TaxTMI 
TaxTMI 
2026 (1) TMI 934
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....nder section 263 may please be squashed. 2. On the facts and in the prevailing circumstances of the case and in Law, Ld. CIT NFAC erred in confirming the addition made by the Assessing Officer without appreciating the submission made by the assessee society and the judgments of Hon'ble Jurisdictional Pune ITAT. Hence, the impugned order under section 263 may please be squashed. 3. The Appellate craves the permission to add, amend, modify, alter, revise, substitute, delete any or all grounds of the appeal, if deemed necessary at the time of hearing of the appeal." Brief facts of the case : 1.1 As per the assessment order, the assessee is co-operative society registered under the Maharashtra state Co-operative societies Act, 1960 formed for the benefit of Gramsevak i.e.Employees of Grampanchayat and Zilha Parishad Servants in the Ahmednagar District. The members of the society are only Government servants. The Main Objective & business of Society is "Accepting deposits from members and lending money to the members of the society". The Assessee Society is providing credit facilities only to its members and interest is charged on these credit facilities/loan....
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.... Totagars Co-operative Sale Society Limited. 4.2 The issue before us is whether assessee is eligible for deduction under section 80P(2)(a) of the Act, on the interest earned from Co-operative Banks or not! 4.3 The Hon'ble High Court of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in the case of Vavveru Co-operative Rural Bank Ltd. [2017] 396 ITR 371 analysed the provisions of Section 80P, succinctly distinguished the decision of Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Totagars Cooperative Sale Society, and held as under : Quote,"8. Therefore, the real controversy arising in these writ petitions is as to whether the income derived by the petitioners by way of interest on the fixed deposits made by them with the banks, is to be treated as profits and gains of business attributable to any one of the activities indicated in sub-clauses (i) to (vii) of clause (a) of sub-section (2) of section 80P or not. 9. While the petitioners place strong reliance upon a decision of the Division Bench of this court in CIT v. Andhra Pradesh State Cooperative Bank Ltd. [2011] 12 taxmann.com 66/200 Taxman 200/336 ITR 516, the Revenue places strong reliance upon the decision of the Supreme Court in ....
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....d view that the petitioners are entitled to succeed. Hence, the writ petitions are allowed, and the order of the Assessing Officer, in so far as it relates to treating the interest income as something not allowable as a deduction under section 80P(2)(a), is set aside." Unquote. 4.4 Thus, the Hon'ble High Court of AP & TS held that Interest Income earned by investing Income derived from Business of providing credit facilities, Loans by a Co-Operative Society was eligible for deduction u/sec.80P(2)(a) of the Act. 5. In the case of Sahyadri Co-operative Credit Society Limited, the Sahyadri Co-operative Credit Society had deposited excess funds in the Banks or Institutions permitted by the Co-operative Societies Act. In that context, the Hon'ble Kerala High Court in the case of Pr. CIT Vs. Sahyadri Co-operative Credit Society Ltd., [2024] 301 Taxman 36 (Kerala) vide order dated 04.09.2024 has held as under : Quote "7. On a consideration of the rival submissions, we are of the view that for the reasons stated hereinafter, the question of law that arises for consideration before us must be answered against the Revenue and in favour of the assessee. The permissible deductio....
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....has held that the character of income does not change. The Hon'ble Kerala High Court held that interest earned from deposits in permitted banks will be eligible for deduction u/s.80P of the Act. The Hon'ble Kerala High Court's decision is dated 04.09.2024 means, after the decision of Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Totagar's Co. operative Sales Society Ltd. 6. The Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Pr. CIT Vs. Annasaheb Patil Mathadi Kamgar Sahakari Pathpedi Ltd., 454 ITR 117 (SC) has held as under : Quote."5. There are concurrent findings recorded by CITA, ITAT and the High Court that the respondent/Assessee cannot be termed as Banks/Cooperative Banks and that being a credit society, they are entitled to exemption under section 80(P)(2) of the Income-tax Act. Such finding of fact is not required to be interfered with by this Court in exercise of powers under Article 136 of the Constitution of India. Even otherwise, on merits also and taking into consideration the CBDT Circulars and even the definition of Bank under the Banking Regulation Act, the respondent/Assessee cannot be said to be Co-operative Bank/Bank and, therefore, Section 80(P)(4)shall not be applicab....