1998 (4) TMI 31 - HC - Income Tax

Summary

Issues Involved:

1. Whether the circuit house maintained by the assessee was a guest house under section 37(4) of the Income-tax Act, 1961.
2. Whether the assessee is entitled to depreciation on roads inside the factory.

Detailed Analysis:

Issue 1: Whether the circuit house maintained by the assessee was a guest house under section 37(4) of the Income-tax Act, 1961

The primary issue in this case is whether the circuit house maintained by the assessee can be regarded as a guest house within the meaning of section 37(4) of the Income-tax Act, 1961. The assessee, a public sector undertaking, maintained a circuit house at Neyveli for business purposes, providing accommodation to those visiting for business dealings. The Income-tax Officer and the Appellate Assistant Commissioner held that the circuit house was a guest house under section 37(4), thus disallowing the expenditure and depreciation claims. However, the Tribunal, after considering the Finance Minister's budget speech and explanatory memo, concluded that the circuit house was not a guest house. The Tribunal found that the accommodation was essential for business visitors due to the lack of other facilities in Neyveli, and thus, it did not fall under the "guest house" category as per section 37(4).

The High Court, however, disagreed with the Tribunal's conclusion. It referred to the decision in CIT v. Aruna Sugars Ltd. [1980] 123 ITR 619, which defined a guest house as a place for the reception of strangers. The Court noted that the accommodation provided by the assessee was for strangers who visited for business dealings, making it a guest house under section 37(4). The Court emphasized that business dealings do not make visitors part of the assessee's establishment, and the expenditure incurred on their accommodation, though commercially expedient, falls under the prohibition of section 37(4).

The Court also considered the legislative amendment in section 37(5) by the Finance Act, 1983, which clarified that any accommodation provided to any person, including employees or directors on tour or visit, is a guest house. Thus, for the assessment year 1979-80, the accommodation maintained by the assessee was clearly a guest house under the amended provisions.

Issue 2: Whether the assessee is entitled to depreciation on roads inside the factory

For the assessment years 1978-79 and 1979-80, an additional issue was whether the assessee is entitled to depreciation on roads inside the factory. This issue was resolved in favor of the assessee by the Supreme Court decision in CIT v. Gwalior Rayon Silk Manufacturing Co. Ltd. [1992] 196 ITR 149, which allowed depreciation on such roads. Following this precedent, the High Court answered this question in the affirmative and against the Revenue.

Conclusion:

The High Court concluded that the circuit house maintained by the assessee is a guest house under section 37(4) of the Income-tax Act, 1961, and thus, the expenditure and depreciation claims on it are disallowed. The Court also affirmed that the assessee is entitled to depreciation on roads inside the factory as per the Supreme Court's decision. The common question of law regarding the circuit house was answered in the negative, in favor of the Revenue and against the assessee.