JUDGMENT

RANJAN GOGOI, J.

Leave granted in all the special leave petitions.

2. The true and correct meaning and effect of the provisions of Section 10A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as "the Act") is the principal issue arising for determination of the Court. At the outset, it must be made clear that the decision of this Court with regard to the provisions of Section 10A of the Act would equally be applicable to cases governed by the provisions of Section 10B in view of the said later provision being pari materia with Section 10A of the Act though governing a different situation.

3. The broad question indicated above may be conveniently dissected into the following specific questions arising in the cases under consideration.

(i) Whether Section 10A of the Act is beyond the purview of the computation mechanism of total income as defined under the Act. Consequently, is the income of a Section 10A unit required to be excluded before arriving at the gross total income of the assessee?

(ii) Whether the phrase "total income" in Section 10A of the Act is akin and pari materia with the said expression as appearing in Section 2(45) of the Act?

(iii) Whether even after the a