For Full Access To All Latest Judgments on Income Tax
Click Here To Subscribe Now
Take a tour of our Income-Tax Library

As regards clause (b) of Section 80IA( 4)(i), the requirement predicated is that the assessee must have entered into an agreement with the Central Government or a State Government or a local authority or any other statutory body for (i) developing, (ii) maintaining and operating or (iii) developing, maintaining and operating a new infrastructure facility. As aforesaid, in the presentcase, the agreement was initially executed between the erstwhile partnership firm and the State Government, but with clear understanding that as and when the partnership firm is converted into a company, the name of the company in the agreement so executed be recorded recognising the change. Notably, the agreement itself mentions that M/s. Chetak Enterprises as party to the agreement was meant to include its successors and assignee. Further, the State Government had granted sanction to the company and the original agreement entered into with the firm automatically stood converted in favour of the assessee-Company, which came into existence on 28.3.2000 being the successor of the erstwhile partnership firm. Thus understood, even the stipulation in clause (b) of Section 80IA( 4)(i) is fulfilled by the assessee-Company. Since these are the only two issues which weighed with the assessing officer to deny deduction to the assessee-Company as claimed under Section 80IA of the Income Tax Act, the first appellate authority was justified in reversing the view taken by the assessing officer. For the same reason, the ITAT, as well as, the High Court have justly affirmed the view taken by the first appellate authority, holding that the respondent/assessee-Company qualified for the deduction under Section 80IA being an enterprise carrying on the stated business pertaining to infrastructure facility and owned by a Company registered in India on the basis of the agreement executed with the State Government to which the respondent/assessee-Company has succeeded in law after conversion of the partnership firm into a company. In view of the above, the appeal stands dismissed with no order as to costs.

Shanti Prime Publication Pvt. Ltd.

Sec. 80IA of Income Tax Act, 1961— Deduction — Assessee was a partnership firm M/s. Chetak Enterprises entered into an agreement with the Government of Rajasthan for construction of road and collection of road/toll tax. The construction of road was completed by the said firm on 27.3.2000 and the same was inaugurated on 1.4.2000. The firm was converted into a private limited company on 28.3.2000 named as M/s. Chetak Enterprises (P) Ltd. under Part IX of the Companies Act, 1956. The authority noted the change and cancelled the registration of the firm and granted a fresh registration code to the assessee-Company. As aforesaid, the road was inaugurated on 1.4.2000 and the assessee-Company started collecting toll tax. For the relevant assessment year, the assessee-Company claimed deduction under Section 80IA of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The assessing officer declined that claim of the assessee-Company, which decision was reversed by the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals),. The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal confirmed the decision of the first appellate authority. The Department preferred an appeal before the High Court.
the High Court have justly affirmed the view taken by the first appellate authority, holding that the respondent/assessee-Company qualified for the deduction under Section 80IA being an enterprise carrying on the stated business pertaining to infrastructure facility and owned by a Company registered in India on the basis of the agreement executed with the State Government to which the respondent/assessee-Company has succeeded in law after conversion of the partnership firm into a company.
The Court had delineated the contours regarding permissibility of purposive interpretation of taxing/fiscal statutes, particularly in the context of an exemption. Thus the court dismissed the appeal. --- CIT vs. CHETAK ENTERPRISES PVT. LTD.[2020] 23 ITCD Online 22 (SC)