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Issues Involved:
1. Whether the Tribunal had evidence to hold that the assessee agreed to the reduction in hire charges on account of business considerations and commercial expediency. 2. Whether the Tribunal was justified in holding that the hire charges forgone by the assessee-company were an admissible deduction in the assessment year 1971-72, given the mercantile system of accounting. Detailed Analysis: Issue 1: Evidence for Reduction in Hire Charges The Tribunal found evidence in the letter from the contractors dated December 31, 1970, and the resolution of the assessee's board of directors dated April 1, 1971. The Tribunal held that the reduction in hire charges was agreed upon due to business considerations and commercial expediency. The Tribunal noted that the prevailing situation in the coal industry, as described in the contractor's letter, was not disputed by the Revenue. The Tribunal concluded that the forgoing of 1/3rd of the depreciation charges was to retain the services of the contractors and was in the interest of the assessee's business. The Tribunal's decision was based on the principle that the board of directors acted in a manner consistent with what any prudent businessman would do under similar circumstances. Issue 2: Justification of Deduction in the Relevant Assessment Year The Tribunal's decision to allow the forgone hire charges as an admissible deduction was challenged on the grounds that the assessee followed the mercantile system of accounting. The Revenue argued that the depreciation charges had accrued in the relevant assessment year and the forgoing of these charges was decided after the accounting year ended. The Tribunal, however, held that the forgoing of the charges was a business expenditure that related back to the accounting year in question. The Tribunal relied on the Supreme Court's decision in Morvi Industries Ltd. [1971] 82 ITR 835, which held that relinquishing income after it had accrued did not affect its taxability. The Tribunal also referenced the Bombay High Court's decision in H. M. Kashiparekh & Co. Ltd. [1960] 39 ITR 706, which stated that the accrual of income, making of accounts, and forgoing of income are interconnected events that should be considered together. The Tribunal's findings were based on the fact that the contractor's request for reduction was made before the end of the accounting year and was accepted immediately after. This acceptance was deemed to relate back to the accounting year involved. The Tribunal's decision was supported by the principle that the real income of the assessee should be considered, and the forgoing of the charges was seen as a necessary business expenditure to maintain the colliery's operations. Conclusion: The High Court affirmed the Tribunal's findings on both issues. The Court held that there was sufficient evidence to support the Tribunal's conclusion that the reduction in hire charges was due to business considerations and commercial expediency. The Court also upheld the Tribunal's decision that the forgone hire charges were an admissible deduction for the assessment year 1971-72, despite the assessee's mercantile system of accounting. The Court emphasized that the forgoing of income, when done for business reasons, should be considered as relating back to the relevant accounting year. Both questions were answered in the affirmative and in favor of the assessee.
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