IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
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ITA 1283/2011
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CIT ..... Appellant
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Through Mr. Deepak Chopra, Sr. Standing Counsel.
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versus
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CREATIVE TRAVEL PVT LTD ..... Respondent
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Through
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CORAM:
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HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJIV KHANNA
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HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R.V.EASWAR
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O R D E R
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15.12.2011
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The present appeal filed by the Revenue under Section 260A of the
Income Tax Act, 1961 (Act, for short) relates to the assessment year
2006-07 and impugns the order dated 30th May, 2011 passed by the Income
Tax Appellate Tribunal (for short, the tribunal) in the case of Creative
Travel Pvt. Ltd.
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2. The Assessing Officer disallowed Rs.77,37,965/- paid as commission
and bonus to the directors on the ground that there was non-compliance
and violation of the provisions of Section 36(1)(ii) of the Act. It was
held that in the instant case the respondent company was avoiding payment
of dividend distribution tax @ 13.5% under Section 115O of the Act.
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3. The aforesaid addition was affirmed by the Commissioner of Income
Tax (Appeals), but which as noticed above, has been deleted by the
tribunal.
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4. During the period relevant to the assessment year, the respondent
declared income of Rs.1,85,42,920/- in the return filed on 27th November,
2006. The respondent company had earned profit of Rs.1,98,98,286/-.
Dividend of Rs.20,00,000/- was proposed and was distributed/paid to the
shareholders. The total paid-up capital of the company was Rs.20,00,000/-
and, therefore, 100% dividend was declared. The Managing Director and the
two Directors of the respondent company were paid bonus and commission of
Rs.77,37,965/-. The aforesaid amount as per the provisions of the Act was
treated as salary paid and TDS was deducted. As per the findings recorded
by the tribunal, the said Directors have paid tax in the highest tax
bracket. The tribunal has rightly noticed that dividend has to be paid to
all shareholders equally as per the provisions of the Companies Act,
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1956. The said position cannot be disputed by the Revenue. The respondent company is a closely held company and it is accepted that all
shareholders are not directors in the respondent company. It may be also
noted that the directors in question, were working directors and had
contributed to the earnings/profit earned by the company respondent. A
non-working director or a mere shareholder does not contribute and put in
efforts or labour towards earning of profits. A shareholder merely makes
an investment and contributes to the share capital. It is not the number
of shareholders, but the principle which matters.
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5. The tribunal has further recorded that the respondent company has
been paying commission/bonus to the directors for last 30 years. It is
submitted by the Revenue that with regard to the assessment years 2002-
03, 2005-06 and 2007-08, the Revenue had raised objections and disallowed
commission/bonus payments made. The tribunal has decided the issue in
favour of the assessee in the aforesaid assessment years. The Revenue
preferred an appeal before the High Court for the assessment year 2005-06
in ITA No.1672/2010, which has been dismissed by this Court.
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6. In view of the aforesaid facts, we do not find any merit in the
present appeal and the same is dismissed without any order as to costs.
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SANJIV KHANNA, J.
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R.V.EASWAR, J.
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DECEMBER 15, 2011
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NA
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$ 61 and 62
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