SABYASACHI MUKHARJI, J.

( 1 ) THE assessee is a company carrying on business of the distribution of electricity. It has service lines through which electricity is transmitted for distribution. In the case of such service lines a portion of the cost thereof is borne by the consumer concerned. Prior to the coming into force of the Income-tax Act, 1961, the Indian Income-tax Act, 1922, then in force, provided for depreciation allowance on such service lines. At that time question arose as to whether the contribution received from the consumers of electricity in respect of the service lines would go to reduce the actual cost of the said assets for the purpose of calculation of depreciation. In the case of Commissioner of Income-tax v. Ranchi Electric Supply Co. Ltd. [1954] 26 ITR 89 (Pat), it was held by the Patna High Court that the "actual cost" was the actual cost incurred in installing the connections irrespective of any contribution received from any consumer. Consequently, the amount paid by the consumers of such service lines could not be taken into account in calculating the actual cost. The assessments of the assessee-company up to the assessment year 1962-63 were made on tha

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