TMI Blog2019 (6) TMI 1098X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... t would have been inclined to set aside the impugned notices, this Court takes a slightly different view owing to the second submission made by learned counsel, which is a crucial aspect of the trajectory of the hearing today. It may be too late in the day for the Revenue to issue notices under Section 148 afresh, if they are set aside now and ultimately if the Revenue succeeds in the Special Leave Petitions, which are said to have been filed. Impugned notices kept in abeyance subject to the outcome of the the Apex Court in the SLP as referred above. - W.P.Nos.15651, 15660, 15671, 15672 & 15667 of 2019 And W.M.P.Nos.15531, 15533, 15536, 15537, 15542, 15543, 15548, 15549, 15539 & 15540 of 2019 - - - Dated:- 11-6-2019 - Mr. Justice M. Sundar For the Petitioners : Mr.C.Prakasam (in all W.Ps) For the Respondent : Mr.A.N.R.Jayaprathap Junior Standing counsel (Income Tax) (in all W.Ps) COMMON ORDER This common order will govern aforesaid five writ petitions. In other words, this common order will dispose of these five writ petitions. 2. Mr.C.Prakasam, learned counsel on record for ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ocieties akin to those of writ petitioners are entitled to the benefit of Section 80P of IT Act. 8. Adverting to the aforesaid order of Hon'ble Division Bench, learned counsel submitted that questions of law, which were entertained by the Hon'ble Division Bench are adumbrated in paragraph 5 of the said order, which reads as follows: '5. Aggrieved by the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, the appellants have filing these appeals, on raising the following substantial questions of law:- 1. Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case the Tribunal was right in holding that the assessee is to be treated as primary agricultural society and is carrying on the business of banking or providing credit facilities to its members and is entitled for deduction under Section 80P (2) (a) (i) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 with respect to the interest received from Class B members who were involved in non-agricultural activity. 2. Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case the Tribunal was right in holding that the Class B members of the assessee society can be treated as a member ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... elow : (4) The provisions of this section shall not apply in relation to any co-operative bank other than a primary agricultural credit society or a primary co-operative agricultural and rural development bank. Explanation For the purposes of this subsection --- (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. It is seen that the primary object of the society is to provide financial accommodation to its members to meet all the agricultural requirements and to provide credit facilities to the members, as per the bye-laws and as laid down in Section 5 (cciv) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. Further, from the CPT Circular dated 12.03.2008, it is evident that a credit co-operative society is not a cooperativ ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... issions in this regard. 14. First submission is on limitation. This first submission is that the aforesaid order of the Hon'ble Division Bench as well as other orders passed by Hon'ble Division Benches of this Court on the same aspect i.e., benefit of Section 80P of Income Tax Act to Cooperative Societies is being carried further to Hon'ble Supreme Court by way of Special Leave Petitions. In other words, it is the specific case and stated position of the learned Revenue counsel that the IT department, has not given legal quietus to the order, but is agitating the matter further by filing Special Leave Petitions in Hon'ble Supreme Court. 15. Be that as it may, as of today, there is no disputation that the aforesaid order of Hon'ble Division Bench has neither been stayed nor reversed. Therefore, it holds the field. 16. Though this could be the end of the matter and this Court would have been inclined to set aside the impugned notices, this Court takes a slightly different view owing to the second submission made by learned counsel, which is a crucial aspect of the trajectory of the hearing today. ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X
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