR CAPITAL, ARE THE SAME PERSONS WHO PARTIC IPATE, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, OR THROUGH ONE OR MORE INTERMEDIARIES, IN THE MANAG EMENT OR CONTROL OR CAPITAL OF THE OTHER ENTERPRISE. IN EFFECT, THUS, WHEN SAME PERSONS PARTICIPATE, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY OR THROUGH AN INTERMEDIARY, IN THE MANAGEMENT OR CONTROL OR CAPITAL OF TWO OR MORE ENTERPRISES, SUCH ENTERPRISES ARE REQUIRED TO BE TREATED AS ASSOCIATED ENTERPRISE. INTERESTINGLY, EVEN AS DEFINIT ION OF ASSOCIATED ENTERPRISES HAS CRUCIAL REFERENCES TO PARTICIPATION IN MANAGEMENT OR CONTROL OR CAPITAL AT SOME PLACES, THE PRECISE SCOPE OF THIS EXPRESSION HAS N OT BEEN DEFINED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE INCOME TAX ACT, AND IT HAS NOT COME UP FOR JUDICIAL ADJUDICATION EITHER. THIS EXPRESSION HAS BEEN USED IN ARTICLE 9(1) O F OECD AND UN MODEL ITA NO. 860 2 /MUM/2010 ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2006- 07 PAGE 10 OF 20 CONVENTIONS, BUT WE FIND NO ASSISTANCE FROM THE OECD A ND UN COMMENTARIES EITHER. ALL THAT THE OECD COMMENTARY SAYS ON THE SCOPE OF THIS EXPRESSION IS THAT IT REFERS TO PARENT AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES AND COMPANIES UNDER CO MMON CONTROL. THE TRUE TEST OF ASSOCIATED ENTERPRISE THUS IS CONTROL BY ONE ENTE RPRISE OVER THE OTHER, OR CONTROL OF TWO OR MORE ASSOCIATED ENTERPRISES BY A COM MON INTERESTS, AND SUCH A CONTROL IS ESSENTIALLY AN EFFECTIVE CONTROL IN DECISION MAKING PROCESS. 11. IN OUR CONSIDERED VIEW, THEREFORE, THE DEFINITI ON OF ASSOCIATED ENTERPRISES IN SECTION 92A(1)(A) AND (B) IS, WHAT CAN BE TERMED AS, BASIC RULE. IN PLAIN TERMS, THE BASIC RULE IS THAT WHEN ONE ENTERPRISE PARTICIPATES IN THE CONTROL OR MANAGEMENT OR CAPITAL OF THE OTHER ENTERPRISE (DIRECTLY OR INDIREC TLY OR THROUGH ONE OR MORE INTERMEDIARIES) OR WHEN PERSONS PARTICIPATING (DIRECTL Y OR INDIRECTLY OR THROUGH ONE OR MORE INTERMEDIARIES) IN CONTROL OR MANAGEMENT OR CAPITAL OF TWO OR MORE ENTERPRISE ARE THE SAME, THE ENTERPRISES ARE SAID TO BE ASSOCIATED ENTERPRISE. THE EXPRESSION USED IN THE STATUTE IS PARTICIPATION IN CONT ROL OR MANAGEMENT OR CAPITAL, BUT ESSENTIALLY ALL THESE THREE INGREDIENTS REFER TO DE FACTO CONTROL ON DECISION MAKING. IN TERMS OF THE BASIC RULE THUS, WHETHER ONE ENTERPRISE CONTROLS THE DECISION MAKING OF THE OTHER OR WHETHER DECISIONS MAKI NG OF TWO OR MORE ENTERPRISE ARE CONTROLLED BY SAME INTERESTS, THESE ENTE RPRISE ARE REQUIRED TO BE TREATED AS ASSOCIATED ENTERPRISE. SECTION 92A (2) G IVES PRACTICAL ILLUSTRATIONS OF THIS KIND OF A CONTROL. ALL THESE ILLUSTRATIONS DEAL WITH SIMPLE SITUATIONS OF DEALING WITH TWO ENTERPRISE, AS ENVISAGED IN SECTION 92A(1) (A), BU T THESE ARE EQUALLY GOOD FOR APPLICATION IN SITUATIONS INVOLVING MORE THAN TWO ENT ERPRISE, AS ENVISAGED IN SECTION 92A(1)(B). SECTION 92A(2)(E), FOR EXAMPLE, REFERS TO A SITUATION IN WHICH MORE THAN HALF OF THE DIRECTORS OR MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING B OARD, OR ONE OR MORE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS OR MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING BOARD, OF EAC H OF THE TWO ENTERPRISES ARE APPOINTED BY THE SAME PERSON OR PERSONS BUT THIS DEEMING FIC TION IS EQUALLY APPLICABLE WHEN THE SAME PERSON APPOINTS, SAY, MORE THAN HALF OF THE D IRECTORS OF THE GOVERNING BOARD FOR THREE OR MORE ENTERPRISES. A LITERAL INTERPRETATION TO TH IS CLAUSE WILL MEAN THAT IF THIS RELATIONSHIP IS BETWEEN TWO ENTERPRISES, THESE TWO ENTERPRISES A RE REQUIRED TO BE TREATED AS ASSOCIATED ENTERPRISES BUT WHEN THE SAME BASIS EXTENDS TO MOR E THAN TWO ENTERPRISES, THESE ENTERPRISES WILL NOT BE ASSOCIATED ENTERPRISES. THA T IS CLEARLY AN INCONGRUOUS RESULT. IN OUR CONSIDERED VIEW, AS ALL CLAUSES OF DEEMING FICTIONS SET OUT IN SECTION 92A(2) ARE ONLY ITA NO. 860 2 /MUM/2010 ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2006- 07 PAGE 11 OF 20 ILLUSTRATION OF THE MANNER IN WHICH THIS DE FACTO CONTROL ON DECISION MAKING EXISTS, IT IS NECESSARY THAT, WHILE INTERPRETING THESE DEEMING FI CTIONS, WE INTERPRET THE SAME IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO MAKE THEM WORKABLE RATHER THAN REDUNDA NT ( UT RES MAGIS VALEAT QUAM PEREAT ), AND THAT THE SAME TEST OF EFFECTIVE CONTROL ON DECI SION MAKING AS ARE IMPLICIT IN DEEMING FICTION UNDER SECTION 92(A)(2) WE ALSO APPLY TO THE SITUATIONS OF MORE THAN TWO ASSOCIATED ENTERPRISES ENVISAGED IN SECTION 92A(1)(B). IN THI S LIGHT, LET US ANALYSE THE SITUATION BEFORE US. THE MANUFACTURE OF GOODS IS CARRIED OUT BY THE CBU KONKAN AGRO, WHICH IS CONTROLLED BY THE ASSESSEE INASMUCH AS THE CBU IS WHOLLY DEPEN DENT ON THE USE OF TRADE-MARKS IN RESPECT OF WHICH THE ASSESSEE HAS EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS . THIS RELATIONSHIP MEETS THE TEST OF DE FACTO CONTROL ON DECISION MAKING AS SET OUT IN SECTION 92A(2)(G). THE ASSESSEE IN TURN, AS EVIDENT FROM INFORMATION IN FORM 3 CEB, IS CONTROLL ED, BY WAY OF EQUITY PARTICIPATION, BY DIAGEO PLC WHICH ALSO SIMILARLY CONTROLS OTHER ENTI TIES IN THE DIAGEO GROUP, INCLUDING THE ENTITIES FROM WHICH CBU HAS IMPORTED THE RAW MATERI ALS. DIAGEO PLC THUS , THROUGH THE ASSESSEE AS AN INTERMEDIARY, CONTROLS THE CBU AS AL SO THE DIAGEO GROUP ENTITIES FROM WHICH THE CBU HAS IMPORTED RAW MATERIALS. CLEARLY, THEREF ORE, THE ASSESSEE, AS ALSO THE CBU AND ITS DIAGEO GROUP SUPPLIER OF RAW MATERIALS ARE ASSOCIAT ED ENTERPRISES, AND DE FACTO ALL THESE ENTERPRISES ARE CONTROLLED, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY OR THROUGH INTERMEDIARIES, BY THE SAME PERSON I.E. DIAGEO PLC. IN THIS VIEW OF THE MATTER , AS ALSO BEARING IN MIND ENTIRETY OF THE CASE, THE RELATIONSHIP OF AES EXIST BETWEEN THE ASS ESSEE, THE CBU AND DIEGO GROUP ENTITIES FROM WHICH RAW MATERIALS WERE PURCHASED BY THE CBU. IN ANY CASE, SINCE THE COSTS OF ALL THE RAW MATERIALS IS PICKED UP BY THE ASSESSEE, FOR ALL EFFECTIVE PURPOSES, THE TRANSACTION IS ACTUALLY BETWEEN THE ASSESSEE AND THE DIAGEO GROUP CONCERNS SUPPLYING THE RAW MATERIAL TO THE CBU, AND SINCE THE ASSESSEE AS ALSO THESE VENDO RS ARE ADMITTEDLY UNDER THE CONTROL OF DIAGEO PLC, THE TRANSACTIONS ARE CLEARLY BETWEEN TH E ASSOCIATED ENTERPRISES. THE OBJECTION RAISED BY THE ASSESSEE TO THE EFFECT THAT THE TRANS ACTIONS OF IMPORTS OF RAW MATERIAL BY THE CBU, I.E. KONKAN AGRO, FROM DIAGEO GROUP ENTITIES C ANNOT BE TREATED AS INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN THE ASSOCIATED ENTERPRISES, TH EREFORE, IS REJECTED. 12. LEARNED COUNSELS SECOND OBJECTION WAS THAT THERE IS NO NEED TO LOOK FOR THE MARGINS OF PROFIT OUTSIDE ASSESSEES OWN OPERATIONS, AS THE ASSESSEE WAS INVOLVED IN THE SAME LINE OF BUSINESS IN TWO DIFFERENT BUSINESS MODELS ONE SEGMENT IN WHICH PURCHASES HAVE BEEN MADE FROM THE ASSO CIATED ENTERPRISES (WHISKEY SEGMENT), AND THE OTHER SEGMENT IN WHICH NO P URCHASES HAVE BEEN MADE FROM ASSOCIATED ENTERPRISES (OTW I.E. OTHER THAN WHISKEY SEGMENT), BUT WHILE THE ITA NO. 860 2 /MUM/2010 ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2006- 07 PAGE 12 OF 20 ASSESSEE HAS MADE A PROFIT OF 1.16% IN THE SEGMENT IN W HICH TRANSACTIONS HAVE TAKEN PLACE WITH AES, THE ASSESSE HAS INCURRED A LOSS OF 4.93% IN THE SEGMENT IN WHICH NO TRANSACTIONS HAVE TAKEN PLACE WITH THE AES. L EARNED COUNSEL THAT BOTH THESE DISTINCT SEGMENTS OF OPERATIONS BEING IN THE SAME LINE OF BUSINESS, THE BEST COMPARATOR OF WHISKEY SEGMENT IS OTHER THAN WHISKEY SEGM ENT IN ASSESSEES OWN CASE, THE RESULTS SHOWN BY THE ASSESSEE IN WHISKEY SEGMENT, SH OWING BETTER PROFITABILITY THAN OTW SEGMENT, SHOULD BE ACCEPTED. L EARNED COUNSEL TERMS THIS COMPARABILITY AS APPLICATION OF INTERNAL TNMM. IT IS SUBMITTED THAT, FOR THE SIMPLE REASON THAT THE ASSESSEES PROFITABILITY IN THE SAME LINE OF BUSINESS IN THE SEGMENT IN WHICH HE HAS HAD TRANSACTIONS WITH AES IS BETTER THAN THE PROFITABILITY IN THE SEGMENT IN WHICH HE HAD NO TRANSACTIONS WITH THE AES, T HE IMPUGNED TNMM ADJUSTMENT SHOULD BE QUASHED. 13. ON THIS ISSUE ALSO, LEARNED DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTA TIVE MAINLY RELIED UPON THE ORDERS OF THE AUTHORITIES BELOW AND CONTENDE D THAT NO PRESCRIBED METHOD OF DETERMINING ALP ENVISAGES COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT SE GMENTS WITHIN THE ASSESSEES OWN BUSINESS. 14. IN OUR CONSIDERED VIEW, WHISKEY SEGMENT AND OTHER THAN WHISKEY SEGMENT OF ASSESSEES BUSINESS ARE NOT FUNCTIONALLY COMPARA BLE INASMUCH AS WHILE WHISKEY IS AN ESTABLISHED PRODUCT WITH A MASS BASE, OTHER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ARE YET TO BE SO FIRMLY ESTABLISHED IN INDIAN MARKET AND A RE IN COMPARABLY INITIAL STAGES. INDIA IS TRADITIONALLY A WHISKEY MARKET. AN ARTICLE A PPEARING IN TIME MAGAZINE (23 RD DECEMBER 2009 ISSUE) TITLED TAPPING INTO INDIAS GROW ING ALCOHOL MARKET, INTER ALIA , STATES AS FOLLOWS: DRINKING PATTERNS IN INDIA ARE UNLIKE THOSE OF ANY OT HER MAJOR MARKET. HARD LIQUOR IS FAR MORE POPULAR THAN BEER AND WINE, WITH SPIRITS ACCOUNTING FOR ABOUT 70% OF THE MARKET. NEARLY ALL OF THAT IS WHISKE Y A LEGACY OF THE COLONIAL FONDNESS FOR SCOTCH. INDIA IS THE LARGEST WHISK EY MARKET IN THE WORLD, SO AMERICAN WHISKEY PRODUCERS FIGURE THEY'VE GOT A HEA D START IN INDIA COMPARED TO OTHER NEW MARKETS. 'INDIANS ARE PREORDAIN ED WHISKEY DRINKERS,' SAYS FRANK COLEMAN, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF THE DISTILL ED SPIRITS COUNCIL OF THE UNITED STATES, A TRADE GROUP FOR AMERICAN SPIRITS MAK ERS. 'THEY'VE DEVELOPED A TASTE FOR WHISKEY.' ITA NO. 860 2 /MUM/2010 ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2006- 07 PAGE 13 OF 20 ( HTTP://WWW.TIME.COM/TIME/WORLD/ARTICLE/0,8599,19497 96,00.HTML#IXZZ1WVW71TS5 ) 15. THE ABOVE OBSERVATIONS SEEM TO BE QUITE APPROPRIA TE, AND REFLECT THE GROUND REALITIES OF ALCOHOL MARKET IN INDIA. WE HAVE ALSO NOTED, FROM THE SEGMENTAL RESULTS FILED BEFORE US, THAT THE ADVERTISEMENT COSTS AND OTHER OVERHEADS IN OTW SEGMENT ARE QUITE HIGH RS 11.21 CRORES AS ADVERTISEMEN T IN SALES PROMOTION IN WHISKEY SEGMENT, AS AGAINST RS 26.00 CRORES IN OTW SEGMENT , AND RS 2.38 CRORES IN OTHER OVERHEADS IN WHISKEY SEGMENT, AS AGAINST RS 14.94 C RORES IN OTW SEGMENT) . IF THESE TWO ITEMS WERE TO REMAIN IN THE SAME PROPORT ION AS IN THE WHISKEY SEGMENT, THIS SEGMENT ALSO WOULD HAVE SHOWN LOSSES. IT IS IN THIS BACKGROUND THAT THE BUSINESS RESULTS WILL HAVE TO BE EXAMINED AND CONSIDERED. IN V IEW OF THE ABOVE DISCUSSIONS, IN OUR CONSIDERED VIEW, SEGREGATING ALL SPIRITS OTHER THAN WHISKEY AND COMPARING THE RESULTS IN THAT SEGMENT WITH THE RESULTS OF WHISKEY SEGME NT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE. WE REJECT THIS CLAIM OF THE ASSESSEE. AS WE HAVE REJECTED THE COMPARABILITY ITSELF, WE SEE NO NEED TO DEAL WITH THI S ISSUE OF COMPARING FINANCIAL RESULTS OF OTW SEGMENT WITH WHISKEY SEGMENT ANY FURTHER. 16. LEARNED COUNSELS NEXT SUBMISSION THAT IN ANY CASE E XCEPTIONALLY HIGH AND LOW PROFIT MAKING COMPARABLES ARE REQUIRED TO BE EXCLUDED FROM THE LIST OF COMPARABLES ADOPTED FOR TNMM BENCHMARKING. IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROPOSITION, HE RELIES UPON SPECIAL BENCH DECISION OF THIS TRIBUNAL IN THE CASE OF DCIT VS QUARK SYSTEMS PVT LTD ( 38 SOT 307). HE POINTS OUT THAT TWO EXTREME ITEMS, I.E. ITEM NOS. 13 AND 19 IN THE LIST OF COMPARABLES- SHOWING LOSS OF 9 .98% AND PROFIT OF 37.48% RESPECTIVELY, ARE THUS REQUIRED TO BE EXCLUDED. WE FIND THAT IN THE CASE OF QUARK SYSTEMS (SUPRA), WHILE UPHOLDING THE EXCLUSION OF A LOSS MAKING ENTITY FROM THE COMPARABLES, THE SPECIAL BENCH, INTER ALIA , OBSERVED THAT, WHILE WE AGREE THAT MERELY BECAUSE A COMPARABLE IS MAKING LOSS, IT CANNOT B E EXCLUDED FROM THE LIST OF COMPARABLES FOR THE PURPOSES OF COMPUTATION OF ALP. IM ERCIUS IS A CASE IN WHICH NOT ONLY FUNCTIONAL AREA IS DIFFERENT, IMERCIUS HAS A NEGA TIVE NET WORTH BUT ALSO BECAUSE TURNOVER OF THE IMERCIUS HAS NO COMPARISON WITH THE ASSE SSEE COMPANIES. THE COMPARABLE WAS NOT EXCLUDED JUST BECAUSE THE LOSS WAS HI GH, BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF FUNCTIONAL DIFFERENCES IN COMPARABLE CASE VIS--VIS T HE ASSESSEE. SIMILARLY, DEALING ITA NO. 860 2 /MUM/2010 ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2006- 07 PAGE 14 OF 20 WITH THE QUESTION THAT EVEN HIGH PROFIT MAKING COMPA RABLE SHOULD ALSO BE EXCLUDED, THE SPECIAL BENCH NOTED THE CONTENTION OF THE ASSESSEE AS FOLLOWS LEARNED COUNSEL SUBMITTED THAT WHEN A HIGH LOSS-MAKING UNIT IS TO BE IGNORED FOR THE PURPOSE OF COMPARABLE TO BE TAKEN IN TO ACCOUNT FOR COMPUTATION OF MEAN PROFIT, ON THE SAME LOGIC, THE C OMPANY SHOWING IN SUCH HIGH PROFIT AS 138 PER CENT OF OPERATING PROFIT TO C OST SHOULD ALSO BE EXCLUDED. IT WAS SUBMITTED THAT AS EVIDENT FROM FINANCIAL STATEME NT OF THE SAID COMPANY AND THE DISCLOSURE MADE THEREIN BY WAY OF NOT ES TO ACCOUNTS, DATA MATRIX TECHNOLOGIES LTD. HAD HUGE TRANSACTIONS WITH T HE ASSOCIATED ENTERPRISES . IT WAS THE CASE OF THE ASSESSEE THAT ON ACCOUNT OF THE SE INTRA ASSOCIATED ENTERPRISES TRANSACTIONS, THE COMPARABILITY O F DATA MATRIX TECHNOLOGIES LTD. IS ALSO VITIATED IN LAW . LEARNED COUNSEL DID ADMIT THAT DATAMATICS TECHNOLOGIES LTD. WAS INCLUDED IN TRANSFER P RICING STUDY GIVEN BY THE ASSESSEE HIMSELF BUT, ACCORDING TO HIM, IT CANNOT BE OPEN TO THE REVENUE AUTHORITIES TO BLOW HOT AND COLD AT THE SAME TIME. IN AS MUCH AS ONCE THEY EXCLUDE A HIGH LOSS-MAKING COMPARABLE THEY MUST ALSO E XCLUDE A HIGH PROFIT- MAKING COMPANY. ACCORDING TO THE LEARNED COUNSEL FOR THE ASSESSEE, WHEN AN AUTHORITY IS EMPOWERED TO DO SOMETHING HE HAS A CORRESP ONDING DUTY TO EXERCISE SUCH POWERS IN A FAIR WAY WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES SO JUSTIFY OR WARRANT. IT WAS SUBMITTED THAT THE POWERS OF THE CIT(A) ARE CO- TERMINUS TO THE POWERS OF THE AO AND TPO AND ONCE THE CIT (A) HAD ALL RELE VANT DETAILS BEFORE HIM INCLUDING THE FACT THAT DATAMATICS TECHNOLOGIES LTD. HAD OVER 37 PER CENT INTRA ASSOCIATED TRANSFER PRICE TRANSACTIONS , IT WAS THE DUTY OF THE CIT(A) TO EXCLUDE DATAMATICS TECHNOLOGIES LTD. FROM THE COMPARA BLES. LEARNED COUNSEL ALSO SUBMITTED THAT ALL THE RELEVANT DETAILS AR E ALREADY ON RECORD IN AS MUCH AS RELEVANT ANNUAL ACCOUNT OF DATAMATICS TECHN OLOGIES LTD. FILED BEFORE THE CIT(A), WE MUST ENTERTAIN THESE GRIEVANCES OF THE ASSESSEE ON MERITS. 17. HAVING TAKEN NOTE OF THE RIVAL SUBMISSIONS AND MATE RIAL ON RECORD, THE SPECIAL BENCH CONCLUDED AS FOLLOWS: ON FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE, WE HOLD THAT TAXPAYER IS NOT ESTOPPED FROM POINTING OUT THAT DATAMATICS HAS WRONGL Y BEEN TAKEN AS COMPARABLE. WHILE ADMITTING ADDITIONAL GROUND OF AP PEAL RAISED BY THE ASSESSEE TO REQUIRE US TO CONSIDER WHETHER OR NOT DATAMA TICS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE COMPARABLE, WE MAKE NO COMMENTS ON M ERIT EXCEPT OBSERVING THAT ASSESSEE FROM RECORD HAS SHOWN ITS PRIMA FAC IE CASE . FURTHER CLAIM MAY BE EXAMINED BY THE AO. THIS COURSE WE ADOPT AS OBJECTION TO THE INCLUSION OF DATAMATICS AS COMPARABLE HAS BEEN RAISED NO W AND NOT BEFORE REVENUE AUTHORITIES. THEREFORE, WE DEEM IT FIT AND P ROPER TO REMIT THE MATTER TO THE FILE OF THE AO FOR CONSIDERATION OF CLAIM OF THE TAXPAYER AND MAKE A DE NOVO ADJUDICATION OF THE ALP AFTER PROVIDING REASONA BLE OPPORTUNITY OF BEING ITA NO. 860 2 /MUM/2010 ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2006- 07 PAGE 15 OF 20 HEARD TO THE ASSESSEE. WE ORDER ACCORDINGLY. 18. THE VIEWS SO EXPRESSED BY THE COORDINATE BENCH HA VE BEEN UPHELD BY HONBLE P&H HIGH COURT BY, VIDE JUDGMENT DATED 16 TH MAY 2011, BY REJECTING REVENUES APPEAL AND OBSERVING THAT IN THE REMANDED P ROCEEDINGS, THE ASSESSING OFFICER HIMSELF HAS ACCEPTED THE STAND OF THE ASSESSEE. 19. AS EVIDENT FROM THE ABOVE DISCUSSIONS, COMPARABLES SH OWING EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH PROFITS AND LOSSES HAVE BEEN HELD TO BE EXCLUDABLE FROM THE LIST OF COMPARABLES NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE HIGH PROFITS OR LO SSES, BUT ON ACCOUNT OF FACTORS LIKE HIGH INTRA AE TRANSACTIONS AND LACK OF FUNCTION AL COMPARABILITY. IN THIS VIEW OF THE MATTER, MERELY BECAUSE AN ASSESSEE HAS MADE HIGH PRO FIT OR HIGH LOSS, THAT CANNOT BE A GROUND ENOUGH FOR ITS EXCLUSION FROM COMP ARABLES. UNDOUBTEDLY, THERE IS SOME MERIT IN EXCLUDING COMPARABLES AT THE TOP END OF THE RANGE AND AT THE BOTTOM END OF THE RANGE, BUT, IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY PROVISIONS TO THIS EFFECT IN THE TRANSFER PRICING REGULATIONS, AS IS THE PRACTICE UNDER US TRANSFER PRICING REGULATION 1.482 BY PROVIDING FOR INTERQUARTILE RANGE EXCLUDIN G CASES IN FIRST AND FOURTH QUARTILE, THIS CANNOT BE ADOPTED AS A PRACTICE. NOTHI NG MORE THAN THE FACT OF HIGHER PROFITS OR LOSSES HAVE BEEN POINTED OUT BY THE ASSESSEE. WE ARE, THEREFORE, NOT PERSUADED TO UPHOLD THIS OBJECTION EITHER. 20. WE, HOWEVER, AGREE WITH THE LEARNED COUNSELS SUB MISSION THAT THE ASSESSING OFFICER SHOULD HAVE ALLOWED ADJUSTMENT OF + 5% IN TERMS OF THE PROVISO TO SECTION 92 C. THE QUESTION WHETHER BENEFIT OF + 5% EVEN WHEN THE VARIATION IN VALUE OF INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTION WITH AES AND ITS ALP IS MO RE THAN 5%, PRIOR TO AMENDMENT IN SECOND PROVISO TO SECTION 92 C WITH EFFE CT FROM 1 ST OCTOBER 2009, THE ISSUE IS NO LONGER RES INTEGRA . IN THE CASE OF ACIT VS UE TRADE CORPORATION INDIA P VT LTD (44 SOT 457), A COORDINATE BENCH HAS TAKEN THE V IEW THAT THIS AMENDMENT IS ONLY PROSPECTIVE, AND THAT SO FAR AS PRE 1 ST OCTOBER 2009 POSITION IS CONCERNED, THE ADJUSTMENT OF 5% IS TO BE ALLOWED EVEN IN THE CASES WHE RE DIFFERENCE IN VALUE OF INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS AND ITS ALP IS MORE THAN 5%. WE ARE IN CONSIDERED VIEW OF THE VIEWS SO ARTICULATED BY THE COORDINATE BENCH. RESP ECTFULLY FOLLOWING THE SAME, WE ITA NO. 860 2 /MUM/2010 ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2006- 07 PAGE 16 OF 20 UPHOLD THE GRIEVANCE OF THE ASSESSEE AND DIRECT THE ASSESSI NG OFFICER TO GRANT A DEDUCTION OF 5% IN COMPUTATION OF ARMS LENGTH PRICE , IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LEGAL POSITION ELABORATED UPON BY THE COORDINATE BENCH. 21. IN VIEW OF THE ABOVE DISCUSSIONS, WHILE WE UPHOLD THE ALP ADJUSTMENT IN RESPECT OF PURCHASE OF RAW MATERIAL IN PRINCIPLE, WE DIRECT THE AO TO GRANT ADJUSTMENT OF 5% IN TERMS OF PROVISO TO SECTION 92 C. 22. THAT TAKES US TO THE SECOND ALP ADJUSTMENT OF RS 31.54 CRORES ON ACCOUNT OF ADVERTISING, MARKETING AND PROMOTION EXPE NSES ALLEGED TO HAVE BEEN INCURRED TOWARDS STRENGTHENING OF THE AE. 23. AS FAR AS THIS ADJUSTMENT IS CONCERNED, IT IS AN UND ISPUTED POSITION THAT THE ASSESSING OFFICER HAD NOT MADE ANY REFERENCE TO THE TRANSFER PRICING OFFICER FOR ASCERTAINING ALP IN RESPECT OF ADVERTISING, MARKETING AND PROMOTION EXPENSES ALLEGED TO HAVE BEEN INCURRED FOR BRAND STRENGTHENIN G OF THE BRANDS OWNED BY THE AE. THE QUESTION WHETHER TPO CAN MAKE ADJUSTMENTS IN SUCH A SITUATION IS SQUARELY COVERED BY A DECISION OF THE COORDINATE BENCH IN THE CASE OF 3I INFOTECH LTD VS DCIT (136 TTJ 641) WHEREIN COORDINATE BENCH HAS, INTER AL IA, OBSERVED AS FOLLOWS: 38. .. UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF S. 92E, AN ASSESS EE WHO HAS ENTERED INTO AN INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTION DURING A PREVIOUS YEAR HA S TO OBTAIN A REPORT FROM AN ACCOUNTANT AND FURNISH SUCH REPORT IN THE PRESCRIBE D FORM, I.E., FORM NO. 3CEB. SEC. 92C(3) PROVIDES AS FOLLOWS : '(3) WHERE DURING THE COURSE OF ANY PROCEEDING FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF INCOME, THE AO IS, ON THE BASIS OF MATERIAL OR INFO RMATION OR DOCUMENT IN HIS POSSESSION, OF THE OPINION THAT (A) THE PRICE CHARGED OR PAID IN AN INTERNATIONAL T RANSACTION HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUB-SS. (1) AND (2); OR (B) ANY INFORMATION AND DOCUMENT RELATING TO AN INT ERNATIONAL TRANSACTION HAVE NOT BEEN KEPT AND MAINTAINED BY TH E ASSESSEE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS CONTAINED IN SUB-S. (1) OF S. 92D AND THE RULES MADE IN THIS BEHALF; OR ITA NO. 860 2 /MUM/2010 ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2006- 07 PAGE 17 OF 20 (C) THE INFORMATION OR DATA USED IN COMPUTATION OF THE ALP IS NOT RELIABLE OR CORRECT; OR (D) THE ASSESSEE HAS FAILED TO FURNISH, WITHIN THE SPECIFIED TIME, ANY INFORMATION OR DOCUMENT WHICH HE WAS REQUIRED TO FU RNISH BY A NOTICE ISSUED UNDER SUB-S. (3) OF S. 92D, THE AO MAY PROCEED TO DETERMINE THE ALP IN RELATION TO THE SAID INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUB-SS . (1) AND (2), ON THE BASIS OF SUCH MATERIAL OR INFORMATION OR DOCUMENT A VAILABLE WITH HIM : PROVIDED THAT AN OPPORTUNITY SHALL BE GIVEN BY THE AO BY SERVING A NOTICE CALLING UPON THE ASSESSEE TO SHOW CAUSE, ON A DATE AND TIME TO BE SPECIFIED IN THE NOTICE, WHY THE ALP SHOULD NOT BE SO DETERMINED ON THE BASIS OF MATERIAL OR INFORMATION OR DOCUMENT IN THE POSSESSION OF THE AO.' SEC. 92CA(1) TO (3) EMPOWERS THE AO TO MAKE A REFER ENCE TO THE TPO AND IT READS AS FOLLOWS : '92CA. REFERENCE TO TPO(1) WHERE ANY PERSON, BEING THE ASSESSEE, HAS ENTERED INTO AN INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTION IN ANY PR EVIOUS YEAR, AND THE AO CONSIDERS IT NECESSARY OR EXPEDIENT SO TO DO, HE MAY, WITH THE PREVIOUS APPROVAL OF THE CIT, REFER THE COMPUTATION OF THE ALP IN RELATION TO THE SAID INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTION UNDE R S. 92C TO THE TPO. (2) WHERE A REFERENCE IS MADE UNDER SUB-S. (1), THE TPO SHALL SERVE A NOTICE ON THE ASSESSEE REQUIRING HIM TO PRODUCE OR CAUSE TO BE PRODUCED ON A DATE TO BE SPECIFIED THEREIN, ANY EVIDENCE ON WHICH THE ASSESSEE MAY RELY IN SUPPORT OF THE COMPUTATION MADE BY HIM OF THE ALP IN RELATION TO THE INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTION REFERRED TO IN SUB-S. (1). (3) ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE NOTICE UNDER SUB-S . (2), OR AS SOON THEREAFTER AS MAY BE, AFTER HEARING SUCH EVIDENCE A S THE ASSESSEE MAY PRODUCE, INCLUDING ANY INFORMATION OR DOCUMENTS REF ERRED TO IN SUB-S. (3) OF S. 92D AND AFTER CONSIDERING SUCH EVIDENCE A S THE TPO MAY REQUIRE ON ANY SPECIFIED POINTS AND AFTER TAKING INTO ACCOU NT ALL RELEVANT MATERIALS WHICH HE HAS GATHERED, THE TPO SHALL, BY ORDER IN WRITING, DETERMINE THE ALP IN RELATION TO THE INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUB-S. (3) OF S. 92C AND SEND A COP Y OF HIS ORDER TO THE AO AND TO THE ASSESSEE.' IN THE PRESENT CASE, THE AO REFERRED TO THE TPO FOR DETERMINATION OF ALP THE TRANSACTIONS SET OUT IN FORM NO. 3CEB BY HIS LETTER DT. 29TH SEPT., 2003. THE DETAILS OF THESE TRANSACTIONS HAVE ALREADY BEEN SET OUT ABOVE IN THE EARLIER PARAS. THE TRANSACTION BY WHICH THE ASSESSEE DEPUTE D THREE OF ITS EMPLOYEES TO ICICI INFOTECH, USA, WAS NOT CONSIDERED AS AN INTER NATIONAL TRANSACTION TO BE SET OUT IN FORM NO. 3CEB BY THE ASSESSEE. THE AO TH EREFORE NEVER REFERRED THE COMPUTATION OF ALP TO THE TPO THE TRANSACTION OF DE PUTATION OF THREE OF ITS EMPLOYEES BY THE ASSESSEE TO ICICI INFOTECH, USA. T HE JURISDICTION OF THE TPO IS THEREFORE RESTRICTED TO THE TRANSACTIONS REFERRED T O HIM BY THE AO UNDER S. ITA NO. 860 2 /MUM/2010 ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2006- 07 PAGE 18 OF 20 92CA(1). THE TPO THEREFORE COULD NOT UNDER S. 92CA( 3) DETERMINE THE ALP IN RELATION TO AN INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTION NOT REFERR ED TO HIM BY THE AO UNDER S. 92CA(1). IN THIS REGARD INSTRUCTION NO. 3 OF 2003, DT. 20TH MAY, 2003 ISSUED BY THE CBDT REGARDING COMPUTATION OF INCOME FROM INTER NATIONAL TRANSACTION HAVING REGARD TO ALP, IS VERY CLEAR. IN THE SAID IN STRUCTIONS, THE CBDT EXPLAINING THE ROLE OF TPO HAS INSTRUCTED THAT IN T ERMS OF S. 92CA OF THE ACT, THE TPOS ROLE IS LIMITED TO THE DETERMINATION OF ALP I N RELATION TO THE INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS REFERRED TO HIM BY THE AO AND IF DURIN G THE COURSE OF PROCEEDINGS BEFORE HIM IT IS FOUND THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN OTHER TRANSACTIONS WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN REFERRED TO HIM BY THE AO, HE WILL HAVE TO TAK E UP THE MATTER WITH THE AO SO THAT A FRESH REFERENCE IS RECEIVED WITH REGARD T O SUCH TRANSACTION. THE BOARD HAS FURTHER OPINED THAT REFERENCE TO THE TPO IS TRA NSACTION SPECIFIC AND NOT ENTERPRISE SPECIFIC. IN THE PRESENT CASE, THE DETER MINATION OF ALP IN RESPECT OF THE TRANSACTION BY WHICH THE ASSESSEE DEPUTED THREE OF ITS EMPLOYEES TO ICICI INFOTECH, USA, BY THE TPO IS THEREFORE NON EST TO T HAT EXTENT AND CANNOT FORM THE BASIS FOR MAKING AN ADDITION TO THE TOTAL INCOM E. THE AO THEREFORE COULD NOT HAVE MADE THE IMPUGNED ADDITION ON THE BASIS OF THE ORDER OF THE TPO. SINCE THE IMPUGNED ADDITION HAS BEEN MADE BY THE AO ONLY BY PLACING RELIANCE ON THE REPORT OF THE TPO, THE ADDITION CANNOT BE SU STAINED. 24. WE ARE IN RESPECTFUL AGREEMENT WITH THE VIEWS SO E XPRESSED BY THE COORDINATE BENCH. IT IS ONLY ELEMENTARY THAT AS THE REFERENCE TO THE TPO IS TRANSACTION SPECIFIC AND NOT ENTERPRISE SPECIFIC, THE TRANSFER PRICING OFFI CER HAS NO POWERS TO GO INTO A MATTER WHICH HAS NOT BEEN REFERRED TO HIM BY THE ASSESSI NG OFFICER, AND EVEN THE INSTRUCTIONS ISSUED BY THE CENTRAL BOARD OF DIRECT TAXE S, WHICH ARE BINDING ON ALL FIELD AUTHORITIES, MAKE THAT POSITION VERY CLEAR AND UNAMBIGUOUS. TO THAT EXTENT, TPOS ORDER IS TO BE TREATED AS NON EST , AND ANY ALP ADJUSTMENTS MADE ON THE BASIS OF SUCH A TPO ORDER CANNOT BE LEGALLY SUSTAINED. WE, TH EREFORE, DIRECT THE ASSESSING OFFICER TO DELETE THE IMPUGNED ADDITION OF RS 31.54 CRORES IN RESPECT OF, WHAT THE AUTHORITIES BELOW HAVE TERMED AS, BUILDING BRAND OF T HE AE. HOWEVER, AS WE HAVE DELETED THE IMPUGNED ADDITION ON THIS SHORT GROUND OF JURISDICTION, WE SEE NO NEED TO DEAL WITH THE MATTER ON MERITS. 25. TO SUM UP, SO FAR AS GRIEVANCES REGARDING ARMS LEN GTH PRICE ADJUSTMENTS ARE CONCERNED, WE DELETE THE ADDITION OF RS 31.54 CR ORES IN RESPECT OF ALLEGED BRAND PROMOTION OF AE AND WE PARTLY CONFIRM THE ADDITION OF RS 1.20 CRORES IN RESPECT OF ALP ADJUSTMENT MADE TO PURCHASE OF RAW MATERIALS FROM DIAGEO GROUP ENTITIES, BY CBU OF THE ASSESSEE. GROUND NO. 1 IS THUS ALLOWED AND GR OUND NO. 2 IS PARTLY ALLOWED ITA NO. 860 2 /MUM/2010 ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2006- 07 PAGE 19 OF 20 IN THE TERMS INDICATED ABOVE. 26. THE NEXT ISSUE THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO ADJUDICAT E IS WHETHER OR NOT THE ASSESSING OFFICER WAS JUSTIFIED IN TREATING REVENUE EXPEN DITURE OF RS 2,11,674 (NET DISALLOWANCE OF RS 84,670 AFTER ALLOWING DEPRECIATION @ 60%) INCURRED BY THE APPELLANT ON ACCOUNT OF SOFTWARE, AS CAPITAL EXPENDIT URE. 27. THE EXPENDITURE ON SOFTWARE, WHICH HAS BEEN HELD TO BE CAPITAL EXPENDITURE BY THE ASSESSING OFFICER, IS IN RESPECT OF ROUTINE BUSINESS APPLICATIONS AND ATTENDANCE RECORDINGS ETC. WE HAVE EXAMINED EACH OF THESE CASES, AND ALL THESE SOFTWARE ARE APPLICATION SOFTWARE , WHICH BECOME OBSOL ETE RATHER QUICKLY, AND THE PAYMENT IS TOWARDS LICENCE FEES FOR USE OF SOFTWARE. KE EPING IN VIEW THE NATURE OF THE SOFTWARE, AS ALSO THE PRINCIPLE LAID DOWN BY SPECIAL B ENCH IN THE CASE OF AMWAY ENTERPRISES VS DCIT (111 ITD 112), WE UPHOLD THE GRIEV ANCE AND DIRECT THE ASSESSING OFFICER TO TREAT ENTIRE EXPENDITURE ON THESE R OUTINE BUSINESS APPLICATION SOFTWARE AS REVENUE EXPENDITURE AND THUS DELETE THE IM PUGNED DISALLOWANCE. 28. GROUND NO. 3 IS THUS ALLOWED. 29. THE NEXT DISALLOWANCE, WHICH HAS BEEN CALLED INT O QUESTION IN THIS APPEAL, IS DISALLOWANCE OF RS 54,807 IN RESPECT OF REIMBURSEMENT OF CLUB EXPENSES TO THE EMPLOYEES, WHICH ARE STATED TO HAVE BEEN INCURRED FOR BUSINESS MEETINGS. 30. LEARNED REPRESENTATIVES AGREE THAT THIS ISSUE IS COV ERED IN FAVOUR OF THE ASSESSEE BY DECISIONS OF THE COORDINATE BENCHES IN ASSESSEES O WN CASE FOR EARLIER YEARS. COPIES OF THESE DECISIONS WERE PLACED ON RECORD. CONSISTENT WITH THE VIEW SO TAKEN BY THE COORDINATE BENCHES, WE UPHOLD THEBGRIEV ANCE OF THE ASSESSEE AND DIRECT THE ASSESSING OFFICER TO DELETE THE IMPUGNED DISALLOWAN CE. 31. GROUND NO. 4 IS THUS ALLOWED. 32. IN GROUND NO. 5, GRIEVANCE OF THE ASSESSEE IS THAT THE ASSESSING OFFICER ITA NO. 860 2 /MUM/2010 ASSESSMENT YEAR: 2006- 07 PAGE 20 OF 20 ERRED IN DISALLOWING THE DEPRECIATION OF RS 2,90,780 . HOWEVER, WE FIND THAT THE ASSESSING OFFICER HAS MADE THE IMPUGNED DISALLOWANCE AS THE ASSESSEE COULD NOT FURNISH NECESSARY DETAILS FOR VERIFICATION, AND HAS FURT HER OBSERVED THAT AS AND WHEN ASSESSEE IS ABLE TO PRODUCE THE RELEVANT DETAILS, THE CLA IM WILL BE ENTERTAINED ON MERITS. IN THIS VIEW OF THE MATTER, NO INTERFERENCE I S REALLY CALLED FOR IN WELL REASONED APPROACH OF THE ASSESSING OFFICER. 33. GROUND NO. 5 IS THUS DISMISSED. 34. GROUND NO. 6 AGAINST LEVY OF INTEREST UNDER SECTI ON 234 B SEEKS ONLY CONSEQUENTIAL RELIEF. IT DOES NOT THEREFORE CALL FOR ANY ADJUDICATION, BEYOND DIRECTING THE ASSESSING OFFICER TO GIVE CONSEQUENTIAL RELIEF. GROU ND NO. 6 IS THUS DISMISSED SUBJECT TO THE DIRECTIONS FOR CONSEQUENTIAL RELIEF. 35. IN THE RESULT, THE APPEAL IS PARTLY ALLOWED IN T HE TERMS INDICATED ABOVE. PRONOUNCED IN THE OPEN COURT TODAY ON 5 TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2011. SD/- SD/- (ASHA VIJAYARAGHAVAN ) (P RAMOD KUMAR) JUDICIAL MEMBER ACCOUNTANT MEMBER MUMBAI; 5 TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER , 2011 . COPY FORWARDED TO : 1. THE APPELLANT 2. THE RESPONDENT 3. COMMISSIONER , MUMBAI 4. DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVE, BENCH, MUMBAI 5. GUARD FILE TRUE COPY BY ORDER ETC. ASSISTANT REGISTRAR INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL MUMBAI BENCHES, MUMBAI