RICHA APPARELS V. ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX, NEW DELHI

W.P.(C)/7649/2007

AI Insights

The case involves Richa Apparels, the petitioner, who challenged the reopening of their settled assessment for the assessment year 2002-03. The reassessment was initiated based on a retrospective amendment to Sections 28 and 80HHC of the Income Tax Act, 1961, which disallowed deductions on DEPB profits for certain assessees. The petitioner contested this amendment, citing a similar case where the Gujarat High Court found the amendment to be unconstitutional. The Supreme Court's decision, which upheld the Gujarat High Court's ruling, clarified that the amendment would operate prospectively and not retrospectively, thus supporting the petitioner's stance.

• Counselvise Citation: [2017] 140 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 751890 (HC-DELHI)
• Appeal Type: Others
• Pronouncement Date: 17-03-2017
• Assessment Year: misc
• Other Referred Cases: Avani Exports v. Commissioner of Income Tax (2012) 348 ITR 391, CIT-5 & Anr. v. M/s Avani Exports & Anr. (SLP (C) No.9273/2013)
• Laws Referred To: Income Tax Act, 1961, Taxation Law (Amendment) Act, 2005, Article 14 of the Constitution
• Result in Favour of: Others
• Court: HIGH COURT
• Department Lawyers: VIBHOOTI MALHOTRA
• Assessee Lawyers: DEEPANSHU JAIN; GAURAV MITTAL
• Keywords: DEPB profits; Prospective operation; Reopening of assessment; Retrospective amendment; Void amendment
• Section: 147; 148; 28; 80HHC

Judgement Text

"$~8 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + CM APPL.10317/2017, 14561/2007 IN W.P. (C) 7649/2007 RICHA APPARELS ..... Petitioner Through: Mr. Deepanshu Jain and Mr. Gaurav Mittal, Advocates. versus ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX, NEW DELHI ..... Respondent Through: Ms. Vibhooti Malhotra, Jr. Standing Counsel. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S. RAVINDRA BHAT HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE NAJMI WAZIRI O R D E R % 17.03.2017 CM APPL.10317/2017 (for early hearing) This is an application for early hearing of the matter. Having considered the submissions, the Court is of the opinion that in the interest of justice, the request should be accepted. The application stands allowed. With consent of counsel for the parties, the writ petition is taken up today finally. W.P. (C) 7649/2007 The writ petitioner questions the reopening of its settled assessment for the assessment year 2002-03. This was purely on W.P. (C) 7649/2007 Page 1 of 3 account of the retrospective amendment to Sections 28 and 80HHC of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The reason given for reopening is inter alia as follows: - “Reasons for reopening: Deduction u/s 80HHC has been claimed on DEPB profits which is not allowable in your case in view of Taxation Law (Amendment) Act, 2005.” At the outset, it is pointed out that the Gujarat High Court had in Avani Exports v. Commissioner of Income Tax (2012) 348 ITR 391 held that the said amendment was void, as contrary to Article 14 of the Constitution on account of its retrospective operation. The amendment had restricted benefits to a class of assessees whose turnover was less than `10 Crores. The Revenue’s appeal to the Supreme Court and the appeals of the assessees with respect to the substantive part of the judgment upholding the amendment prospectively were disposed of by an order dated 30.03.2015 (SLP (C) No.9273/2013, CIT-5 & Anr. v. M/s Avani Exports & Anr.); the Supreme Court upheld the decision of the Gujarat High Court in the following terms: - “Against the High Court judgment these SLPs are filed by the Union of India. Mr. Mukul Rohtagi, learned Attorney General for India submits that once the prayer made was to severe the aforesaid two conditions as onerous and ultra vires, the High Court should have couched the reliefs in terms of that prayer only, instead of stating that the operation of the Section would be given effect to prospectively only and these conditions would not operate retrospectively. At the same time, he accepts that the legal position would be that those exporters with turnover W.P. (C) 7649/2007 Page 2 of 3 of Rs. less than Rs.10 crores and other like the respondents with turnover of more than Rs.10 crores would be at par and both would be entitled to the benefits. We find that in essence the High Court has quashed the severable part of third and fourth proviso to Sec.80HHC (3) and it becomes clear therefrom that challenge which was laid to the conditions contained in the said provisos by the respondent has succeeded. However, to make the position crystal clear, we substitute the direction of the High Court with the following direction: “Having seen the twin conditions and since 80HHC benefit is not available after 1.4.05, we are satisfied that cases of exporters have a turnover below and those above 10 cr. should be treated similarly. This order is in substitution of the judgment in Appeal.” With the aforesaid clarification all these SLPs including that of assessees filed against the judgment of M.P. High Court are disposed of.” In the light of the above developments, the impugned reassessment notice under Section 147/148 cannot be sustained; it is hereby quashed. The writ petition is, therefore, allowed. S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J NAJMI WAZIRI, J MARCH 17, 2017 /vikas/ W.P. (C) 7649/2007 Page 3 of 3 "