PCIT v. NTPC Sail Power Co. Pvt. Ltd.(2019) 178 DTR 53/ 308 CTR 838 / (2020) 428 ITR 535 (Delhi) (HC)

S.32: Depreciation — Additional depreciation — Generating electricity Manufacture or production of article or thing —Business of generating electricity —Article or thing — Entitled to additional depreciation [ S. 32 (1)(iia) ]

Dismissing the appeal of the revenue the Court held that electricity is capable of abstraction, transmission, transfer, delivery, possession, consumption and use like any other movable property. To deny the benefit of additional depreciation to a generating entity on the basis that electricity is not an “article” or “thing” was an artificially restrictive meaning of the provision. The benefit of additional depreciation under section 32(1)(iia) had, therefore, been rightly granted to the assessee by the Commissioner (Appeals) and the Tribunal. With effect from April 1, 2013, the provision had been amended by the Finance Act, 2012 and the assessees engaged in the generation of power have expressly been included in the ambit thereof.( AY.2011-12)