THECOMMISSIONER OF INCOMETAX V. M/S.BABY MARINE EXPORTS

ITR/107/1999

AI Insights

The case involves the Commissioner of Income-Tax, Trivandrum as the applicant and M/S. Baby Marine Exports, Kollam as the respondent. The core issues pertained to the entitlement of the assessee to deductions under Section 80 HHC for exports and the legality of reopening assessments under Section 147 of the Income Tax Act. The Tribunal had previously ruled in favor of the assessee, which was contested by the Revenue. The High Court of Kerala, after hearing the arguments, upheld the Tribunal's decision on the deduction issue but remanded the reopening of assessments issue back to the Commissioner of Appeals for a fresh decision.

• Counselvise Citation: [2007] 140 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 728474 (HC-KERALA)
• Appeal Type: Others
• Pronouncement Date: 18-01-2007
• Assessment Year: misc
• Other Referred Cases: Sea Pearl Industries v. C.I.T. (SC) (247 ITR 578)
• Laws Referred To: Section 80 HHC of the Income Tax Act, Section 147 of the Income Tax Act
• Result in Favour of: Partly Allowed
• Court: HIGH COURT
• Department Lawyers: C KOCHUNNY NAIR; S RAJ; ANTONY DOMINIC; E K NANDAKUMAR; A K JAYASANKAR NAMBIAR; ANIL NAIR; PRIYA MAHESH; PRIYA MANJOORAN
• Assessee Lawyers: P K R M MENON; GEORGE K GEORGE
• Keywords: Deduction; Export; Foreign Exchange; Income Tax; Reopening of assessment
• Section: 147; 80 HHC

Judgement Text

" IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE K.S.RADHAKRISHNAN & THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE M.N.KRISHNAN THURSDAY, THE 18TH JANUARY 2007 / 28TH PAUSHA 1928 ITR.No. 107 to 110 of 1999 -------------------------------------- AGAINST THE ORDER IN RA NOS.251, 252, 253 & 254/COCH/97 IN ITA.648/649/650 & 657/COCH//1991 -Asst.Years 1987-88, 1988-89, 1987-88 and 1988-89 of I.T.A.TRIBUNAL,COCHIN BENCH .................... APPLICANT: ----------------- THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX, TRIVANDRUM. BY ADV. SRI.P.K.R.MENON(SR.),SR.COUNSEL FOR IT SRI.GEORGE K. GEORGE, SC FOR IT RESPONDENT: ------------------------ M/S. BABY MARINE EXPORTS, KALLUVILA, THANGASSERY, KOLLAM. BY ADV. SRI.C.KOCHUNNY NAIR SRI.S.ARUN RAJ SRI.ANTONY DOMINIC SRI.E.K.NANDAKUMAR SRI.A.K.JAYASANKAR NAMBIAR SRI.ANIL D. NAIR SMT.PRIYA MAHESH SMT.PRIYA MANJOORAN THIS TAX REFERENCE HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 18/01/2007 ALONG WITH ITR NO. 108 OF 1999, ITR NO.109 OF 1999 AND ITR NO. 110 OF 1999, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: K.S. RADHAKRISHNAN & M.N. KRISHNAN, JJ. = = = = = == = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = I.T.R. 107 TO 110 OF 1999 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Dated this the 18th day of January, 2007. J U D G M E N T Radhakrishnan, J. Heard counsel on both sides. Counsel appearing on either side submitted that these tax revisions can be disposed of in the following manner. Following are the questions of law referred for consideration. \"(1) Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in holding that the assessee is entitled to the deduction under Section 80 HHC on the goods exported through an agent (export house) by receiving foreign exchange by itself and in its name? (2) Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal is right in law and fact in interfering with the reopening of the assessments and holding it as bad in the eye of law under Section 147 of the I.T. Act within the meaning of Explanation 7(c)(ii) and (iii) when the assessment had been reopened within a period of 4 years from the end I.T.R. 107 TO 110 OF 1999 -:Page numbers:- of the assessment year which is permissible even if there is no failure on the part of the assessee to make a return under Section 139 or in response to a notice issued under Section 142(1) or under Section 148 or to disclose fully and truly all material facts necessary for the assessment for that assessment year?\" The first question is already covered in favour of the Revenue by the decision of the Apex Court in Sea Pearl Industries v. C.I.T. (SC) (247 ITR 578). Hence, we answer the first question in favour of the Revenue and against the assessee. 2. We find it unnecessary to answer the second question, since we propose to direct the Commissioner(Appeals) to consider the issue afresh. Consequently, the order passed by the Tribunal and the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) to that extend is set aside and the Commissioner (Appeals) is directed to pass fresh orders after hearing both the parties. In the meanwhile, there will be an interim stay of recovery of tax. Considering the fact that the assessment relates to the years 1987-88 and 1988-89, the I.T.R. 107 TO 110 OF 1999 -:Page numbers:- Commissioner of Appeals will pass final orders within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. Reference is answered accordingly. Registry to communicate this order to the Commissioner of Appeals as well as to the Tribunal. K.S. RADHAKRISHNAN, JUDGE. M.N. KRISHNAN, JUDGE. ul/- I.T.R. 107 TO 110 OF 1999 -:Page numbers:- K.S. RADHAKRISHNAN & M.N. KRISHNAN, JJ. = = = = = = = = = = = I.T.R.107 TO 110 OF1999 = = = = = = = = = = = J U D G M E N T 18th January, 2007. "