Souharda Sahakaris registered under the Karnataka Souharda...

Souharda Sahakaris registered under the Karnataka Souharda Sahakari Act, 1997 are treated as co-operative societies for deduction under section 80P. Where credit facilities are provided exclusively to members, income from that activity is attributable to the eligible business under section 80P(2)(a)(i), and dealings confined to members preserve mutuality. Interest earned by placing surplus funds, not immediately required for member lending, in bank deposits remains attributable to the credit-facility business rather than constituting a separate business. Such interest consequently forms part of the qualifying profits for the section 80P deduction.