The ITAT allowed the assessee's appeal, holding that section...

The ITAT allowed the assessee's appeal, holding that section 71(2) of the Income Tax Act permits the set-off of business losses against income from other sources, including capital gains, without prescribing a sequence for such set-off. Since no business income existed for the year, section 70, which mandates intra-source loss set-off, was inapplicable. The tribunal clarified that the assessee's method of setting off losses against income under different heads constituted legitimate tax planning within the statutory framework. Consequently, the deduction under Chapter VI-A disallowed by the Assessing Officer was directed to be granted as claimed by the assessee.