Chapter VI-A deduction interaction: 80-HHC computed independently while 80-IA(9) caps aggregate deduction.

Whether deductions under Chapter VI-A interact so that a deduction under one provision reduces entitlement under another is resolved by statutory construction: each deduction is computed by its own statutory formula and Section 80-IA(9) operates only to prevent the aggregate deduction from exceeding the profits of the eligible business; consequently the deduction under Section 80-HHC must be calculated independently of any deduction under Section 80-IA/80-IB, with the combined allowance restricted to the business profits. Appeals allowed on that basis.

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Issues: (i) Whether under Section 80-IA(9) of the Income-tax Act, 1961, after claiming deduction under Section 80-IA or 80-IB, an assessee can again claim deduction under Section 80-HHC on the same profits and whether such deduction must be computed independently or is to be restricted.

Analysis: The issue involves statutory construction of Section 80-IA(9) vis-a -vis Section 80-HHC(3) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 and the interaction between deductions under Part C of Chapter VI-A. Prior authoritative rulings addressing the same question have been considered, including the view approved by a Three Judges Bench that distinguished computation of deduction from allowance of deduction and upheld the Bombay High Court approach in Associated Capsules (P) Ltd. The analysis recognises that Section 80-HHC(3) prescribes a self-contained formula for computing eligible deduction and that treating a deduction under Section 80-IA as reducing the gross total income for computing Section 80-HHC would produce anomalous and impracticable results. The correct construction, as affirmed by precedent, is that deductions under Sections 80-IA/80-IB and Section 80-HHC are computed by their respective statutory provisions and that subsection (9) of Section 80-IA operates to restrict the aggregate allowance so that the combined deductions do not exceed the profits of the eligible business.

Conclusion: The deduction under Section 80-HHC is to be computed independently of the deduction under Section 80-IA/80-IB, and subsection (9) of Section 80-IA only restricts the aggregate allowance so that the total of deductions under Sections 80-IA/80-IB and 80-HHC shall not exceed the profits and gains of the eligible business. The appeals filed by the assessee are allowed in accordance with this conclusion.

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