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Rollatainers Ltd., Lower Ground Floor, Lotus Tower, New Friends Colony, Mathura Road, New Delhi. Vs. ACIT, Circle 15(1), New Delhi.
August, 07th 2015
      IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL
           DELHI BENCHES : F : NEW DELHI

  BEFORE SHRI R.S. SYAL, AM AND SHRI C.M. GARG, JM

                       ITA No.3134/Del/2010
                      Assessment Year : 2003-04


Rollatainers Ltd.,                Vs. ACIT,
Lower Ground Floor,                   Circle 15(1),
Lotus Tower,                          New Delhi.
New Friends Colony,
Mathura Road,
New Delhi.

PAN: AAACR0344K

  (Appellant)                             (Respondent)


           Assessee By        :    Shri Gaurav Jain, Advocate
           Department By      :    Shri Vikram Sahay, Sr. DR

        Date of Hearing               :   03.08.2015
        Date of Pronouncement         :   06.08.2015

                              ORDER
PER R.S. SYAL, AM:
    This appeal by the assessee arises out of the order passed by the

CIT(A) on 17.03.2010 in relation to the assessment year 2003-04.
                                                        ITA No.3134/Del/2010


2.   The first ground is against the initiation of reassessment

proceedings. Succinctly, the factual matrix of this case is that the

assessee filed its return declaring loss of Rs.12,48,92,067/-.         The

assessment was completed u/s 143(3) of the Income-tax Act, 1961

(hereinafter also called `the Act') on 24.03.2006 determining loss at

Rs.11,32,76,728/-. On the basis of audit objection regarding excess

allowance of deduction of Rs.2,45,01,117/- towards interest paid u/s 43B

of the Act, the case was reopened by means of notice u/s 148 of the Act.

The AO has reproduced the gist of audit objection on page 1 of the

assessment order by noticing that there was unpaid interest of

Rs.5,01,38,035/- which was not allowed in earlier assessment years, out

of which the assessee claimed deduction for a sum of Rs.3,61,75,597/-

u/s 43B by claiming it as discharged/paid. This amount of Rs.3.61 crore

included a sum of Rs.2.45 crore which was transferred to a wholly

owned subsidiary company. Since such interest of Rs.2.45 crore was not

actually paid, but, only transferred to a subsidiary company, the AO

reopened the assessment by noticing that the same was not allowable.

After entertaining objections from the assessee, the AO denied
                                   2
                                                           ITA No.3134/Del/2010


deduction of Rs.2.45 crore. The assessee objected to the initiation of re-

assessment proceedings before the ld. CIT(A) on certain counts but

without any success. Eventually, the assessment order was upheld on

merits as well. The assessee is now in appeal before us.

3.   We have heard the rival submissions and perused the relevant

material on record. The first issue before us through ground no. 1 is

challenge to the initiation of re-assessment proceedings. The ld. AR

assailed the initiation of re-assessment proceedings on three counts viz.,

Change of opinion; Reasons not supplied by the AO; and Audit

objection cannot lead to reassessment.       We shall deal with these

objections, one by one.

Change of opinion

4.1. The ld. AR contended that that the annual accounts of the assessee

thoroughly elaborated about the transfer of its paper board unit to M/s

RT Paper Board Ltd., and, as such, the presumption should be that the

AO did consider and apply his mind on the deductibility of interest of



                                    3
                                                           ITA No.3134/Del/2010


Rs.2.45 crore. Initiation of re-assessment proceedings on this basis, in

the opinion of the AR, amounted to change of opinion.

4.2. In order to appreciate the rival contentions, it is firstly relevant to

understand the controversy raised in this appeal on merits. The assessee

transferred one of its units with all assets and liabilities to M/s RT Paper

Board Ltd., which is its wholly owned subsidiary company. Apart from

other assets and liabilities of this unit transferred by the assessee, there

was unpaid interest amounting to Rs.5.01 crore payable to banks and

financial institutions coming from the earlier years which was not paid

and no deduction was also claimed in such earlier years. Out of this

interest payable to financial institutions amounting to Rs.5.01 crore, the

assessee claimed deduction for a sum of Rs.3.65 crore against the

income for the current year.       This sum of Rs.3.65 crore has two

components, viz., interest of Rs.1.16 crore which was waived off by the

banks/financial institutions and the remaining interest of Rs.2.45 crore

which was transferred by the assessee to M/s RT Paper Board Ltd.,

without there being any waiver. That is how, the assessee claimed


                                     4
                                                            ITA No.3134/Del/2010


deduction for a sum of Rs.3.65 crore on this count u/s 43B of the Act.

There is no dispute before us on the deductibility of interest of Rs.1.16

crore, which was waived off by the banks/financial institutions and

allowed by the AO in the original proceedings. The only controversy is

about the remaining amount of Rs.2.45 crore, which the AO allowed in

the original assessment proceedings, for which the instant reassessment

proceedings have been initiated. The case of the assessee is that transfer

of such interest to M/s RT Paper Board Ltd. amounted to discharge of

interest liability in its hands and hence is rightly deductible. On the other

hand, the Revenue is contending that this is not deductible as the transfer

of interest to another company cannot constitute payment of interest, so

as to be eligible for deduction.

4.3. Coming back to the question of change of opinion, the assessee has

canvassed a view that since the AO examined this issue during the

course of original assessment proceedings, the initiation of reassessment

proceedings on the same count amounts to change of opinion, which is

not permissible u/s 147. Now the primary question is whether the AO


                                      5
                                                          ITA No.3134/Del/2010


formed any opinion in the original assessment proceedings on the

deductibility of this interest amount. It is noticed that during the course

of original assessment proceedings, there is some discussion in the

assessment order about the `Miscellaneous balances written back.' On

page 2 of the assessment order dated 24.3.2006 passed u/s 143(3) in the

first round, there is reference to the amount of Rs.1.16 crore, being the

amount of interest waived off by the institutions. There is no discussion

whatsoever on the amount of interest of Rs.2.45 crore claimed as

deduction by way of its transfer to M/s RT Paper Board Ltd. What to

talk of discussing this issue, there is not even a whisper about the entire

issue of transfer of unpaid interest of Rs.2.45 crore to M/s RT Paper

Board Ltd., and the deductibility of this amount in terms of section 43B

of the Act. Under such circumstances, the question arises as to whether

a mere disclosure of the factual aspects of transfer of undertaking in the

annual accounts would satisfy the condition of formation of view by the

AO on the subject, so as to eclipse his power from initiating the

reassessment proceedings.      In this regard, it is relevant to note

Explanation 2 to section 147, the relevant part of which reads as under:-
                                     6
                                                                    ITA No.3134/Del/2010


   "Explanation 2.--For the purposes of this section, the following shall also be
   deemed to be cases where income chargeable to tax has escaped assessment,
   namely :--

   .......

   (c) where an assessment has been made, but--

         (i) income chargeable to tax has been underassessed ; or

        (ii) such income has been assessed at too low a rate ; or

       (iii) such income has been made the subject of excessive relief under this
             Act ; or

       (iv) excessive loss or depreciation allowance or any other allowance under
            this Act has been computed;

       .......".


4.4.    Clause (c) of Explanation 2 to section 147 clearly stipulates that

where an assessment has been made, but, income chargeable to tax has

been under-assessed or excessive allowance has been allowed, it would

be deemed to be a case where income chargeable to tax has escaped

assessment within the meaning of section 147 of the Act.                            This

Explanation clearly mandates that despite the assessment having been

originally completed, where, inter alia, some excessive deduction has

been allowed resulting into income still remaining under-assessed, it

will be deemed as a case of escapement of income. However, it is


                                             7
                                                          ITA No.3134/Del/2010


pertinent to mention that a mere fact of underassessment cannot clothe

the AO with the power to initiate reassessment. If in the original

assessment proceedings, the AO considered and examined a particular

deduction and then formed his view on its deductibility, he cannot later

on turn around to initiate reassessment proceedings on the same issue.

The crux of the matter is that reassessment is impermissible on change

of opinion even in the light of the above Explanation to section 147.

However, the significant thing is that in order to bring a case within the

four corners of `change of opinion,' it is foremost important that there

should be some material to indicate that the AO applied his mind on the

deductibility of any item of expense and then formed opinion about

deduction. Unless some material is brought on record to demonstrate

the formation of opinion, the assessee cannot argue in the reassessment

proceedings that it is a case of initiation of reassessment on change of

opinion.   The Hon'ble Supreme Court in ACIT vs. Rajesh Jhaveri Stock

Brokers (2007) 291 ITR 500 (SC) has held that unless the formation of

opinion is shown, there can be no question of arguing about the change

of opinion. Similar view has been reiterated by the Hon'ble Supreme
                                    8
                                                         ITA No.3134/Del/2010


Court in the case of DCIT vs. Zuari Asset Development and Investment

Company Ltd., (2015) 373 ITR 661 (SC). The Full Bench of the Hon'ble

Delhi High Court in CIT vs. Usha International Ltd., (2012) 348 ITR

485 (Del) has also held that there is no scope for arguing about the

change of opinion when no opinion has been formed. It has been laid

down by Their Lordships that : `The expression "change of opinion"

postulates formation of opinion and then a change thereof. In the context

of Section 147 of the Act it implies that the Assessing Officer should

have formed an opinion at the first instance, i.e., in the proceedings

under Section 143(3) and now by initiation of the reassessment

proceeding, the Assessing Officer proposes or wants to take a different

view. ..... The word "opinion" as per the Blacks Law Dictionary means a

statement by a Judge or a court of a decision reached by him

incorporating cause tried or argued before them, expounding the law as

applied to the case and, detailing the reasons upon which the judgment is

based. In the context of assessment proceedings, it means formation of

belief by an Assessing Officer resulting from what he thinks on a

particular question. It is a result of understanding, experience and
                                    9
                                                          ITA No.3134/Del/2010


reflection to use the words in Law Lexicon by P. Ramanatha Aiyar.

Question of change of opinion arises when an Assessing Officer forms

an opinion and decides not to make an addition or holds that the

assessee is correct and accepts his position or stand. Though the

Hon'ble Apex Court judgments have been rendered in the context of

intimation u/s 143(1)(a), vis-à-vis formation of opinion, the same logic

applies when the assessment is completed u/s 143(3) of the Act without

any application of mind by the AO on a particular aspect of the matter

which is sought to be reopened by way of notice u/s 148, as has been the

position in the case of Usha International (supra). The nitty gritty of the

matter is that the argument about the change of opinion can be

entertained only when it is shown that the AO in the first instance

formed his opinion on the point. Unless the formation of opinion is

discernible from the assessment order or the other connected records of

assessment, the assessee cannot contend that the opinion was formed by

the AO on a point which is sought to be reopened u/s 148 of the Act.




                                    10
                                                          ITA No.3134/Del/2010


4.5.   Adverting to the facts of the instant case, we find that there is no

discussion worth the name in the original assessment order about the

deductibility of interest of Rs.2.45 crore out of unpaid interest which

was transferred to a wholly owned subsidiary company u/s 43B of the

Act. In our considered opinion, it is farfetched to argue that the AO

formed opinion on this issue during the course of original assessment

proceedings and, hence, his hands are tied for initiating re-assessment

proceedings. Since the AO did not form any opinion on the deductibility

of such interest in the original assessment proceedings, the contention of

the ld. AR about the change of opinion falls flat on the ground. The

same is ergo repelled.

Reasons not supplied by the AO

5.1. The ld. AR contended that the AO did not supply reasons for

initiation of re-assessment proceedings and, as such, the reassessment

order be declared a nullity. To buttress this contention, the ld. AR

relied on the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of




                                    11
                                                          ITA No.3134/Del/2010


GKN Driveshafts (India) Ltd. Vs. ITO and Ors. (2003) 259 ITR 90 (SC).

The ld. DR strongly opposed this contention.

5.2. After considering the rival submissions and perusing the relevant

material on record, we find that it is, no doubt, true that the Hon'ble

Supreme Court in the case of GKN Driveshaft (India) Ltd. (supra) has

held that the AO is obliged to supply reasons to the assessee before

taking up the reassessment proceedings. The logic behind this exercise

is to give an opportunity to the assessee to raise objections before the

AO against the initiation of reassessment proceedings.        When such

objections are raised, it become obligatory on the part of the AO to

firstly deal with and pass an order on the objections raised by the

assessee against the initiation of re-assessment proceedings.          Only

thereafter, he can proceed to take the reassessment on merits. If no

reasons are demanded by the assessee during the course of re-assessment

proceedings, then, there is no obligation nor there can be such obligation

on the part of the AO to supply the reasons. Adverting to the facts of the

instant case, we find that there is no reference whatsoever in the


                                    12
                                                        ITA No.3134/Del/2010


assessment order about the assessee seeking a copy of reasons for

reassessment. In fact, a gist of the audit objection, which formed the

bedrock for the initiation of reassessment, has been reproduced in the

assessment order itself. Further, no such issue was taken up by the

assessee before the ld. CIT(A) that despite the assessee's request for

supply of reasons leading to initiation of reassessment proceedings, the

AO did not supply such reasons and framed the assessment u/s 147. No

such ground was taken by the assessee in the Memorandum of Appeal

filed before the ld. CIT(A).

5.3.      Be that as it may, we find that the extant factual position is

somewhat contrary to what has been sought to be argued before us.

Page 13 of the impugned order indicates that the assessee in its written

submissions dated 30.10.09 has referred to the `reasons' recorded by the

AO for reopening of the assessment which were submitted before the ld.

CIT(A) and reproduced on the same page. Thereafter, there is a mention

about the `copy of reasons' claimed by the assessee to have been

recorded by the AO for initiating the reassessment proceedings. The


                                   13
                                                          ITA No.3134/Del/2010







assessee filed a scanned copy of such reasons, which has been

reproduced on page 14 of the impugned order. On perusal of such `copy

of reasons' furnished by the assessee, the ld. CIT(A) found that the said

`scanned copy of the reasons' purportedly recorded by the AO did not

contain any date or name and designation of the AO and his signature.

To verify the matter further, the ld. CIT(A) called for the assessment

record. On verification, it was found that the so called `copy of the

reasons' furnished by the ld. AR as part of the paper book before him

did not form part of the assessment record. The actual reasons recorded

by the AO on 31.8.2007 found in the assessment folder were found to be

in variance with the scanned copy of the reasons furnished by the

assessee. The ld. CIT(A) then reproduced a scanned copy of the actual

reasons recorded by the AO on page 15 of his order.            The above

sequence of events amply demonstrates that the assessee attempted to

distort the actual reasons with the ulterior motive of playing foul with

the CIT(A). This completely belies the contention of the ld. AR that the

assessee was not supplied with the reasons. Leaving this issue at this

stage only, it suffices to say that the assessee was promptly supplied the
                                    14
                                                          ITA No.3134/Del/2010


reasons leading to the initiation of reassessment proceedings.          This

contention is, therefore, rejected.

Audit objection cannot lead to reassessment

6.1. The ld. AR submitted that the AO initiated reassessment

proceedings simply on the basis of audit objection, which is not

permissible under the law. He relied on certain judgments including that

of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Indian and Eastern Newspaper Society

vs. CIT (1979)119 ITR 996 (SC) to claim that initiation of re-

assessment proceedings on the basis of internal audit report, was not

sustainable. On the contrary, the ld. DR relied on the judgment of the

Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of CIT vs. PVS Beedis Pvt. Ltd.

(1999) 237 ITR 13 (SC) in which the initiation of re-assessment

proceedings on the basis of audit objection has been held to be valid.


6.2. We have heard the rival submissions on the point in the light of the

judgments relied on by both the sides. In view of the above referred

judgments of the Hon'ble Summit Court on the point, we need to

examine as to whether the assessee's case falls within the ratio laid down
                                      15
                                                          ITA No.3134/Del/2010


in PVS Beedis Pvt. Ltd. (supra) or in Indian and Eastern Newspapers

Society (supra) and further CIT vs. Lucas T.V.S. Ltd. (1998) 249 ITR

306 (SC)


6.3. In the case of Indian and Eastern Newspapers Society (supra), the

assessee received some amount on account of occupation of its

conference hall and rooms which was assessed by the AO as 'Business

income.' The audit party of the Department formed an opinion that the

amount should have been taxed under the head 'Income from house

property.' It was in this backdrop of the facts that the Hon'ble Supreme

Court held that the opinion of the internal audit party on a point of law

cannot be a ground for initiation of re-assessment proceedings. Similar is

the position in the case of Lucas TVS Ltd. (supra). In that case, the

original assessment was completed by allowing deduction for a sum of

Rs.6,37,003/- u/s 37(2) of the Act. The audit party pointed out that only

a sum of Rs.2,95,131/- was incurred during the year and the balance

amount related to earlier years and hence could not be allowed. The AO

in the assessment made u/s 147, restricted the claim of deduction to


                                    16
                                                            ITA No.3134/Del/2010


Rs.2,95,135/-. It is on the basis of such facts that the Hon'ble Supreme

Court held that the opinion of the audit party on a question of law, could

not constitute an information justifying the initiation of re-assessment

proceedings. In the case of PVS Beedis Pvt. Ltd. (supra), the original

assessment was completed allowing deduction u/s 80G. The audit party

observed that the payment made to the trust, for which deduction was

allowed, was not a recognized charitable trust as its recognition had

expired and, hence, no deduction should be allowed u/s 80G. The

Hon'ble Apex Court upheld the initiation of re-assessment proceedings

on the basis of factual error pointed out by internal audit party.


6.4. The logic in not sustaining the initiation of reassessment on the

basis of interpretation of law by the audit party is that the internal

auditor cannot be allowed to perform functions of judicial supervision

over the Income-tax authorities by suggesting to the Assessing Officer

about how a provision should be interpreted and whether the

interpretation so given by the AO to a particular provision of the Act is

right or wrong. An interpretation to a provision given by the internal


                                     17
                                                           ITA No.3134/Del/2010


audit party cannot be construed as a declaration of law binding on the

AO. When an internal audit party objects to the interpretation given by

the AO to a provision and proposes substitution of such interpretation

with the one it feels right, it crosses its jurisdiction and enters into the

realm of judicial supervision, which it is not authorized to do. In such

circumstances, the initiation of reassessment, based on the substituted

interpretation of a provision by the internal audit party, cannot be

sustained. It has been categorically held by the Hon'ble Supreme Court

in Indian & Eastern Newspaper Society (supra) that the internal audit

party of the IT Department 'performs essentially administrative or

executive functions and cannot be attributed the powers of judicial

supervision over the quasi-judicial acts of IT authorities. The IT Act

does not contemplate such power in any internal audit organisation of

the IT Department .... The statute supports the conclusion that an audit

party can't pronounce on the law, and that such pronouncement does not

amount to "information" within the meaning of s. 147(b) of the IT Act,

1961'. Having made the above observations in para 6 of its judgment,

the Hon'ble Summit Court then made an exception in the same para to
                                     18
                                                         ITA No.3134/Del/2010


the effect that : `But although an audit party does not possess the power

to so pronounce on the law, it nevertheless may draw the attention of the

ITO to it. Law is one thing, and its communication another. If the

distinction between the source of the law and the communicator of the

law is carefully maintained, the confusion which often results in

applying s. 147(b) may be avoided. While the law may be enacted or laid

down only by a person or body with authority in that behalf, the

knowledge or awareness of the law may be communicated by anyone.

No authority is required for the purpose'. When we read the judgment in

Indian & Eastern Newspaper Society (supra) in entirety, what unfolds is

that albeit the audit party is not entitled to judicially interpret a

provision, but at the same time, it can communicate the law to the AO,

which he omitted to consider. This position has been aptly explained in

CIT vs. First Leasing Co. of India Ltd. (2000) 241 ITR 248 (Mad) by

holding that : `The Supreme Court in Indian and Eastern (supra), has

made a distinction between the interpretation of the law and bringing to

the attention of the ITO the relevant provision of law and if the audit

party interpreted the law, then the report by the audit party cannot be
                                   19
                                                          ITA No.3134/Del/2010


regarded as "information" for the purpose of reopening an assessment

under s. 147(b) of the Act. However, if the audit party has merely drawn

the attention of the ITO to the existence of the law, the opinion of the

audit party would be regarded as information and the Supreme Court

has made a distinction between the communication of law and

interpretation of law.' That is how, the Hon'ble Madras High Court held

that the audit report should be regarded as a communication of law and

there is no interpretation of law involved in the matter. The tribunal

order, holding that the audit party had interpreted the relevant provisions

relating to the granting of extra depreciation allowance and thus the AO

had no jurisdiction under s. 147(b) of the Act to reopen the assessment,

was set aside.


6.5.   It is discernible from a close look at the above three judgments

rendered by the Hon'ble Apex Court that where the audit party interprets

the provision of law in a manner contrary to what the AO had done, it

does not lay down a valid foundation for the initiation of re-assessment

proceedings. If however, the audit party does not offer its own


                                    20
                                                           ITA No.3134/Del/2010


interpretation to the provisions and simply communicates the existence

of law to the AO or any other factual inaccuracy, then the initiation of

reassessment proceedings on such basis cannot be faulted with. It can be

seen that in the case of Indian and Eastern Newspapers Society (supra),

the otherwise taxability of receipt from occupation of conference hall

and rooms was not disputed. Whereas the AO held such amount to be

taxable as 'Business income', the audit party held it to be taxable as

'Income from house property.' It was this adoption of a different

interpretation by the internal audit party to the existing factual position,

which was not approved by the Hon'ble Supreme Court as a good

ground to initiate a valid re-assessment. Similarly, in the case of Lucas

TVS Ltd. (supra), the AO allowed deduction u/s 35(2) for the amounts

spent in this year as well as the earlier years and the internal audit party

opined that only the amount spent during the year was allowable as

deduction u/s 35(2). It is obvious that in both these cases, the AO's

opinion on the interpretation of the relevant provision was overruled by

the internal audit party. In contrast, in the case of PVS Beedis Pvt. Ltd.

(supra), the assessee claimed deduction u/s 80G and the internal audit
                                     21
                                                                 ITA No.3134/Del/2010


party pointed out that such deduction was not permissible because the

registration of the trust to which contribution was made, had already

expired. It is manifest that in the case of PVS Beedis Pvt. Ltd. (supra),

the audit party did not interpret section 80G in a different manner, but,

simply drew the attention of the AO to the existence of law. The Hon'ble

Supreme Court in Indian and Eastern Newspapers Society (supra)

having held that the interpretation of the internal audit party on a point

of law does not constitute 'information' u/s 147, drew a line of

distinction   between   the   cases        of   interpretation    of    law     and

communication of existence of law. If the audit party merely draws the

attention of the AO to the existence of law, the opinion of the audit party

can be regarded as 'information' leading to a valid initiation of

reassessment. In a nutshell, whereas the initiation of re-assessment

proceedings on the basis of an interpretation to the provisions of law by

the audit party is forbidden, the communication of law or the factual

inconsistencies by the internal audit party, do not operate as a hindrance

in the initiation of re-assessment proceedings.



                                      22
                                                          ITA No.3134/Del/2010


6.6. Now, let us examine whether the facts of instant case fall on this

side or that side of the dividing line. At this juncture, it is relevant to

note the gist of audit objection which has been reproduced on page 1 of

the assessment order, as under:-


      "The assessment of M/s Rollatainers Ltd. for the assessment
      year 2003-04 was completed u/s 143(3) in March 2006
      determining at a loss of Rs.11,32,76,728.        Audit scrutiny
      revealed that the assessee had claimed a deduction of
      Rs.361,75,597/- u/s 43B on account of interest paid or set off
      during previous year out of unpaid interest of Rs.5,01,38,035
      which was not allowed in the assessment year of any
      preceding previous year. The interest of Rs.2,45,01,117/-
      was transferred to a wholly owned subsidiary company. As
      the interest of Rs.2,45,01,117 was not actually paid but only
      transferred to a subsidiary company, it should have been
      disallowed. The omission resulted in over assessment of loss
      of Rs.2,45,01,117/- involving potential tax effect of
      Rs.90,01,60/-. "

6.7. A close look at the above audit objection divulges that the

audit party simply suggested that the interest of Rs.2.54 crore was


                                    23
                                                             ITA No.3134/Del/2010


not actually paid, but, only transferred to a subsidiary company and

the same should have been disallowed and this omission on the part

of the AO resulted in over assessment of loss of Rs.2.45 crore. This

shows that the AO was simply informed about the fact which had

escaped his attention during the course of assessment proceedings to

the effect that a sum of Rs.2.45 crore was not allowable u/s 43B of

the Act which is nothing, but, a communication of law to the AO.

We are not confronted with a situation in which the AO, after due

consideration of the matter in the original assessment proceedings

interpreted section 43B as allowing deduction for a sum of Rs.2.45

crore in respect of interest not paid to the financial institutions, but,

transferred to the assessee's wholly owned subsidiary company, but,

the audit party interpreted this provision in a different manner from

the way in which it was interpreted by the AO and then suggested

that the amount ought to have been charged to tax. The instant case

is fully covered by the ratio of the judgment in the case of PVS

Beedis Pvt. Ltd. (supra) read with the exception carved out by the

Hon'ble Supreme Court in Indian & Eastern Newspapers Society
                                     24
                                                           ITA No.3134/Del/2010







(supra) drawing a line of distinction between communication of law

and interpretation of law. The argument of the ld. AR on this issue,

being devoid of any merit, is hereby jettisoned. It is, therefore, held

that the audit objection in the instant case constituted an

`information' about the escapement of income to the AO, thereby

justifying the initiation of reassessment.


7.   Ground no. 2 is on the merits of sustenance of addition. The ld.

AR argued that when the assessee transferred all the assets and liabilities

of its paper board unit to M/s RT Paper Board Ltd., and the liabilities

also included interest payable to financial institutions at Rs.2.45 crore,

such transfer of interest liability should be considered as discharge of the

interest obligation.   He relied on certain decisions to contend that

effective discharge of liability be construed as payment u/s 43B of the

Act. He mainly relied on the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in

the case of W.T. Suren & Company Ltd. vs. CIT (1998) 230 ITR 643

(SC) and other decisions to buttress his contention that the transfer of

interest to M/s RT Paper Board Ltd., is nothing, but, an effective


                                     25
                                                                  ITA No.3134/Del/2010


discharge of the interest obligation and, hence, the amount is allowable

u/s 43B of the Act. Au contraire, the ld. DR strongly relied on the

impugned order on this score.

8.     In order to appreciate the controversy in the right perspective, it

would be fruitful to consider the mandate of the relevant part of section

43B, which is as under :-


      "43B. Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provision of
      this Act, a deduction otherwise allowable under this Act in respect of--

     .....

      (d) any sum payable by the assessee as interest on any loan or
     borrowing from any public financial institution or a State financial
     corporation or a State industrial investment corporation], in accordance
     with the terms and conditions of the agreement governing such loan or
     borrowing, or

     (e) any sum payable by the assessee as interest on any loan or advances
     from a scheduled bank in accordance with the terms and conditions of
     the agreement governing such loan or advances, or

     ......

     shall be allowed (irrespective of the previous year in which the liability
     to pay such sum was incurred by the assessee according to the method of
     accounting regularly employed by him) only in computing the income
     referred to in section 28 of that previous year in which such sum is
     actually paid by him :

     ................".


                                        26
                                                           ITA No.3134/Del/2010


9.   A bare perusal of clauses (d) & (e) of section 43B divulges that a

deduction for any sum payable by the assessee as interest on any loan or

borrowing from any public financial institutions or scheduled banks etc.,

is allowable as deduction in computing the income referred to in section

28 only of that previous year in which such sum is actually paid by him.

This mandate of allowing deduction in the year in which such interest is

actually paid by the assessee irrespective of the year in which liability to

pay such interest was incurred. We are accentuating on the expression

`actually paid' from the prescription of section 43B,        which leaves

nothing to doubt that the deduction on account of interest to scheduled

banks and financial institutions, etc., can be allowed only in the year in

which it is actually paid. The term `actually paid' is to be seen in

contradistinction to the term `constructive payment', which has been

coined by the ld. AR in the context of this provision.          We fail to

appreciate any logic in substituting actual payment with the so-called

constructive delivery, when the legislature has provided in unambiguous

terms that interest must be actually paid. By no stretch of imagination

the actual payment of interest can be equated with the so-called
                                     27
                                                          ITA No.3134/Del/2010


constructive payment of interest. Further, we are unable to comprehend

as to how the transfer of interest to the transferee company, at all,

amounts to constructive payment in the instant case. The assessee has

simply transferred all its assets and liabilities to its wholly owned

subsidiary company and one of the liabilities is interest payable. Now, it

is the obligation of the transferee company to discharge the interest

liability to this extent by making payment to banks/financial institutions.

Simply transferring interest liability by the assessee to its subsidiary

company can, under no circumstances, be considered as a substitute of

actual payment of interest. If we interpret the provisions of section 43B

in the manner as suggested by the ld. AR, then, every transfer of liability

by the assessee to another person would amount to discharge of liability

making the assessee eligible for deduction, thereby throwing to winds

the very concept of actual payment, which is the essence of section 43B.

In normal circumstances, the actual payment can be made by payment

of money or by some other consideration. The crux of the matter is that

after such discharge of liability, the amount of interest receivable by the

banks or financial institutions etc. should get obliterated as an item of
                                    28
                                                              ITA No.3134/Del/2010


asset from their books. Transfer of liability by the assessee to its wholly

owned subsidiary company, to whom this paper board unit was

transferred, simply means transfer of liability from one assessee to

another and not the discharge of this liability to the banks/financial

institutions. It is so for the reason that the amount of such interest is still

receivable by such banks and financial institutions etc. and there is no

erosion of asset of `Interest receivable' from their books of account.

10.    The judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of W.T.

Suren (supra) has no significance inasmuch as the issue in that case was

about the deductibility or otherwise of gratuity of certain employees

deductible u/s 37(1) of the Act. Section 37(1), unlike section 43B, does

not contain any stipulation of actual payment as a condition precedent

for allowing deduction. We are concerned with a case in which section

43B is under consideration and the deduction can be allowed only when

the amount is `actually paid' to the banks/financial institutions. In our

considered opinion, this judgment is of no assistance to the assessee.




                                      29
                                                                 ITA No.3134/Del/2010


 11. It is further noticed that the legislature has put the position beyond

any shadow of doubt by inserting Explanations 3C and 3D by the

Finance Act, 2006 with retrospective effect covering the assessment year

under consideration, which read as under : -


     " Explanation 3C.--For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared
     that a deduction of any sum, being interest payable under clause (d) of
     this section, shall be allowed if such interest has been actually paid and
     any interest referred to in that clause which has been converted into a
     loan or borrowing shall not be deemed to have been actually paid.

     Explanation 3D.--For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that
     a deduction of any sum, being interest payable under clause (e) of this
     section, shall be allowed if such interest has been actually paid and any
     interest referred to in that clause which has been converted into a loan
     or advance shall not be deemed to have been actually paid."


12. Two things are palpable from the prescription of Explanations 3C

and 3D. First is that the interest payable to banks and other financial

institutions can be allowed as deduction only `if such interest has been

actually paid' and second is that where such interest `has been converted

into loan or borrowing/advance, (it) shall not be deemed to have been

actually paid.' In the light of the main provisions of section 43B read

with Explanations 3C and 3D, it is crystal clear that deduction of interest

u/s 43B cannot be allowed in the present case because such interest has
                                        30
                                                             ITA No.3134/Del/2010


not been actually paid by the assessee to the banks/financial institutions.

This ground is not allowed.

13.       In the result, the appeal is dismissed.

          The order pronounced in the open court on 06.08.2015.

               Sd/-                                         Sd/-

    [C.M. GARG]                                         [R.S. SYAL]
 JUDICIAL MEMBER                                    ACCOUNTANT MEMBER


Dated, 06th August, 2015.
dk
Copy forwarded to:
     1.   Appellant
     2.   Respondent
     3.   CIT
     4.   CIT (A)
     5.   DR, ITAT

                                                     AR, ITAT, NEW DELHI.




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