IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
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ITA 110/2010
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COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX .....
Appellant
Through : Mr Sanjeev Sabharwal
.
versus
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LEAR AUTOMOTIVE INDIA LTD ..... Respondent
Through : None
.
.
.
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR JUSTICE BADAR DURREZ AHMED
HON'BLE MR JUSTICE SIDDHARTH MRIDUL
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O R D E R
05.02.2010
This appeal relates to the assessment year 2001-2002 and arises out of
the Tribunal?s order dated 19.06.2009. The issue was with regard to the
allowance of credit for TDS mistakenly deducted by Mahindra and Mahindra Limited
while making the payment to the assessee amounting to Rs 25,57,500/-. The
Tribunal has examined the matter in detail and has affirmed the views taken by
the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals). The Tribunal held as under:-
5. Having heard the ld. DR and having perused the material on record, we
find that there is no error in the order of the ld. CIT(A). Undisputedly, the
assessee company earned income of Rs?4,65,00,000/- only by way of Engineering
fees. Another amount of Rs 4,65,00,000/- had been received as tooling advance.
This latter amount was to be paid to the vendors of M/s. Mahindra and Mahindra
.
.
Ltd. This payment was a reimbursement. That being so, it could not be
considered as the income of the assessee company. It was by sheer mistake that
M/s. Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd. has deducted TDS on the whole amount of Rs
9,30,00,000/-. The TDS amount was thus in excess of the assessable tax on the
payment made by M/s. Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd. to the assessee company. This
had to be refunded, as held by the Hon?ble Supreme Court in the case of ?Sandvik
India LTd. v. CIT? 280 ITR 643(SC). This position has duly been considered and
rightly so, by the ld. CIT(A) in the impugned order. If wrong tax has been
paid, it is of necessity to be returned, lest the department be charged of
unjust enrichment.
6. In view of the above, the ld. CIT(A) was right in directing the AO to
give credit of the whole of the amount of Rs 51,15,000/- of TDS against the tax
assessable in the year. The department is not justified in contending that the
income of Rs 4,65,00,000/- corresponding to the TDS with regard to which the AO
has been directed to allow credit, was not offered to tax. As noted, this
amount had been received by the assessee company as tooling advance and it was
paid to the vendors of M/s. Mahindra and Mahindra as a reimbursement. This
being so, the amount of Rs?4,65,00,000/- received by the assessee company as
tooling advance and paid as reimbursement to the vendors of M/s. Mahindra and
Mahindra cannot at all be termed as the assessee?s income.?
.
We do not find any cause to interfere with the said findings of the
Tribunal. No substantial question of law arises for our consideration.
The appeal is dismissed.
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BADAR DURREZ AHMED, J
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.
.
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SIDDHARTH MRIDUL, J
FEBRUARY 05, 2010
SR
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