Disallowance of deduction claimed u/s 36(1)(vii) was set aside,...

Disallowance of deduction claimed u/s 36(1)(vii) was set aside, allowing bad debts relating to non-rural branches without adjusting against provision for bad and doubtful debts (PBDD) account, since PBDD relates to rural advances only. Addition u/s 14A for expenditure in relation to exempt income to book profit u/s 115JB was dismissed in favor of the assessee. Addition of provisions for wage arrears, ex-gratia, and bonus while computing book profits u/s 115JB was remitted back to the CIT(A) for fresh decision. Disallowance u/s 14A read with Rule 8D was rejected, as dividend income cannot be treated as expenditure. Deduction u/s 36(1)(viia) for rural branches was remitted back to the AO to consider the latest/provisional census. Payments to National Payments Corporation of India and Visa Worldwide for switch charges, ATM charges, and fees were directed to be allowed, following earlier decisions.