Strict res judicata does not apply in income-tax proceedings,...

Strict res judicata does not apply in income-tax proceedings, but the Revenue cannot depart from an earlier accepted position on identical facts without a material change in fact or law, and appellate authorities may entertain claims raised through notes to the return where the material is already on record; CBDT instructions cannot override the Act. Actuarially determined pension and employee-benefit provisions were treated as ascertained liabilities deductible under section 37(1), while leave encashment remained allowable only on actual payment. The Tribunal also applied real income principles in deleting additions on NPA interest and allowed valuation of bank securities at lower of cost or market value on a scrip-wise basis. Several other claims were remanded for verification, and some disallowances were upheld or rejected on settled precedent.

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