Despite Suspension, Special Bench Verdict In Merilyn Shipping Is Binding

Subash-Agarwal

Despite Suspension, Special Bench Verdict In Merilyn Shipping Is Binding

Subash Agarwal, Advocate
The author argues that the order of “interim suspension” directed by the Andhra Pradesh High Court against the judgement of the Special Bench in Merilyn Shipping 146 TTJ 1 does not impact the binding character of the judgement. He contends that the suspension applies only vis-a-vis the parties to that case and does not have general application to other assessees. He makes good his submission by reference to several case law

1. Introduction

A great Indian statesman and philosopher ‘Chanakya’, variously described as a ‘Kingmaker’, ‘Ruthless administrator’ etc., courted controversy when he said-

The ends justify the means’ and

The ruler should use any means to attain his goals. His actions require no moral sanctions’.

But when it came to framing of tax laws and collection of taxes, he made a very sober statement-

Ideally, governments should collect taxes like a honeybee, which sucks just the right amount of honey from the flower so that both can survive’.

But the Government of India while framing the tax laws is conveniently forgetting the later maxim and seems to be laying emphasis on the former one.

The ITAT special Bench judgement in the case of M/s. Merilyn Shipping & Transports vs. ACIT reported in 146 TTJ 1 (Vizag), brought smiles on the face of tax litigants (read assessees), who were cowering in terror in the face of unbearable burden of tax liability imposed invoking section 40(a)(ia)

2. Section 40(a)(ia)- A Draconian Provision

This provision was brought on the statute book by the Finance Act, 2004 w.e.f. A.Y.: 2005-2006. It entails 100 percent disallowance of certain expenditures for the technical default of non-deduction of TDS or after deduction, non-payment thereof to the government’s treasury on or before the due date of filing of return of income.

The unsuspecting victims of the provision of section 40(a)(ia) are small time traders and businessmen. For them, “Ignorance of law” is proving to be too costly.

The ostensible reason given by the Government for bringing this provision on the statute book, as stated in the Memorandum explaining the provisions of the Finance Bill, 2004 is “to augment the compliance of the TDS provisions”.

It is not understandable what was the need for bringing in such a draconian provision of law, when as many as five provisions were already existing in the Income-Tax Act for ensuring strict compliance of TDS provisions viz.,-

(i) Section 201(1): The defaulter could be treated as the ‘assessee in default’ and TDS amount could be recovered from him.

(ii) Section 201(1A): Even compensatory interest can be recovered from the TDS defaulter.

(iii) Section 221: Penalty upto the TDS amount may be imposed for the TDS defaulter being treated as an “assessee in default”.

(iv)Section 271C: Further penalty upto the TDS amount for failure to deduct or pay TDS may be imposed.

(v) Section 276B:TDS defaulter may suffer rigorous imprisonment upto seven years with fine for failure to pay TDS to the government’s account.

3. ITAT Special bench Judgement in the case of Merilyn Shipping & Transport – A judgement that saved thousands of assessees from closing their shops.

it is as clear as broad daylight that the salutary impact of the special bench judgement in the case of M/s. Merilyn Shipping & Transports has not been obliterated and the judgement continues to hold the field inspite of the ‘Interim Suspension’ of the same by the Hon’ble Andhra Pradesh High Court

The ITAT special Bench (Vishakapatnam) judgement in the case of M/s. Merilyn Shipping & Transports vs. ACIT reported in 146 TTJ 1 (Vizag), brought smiles on the face of tax litigants (read assessees), who were cowering in terror in the face of unbearable burden of tax liability imposed invoking section 40(a)(ia). However, in passing this judgement, a dissenting note was struck by Sri S.V. Mehrotra, Hon’ble Accountant Member, who chose to write a separate order. Sri Mahavir Singh, Hon’ble Judicial member’s view went in favour of the assessee with which Sri D. Manmohan, Hon’ble VP concurred. Thus, by a majority view, the judgement was rendered in favour of the assessee.

The majority view was on the following lines-

(a) On a comparison of the proposed provisions in the Finance (No. 2) Bill, 2004 (which referred to ‘any amount payable to a resident or amount paid or credited to a contractor’) and the enacted provisions (where the words credited or paid were deleted), would show that the change was not without purpose. The Legislative intent was clear that only the outstanding amounts or provision for expense was sought to be disallowed in event of default of TDS.

(b) Hon’ble Delhi High Court in the case of Kelvinator has referred to changes made to provisions of section 147 of the Act. While under the Direct Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 1987 the Parliament deleted the words ‘reasons to believe’ and replaced them with ‘opinion’, the original words were re-introduced by the Amending Act in 1989 on receiving representations. In the present case also the words ‘credited or paid’ were replaced with ‘payable’ on receipt of representations from the professional bodies.

(c) Where language of law is clear, substitution/addition/deletion of words has to be avoided. In the present case, the intention of law is clear and the only word provided is ‘payable’.

(d) Section 43B allows the payment only on cash basis. Hence, the contention of the revenue that section 40(a)(ia) would become inoperative in case of cash system of accounting was not correct.

(e) As section 40(a)(ia) refers only to the amounts payable, the disallowance would apply only to amount payable. If the amount has already been paid, the disallowance would not apply.

(f) CBDT’s Circular No. 5/2005 has made it clear that the disallowance would apply only to outstanding amounts at the end of the year. Reference was made to various TDS sections like 194A to 194K, where TDS has to be deducted at the time of payment or credit, whichever is earlier and also to section 194LA where TDS is deducted at the time of payment of sum.

(g) Decision of the Madras High Court in Tube Investments of India Ltd.’s case was concerned only with constitutional validity of section 40(a)(ia) and did not consider the aspects of ‘paid’, ‘credited’ or ‘payable’.

(h) Disallowance under section 40(a)(ia) was applicable only to amounts outstanding or provisions made on the date of balance sheet on which there was a default in complying with TDS provisions.

4.Andhra Pradesh High Court’s interim stay / suspension-whether a show stopper?

4.1 The revenue recently filed an application u/s 151 of Code of Civil Procedure (It is pertinent to note here that Section 151 of CPC recognizes the inherent power of a Court to make such orders as may be necessary for the ends of justice or to prevent abuse of the process of the Court) before the Hon’ble High Court of Andhra Pradesh praying that the operation of order passed by the ITAT, Vishakapatnam Bench in the case of M/s. Merilyn Shipping & Transports may please be suspended. A one line order has been passed stating –

Interim suspension. Notice”.

It is pertinent to note here that the aforesaid petition was filed in the revenue’s appeal in I.T. T.A. No. 384 of 2012 which was an appeal where M/s. Merilyn Shipping & Transports was itself the respondent

4.2 Now, a question arises for consideration is whether such an interim suspension / stay will destroy the precedent value of the Special Bench Judgement, which was hitherto binding on all the Benches of ITAT and lower authorities all over the country.

4.3 Before proceeding further, it is important to analyse the significance of the term ‘suspension’ and ‘stay of proceedings’. The Hon’ble High Court has used the term ‘suspension’ whereas normally courts use the term ‘stay of proceedings’.

The Law Lexicon, edited by Hon’ble Justice Y.V. Chandrachud, Former Chief Justice of Supreme Court of India has explained the term ‘staying proceedings’ as under-

The suspension of an action, Proceedings is stayed absolutely or conditionally.”

It has also defined the term ‘suspend’ as under-

Suspend is defined to mean to interrupt; to cause to cease for a time; or stay and delay; to hinder the proceeding for a time.”

Thus, it can be seen that both the terms have been used interchangeably in the two definitions and mean one and the same thing.

4.4 Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case Shree Chamund Mopeds Ltd. vs. Church of South India Trust Association, Madras AIR 1992 SC 1439, 1444 has analysed the difference between “stay of operation” of an order and “quashing” an order“. It has held that ‘stay of order’ of an appellate authority / court by a higher court means that the order passed by the appellate authority / lower court still continues to exist in law inspite of the ‘stay’ and its existence is not destroyed. But where the order of the appellate / lower court is quashed and the matter is remanded back, it means that the appeal disposed of by the said order of the appellate authority/lower court would be restored and it can be said to be pending before the said authority/lower court.

4.5 The Hon’ble Justice Bhaskar Bhattacharya sitting in a division bench of the Calcutta High Court speaking for the Bench, has very succinctly and clearly explained the position of law in this regard in the case of Pijush Kanti Chowdhury vs. State of West Bengal and Ors., 2007 (3) CHN * 178 as under-

Therefore, the effect of the order of stay in a pending appeal before the Apex Court does not amount to ‘any declaration of law’ but is only binding upon the parties to the said proceedings and at the same time, such interim order does not destroy the binding effect of the judgment of the High Court as a precedent because while granting the interim order, the Apex Court had no occasion to lay down any proposition of law inconsistent with the one declared by the High Court which is impugned.”

5. CONCLUSION

From the above analysis, it is as clear as broad daylight that the salutary impact of the special bench judgement in the case of M/s. Merilyn Shipping & Transports has not been obliterated and the judgement continues to hold the field inspite of the ‘Interim Suspension’ of the same by the Hon’ble Andhra Pradesh High Court.

* means ‘Calcutta High Court Notes’: the entire text can also be downloaded from www.indiakanoon.org

Disclaimer: The contents of this document are solely for informational purpose. It does not constitute professional advice or a formal recommendation. While due care has been taken in preparing this document, the existence of mistakes and omissions herein is not ruled out. Neither the author nor itatonline.org and its affiliates accepts any liabilities for any loss or damage of any kind arising out of any inaccurate or incomplete information in this document nor for any actions taken in reliance thereon. No part of this document should be distributed or copied (except for personal, non-commercial use) without express written permission of itatonline.org
15 comments on “Despite Suspension, Special Bench Verdict In Merilyn Shipping Is Binding
  1. CA Deepak Soni says:

    Now the view has also been taken against the assessee by the Gujarat High Court.It is now the Supreme Court which will have to settle the law.

  2. CA Deepak Soni says:

    Now the view has also been taken against the assesee.

  3. s.srinivasan says:

    Sir
    now that there is a high court order against the above mentioned order , this special bench order is there only for academic value. one can still say that it is binding on Andra Pradesh.
    srinivsan

  4. CA PRAKASH D SHAH says:

    NOW TELL US THAT AFTER THE JUDGEMENT OF HONBLE CALCUTTA HIGH COURT THE ORDER OF SPECIAL BENCH IS BINDING ON THE HONBLE ITAT MUMBAI?

  5. CA PRAKASH D SHAH says:

    NOW TELL US THAT AFTER THE JUDGEMENT OF HONBLE CALCUTTA HIGH COURT THE ORDER OF SPECIAL BENCH IS BINDING ON THE HONBLE ITAT MUMBAI.

  6. CA PRAKASH D SHAH says:

    The order of the Honble ITAT Special Bench seems to be reasonable.But what is the status after the Honble Calcutta High Court.Whether now Special bench order is binding on Honble ITAT Mumbai

  7. Kishor Satwick says:

    Good academic analysis. Subhash Agarwal is thorough on the subject. However, considering the back ground of introduction of section 40(a)(ia), the interpretation given by the ITAT Vizag Special Bench to the word ‘payable’ is bizarre. It is better if the assessees do not reply on this judgment.

  8. CA .L Nageswara Rao says:

    An Excellent judgement.The revenue office shall be made accountable for all their actions in their official duties and made liable to punitive action if necessary.

  9. siddeshwar says:

    Good original thinking. I wasn’t aware of these judgements. Thanks.

  10. Law is always pregnant with reason of reasonableness of any society. Courts survive without police force just because courts observe the social reasonableness which is vital. So Administrative courts per force have to yield to courts. So good tribunals mostly work with societal norms when they cross then courts step in

  11. AUTHOR IS RIGHT itat decision still is binding.
    Reason is the life of the law; nay, the common law is nothing else but reason…the llaw which is perfection of reason, as said by Edward Coke

    So always courts are very careful in pronouncing judgements as judgements are not judgemental at all.

  12. Revenue collections are not based on any how any way but by valid principles/doctrines of taxation so statute is invariably by a lot of discussion among the representatives and not some employee officers. Delegated legislation is by executive officers whose only aim is to get at their goal of collection here but representatives of people look at how society will question and how society need to be pacified and if not pacifiable representatives will never pass the statute at all, that is doctrine of statute making in a democratic society please.

    So delegated legislation any time can face guillotine!

  13. Revenue collections are not based on any how any way but by valid principles/doctrines of taxation so statute is invariably by a lot of discussion among the representatives and not some employee officers. Delegated legislation is by executive officers whose only aim is to get at their goal of collection here but representatives of people look at how society will question and how society need to be pacified and if not pacifiable representatives will never pass the statute at all, that doctrine of statute making in a democratic society please

  14. Agreed with the view expressed by author. Reading court orders need proper understanding of court terms.Revenue wanted before court invoking sec 151, court said ‘interim suspension.Notice’ Question arises suspension of what? Notice, given by whom?
    Revenue may have given Notice. so suspension of Notice may mean Court has given u=interim suspension of Notice only Not thr Tribunal order. so Tribunal order is ‘est’.
    It means court has not decided on Revenue appeal that is all. Revenue has to be careful not to cause contempt by misunderstanding the interim suspension. Revenue can move a clarification application before ct, for clarity, as the section in question is contentious, as the section is suffering from vice of inconsistency when read with five sections – 201(1), 201(1A), 221, 271(c) and 276 B.
    it means new section appears to be extra constitutional. Taxation need necessarily by all means very meaningfully representative in character any where on earth. So No taxation without representation surfaced at Boston.MA then Every government in any democracy is representative and so it has to work only sensibly representative in character but when one reads the new section it is just arbitratively arbitrary and may soon suffer quashing, so Court order is clear for any reasonable legal mind like the author of the above article.

  15. Ch.G.Murali Krishna Murthy says:

    Sri Subhash Agarwalji,

    As a practicing CA, I share your view that the decision of the Spl Bench is binding on all the lower authorities across the country. It is another matter that the department may not grant the relief and wish to keep the issue alive till the decision of the AP High Court is rendered.

    The article is self explanatory and very clear about the implications of the judgement. The other citations will also be of great persuasive value.

    wish to be in touch with you.

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