Commissioner Of Income Tax, Dehradun v. M/S Reading & Bates Exploration Co., As Agent Of Mr. J.griffin 426 World Trade Centre, Barakhama Road, New Delhi

COURT NO.2 IN THE HIGH COURT OF UTTARANCHAL AT NAINITALIncome Tax Appeal No. 96 of 2003 Commissioner of Income Tax, Dehradun ……………Appellant Versus M/s Reading & Bates Exploration Co., As agent of Mr. J.Griffin 426 World Trade Centre, Barakhama Road, New Delhi ……………. Respondent Dated: December 17, 2005 Mr. S.K. Posti, Advocate for the appellant. Ms. Krishi Shukla, Advocate for the respondent Coram: Hon. P.C. Verma, J.Hon. J.C.S. Rawat, J. This appeal is against the order dated 18.10.2002, passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, (Delhi Bench ‘E’ New Delhi) in ITA No.4164/(Del) of 1994. The dispute relates to the Assessment Year 1992-93. 2. The substantial questions of law raised in the appeal are as follows: (i) Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the learned Income Tax Appellate Tribunal was legally correct to hold that the salary paid to the assessee for the off-period outside India was not chargeable to Indian Income Tax Act in terms of Section 9(1)(ii) of the I.T. Act, 1961, whereas the ld. ITAT has itself held vide order dated 25.03.1992 in ITA No.5649/D/92, dated 28.07.1999 in ITA No.1079/D/91, dated 24.01.2000 in ITA No.411/D/93 and dated 15.05.2000 in ITA No.1648/D/94, that off period salary is taxable in India and vide order dated 18.11.1996 in RA No.433 to 511/D/96 has referred question of law on this issue for esteemed opinion of this Court?” (ii) Whether on facts and in the circumstances of the case, the learned Income Tax Appellate Tribunal was legally correct in holding that free boarding facility provided by the employer on board the rig in high seas cannot be construed to be perquisite? ” (iii) Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case, the learned Income Tax Appellate Tribunal was legally justified allowing the appeal holding that interest under Section 234-B of the I.T. Act was not leviable in respect of income which are subject to deduction of tax at source?” 3. The first question has been decided by the Hon’ble Apex Court in Civil Appeal Nos.351-355 of 2005 “Sedco Forex International Drill Inc. and Others Vs. Commissioner of Income Tax, Dehradun and Another, JT 2005(9) SC 639”. In view of the aforesaid decision of the Hon’ble Apex Court, this question is answered in favour of the assessee. 4. So far as the question Nos.2 and 3 are concerned, a Division Bench of this Court in the case of Commissioner of Income Tax and another Vs. Sedco Forex International Drilling Co. Ltd. and connected cases reported in (2003) 264 ITR 320, has held that the free boarding facility provide by the employer on the rig was not a perquisite under Section 17 (2)(iii) and that its value cannot be added to the income of the assessee. It has also been held that the imposition of interest under Section 234-B was not justified without hearing and without reasons. 5. In view of the above, we dismiss the appeal. All the questions in this appeal are answered against the appellants and in favour of the assessee. Rajeev Dang (J.C.S. Rawat, J.) (P.C. Verma, J.)