2012 (9) TMI 627 - DELHI HIGH COURT

Deduction u/s 10-B - STPI unit - income derived from export of computer software - ITAT allowed the claim as assesses had received approval to start 100 per cent EOU under STP scheme - whether this approval can be deemed one under Section 10-B? - Held that:- For that purpose a 100 per cent EOU is only that which is so approved by the Board appointed by Central Government in exercise of powers conferred under Section 14 of IDAR Act, 1951. The pre-conditions that govern units set up under STP scheme are different from those that govern the units set up as 100 per cent EOUs and so approved by the Board. Some conditions may undoubtedly overlap yet, criteria, such as fulfillment of the employment criteria, foreign exchange, etc., are not common.

There is no notification or official document suggesting that either the Inter Ministerial Committee, or any other officer or agency was nominated to perform the duties of the Board (constituted under Section 14 of the IDR Act), for purposes of approvals under Section 10-B. Though the considerations which apply for granting approval under Sections 10-A and 10-B may to an extent, overlap, yet the deliberate segregation of these two benefits by the statute reflects Parliamentary intention that to qualify for benefit under either, the specific procedure enacted for that purpose has to be followed. There is nothing in any of the Circulars or instructions relied on by the Tribunal in all the orders, implying that approval for purposes of an STP also entitled the unit to a benefit under Section 10-B. The orders of the Tribunal are consequently erroneous, and its reasoning, unsupportable - in favour of the revenue