1984 Supreme(AP) 307
Andhra Pradesh High Court
Judges : A.RAGHUVIR, G.RAMANUJULU NAIDU
Commissioner of Income Tax - Appellant
Versus
Shahney Steel and Press Works (P.) Ltd. - Respondent
Decided On : 08-23-84
Important Points
Subject
Taxation Law - Income Tax
Act Referred
Headnote
Income-tax Act - Interpretation of section 80j and rule 19a - Liabilities deduction for capital employed - Relief under section 80j - Depreciation on land and building
Fact of the Case:
The court was asked to provide its opinion on four questions related to the Income-tax Act, including the deduction of liabilities for capital employed, relief under section 80j, and entitlement to depreciation on land and building.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that liabilities of each undertaking should be deducted for ascertaining the capital employed, relief under section 80j should be allowed for the entire year, and the assessee is entitled to depreciation on land and building.
Issues: Interpretation of section 80j and rule 19a, relief under section 80j, entitlement to depreciation on land and building
Ratio Decidendi: Liabilities of each undertaking should be deducted for ascertaining the capital employed, relief under section 80j should be allowed for the entire year, and the assessee is entitled to depreciation on land and building based on previous court decisions and reasoning.
Final Decision: The court answered the questions in favor of the assessee.
( 1 ) THE following four questions have been referred to this court for its opinion under section 256 (1) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 ("the Act" ). "1. Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the liabilities of the particular unit only should be deducted in working out the capital employed in that unit for the purpose of calculating the relief under section 80j ? 2. Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the relief under section 80j should be allowed for the entire year and not restricted proportionately to the number of days for which the units have work ? 3. Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the assessee is entitled to depreciation on land and building ? 4. Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, borrowed capital will have to be taken into account for the purpose of ascertaining the capital employed to work out the relief under section 80j ?"
( 2 ) AMONG the four questions, the second question is covered by the decision in R. C. No. 284 of 1978, dated 7/08/1984 (CIT v. Uni Sankyo (1987) 165 ITR 402) (infra ). Following the said decision, the question is answered, allowing for the entire year and not to restrict proportionately to number of days for which the units have worked, in favour of the assessee.
( 3 ) THE fourth question is also covered by the decision in R. C. No. 75 of 1977, dated 1/12/1984, Vinnyallore Industries Ltd. v. CIT [1986] 162 ITR 881 (AP), against the assessee. Therefore, the question is answered against the assessee.
( 4 ) THE first question relates to the interpretation of clause (3) of section 80j and rule 19a of the Act. On a reading of the same, we are of the view that the liabilities of each undertaking only have to be deducted in ascertaining the capital employed by an assessee. That method is the only reasonable method of interpreting sub-rule (3) and rule 19a. A similar conclusion was reached in Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. v. S. Rajagopalan, ITO [1973] 92 ITR 241, by the Bombay High Court. In that case, the same conclusion was reached by adding the words "in respect of the industrial undertaking in which the capital employed is to be computed". We would avoid adopting that method, but we hold, on an interpretation of the relevant clauses (without adding any words), that the meaning is the same as has been stated by the Bombay High Court. Thus, we answer that the liabilities of a particular unit alone should be deducted for according relief under section 80j. The answer is in favour of the assessee.
( 5 ) AS to the third question, the land and the building in the instant case were purchased under an agreement of sale on 13/03/1971. The consideration for sale is Rs. 3,50,000. The facts show that possession of the land and building was delivered to the vendee-assessee. The vendee paid the consideration to the vendor. There was no deed registered to complete the sale transaction. The question is, is the assessee entitled to depreciation on the land and building. A similar question as respects movable property was considered by this court as respects a transport bus in S. P. B. P. Sri Rangacharyulu v. CIT (1965) 58 ITR 95. In that case, the "c" form document was not executed and the vehicle was not mutated in favour of the vendee. The vendee, in that sense, did not have full legal title to the vehicle. Yet, depreciation was allowed in that case though the decision is more relevant to movable property. The reasoning was followed by the Calcutta High Court in CIT v. Steel crete P. Ltd. [1983] 142 ITR 45, and applied for machinery. The Allahabad High Court in Addl. CIT v. U. P. State Agro Industrial Corporation [1981] 127 ITR 97, decided the question in respect of immovable property and permitted depreciation. The Delhi High Court, however, took a contrary view in CIT v. Hindustan Cold Storage and Refrigeration P. Ltd. [1976] 103 ITR 455. In this regard, it is not necessary to reiterate what was stated in