2023 (11) TMI 779
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....titions are common and hence, they are taken up together, heard and disposed off through this common order. 2. The present writ petitioners challenged the impugned notices issued under Section 148 A(b) for reopening the assessment made u/s. 148 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (in short, 'the Act'). The central issue that arise in the present case is as to whether the petitioners are entitled for deduction under Section 80P(2)(d) of the Act. The petitioners submitted that they have made investments with the Cooperative Bank from which, they received interest and therefore they are entitled to claim deduction under section 80P(2)(d). However, the respondent in the impugned notices, has stated that the petitioners / Society are not enti....
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....ment and to receive the interest from the investment since the RBI had granted the Banking license to the Co-operative Banks. Thus, according to the respondent, the Co-operative Bank lost the status as an entity of Co-operative Society as it would provide the services not only for the members of a Co-operative society but to other general public as well. So taking into consideration of this aspect, the Assessing Officer passed the impugned notices, stating that any interest amount received from the investment made in a Co-operative Bank by a Co-operative Society, is not entitled for deduction under Section 80P(2)(d) of the Act. 5. In support of his contentions, he referred to a judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in "The Totagars C....
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....iety from its investment with any other co-operative society, the whole of such income" 9. A reading of the above said provision makes it clear that in the event if any Co-operative Society derived income by way of interest from investment made in any other Co-operative Society the whole such interest is eligible for deduction. Now the issue is as to whether the Co-operative Bank would fall within the purview of the term 'Co-operative Society'. In the present case, the petitioner produced a document to show that the Co-operative Bank, where they have made investments was registered under the Tamil Nadu Co-operative Societies Act, 1983 on 20.5.2003. In this regard, he also produced a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation of the....
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....n'ble Supreme Court is not applicable for in the present case as the eligibility of deduction of interest has to be decided under Section 80P(2)(d) and not under Section 80P(2)(a)(i). The learned counsel has also relied upon other judgments which are not applicable for the present facts of the present case. 12. At this juncture, it would be appropriate to refer a judgment passed by a Division Bench of this Court in "Commissioner of Income Tax Salem v. The Salem Agricultural Producers Co-operative Marketing Society Ltd" in Tax Case Appeal No.5 of 2015, wherein, apart from other substantial issues, the following issue has been framed for consideration, which reads as under: "Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the....
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