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2015 (10) TMI 491 - HC - Income TaxProvision for transit breakages - whether has a scientific basis or is contingent in nature and as such is not an allowable deduction while computing the total income of the Assessee? - Held that:- The Court is unable to discern any uniform scientific method followed by the Appellant in making provision for the breakages. As noticed by the ITAT in its order dated 16th March 2009, the explanation offered by the Appellant was that on an ad hoc basis it fixed a rate per case of bottles. In the case of Andhra Pradesh, the rate was ₹ 10 per case, for Goa and Karnataka it was ₹ 15 per case. Also the breakages are known within a period of 15 to 30 days after despatch of the goods. The Court also concurs with the view of the ITAT that with the first Assessee having entered the line of business only from AY 2001-02, it cannot be said to have gathered sufficient experience to have reasonably estimated such breakages for the AYs in question. In the circumstances, the 'liability' on that score could at best be described as a 'contingent liability' as defined in AS-29. There is no reasonable scientific method adopted by the Assessees to estimate the transit breakages so as to justify creating of provision for such breakages.The provision would, in the circumstances, be a provision for a contingent liability and, therefore, in terms of the AS 29 ought not be recognised. The actual transit breakages as and when they occur are allowable as revenue expenditure in the accounting year in which such breakages occur.Consequently, the question framed is answered in favour of the Revenue and against the Assessees. It is clarified that while giving an appeal effect to this order, the AO shall allow the actual transit breakages for AY 2001-02 as revenue expenditure consistent with the settled legal position. The Assessees would also be permitted to get the benefit of the reversal of the provision for transit breakages made in the AYs in question accordance with law.
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