Payments to medical consultants were held to be for independent...

Payments to medical consultants were held to be for independent professional services rather than salaried employment because consultancy agreements established a principaltoprincipal relationship. The consultants retained control over manner of service, and contractual supervision measures (fixed hours, reporting, leave rules, exclusivity clauses) did not convert a contract for service into a contract of service. Where consultants declared the income in their tax returns, the payer could not be treated as an assessee in default for TDS; the appeal by revenue was dismissed accordingly.

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