Wa/1308/2024 Of The Deputy Commissioner Of Income Tax v. Emirates Telecommunications Group Company

NC: 2024:KHC:35643-DBWA No. 1308 of 2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 2 DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2024 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE S.G.PANDIT AND THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA -WRIT APPEAL NO. 1308 OF 2024 (TIT) BETWEEN: 1. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX INTERNATIONAL TAXATION, CIRCLE-2(2), ROOM NO.430, 4 FLOOR, BMTC BUILDING, 80 FT ROAD, 6 BLOCK, KORAMANGALA, BENGALURU – 560095. INTERNATIONAL TAXATION, CIRCLE-2(2), ROOM NO.430, 4 FLOOR, BMTC BUILDING, 80 FT ROAD, 6 BLOCK, KORAMANGALA, BENGALURU – 560095. 2. THE PR. CHIEF COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX (INTL TAXN) NEW DELHI. …APPELLANTS (BY SRI. SANMATHI E. I., ADV.) Digitally signedbyAND:MARIGANGAIAHPREMAKUMARILocation: HIGHEMIRATES TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP COMPANY COURT OF(ETISALAT GROUP) P.J.S.C. (ETISALAT) KARNATAKA(EARLIER KNOWN AS EMIRATES TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION) E AND HEAD OFFICE BUILDING -A INTERSECTION OF SHEIKH ZAYED THE 1 STREET SHEIKH RASHID BIN SAEED AL MAKTOUM ROAD PO BOX 3838, ABU DHABI, UAE, REP. BY ITS AUTHORISED SIGNATORY MR. MOHAMED KARIM BENNIS.…RESPONDENT THIS APPEAL IS FILED UNDER SECTION 4 OF THE KARNATAKA HIGH COURT ACT PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE ORDER DATED 07.03.2024 IN WP NO.4539/2024 (T-IT) PASSED BY THE LEARNED SINGLE JUDGE. THIS APPEAL, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR JUSTICE S.G.PANDIT AND HON'BLE MR JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA ORAL JUDGMENT (PER: HON'BLE MR JUSTICE S.G.PANDIT) Heard Sri. E.I.Sanmathi, learned counsel for the appellants. 2. Perused the appeal papers. 3. The question involved in the appeal is as to whether interconnect service charges paid would amount to royalty. 4. The above issue was considered by a Co-ordinate Bench of this court in ITA.No.160/2015 and connected appeals. By judgment dated 14.07.2023 it is held that interconnect service charges would not constitute royalty. Paragraph No.21 of the judgment reads as follows: “The third question is, whether the payments made to NTOS for providing interconnect services and transfer of capacity in foreign countries is chargeable to tax as royalty. It was argued by Shri.Pardiwala, that for subsequent years in assessee’s own case, the ITAT has held that tax is not deductable when payment is made to non-resident telecom operator. This factual aspect is not refuted. Thus the Revenue has reviewed its earlier stand for the subsequent assessment years placing reliance on Viacom etc[35], rendered by the ITAT. In that view of the matter this question also needs to be answered against the Revenue.” 5. Learned Single Judge has also placed reliance on the above decision of the Co-ordinate Bench. Therefore, we do not find any infirmity in the order under challenge. 6. Following the decision of Co-ordinate Bench dated 14.07.2023 in ITA No.160/2015 and connected appeals, the above appeal stands dismissed. SD/- (S.G.PANDIT) JUDGE SD/- (C.M. POONACHA) JUDGE