The Pr. Commissioner of Income Tax -Central -1 v. IFFCO Ltd

Delhi High Court · 25 Aug 2022 · 2022:DHC:3358-DB
Manmohan; Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora
ITA 287/2022
2022:DHC:3358-DB
tax appeal_dismissed

AI Summary

The Delhi High Court dismissed the Income Tax Appeal, holding that interest disallowance under Rule 8D(2)(ii) requires proof that borrowed funds were used for investments, which was not established here.

Full Text
Translation output
ITA 287/2022
HIGH COURT OF DELHI
ITA 287/2022
THE PR. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX -CENTRAL -1 ..... Appellant
Through: Mr. Ruchir Bhatia and Ms. Mansie Jain, Advocates
VERSUS
IFFCO LTD ..... Respondent
Through: Mr. Mayank Nagi, Mr. Tarandeep Singh and Mr. Pulkit Verma, Advocates
Date of Decision: 25th August, 2022
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MANMOHAN
HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE MANMEET PRITAM SINGH ARORA
JUDGMENT
MANMOHAN, J (Oral):

1. Present Income Tax Appeal has been filed challenging the order dated 25th January, 2021 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (‘ITAT’) in ITA No.6083/Del/2017 for the Assessment Year 2011-12.

2. Learned counsel for the Appellant states that the ITAT has erred in holding that it was incumbent upon the Assessing Officer to demonstrate that interest - bearing funds had been utilized for making the investments in question even though the provision of Rule 8D(2)(ii) talks of 'expenditure by way of interest during the previous year which is not directly attributable to any particular income or receipt’ meaning thereby that, if interest expenditure which is not directly relating to income and which does not form part of total income has been incurred by the assessee, it is mandatory 2022:DHC:3358-DB ITA 287/2022 to make proportionate disallowance of the same in accordance with the formula laid down in the said Rule 8D(2)(ii).

3. A perusal of the paper book reveals that both the appellate authorities below have given concurrent findings of fact that at the end of the Financial Year 2010-11, the Society's total borrowings was at Rs.11,352 crore, whereas the fund required for making capital and fixed assets stood at Rs.19,791 crore. Further, the bank had imposed stringent end use condition and limits while sanctioning the loans which were only for specific purposes. There was specific prohibition for the use of the funds for investment in shares of other companies and capital markets. So the borrowed funds could not have been utilised for the investment purposes. It has been noted by both the appellate authorities that there was huge availability of assessee’s own surplus funds, the details of which were furnished by the assesse.

4. Moreover, the ITAT in the present case has relied on the decision of its coordinate Bench in assessee’s own case for the Assessment Year 2009- 10 against which no appeal has been filed.

5. Consequently this Court is of the view that no substantial question of law arises for consideration in the present appeal. Accordingly, the same is dismissed. MANMOHAN, J MANMEET PRITAM SINGH ARORA, J AUGUST 25, 2022