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2015 (12) TMI 1682 - AT - Income TaxEntitlment to carry forward the unabsorbed depreciation - whether such adjustment of non-granting of set off of such losses could be made in an order u/s 154? - Held that:- We find that the section 32(2) of the Act pursuant to the amendment in Finance Act 1996 curtailed the benefit of carry forward of unabsorbed depreciation loss to a period of 8 years and brought the said provision at par with the unabsorbed business losses. This provision was in force till Asst Year 2001-02. Again the Finance Act 2001 with effect from Asst Year 2002-03 amended Section 32(2) of the Act and restored back to the original version of the section as it stood prior to amendment by Finance Act 1996, allowing the benefit of carry forward of losses to an infinite period and treating the same different from that of unabsorbed business losses The purposive and harmonious interpretation has to be taken keeping in view the intention of the amendment of section 32(2) of the Act by Finance Act 2001. We hold that while construing taxing statutes, rule of strict interpretation has to be applied, giving fair and reasonable construction to the language of the section without leaning to the side of the assessee or the revenue. But if the legislature fails to express clearly and the assessee becomes entitled for a benefit within the ambit of the section by the clear words used in the section, the benefit accruing to the assessee cannot be denied We find that this particular issue has been the subject matter of huge debate and dispute and also gave rise to the creation of special bench by the tribunal to adjudicate this issue which goes to prove that the issue is highly debatable and hence cannot be the subject matter of rectification proceedings u/s 154 of the Act. In our opinion, what could be rectified u/s 154 of the Act is a mistake which must be obvious and patent and not something which can be established by a long drawn process of reasoning as has been held by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of T.S.Balaram, ITO vs Volkart Bros (1971 (8) TMI 3 - SUPREME Court ). Thus AO clearly erred in adjudicating this highly debatable issue under rectification proceedings u/s 154 of the Act which is not permissible and accordingly we quash the said order. - Decided in favour of assessee.
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