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2016 (9) TMI 607 - AT - Income TaxAllowable business expenditure u/s 37 - overseas trips for Doctors and their spouses - expenditure on seminars - Held that:- Overseas trips for Doctors and their spouses were organized by the assessee whereby no details of the contents of seminar, if any conducted by the assessee overseas has been brought on record and also even the spouses accompanied the Doctors to the overseas trip which included cruise visit to island, gala dinners, cocktail, gala entertainment etc. rather than being directed towards seminar for product information dissemination or directed towards knowledge enhancement or knowledge sharing oriented as no details of seminar and its course content is brought on record rather the trip is directed towards leisure and entertainment of Doctors and their spouses which in our view appears to be clearly a distinguishable feature in this year enabling us to take a divergent view and the expenses incurred by the assessee cannot be allowed as business expenditure u/s 37 of the Act as it is clearly hit by explanation to Section 37 of the Act being against public policy as unethical prohibited by law. Even otherwise, these expenses cannot be considered to be incurred wholly and exclusive for the purpose of the business as the same were incurred to create good relations with the doctors in lieu of expected favours from doctors for recommending to patients the pharmaceutical products dealt within by the company to generate more and more business and profits for the assessee company. For claiming the expenses u/s 37 of the Act which is a residuary section, it is essential that the expenses are not covered under clauses of Section 30 to 36 of the Act of 1961 and are incurred wholly and exclusive for the purposes of business and it is not sufficient that it has some connection with the business of the assessee. No details of the seminars conducted abroad are brought on record as also spouses of the Doctors also travelled overseas along with Doctors and the expenses of the spouse on air ticket as well stay abroad are charged as an business expenditure u/s 37 of the Act which cannot be called as being incurred wholly and exclusively for the purposes of business of the assessee. - Decided against assessee. Expenses towards free samples distributed to the physicians - Held that:- Explanation to Section 37 of the Act and regulation 6.4.1. of The Indian Medical Council (Professional conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002 makes it clear that such free samples granted post introduction of pharmaceutical products in market when its end use stood established will be hit by explanation to Section 37 of the Act and shall not be allowable as deduction . The other decisions relied upon by the assessee as set out in the assessment order are all related to the assessment years prior to insertion of explanation to Section 37 of the Act of 1961 by Finance Act, 1998 w.e.f. 01-04-1962. Thus, keeping in view our detailed discussions and reasoning as set out above , we set aside and restore the issue to the file of the AO for de-novo determination of the issue on merits in accordance with our detailed reasoning and discussions as set out above. Needless to say proper and adequate opportunity of being heard shall be provided to the assessee in accordance with the principles of natural justice in accordance with law and the assessee will be provided sufficient and proper opportunity of being heard by the AO in accordance with principles of natural justice in accordance with law. The assessee shall be allowed by the AO to submit relevant evidences and explanations in support of its contentions. We order accordingly.
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