CIT Vs Sociedade De Fomento Industrial Pvt. Ltd (Bombay High Court)
Here, on facts, the Tribunal noted that the AO only discussed the provisions of section 14A(l) but has not justified how the expenditure the Assessee incurred during the relevant year related to the income not forming part of its total income. The AO, according to the Tribunal, straightaway applied Rule 8D. Indeed, there must be a proximate relationship between the expenditure and the tax-exempt income. Only then would a disallowance have to be effected. This Court, we may note, on more than one occasion, has held that the onus is on the Revenue to establish that there is a proximate relationship between the expenditure and the exempt income. That is, the application of section 14A and rule 8D is not automatic in each and every case, where there is income not forming part of the total income. No doubt, the expenditure under section 14A includes both direct and indirect expenditure, but that expenditure must have a proximate relationship with the exempted income. Surmise or conjecture is no answer.
We may further reiterate that before rejecting the disallowance computed by the Assessee, the Assessing Officer must give a clear finding with reference to the Assessee’s accounts as to how the other expenditure claimed by the Assessee out of the non-exempt income is related to the exempt income.
So, we see no valid reasons to upset the Tribunal’s well-reasoned judgment on this substantial question of law.
FULL TEXT OF THE HIGH COURT ORDER /JUDGEMENT
