Ita/24/2016 Of M/S. Atholi Service Co Operative Bank v. The Income Tax Officer

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT: THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE THOTTATHIL B.RADHAKRISHNAN & THE HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE ANU SIVARAMAN FRIDAY, THE 18TH DAY OF MARCH 2016/28TH PHALGUNA, 1937 ITA.No. 24 of 2016 () ---------------------- AGAINST THE ORDER/JUDGMENT IN ITA 333/2015 of I.T.A.TRIBUNAL,COCHINBENCH APPELLANT(S)/APPELLANT: ----------------------- M/S. ATHOLI SERVICE CO OPERATIVE BANK KOZHIKODE 673315, REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY BY ADVS.SRI.ANIL D. NAIR SRI.R.SREEJITH KUM.SOUMYA PRAKASH KUM.MEKHALA M.BENNY RESPONDENT(S)/RESPONDENT: ------------------------- THE INCOME TAX OFFICER WARD 2 (3), KOZHIKODE 673001 BY SRI.K.M.V.PANDALAI, INCOME TAX DEPARTMENT THIS INCOME TAX APPEAL HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ALONG WITHI.T.A.NO. 27 OF 2016 ON 18-03-2016, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVEREDTHE FOLLOWING: THOTTATHIL B.RADHAKRISHNAN& ANU SIVARAMAN, JJ. ----------------------------------------------- ITA.Nos.24 and 27 of 2016 ----------------------------------------------- Dated this the 18[th] March, 2016 JUDGMENT Anu Sivaraman, J. We have heard Sri.Anil D Nair, learned counsel appearing forthe appellants and Sri.K.M.V.Pandalai, learned standing counselfor Income Tax Department. 2. The matters raised are interlinked with the issues in I.T.A.No.212 of 2013 and connections, as rightly pointed out bythe learned counsel on all sides. Under such circumstances, weadopt the following substantial questions of law, which wereformulated in I.T.A.No. 212 of 2013 and connections, as questionsthat arise in the appeals which are decided through thisjudgment: A) Whether on the facts and in the circumstances ofthe case under consideration, the Tribunal iscorrect in law in deciding against the assessee,the issue regarding entitlement for exemptionunder section 80P, ignoring the fact that theassessee is a primary agricultural credit society?the case under consideration, the Tribunal iscorrect in law in deciding against the assessee,the issue regarding entitlement for exemptionunder section 80P, ignoring the fact that theassessee is a primary agricultural credit society? ITA.24&27/16 B) Whether the Tribunal is justified in denying theexemption under section 80P of the Income TaxAct, 1961, on the mere ground of belated filing ofreturn by the assessee?exemption under section 80P of the Income TaxAct, 1961, on the mere ground of belated filing ofreturn by the assessee? C) Whether a return filed by the assessee beyond theperiod stipulated under section 139(1)/(4) orsection 142(1)/148 can be held as non est in lawand invalid for the purpose of decidingexemption under section 80P of the Income TaxAct, 1961?period stipulated under section 139(1)/(4) orsection 142(1)/148 can be held as non est in lawand invalid for the purpose of decidingexemption under section 80P of the Income TaxAct, 1961? D) Whether the Tribunal is correct in law or is justifiedin restricting the provisions for bad and doubtfuldebt at the 7.5% of the gross total income, onthe reason that the assessee is not entitled forthe status of rural branch to claim 10% of theaggregate average advances as bad anddoubtful debt, under section 36(1)(viia) of theIncome Tax Act, 1961?in restricting the provisions for bad and doubtfuldebt at the 7.5% of the gross total income, onthe reason that the assessee is not entitled forthe status of rural branch to claim 10% of theaggregate average advances as bad anddoubtful debt, under section 36(1)(viia) of theIncome Tax Act, 1961? 3. Questions (A), (B) and (C) were answered as per the judgment dated 15.2.2016 in ITA.No. 212 of 2013 andconnections. Those findings and answers to those questions areincorporated in answer to questions (A), (B) and (C) formulatedherein. A copy of the judgment in ITA.No.212 of 2013 andconnections will stand appended to this judgment. ITA.24&27/16 3. Questions (A), (B) and (C) were answered as per the judgment dated 15.2.2016 in ITA.No. 212 of 2013 andconnections. Those findings and answers to those questions areincorporated in answer to questions (A), (B) and (C) formulatedherein. A copy of the judgment in ITA.No.212 of 2013 andconnections will stand appended to this judgment. ITA.24&27/16 With the aforesaid, we remit all these matters forreconsideration by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal in the lightof the answers rendered herein on substantial questions of law(A), (B) and (C). The Tribunal will thereupon consider the issuesrelating to the bad and doubtful debts and the claim of theassessee in that regard by treating that in all cases whereexemptions are claimed under section 80P and such matters werepending before the assessing authority or before the appellateauthority, including in these appeals, the question of exemptionavailable under section 80P was still available for decision. THOTTATHIL B.RADHAKRISHNAN JUDGE ANU SIVARAMAN JUDGE vgs18/3