IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
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ITA 1291/2011
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CIT ..... Appellant
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Through Mr. Kamal Sawhney, sr. standing counsel with Mr. Amit
Shrivastava, Adv.
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versus
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INDIAN FARMER FERTILIZER COOPERATIVE.. 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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22.12.2011
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The Revenue has preferred this appeal, which relates of assessment
year 2006-07, under Section 260A of Income Tax Act, 1961 on two grounds :
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(1) Disallowance of Rs.13,03,74,047/- under Section 43B of the Act.
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(2) Disallowance of Rs.3,40,99,000/- towards contribution to the
Cooperative Education Fund.
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2. Regarding the first ground the Tribunal has recorded its findings
in para 5 of the impugned order dated 31/5/2011, which is as under :
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?We have heard both the parties. The assessee is a multi state
cooperative Society having its sales office spread all over India and its
accounts are decentralized. The tax audit report in form 3CD is compiled
on the basis of tax audit reports received from various branch auditors
in form 3CD. On identical issue, for assessment year 2004-05, the AO
disallowed the payment u/s 43B, but the same was allowed by the CIT(A) on
the ground that the dates of deposits have been verified and certified by
the tax auditors of the assessee and the certificate of tax auditors was
already available with the A.O. The ITAT vide order dated 16.1.2009
upheld the order of CIT(A). We have gone through the order for
assessment year 2004-05 in I.T.A. No.244/Del./08 dated 16.1.2009 in
assessee?s own case. ITAT, Delhi bench ?D? has allowed the issue in
favour of the assessee by holding that the payments have been made before
the due date for filing of return of income. The CIT(A) was justified in
deleting the addition. From the tax audit report, we also find that
amount of Rs.13,03,74,047/- has been shown as paid on or before due date
for furnishing return of income for the previous year u/s 139(1) of the
Act. Form 3CD has been prepared and signed by Rajnish and Associates, CA.
The accounts of the assessee have been audited by statutory auditors.
The assessee had filed the details of payment of Rs.13,03,74,047/-. The
assessee is entitled for deduction u/s 43B of the Act in respect of
amount of Rs.13,03,74,047/-. Accordingly, we do not find any infirmity
in the order passed by the CIT(A) deleting the addition made u/s 43B of
the Act.?
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3. It is clear from the aforesaid facts that payments of statutory
dues and payments covered by 43B were specifically examined by both the
CIT(A) and ITAT and these details were furnished. They were satisfied
with the details and the factum that the payments were made before the
due date of filing of the return of income. Ld. counsel for the
appellant is not able to point out on what account the order passed by
the Tribunal is factually incorrect or perverse. We do not find see any
reason, therefore, to entertain the present appeal on the first ground.
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4. With regard to the second ground, the Tribunal has referred to
Section 63 of Multi State Cooperative Society Act read with Rule 25 of
Multi State Coop. Society Rules, 2002. It is not disputed that the
respondent assessee is a cooperative society governed by the said Act and
the Rule is applicable. In terms of the statutory provisions it is
mandatory and a statutory requirement that the respondent cooperative
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society has to credit a sum calculated at the rate of 1% of net profits every year as contribution to the Cooperative Education Fund maintained
by the National Cooperative Union of India, New Delhi. The aforesaid
contribution has been imposed by the statute itself. We fail to
understand why statutory payment to the aforesaid fund cannot be allowed
as a deduction and is not an expense. Earlier for the assessment years
1991-92 and 1992-93 the matter had come up to the Delhi High Court on the
question whether the said contribution was a cess, tax, duty or fee and
therefore, Section 43B of the Act was applicable. It is not disputed in
the present case that aforesaid payment to the cess has been made. In
earlier years the payment was not disallowed on the ground that it is not
an expense under Section 37 of the Act or mere application of income. On
the second ground, we do not see any reason to interfere. The appeal is
accordingly dismissed.
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SANJIV KHANNA,J
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R.V.EASWAR, J
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DECEMBER 22, 2011
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vld
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$ 8
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