Case Law Details
Muneer Enterprises Vs ACIT (ITAT Bangalore)
The Assessee is a partnership firm engaged in the business of extraction, processing and manufacturing of iron ore for sale. The assessee owns mining lease No. 2339/2151 measuring 36.42 ha classified under category B. It has been stated that the only issue that arises out of the impugned order is disallowance of 15% of sale proceeds of iron ore deducted and retained by the monitoring committee towards special purpose vehicle in respect of category B mines.
The Ld.AO observed that, these SPV were deducted pursuant to directions of Hon’ble Supreme Court (supra) by order dated 18/04/2013, wherein, it was directed that, sum so paid towards SPV charges should be exhaustively and exclusively used to undertake socio economic and infrastructure development, afforestation, soil and biodiversity conversation for ensuring inclusive growth of the area surrounding mining leases.
n careful reading of decision of Hon’ble Supreme Court dated 18/04/2013, it is clear that 15% contribution to SPV account was guarantee payment for implementing of R & R plan, which would be deducted from sale proceeds. This was one of the conditions for resuming mining operations under Categories ’B’.
In the present facts of the case, we note that 15% of sale proceeds was payable to SPV account, after it accrued to assessee, and the fact that, assessee was obliged to part with such portion of income, by virtue of directions of Hon’ble Supreme Court, as a precondition to resume mining operations under Category ‘B’. At this juncture we also emphasise that, but for the intervention by Hon’ble Supreme Court, assessee would not have contributed 15% to SPV account for implementation of reclamation and rehabilitation scheme on its own, as there was no statutory requirement to do so under relevant statutes that regulate mining activities.
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