Simla Automobiles vs Cit
2011 Latest Caselaw 2305 Del

*              THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

%                                    Judgment delivered on : 29.04.2011

+                                    ITR 125/1996

SIMLA AUTOMOBILES                                          ......APPELLANT

                                     versus



CIT                                                        ..... RESPONDENT

Advocates who appeared in this case:

For the Appellant  : None
For the Respondent    :   Mr Sanjeev Sabharwal, Advocate

CORAM :-

HON'BLE MR JUSTICE SANJAY KISHAN KAUL
HON'BLE MR JUSTICE RAJIV SHAKDHER

1.     Whether the Reporters of local papers may
       be allowed to see the judgment ?          Yes

2.     To be referred to Reporters or not ?         Yes
3.     Whether the judgment should be reported      Yes
       in the Digest ?

SANJAY KISHAN KAUL, J (ORAL)

1. This is a reference made at the behest of the assessee. The reference pertains to

assessment year 1984-85. By an order dated 02.07.2009 passed by the Income Tax

Appellate Tribunal (hereinafter referred to as „the Tribunal‟), we have been asked to

adjudicate upon the following question of law :-

"Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Hon'ble Income Tax Appellate Tribunal was right in law in setting aside the order of the learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) and confirming the disallowance of Rs.2,15,453/- under sec. 43-B of the Income Tax Act, 1961 when the payment was made within the time prescribed by the Himachal Pradesh Sales Tax Act."

2. The reference arises in the background on the following short facts: The Assessing

Officer by order dated 01.03.1988 had disallowed the sales tax paid by the assessee

amounting to Rs 2,15,453/- after the end of the previous year but before the due date (i.e.,

30.04.1984) stipulated under the Himachal Pradesh Sales Tax Act, 1968 (in short, Sales Tax

Act). The said disallowance was made by the Assessing Officer by invoking the provisions

of Section 43B of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (in short „I.T. Act‟).

2.1 The assessee being aggrieved carried the matter in appeal to the Commissioner of

Income Tax (Appeals) [in short‟CIT(A)‟]. The CIT(A) reversed the decision of the

Assessing Officer vide order dated 01.03.1988.

2.2 The revenue carried the matter in appeal to the Tribunal. The Tribunal following the

decision of the Division Bench of this court in the case of Escorts ltd vs UOI (1991) 189

ITR 81 and that of the Patna High Court in Jamshedpur Motor Accessories vs UOI (1991)

189 ITR 70 reversed the decision of the CIT(A).

3. Being aggrieved the captioned reference has been preferred by the assessee. It may

be noted that there is no representation on behalf of the assessee. The revenue has been

represented by Mr Sanjeev Sabharwal. Before we proceed further it may be useful to

extract the relevant provisions of Section 43B as they stood in the assessment year in issue.

Section 43B: Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provisions of this Act, a deduction otherwise allowable under this Act in respect of:

(a) in the sum payable by way of tax or duty under any law for the time being in force; or

(b) any sum payable by the assessee as employer by way of contribution to any provident fund or superannuation fund or gratuity fund or any other fund for the welfare of the employees.

Explanation: For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that where a deduction in respect of any sum referred to in clause (a) or clause (b) of this section is allowed in computing the income referred to in section 28 of the previous year (being a previous year relevant to the assessment year commencing on the 1st day of April, 1983, or any earlier assessment year) in which the liability to pay such sum was incurred by the assessee, the assessee shall not be entitled to any deduction under this section in respect of such sum in computing the income of the previous year in which the sum is actually paid by him.

4. It is pertinent to note that by virtue of Finance Act, 1987 the following proviso was

added w.e.f. 01.04.1988:

"provided that nothing contained in this section shall apply in relation to any sum which is actually paid by the assessee on or before the due date applicable in his case for furnishing the return of income under sub-section (1) of section 139 in respect of the previous year in which the liability to pay such sum was incurred as aforesaid and the evidence of such payment is furnished by the assessee along with such return."

4.1 This proviso became subject matter of the decision of the Supreme Court in the case

of Allied Motors (P) Ltd. vs CIT (1997) 224 ITR 677. In the said case the Supreme Court

held that it was curative in nature and this had to been given retrospective effect.

5. On reading the order of the CIT(A) it emerges that the assessee collected sales tax

and credited the same to the account titled as "sales tax payable account". As per the

provisions of the Sales Tax Act the appellant could pay the sales tax collected to the

concerned authorities within one month of the close of each quarter. Consequently, sales

tax collected for the quarter January - March 1984, was payable by 30.04.1984. The sales

tax amount was paid by the assessee on 27.04.1984. The argument of the assessee was that

the expression „sum payable‟ (by way of tax) would be attracted to only that situation where

both the liability accrued and became due for payment in the accounting year of the

assessee. In other words where the liability became due for payment on a date beyond the

accounting year of the assessee, the provisions of Section 43B of the I.T. Act would not

apply. This view, however, did not find favour with the Tribunal in view of the judgments

of this court in Escorts Ltd. (supra) and that of the Patna High Court in Jamshedpur Motor

(supra).

6. We may also note that in the case of Allied Motors (supra) the judgment of the Delhi

High Court in the case of Escorts Ltd. (supra) and that of the Patna High Court in

Jamshedpur Motor (supra) were expressly noted and overruled. Therefore, the Tribunal‟s

judgment would have to be set aside. It is ordered accordingly. The question of law is

answered in favour of the assessee.

7. This, however, will not resolve the matter in issue for the reason, as noted

hereinabove, that the judgment of the Supreme court dealt with the issue as to whether the

amendment brought about by virtue of the Finance Act, 1987 ought to be given

retrospective effect. However, on perusal of the record, it emerges that the assessee had

filed his return on 27.07.1984 (see A.O. Order). Undoubtedly, as per the facts found by the

authorities below, the sales tax liability had been paid on 27.04.1984. These facts were not

noticed by the Tribunal as the Judgment of the Supreme Court passed in Allied Motors

(supra) had not been rendered at that point in time. Therefore, for the limited purpose for

passing appropriate orders in the case the matter is remanded to the Tribunal. The matter

shall be placed before the Tribunal. The Tribunal shall hear and pass appropriate orders in

the matter, keeping in mind the judgment of the Supreme Court in the case of Allied Motors

(supra).

SANJAY KISHAN KAUL, J

RAJIV SHAKDHER, J

APRIL 29, 2011 kk