COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX V. M/S GREATWAYS PVT. LTD.

ITA/581/2006

AI Insights

The case involves the Commissioner of Income Tax, Ludhiana-II as the appellant and M/s Greatways Private Limited as the respondent. The core issues pertained to the computation of deductions under Section 80 HHC of the Income Tax Act, 1961, specifically regarding the inclusion of Sales Tax and Central Sales Tax in total turnover, the treatment of premium on the sale of export quota, and the classification of interest income. The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal had earlier upheld the decisions of the CIT(A), which were favorable to the assessee. The Revenue's appeal to the High Court challenged these decisions, particularly focusing on the classification of interest income and the treatment of export quota premiums.

• Counselvise Citation: [2008] 140 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 719860 (HC-MISC)
• Appeal Type: Others
• Pronouncement Date: 01-02-2008
• Assessment Year: misc
• Other Referred Cases: CIT Vs. Sudarshan Chemical Industries Ltd., CIT. Ludhiana Vs. M/s Vardhman Polytex Limited, Commissioner of Income Tax Vs. Sterling Foods, Commissioner of Income tax-III, Ludhiana Versus M/s Malwa Cotton Spinning Mills Limited, Ludhiana, Hero Exports, G.T.Road, Ludhiana Vs. Commissioner of Income Tax(Central), Ludhiana
• Laws Referred To: Income Tax Act, 1961
• Result in Favour of: Partly Allowed
• Court: HIGH COURT
• Department Lawyers: AKSHAY BHAN
• Assessee Lawyers: VIVEK SETHI; SANJEEV BANSAL
• Keywords: Business income; Central Sales Tax; Deduction; Income from other sources; Interest income; Sales Tax; Total Turnover; Export quota
• Section: 143(3); 143(2); 143(1); 143(4); 80 HHC; 28(iiic); 28(iiib); 28(iiia); 143(4B)

Judgement Text

" In the High Court for the States of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh … ITA No.581 of 2006 Date of decision:1.2.2008 The Commissioner of Income Tax, Ludhiana-II .. Appellant Versus M/s Greatways Private Limited, G.T.Road, Ludhiana Respondent Coram: Hon’ble Mr.Justice Satish Kumar Mittal Hon'ble Mr.Justice Rakesh Kumar Garg Present: Mr.Vivek Sethi, Advocate for Mr.Sanjeev Bansal, Advocate for the appellant-revenue. Mr.Akshay Bhan, Advocate for the respondent-assessee .. Rakesh Kumar Garg,J 1. This appeal has been preferred by the Revenue against the order dated 25.5.2006 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chandigarh Bench 'B', Chandigarh in ITA No.596/CHD/2005 for the Assessment Year 2003- 04 proposing following substantial questions of law:- 1.Whether on the facts and in law , the ITAT was correct in upholding that the Central Sales Tax and Sales Tax be not formed the part of total turnover while computing of deduction u/s 80 HHC ? 2.Whether on facts and in law, the Tribunal was right to uphold the order of the CIT (A) that the premium on sale of export quota, as incentive, which is not covered u/s 28(iiia), 28(iiib) and 28(iiic) of the Income Tax Act, be treated as 'Business Income' instead of 'income from other sources' in computation of deduction u/s 80 HHC ? 3. Whether on the facts and in law, the ITAT was legally right in dismissing revenue appeal on exclusion of 90 % of interest- income assessable under the head 'income from other sources' from the business profit?” 2. The brief facts of the case are that the assessee/respondent is a manufacturer and exporter of hosiery items. The return declaring total income at Rs.49,49,827/- has been filed on 30.11.03. The return was processed u/s 143(1) on 26.3.04. Notice u/s 143(2) was issued and served on 1.7.04. In response to the notices, the assessment proceedings were attended by the representative of the assessee from time to time and requisite information was also furnished. The Assessing Officer found the following discrepancies in the return. a) The assessee has not included Sales Tax and Central Sales Tax as part of total turnover. b) The assessee has treated the interest income of Rs.59,03,694/- as business income and treated it for reducing by 90 % while computing 'profit of the business' under explanation (baa) below sub section (4B) of section 80 HHC. It was found by the Assessing Officer that the interest was on deposits of surplus funds available with the assessee and the income of such interest according to Assessing Officer is income under the head other sources. c) While computing deduction under Section 80 HHC, the assessee has taken the negative figure of “the profit from export of manufacturing business” as zero. 3. After receiving the explanation of the assessee on these points, the Assessing Officer vide his order dated 31.12.2004 finalized assessment under Section 143(4) of the Income Tax Act as under:- “ During the assessment proceedings u/s 143(3) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, the Assessing Officer has noticed that the assessee has not included Sales Tax and CST in the total turnover for the purposes of deduction u/s 80 HHC. The Assessing officer finalized the assessment by including the Sales Tax and Central Sales Tax at Rs.34331/- in the total turnover for computation of deduction u/s 80 HHC. The Assessing Officer held that the premium on sale of export quota is not treated as export incentive as it is not covered in any of the sections 28(iiia) to 28(iiic) of the income Tax Act,1961. The Assessing Officer treated the amount as 'any other receipt of similar nature', while computing the profit of the business as per explanation (baa) below section 80 HHC as these receipts cannot be treated as export incentives. The Assessing Officer observed that, in the computation of deduction u/s 80 HHC, while computing profit of the business, 90 % of premium on sale of quota was reduced and thereafter deduction was claimed on this amount as per proviso to section 80 HHC(3) of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The Assessing Officer rejected the claim of the assessee and held that 90 % of the receipts from sale of export quota will be reduced while computing the profit of the business, but while computing deduction as per proviso to Section80HHC(3) deduction on 90 % of these receipts will not be allowed.” 4. Aggrieved by the order of the Assessing Officer, the respondent went in appeal before the CIT(A), Ludhiana, who vide his order dated 30.3.2005 while relying upon his own decision in the instant case for the Assessment Year 2002- 03 vide Appeal No.107-IT/CIT(A)-1/2003-04 decided the issue in favour of the assessee. 5. On the next ground of appeal regarding not considering premium on sale of export quota as incentive for computing deduction u/s 80 HHC, CIT(A) relying upon his own order as quoted in the above said order also decided the issue in favour of assessee. 6. The third ground of appeal regarding exclusion of 90 % of interest income of Rs.47,05,138/- from the business profit and assessing under the head 'income from other sources' CIT(A), relying on the decision in the sister concern of the assessee Company M/s Eveline International relevant to Assessment Year 2002-03 adjudicated the matter in favour of the assessee. 7. Being not satisfied with the findings of the CIT(A), the Revenue preferred appeal before the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal who vide their order passed on 25.5.2006 has dismissed the appeal partly by upholding the decision of CIT(A)-I, Ludhiana on the following issues:- 1. The Tribunal relied upon the decision of High Court of Bombay in the case of CIT Vs. Sudarshan Chemical Industries Ltd. (2000) 245 ITR 769 (Bom.), dismissed the ground of appeal of Revenue and upheld the decision of CIT(A). 2. The Tribunal also dismissed the ground of appeal of the Revenue regarding treating the premium on sale of export quota as incentives, relying upon the decision taken in the sister concern of the assessee company, M/s Eveline International (supra) relevant to Assessment Year 2002-03. 3. The Tribunal dismissed the ground of appeal pertaining to exclusion of 90 % of interest income assessable under the head income from other sources from the business profit, relying upon its own decision in the instant case vide ITA No.899/CHD/2004 and in the case of M/s Eve Line International for the Assessment Year 2002-03 in ITA No.898/CHD/2004. 8. Aggrieved against the order of the Tribunal, the Revenue has filed the present appeal proposing the substantial questions of law as referred to in para No. 1 of the judgment on the following grounds:- i) The Tribunal has erred in law and on facts in upholding the decision of CIT(A), that the Central Sales Tax and Sales Tax should not be included in total turnover of the assessee while computing the deduction u/s 80 HHC whereas the Assessing Officer was justified in including the CST and ST in total Turnover for the purpose of computation of deduction u/s 80 HHC. Department is already in appeal before Punjab and Haryana High Court against the order in the case of assessee company for the Assessment Year 2002-03. ii) The Tribunal erred in law and on facts in upholding the decision of the CIT(A), that the interest income is to be treated as “business income”, instead of 'income from other sources' for computation of deduction u/s 80 HHC as held by the Assessing Officer. The interest income is not derived from exports so as to be eligible for deduction u/s 80 HHC. Department has already preferred an appeal u/s 260 A against such order. iii) The Tribunal erred in law and on facts in dismissing the appeal on the ground regarding exclusion of 90 % of interest income assessable under the head 'income from other sources' from the business profit, following its own decision in the instant case. 9. Learned counsel for the parties have been heard and the record perused. 10. A perusal of the order dated 13.2.2007 would show that this Court has already found that question No.1 as raised by the counsel for the appellant is covered against the Revenue by the order passed by this Court in the case of C.I.T. Ludhiana Vs. M/s Vardhman Polytex Limited (I.T.A.No.293 of 2005) decided on 22.5.2006 and the notice of motion was issued to the respondent only with regard to question No.2 and 3. 11. Learned counsel for the appellant has argued that for computation of deduction under section 80 HHC, interest income of the assessee is not to be treated as 'business income' instead of 'income from other sources' because the interest income is not derived from exports so as to be eligible for deduction under Section 80 HHC. In support of his argument, learned counsel has placed reliance upon a judgment of this Court passed in ITA No.94 of 2006 titled as Commissioner of Income tax-III, Ludhiana Versus M/s Malwa Cotton Spinning Mills Limited, Ludhiana decided on 22.12.2006 and has also placed reliance on Commissioner of Income Tax Vs. Sterling Foods-237 ITR 579. 12. On the other hand, Mr. Akshay Bhan, learned counsel for the respondent has stated that the interest income received on FDRs amounting to Rs.1198556/- given to Apparel Export Promotion Council is directly related to business and, therefore, is to be treated as business income and the assessee is entitled to claim deduction as such. However, we are unable to accept the contention of Shri Akshay Bhan,learned counsel for the assessee. From the facts and after going through the relevant provisions, we find that the second question of law as raised by the learned counsel for the Revenue is fully covered in favour of the Revenue by judgment of this Court in Malwa Cotton Spinning Mills Limited's case (supra) and thus, this substantial question of law referred is answered in favour of the Revenue and against the assessee. 13. Mr. Vivek Sethi, Advocate appearing on behalf of Mr. Sanjeev Bansal, Advocate counsel for the Revenue has very fairly conceded that question No.3 as raised by him is also to be answered against the Revenue in view of the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in Hero Exports, G.T.Road, Ludhiana Vs. Commissioner of Income Tax(Central), Ludhiana- (2007) 213 CTR (SC) 291. Thus this question is answered against the Revenue and in favour of the assessee. 14. Accordingly, the present appeal is partly allowed. (RAKESH KUMAR GARG) JUDGE February 1,2008 (SATISH KUMAR MITTAL) nk JUDGE "