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TMI Blog2015 (4) TMI 759X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ther than a primary agricultural credit society or a primary co-operative agricultural and rural development bank. Explanation : For the purposes of this sub-section,- (a) "co-operative bank" and "primary agricultural credit society" shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in Part V of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (10 of 1949); (b) "primary co-operative agricultural and rural development bank" means a society having its area of operation confined to a taluk and the principal object of which is to provide for long-term credit for agricultural and rural development activities." 3. The AO was of the view that after the amendment by the Finance Act, 2006 w.e.f. 1.4.2007 by which sub-section (4) was inserted in section 80P of the Act, the Assessee which was a cooperative society carrying on banking business was not entitled to deduction u/s.80P(2)(i) of the Act. According to the AO, the assessee was a co-operative bank and therefore the deduction u/s. 80P(2)(a)(i) cannot be allowed. In coming to the above conclusion, the AO noticed that the nature of the activity of the assessee, though registered as a credit co-operative society, is that of a banking institution no ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... e and therefore, it is entitled to deduction u/s 80P(2)(a)(i) of the Act. The following were the relevant observations of the Tribunal:- "9. We have heard the rival submissions and perused the material on record. The assessee was denied the deduction u/s 80-P(2)(a)(i) of the Act for the reason of introduction of sub section 4 to section 80P. Section 80P(4) reads as follows:- "(4) The provisions of this section shall not apply in relation to any cooperative bank other than a primary agricultural credit society or a primary cooperative agricultural and rural development bank. Explanation: For the purposes of this sub-section, (a) "co-operative bank" and "primary agricultural credit society" shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in Part V of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (10 of 1949); (b) "primary cooperative agricultural and rural development bank" means a society having its area of operation confined to a taluk and the principal object of which is to provide for long term credit for agricultural and rural development activities". 9.1 The above sub-section 4 of section 80P provides that deduction under the said section shall not be available to any co ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ccounts and overall functioning of the bank. Part V Part V of the Banking Regulation Act is applicable to cooperative banks. Part V of the Banking Regulation Act is not applicable to cooperative banks. Use of words The word 'bank', banker', 'banking' can be used by a cooperative bank. The word 'bank', banker', 'banking' cannot be used by a cooperative society. 9.3 If the intention of the legislature was not to grant deduction u/s 80P(2)(a)(i) to cooperative societies carrying on the business of providing credit facilities to its members, then this section would have been deleted. The new proviso to section 80P(4) which is brought into statute is applicable only to cooperative banks and not to credit cooperative societies. The intention of the legislature of bringing in cooperative banks into the taxation structure was mainly to bring in par with commercial banks. Since the assessee is a cooperative society and not a cooperative bank, the provisions of section 80P(4) will not have application in the assessee's case and therefore, it is entitled to deduction u/s 80P(2)(a)(i) of the Act. Hence, we are of the view that the order of the CIT(A) is correct and in accordance with la ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... clusion provided in sub-section(4) of section 80P would not apply. This, irrespective of the fact that the respondent would not fall within the expression "primary agricultural credit society". 6. Had this been the plain statutory provisions under consideration in isolation, in our opinion, the question of law could be stated to have arisen. When, as contended by the assessee, by virtue of subsection(4) only co-operative banks other than those mentioned therein were meant to be excluded for the purpose of deduction under section 80P, a question would arise why then Legislature specified primary agricultural credit societies along with primary cooperative agricultural and rural development banks for exclusion from such exclusion and in other words, continued to hold such entity as eligible for deduction. However, the issue has been considerably simplified by virtue of CBDT circular No.133 of 2007 dated 9.5.2007. Circular provides as under:- "Subject: Clarification regarding admissibly of deduction under section 80P of the Income-Tax Act, 1961. 1. Please refer to your letter no.DCUS/30688/2007, dated 28.03.2007 addressed to Chairman, Central Board of Direct Taxes, on the above giv ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X
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