MEHSANA DISTRICT CO-OPERATIVE MILK PRODUCERS UNION LTD. V. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX

ITR/387/1992

AI Insights

The case involves the Mehsana District Co-Operative Milk Producers Union Ltd. contesting various decisions made by the Commissioner of Income-Tax regarding deductions and allowances under the Income-tax Act, 1961. The primary legal issues revolved around the deductibility of contributions made as a statutory liability, the eligibility for weighted deductions on certain expenditures, and the allowance of depreciation and investment on specific equipment provided under a government program. The Appellate Tribunal's decisions on these matters were challenged, leading to the reference of these questions to the High Court of Gujarat.

• Counselvise Citation: [2001] 140 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 727332 (HC-GUJARAT)
• Appeal Type: Others
• Pronouncement Date: 16-10-2001
• Assessment Year: misc
• Other Referred Cases: Kaira District Co.op. Milk Producers Union Ltd. vs. C.I.T.
• Laws Referred To: Income-tax Act, 1961, Gujarat Rajya Sahakari Co.op.Societies Act
• Result in Favour of: Others
• Court: HIGH COURT
• Department Lawyers: MANISH BHATT
• Assessee Lawyers: J P SHAH
• Keywords: Deduction eligibility; Depreciation; Investment allowance; Revenue expenditure; Statutory Liability; Weighted deduction
• Section: 32; 69; 37; 28; 32A; 35 C

Judgement Text

" )) IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD INCOME TAX REFERENCE No 387 of 1992 For Approval and Signature: Hon'ble MR.JUSTICE M.S.SHAH Sd/- and Hon'ble MR.JUSTICE D.A.MEHTA Sd/- ============================================================ 1. Whether Reporters of Local Papers may be allowed : NO to see the judgements? 2. To be referred to the Reporter or not? : NO 3. Whether Their Lordships wish to see the fair copy : NO of the judgement? 4. Whether this case involves a substantial question : NO of law as to the interpretation of the Constitution of India, 1950 of any Order made thereunder? 5. Whether it is to be circulated to the Civil Judge? : NO -------------------------------------------------------------- MEHSANA DISTRICT CO-OPERATIVE MILK PRODUCERS UNION LTD. Versus COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX -------------------------------------------------------------- Appearance: 1. INCOME TAX REFERENCE No. 387 of 1992 MR JP SHAH for Petitioner No. 1 MR MANISH R BHATT for Respondent No. 1 -------------------------------------------------------------- CORAM : MR.JUSTICE M.S.SHAH and MR.JUSTICE D.A.MEHTA Date of decision: 16/10/2001 ORAL JUDGEMENT (Per : MR.JUSTICE D.A.MEHTA) The following questions are referred for the opinion of this Court at the instance of the revenue : 1 \"Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Appellate Tribunal was right in law in holding that the contribution made as a statutory liability under section 69 of the Gujarat Rajya Sahakari Co.op.Societies Act, is not deductible as a revenue expenditure U/s.28/37 of the Income-tax Act?\" 2 \"Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Appellate Tribunal was right in law in the interpretation and application of section 35-C of the Income-tax Act,1961?\" 3 \"Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the appellate Tribunal was right in law in holding that entire expenditure of Rs.64,78,011/- was not eligible for weighted deduction u/s.35C of the Income-tax Act?\" 4 \"Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Appellate Tribunal was right in law in holding that only 10% of the expenses incurred on dissemination of information or demonstration of modern techniques and methods of agricultural animal husbandry or dairy or poultry farming or advice on such technique or method is eligible for deduction u/s.35-C of the Income-tax Act?\" 5 \"Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Appellate Tribunal was right in law in holding that depreciation u/s.32 and investment allowance u/s.32A was not allowable on Milk tester machines worth Rs.10,67,907/- and Insulated Van Tanker worth Rs.2,76,320/- supplied by Indian Dairy Corporation as assistance on account to carry out Operation Food II programme of the Central Government\". 2 The assessment year is 1983-84. It is the common ground between the parties that all the five questions referred to us already stand answered and hence it is not necessary to set out the facts in detail. Question No.1 stands concluded by a decision of this Court in assessee's own case in Income Tax Reference No.290 of 1984 dated 24/12/1999. Following the said decision we answer the first question in the negative i.e. in favour of the assessee and against the revenue. 3 In so far as question nos. 2, 3 and 4 are concerned in the case of Kaira District Co.op. Milk Producers Union Ltd. vs. C.I.T., this Court in Income Tax Reference No.32 of 1987 dated 2/7/2001 has held that the assessee shall be entitled to deduction of entire expenditure u/s.35C of the Income-tax Act,1961. In light of the said decision the questions, being questions no. 2, 3 and 4 are answered in the negative i.e. in favour of the assessee and against the revenue. 4 So far as question No.5 is concerned, following the decision in assessee's own case in Income Tax Reference No.290 of 1984 dated 24/12/1999 we answer the said question in the negative i.e. in favour of the assessee and against the revenue. 5 The reference stands disposed of accordingly with no order as to costs. Sd/- Sd/- (M.S.Shah,J) (D.A.Mehta,J) m.m.bhatt "