2008 (8) TMI 193 - HC - Income Tax

Interest earned from investment (out of reserve) in another Society - Whether Tribunal was right in law in holding that the interest income earned by the assessee (a co-operative society) on deposits made with H. P. State Co-operative Bank in the shape of F. D., is income derived from banking business and, therefore, eligible for deduction under section 80P(2) (a) (i) Held, yes - no merit in appeal of the Revenue so it is rejected

Issues:
1. Interpretation of section 80P(2)(a)(i) of the Income-tax Act regarding the eligibility of interest income earned by the assessee on deposits made with a cooperative bank for deduction.
2. Application of the decision in Madhya Pradesh Co-operative Bank Ltd. v. CIT [1996] 218 ITR 438 in determining the tax exemption eligibility of income derived from investments.
3. Consideration of the judgment in CIT v. Karnataka State Co-operative Apex Bank [2001] 251 ITR 194 in relation to the interpretation of section 80P(2)(a)(i).
4. Analysis of the requirement under section 57 of the H. P. Co-operative Societies Act, 1968 for maintaining reserve funds and the permissibility of investments from such funds.
5. Evaluation of whether interest income on investments made in a cooperative bank, as mandated by the Co-operative Societies Act, is eligible for deduction under section 80P(2)(a)(i) of the Income-tax Act.
6. Assessment of the argument regarding the necessity of approval from the Registrar for depositing funds in the cooperative bank and its impact on the eligibility for deduction.
7. Consideration of the eligibility for deduction under section 80P(2)(d) of the Income-tax Act for interest income derived from investments made in any cooperative society.

Analysis:
1. The primary issue in this case revolves around the interpretation of section 80P(2)(a)(i) of the Income-tax Act concerning the eligibility of interest income earned by the assessee on deposits made with a cooperative bank for deduction. The court examined whether such interest income qualifies as income derived from banking business and thus eligible for deduction under the specified provision.

2. The court considered the application of the decision in Madhya Pradesh Co-operative Bank Ltd. v. CIT [1996] 218 ITR 438 to determine the tax exemption eligibility of income derived from investments. It was noted that the Assessing Officer initially relied on this judgment to conclude that income from investments of statutory reserves did not qualify for exemption under section 80P(2)(a)(i) of the Income-tax Act.

3. In light of the judgment in CIT v. Karnataka State Co-operative Apex Bank [2001] 251 ITR 194, which overruled the decision in Madhya Pradesh Co-operative Bank case, the court assessed the impact of this precedent on the interpretation of section 80P(2)(a)(i) and the eligibility of income derived from investments for deduction.

4. The court delved into the analysis of section 57 of the H. P. Co-operative Societies Act, 1968, which mandates the maintenance of reserve funds by cooperative societies and specifies the permissible modes of investment for such funds. This examination was crucial in determining the permissibility of investments made by the assessee from the reserve fund.

5. By referencing relevant case laws such as CIT v. Nawanshahar Central Co-operative Bank Ltd. [2007] 289 ITR 6, the court evaluated whether interest income on investments made in a cooperative bank, as required by the Co-operative Societies Act, is eligible for deduction under section 80P(2)(a)(i) of the Income-tax Act, emphasizing the statutory nature of such investments.

6. The court addressed the argument raised regarding the necessity of approval from the Registrar for depositing funds in the cooperative bank and its potential impact on the eligibility for deduction. It dismissed this argument as an act of desperation and highlighted that such a plea cannot be raised at a later stage, especially when there is existing evidence of Registrar's implicit approval.

7. Lastly, the court considered the eligibility for deduction under section 80P(2)(d) of the Income-tax Act for interest income derived from investments made in any cooperative society, further reinforcing the assessee's entitlement to deduction based on the nature of investments and income derived therefrom.

In conclusion, the court rejected the appeal of the Revenue, affirming the eligibility of the interest income for deduction under the specified provisions of the Income-tax Act based on the statutory requirements and legal precedents cited during the analysis.

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