Case Law Details
Ganesh Shipping Agency Vs ACIT (Karnataka High Court)
From perusal of the order passed by the authorities, it is evident that the authorities have accepted the books of accounts produced by the assessee. The Assessing Officer, in its order, has admitted that the payment of speed money is a trade practice which is followed by the assessee and similar business concerns functioning for speedy completion of their work. However, the disallowance of 20% of the expenses is made solely on the ground that the assessee had produced the self-made cash vouchers which showed that the payment was made by cash to each gang leader and the identity of the gang leader is not verifiable and the recipients are not assesse’s employees. The aforesaid finding has been affirmed by the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) as well as by the Tribunal. However, it is pertinent to note that the books of accounts have not been touted by any of the authorities under the Act. A Bench of this Court vide judgment dated 24.03.2015 passed in ITA No.22/20 15, has held that admittedly the normal practice in the line of business of the assessee is to pay certain extra amounts to port labourers as speed money for promptly and speedily carrying out the labour work of handling cargo beyond working hours and has placed reliance on the decision rendered by this Court in KONKAN MARINE AGENCIES, supra. It is pertinent to note that in CLIFFORD D’SOZA, supra, payment was made to the sub-contractors in cash as well as by Cheques. In the absence of any challenge to the entries made in the books of accounts by the authorities, in our opinion, the finding recorded by the Assessing Officer as well as the Tribunal that it denied the claim of the assessee for expenditure to the extent of 10% on account of payment of speed money, is perverse as the same is duly supported by the documentary evidence. Insofar as the submission made by the learned counsel for the revenue that in paragraph 4 of the order of the Commissioner the assessee himself had restricted the payment of speed money to 10% is concerned, it is pertinent to note that the restriction was made by the assessee in respect of Assessment Year 2004-05 and from the grounds of memorandum of appeal before the Tribunal, we find that the assessee had challenged the aforesaid finding which is evident from paragraphs 1 and 2, therefore, the aforesaid submission is of no assistance to the revenue.
In view of aforesaid preceding analysis, the substantial question of law involved in this appeal is answered against the revenue and in favour of the assessee.
FULL TEXT OF THE HIGH COURT ORDER /JUDGEMENT
This appeal under Section 260-A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Act’, for short) has been filed by the assessee. The subject matter of the appeal pertains to the Assessment Years 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10. The appeal was admitted by a Bench of this Court vide order dated 10.01.2018 on the following substantial question of law:
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