IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
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ITA 635/2012, C.M. APPL. 19048/2012
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CIT ..... Appellant
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Through : Ms. Suruchi Aggarwal, Sr. Standing Counsel.
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versus
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OGAAN PUBLICATION PVT LTD ..... Respondent
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Through : Nemo.
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CORAM:
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HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S. RAVINDRA BHAT
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HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R.V.EASWAR
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O R D E R
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09.11.2012
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The Revenue claims to be aggrieved by the order of the Income Tax
Appellate Tribunal dated 30.03.2012 rejecting its appeal in ITA
5050/Del/2011. It contends and seeks to urge that the question of law
arising in this case is whether the lower appellate authorities fell into
error in holding that the amount of Rs.1,84,36,982/- paid by the assessee
to advertisement agencies did not attract provisions of Section 194H. The
brief facts are that the said amount (Rs.1.84 crores) was added back to
the income under Section 40(a)(ia). The revenue held that the assessee
was liable for deduction of tax on these payment under Section 190H and
since there was a failure to deduct the tax, the amount was directed to
be disallowed under Section 40(a)(ia).
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The Appellate Commissioner deleted this direction by the AO
noticing that in respect of previous assessment years 2006-07, 2007-08,
the assessee?s contentions had been accepted. Apparently, the matter had
travelled even upto the Tribunal in respect of those assessment years. In
that order dated 31.05.2011, the Tribunal inter alia held as follows:
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?35. The perusal of both the above mentioned transactions will reveal
that assessee is giving discount with respect to volume as well as agency
commission irrespective of the fact that whether the advertisement is
booked by the advertiser itself or through advertising agency. The
assessee did not collect gross amount and from gross amount itself
straightway deduction has been granted to the person who has booked the
advertisement on account of volume discount as well as agency commission.
It may be seen that in the case of Moon River (M.G. Inds.) the
advertisement has not been booked by advertising agency even then amount
of Rs.11,250/- has been reduced on account of agency commission.
Therefore, it will clearly demonstrate that assessee is concerned only
with the amount to be realized finally which is the same in both type of
transactions. Therefore, the nature of amount agency commission is only a
discount though it has been described as ?agency commission.? Both the
transactions are on principal to principal basis. The case law relied
upon by the assessee before CT(A) and before us supports the case of the
assessee. Therefore, we are of the opinion that ld. CIT(A) is right in
holding that disallowance could not be made as assessee was not under an
obligation to deduct tax u/s 194H. We decline to interfere. This ground
of the revenue for both the years is dismissed.?
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It is also noticed that the order of the Tribunal had been carried
in appeal to this Court in ITA 182/2012 which was rejected. The Court
held as follows:
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?4. Before us the copy of the agreement between the respondent-assessee
and the advertising concerns has not been placed. It is not shown and
stated how and on what basis it is stated that the finding recorded by
the Tribunal that the transactions were between principal and principal
is not correct and the contention that the transactions were between a
principal and an agent is urged. The advertising concern had purchased
the space in the publication and had sold the same to third parties. The
factual finding recorded by the Tribunal is that amount treated and given
nomenclature of commission was a discount and what was received by the
assessee was the net amount. The description/deduction given in the bill
was in fact and de facto not commission. In the case of Director Prasar
Bharti (supra), the finding of the High Court was that the transactions
were between a principal and an agent and the Court had referred to the
agreement entered into by the Doordarshan and its agencies. The Kerala
High Court in the said case, distinguished Ahmedabad Stamp Venders
Association v. UOI (2002) 257 ITR 202 (Guj) and M.S. Hameed v. Director
of State Lotteries (2001) 249 ITR 186 (Ker) on the ground that they
related to discounted prices.?
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This Court sees no reason to differ with the view taken in ITA
181/2012 and 182/2012 (CIT v. Ogaan Publication Pvt. Ltd., decided on
16.03.2012).
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No question of law arises for consideration; the appeal and pending
application are consequently dismissed.
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S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J
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R.V.EASWAR, J
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NOVEMBER 09, 2012
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?ajk?
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$ 30
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