2012 (11) TMI 323 - HC - Income Tax

Annual letting value of unsold flats - flats lying under the head "Income from house property" - inventory of stock in trade v/s let out - Held that:- ALV is a method to arrive at a figure on the basis of which the impost is to be effectuated. The existence of an artificial method itself would not mean that levy is impermissible. Parliament has resorted to several other presumptive methods, for the purpose of calculation of income and collection of tax. Furthermore, application of ALV to determine the tax is regardless of whether actual income is received, it is premised on what constitutes a reasonable letting value, if the property were to be leased out in the marketplace - While there can be no quarrel with the proposition that “occupation” can be synonymous with physical possession, in law, when Parliament intended a property occupied by one who is carrying on business, to be exempted from the levy of income tax was that such property should be used for the purpose of business. The intention of the lawmakers was that occupation of one’s own property, in the course of business, and for the purpose of business, i.e. an active use of the property, (instead of mere passive possession) qualifies as “own” occupation for business purpose. Thus, this question is answered in favour of the revenue.

Deduction u/s 32 AB on interest income - Held that:- As decided in Apollo Tyres Ltd v CIT [2002 (5) TMI 5 - SUPREME COURT] if a business qualifies for the benefit granted under Section 32AB, if an assessee carries on business covered by that provision, and has utilized any amount during the previous year for the purchase of new plant or machinery then it is entitled to a set off of a sum equal to 20 per cent of the profit of such eligible business accordance with sub-section (5) of Section 32AB. As the eligibility or entitlement of the assessee to claim the benefit, was never questioned in the proceedings before the lower authorities the question is answered in favour of the assessee.

Admissibility of 100% depreciation for plant - Held that:- In view of the settled position decided in JCIT Vs. Anatronics General Co. (P) Ltd. [2000 (8) TMI 38 - DELHI HIGH COURT] that each bottle constituted plant and was eligible for 100% depreciation the value of the shuttering in the present case would have been written off within a couple of years, this Court is of the view that the impugned order and finding of the ITAT do not call for any interference - in favour of the assessee