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Case Law Details

Case Name : CIT Vs Sonic Biochem Extractions Pvt. Ltd (Bombay High Court)
Appeal Number : Income Tax Appeal no. 2088 of 2013
Date of Judgement/Order : 17/11/2015
Related Assessment Year :

 CIT vs. Sonic Biochem Extractions Pvt. Ltd (Bombay High Court) 

The respondent assessee had claimed depreciation in respect of its  machinery valued at Rs.16.96 lacs  which was  used in its  business  of refining edible oil.  The machinery had not been used during the assessment year as the respondent has discontinued its business of refining edible oil. The above depreciation was claimed on the block of assets on the written down  value  including  the  refining  edible  oil  machinery.    The  Assessing Officer disallowed the claim of depreciation on the ground that one of the twin requirements of ownership and user under Section 32(1)(ii) of the Act viz. user was not satisfied.

On appeal the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) held that in the absence of the Machinery being put to use and the  business of Refining edible   oil   having   been   discontinued,   the   respondent   is   not   entitled   to depreciation.

On further appeal to the Tribunal the impugned order held that the refining machinery was a part of the block of assets of plant and machinery. In such a case depreciation is granted to the entire block of assets whether or not an individual item therein has been used during the subject assessment year.

Mrs. Bharucha, learned Counsel for the revenue fairly states that the issue arising herein is identical to the issue which arose before the Tribunal in Boskalis Dredging India (supra) where also the dredger concerned was a part of the block of assets and not put to use.  On instructions, she further states that the Revenue has accepted the decision of the Tribunal in DCIT   Vs. Boskalis Dredging India (P) Ltd. 53 SOT 17 (Mum) which the impugned order has merely followed.  No distinguishing feature in the present facts has been pointed out which would warrant taking a different view.  Besides the Tribunal in its order in Boskalis Dredging  India  (supra)  placed  reliance  upon  the  decision  of  this  Court rendered in an appeal filed by the Revenue in  G. R. Shipping Ltd. being Income Tax Appeal No. 598 of 2009 which was dismissed on 20.07.2008 upholding the view of the Tribunal on identical issue.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION

INCOME TAX APPEAL NO. 2088 OF 2013

Commissioner of Income Tax­

Vs.

M/s. Sonic Biochem Extractions Pvt. Ltd.

Mrs. S. V. Bharucha for the Appellant.

Mr. K. Shivram, Sr. Counsel a/w. Mr. Rahul Hakani for the Respondent.

CORAM  :  M.S.SANKLECHA &   G.S. KULKARNI, JJ.

DATE     :  17th  NOVEMBER, 2015.

P.C.
1. This appeal by the Revenue under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (Act) challenges the order dated 20.03.2013 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (Tribunal).  The impugned order relates to the Assessment Year 2005­06.

2. The appellant has raised the following questions of law for our consideration:

(a) “Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case the Tribunal is justified in holding that the assessee is eligible to claim depreciation in  respect  of  plant  &  machinery  of  discontinued  business  without appreciating the fact that the basic condition for claiming depreciation u/s. 32 of the Act is the “use of asset” for business purpose of the assessee?

(b) Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case the Tribunal was   correct   in   holding   the   plant   and   machinery   of   discontinued business, which is not likely to be revived, in a block of asset with written down value is eligible for claim of depreciation?

(c) Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case the Tribunal is justified in setting aside the issue of assessee’s claim of “loss due to fire” to the file of the Assessing Officer without properly appreciating the fact that the loss is attributable to the fixed asset?”

(d) Whether on the facts and circumstances of the case the Tribunal is   justified   in   upholding   the   method   adopted   by   the   assessee   to devalue   the   closing   stock   from   Rs.14,25,705/­   to   Rs.1/­   without appreciating the fact that this method is contrary to the provisions of section 145A and also the accounting standard?”

3. Re:­ question Nos.(a) & (b) :

(a) The respondent assessee had claimed depreciation in respect of its  machinery valued at Rs.16.96 lacs  which was  used in its  business  of refining edible oil.  The machinery had not been used during the assessment year as the respondent has discontinued its business of refining edible oil. The above depreciation was claimed on the block of assets on the written down  value  including  the  refining  edible  oil  machinery.    The  Assessing Officer disallowed the claim of depreciation on the ground that one of the twin requirements of ownership and user under Section 32(1)(ii) of the Act viz. user was not satisfied.

(b) On appeal the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) held that in the absence of the Machinery being put to use and the  business of Refining edible   oil   having   been   discontinued,   the   respondent   is   not   entitled   to depreciation.  Thus the order of the Assessing Officer was undisturbed to the extent it disallowed depreciation of Rs.16.96 lacs.

(c) On further appeal to the Tribunal the impugned order held that the refining machinery was a part of the block of assets of plant and machinery. In such a case depreciation is granted to the entire block of assets whether or not an individual item therein has been used during the subject assessment year.  In support the impugned order placed reliance upon its decision in the case of  DCIT   Vs. Boskalis Dredging India (P) Ltd. 53 SOT 17 (Mum) wherein  it  has  been  held  that  once  the  concept  of  block  of   assets  was brought   into   effect   from   assessment   year   1989­-90   onwards   then   the aggregate  of  written  down  value  of  all  the  assets  in  the  block  at  the beginning of the previous year along with additions made to the assets in the subject  Assessment  Year  depreciation  is  allowable.    The  individual  asset looses its identity for purposes of depreciation and the user test is to be satisfied at the time the purchased Machinery becomes a part of the block of assets for the first time.  In the circumstances the respondent’s appeal was allowed and the disallowance of depreciation was deleted.

(d) Mrs. Bharucha, learned Counsel for the revenue fairly states that the issue arising herein is identical to the issue which arose before the Tribunal in Boskalis Dredging India (supra) where also the dredger concerned was a part of the block of assets and not put to use.  On instructions, she further states that the Revenue has accepted the decision of the Tribunal in Boskalis Dredging India (supra) which the impugned order has merely followed.  No distinguishing feature in the present facts has been pointed out which would warrant taking a different view.  Besides the Tribunal in its order in Boskalis Dredging  India  (supra)  placed  reliance  upon  the  decision  of  this  Court rendered in an appeal filed by the Revenue in  G. R. Shipping Ltd. being Income Tax Appeal No. 598 of 2009 which was dismissed on 20.07.2008 upholding the view of the Tribunal on identical issue.  Moreover it is clarified by the counsel that the refining machinery has itself been sold during the next year.

(e) In the above view question Nos.(a) & (b) as formulated do not give rise to any substantial questions of law.  Accordingly not entertained.

4. Re:­ question No.(c)

(a) During the subject assessment year there was fire in the chemical plant of the respondent at Pithampur.  The respondent had debited an amount of Rs.21.68 lacs in its profit & loss account as loss due to fire.  This was the difference  between  the  amount  claimed  for  repairs  due  to  fire  from  the Insurance company and that granted.  The Assessing Officer disallowed the loss claimed to the extent of Rs.10.82 lacs being attributable to fixed assets i.e. factory building, plant & machinery. Therefore not revenue in nature.

(b) In appeal, the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) did not disturb the finding of the Assessing Officer.  On further appeal the Tribunal by the impugned   order   accepted   the   respondent’s   contention   that   the   amount returned  as  loss  was  revenue  in  nature  as  the  amount  claimed  and  not granted by the Insurance Company was expenditure for repair of factory Building and Plant & Machinery.  This expenditure as repairs was allowable as  revenue  under  Sections  30  and  31  of  the  Act  in  principle.    In  the circumstances the impugned order of the Tribunal set aside the order of the Commissioner   of   Income   Tax   (Appeals)   and   restored   the   issue   to   the Assessing Officer to examine whether the expenditure claimed was incurred for repairs of Building and Plant & Machinery affected by the Fire.

(c) We are informed at the Bar that consequent to the impugned order of the Tribunal, the Assessing Officer has now passed an order on 31.03.2015 allowing the petitioner’s claim for revenue expenditure of Rs.10.82 lacs as being  spent  for  repairs.    A  copy  of  the  order  dated  31.03.2015  of  the Assessing Officer is handed over across the Bar.   The view taken by the Tribunal in principle that the amounts spent on repairs has to be allowed under Sections 31 and 32 of the Act cannot be faulted.

(d) Accordingly  the  question  as  raised  does  not  give  rise  to  a substantial question of law.  Therefore question No.(c) is not entertained.

5. Re:­ question No.(d)

(a) During the subject assessment year the respondent assessee had debited  an  amount  of  Rs.14.25  lacs  in  the  profit  and  loss  account  as devaluation  of  closing  stock.     This   resulted  in  the  closing  stock  being devalued from Rs.14.26 lacs to Rs.1.  This devaluation of a part of its closing stock was in respect of packing material which were used for goods which were non moving items.  This resulted in the packing material had remaining unsold in its possession for the long period of time and had now become
obsolete.  The Assessing Officer did not accept the devaluation of the closing stock to Rs.1/­ holding that the same is contrary to Section 145A of the Act.

(b) On appeal, the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) did not disturb the  findings  of  the  Assessing  Officer  on  the  ground  that  the  details  of subsequent sale of the stock were not furnished.   On further appeal, the Tribunal by the impugned order held that on the basis of the record available that packing material which had been devalued had batch Nos. price etc., already printed thereon and these were not used and could not be used now due to lapse of time, thus making it of no value.  The impugned order further records that the packing material incapable of use would be subsequently sold as scrap, if it is not destroyed.  In case of sale the consideration for the same could be reflected in the future and offered to tax.   The impugned order   also   placed   reliance   upon   its   decision   in  Emersons   Process Management India (P.) Ltd. Vs. Additional Commissioner of Income­tax, Range 3(1), Mumbai [2011] 13 Taxmann.com 149 (Mum) and allowed devaluation of closing stock from Rs.14.25 lacs to Rs.1/­ as claimed by the
respondent assessee.

(c) We find that the entire exercise of devaluation of stocks is essentially a question of fact and before us the same is not urged as being perverse.  The Revenue  is  contending  that  it  is  contrary  to  Section  145A  of  the  Act. However nothing is shown to us in support of its contentions.  Devaluation of stock due to obsolescence is a feature not unknown to business (See the decision of this Court in Alfa Laval India Ltd. Vs. Deputy Commissioner of Income   tax,   266   ITR   418  as   upheld   by   the   Supreme   Court   in
Commissioner of Income Tax Vs. Alfa Laval (India) Ltd., [2007] 295 ITR 451 (SC).

(d) In the above circumstances in the present facts the findings of the Tribunal   that   the   stock   of   packing   materials   had   become   obsolete warranting a reduction in its value is a finding of fact not shown to be perverse.  Accordingly question No.(d) does not raise a substantial question of law.  Thus not entertained.

6. Accordingly, appeal is dismissed.  No order as to costs.

   (G.S.KULKARNI, J.)         (M.S.SANKLECHA, J.)

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