COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX Vs. INDUSIND BANK LTD.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The present appeal challenges the order passed by the Tribunal dated January 13, 2012, in Income Tax Appeal No. 3509/Mum/2006. The assessment year in question is 2003-04. The appeal was filed by the assessee against the order of the Commissioner of Income-tax (Appeals) dated April 10, 2006, before the Income-tax Appellate Tribunal and particularly point No. 1 raised therein. The Tribunal allowed the appeal and that is how the Revenue has come in further appeal before us.

(2.) Mr. Chandrapal, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the Revenue, submits that this appeal raises a substantial question of law. The income derived by way of interest from security had accrued and in terms of book accounts maintained by the respondent-assessee, which is a banking company. However, that was not offered to tax on accrual basis but on actual receipt. Mr. Chandrapal submits that in relation to a claim under section 43B(d) of the Income-tax Act, 1961, the assessee urged that interest liability had accrued under the mercantile system of accounting but, on the other hand, it urges for the purpose of this section that interest is not payable. This stand of the assessee was rejected by the Tribunal and while dealing with ground No. 5. Therefore, inconsistent and contradictory stand of the assessee should not have been accepted. The system of accounting which has been adopted should have been continuously adopted and accepted by the Revenue, then alone, the finding of fact can be returned in favour of the assessee. Therefore, the appeal be admitted.

(3.) Mr. Shah, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the respondent-bank-assessee, submits that the Revenue have been persistently raisings this issue and pertaining to the same assessee. That has been raised for the assessment years 2000-01, 2001-02 and 2004-05 and the Tribunal has been consistently following its view and in the case of the very assessee and this view has been taken for prior assessment years. In relation to the assessment year 2000-01, the Tribunal passed a detailed order in favour of the assessee in Income Tax appeal No. 931/M/04. That order of the Tribunal was challenged by the Revenue by filing Income Tax Appeal No. 1621 of 2011. That has been dismissed by this court on February 12, 2013, and relying upon the order passed by this court in the case of Director of Income-tax (International Taxation) v. Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait, BSC in Income Tax Appeal No. 1738 of 2011 decided on February 5, 2013. Thereafter, for the assessment year 2001-02 as well this court dismissed Income-tax Appeal No. 2641 of 2011 on April 16, 2014. The Tribunal has been taking a consistent view on the factual finding and there was nothing contrary pointed out by the Revenue. That is how this court has been dismissing the appeals of the Revenue. In the present case as well, we find that the Tribunal had applied and followed its order in the case of this very assessee for prior assessment year 2000-01. That is how the conclusion in paragraph 6 of the Tribunal is reached. In such circumstances, we are of the opinion that the only question of law projected as substantial one, cannot be entertained. A pure factual finding cannot be re-appreciated and reappraised. That finding has been consistently rendered by the Tribunal and for prior assessment years in the case of the very assessee. If the Tribunal follows and applies it on the same facts for a subsequent assessment year, that exercise undertaken by the Tribunal cannot be termed as perverse or vitiated by any error of law, apparent on the face of record. The appeal fails and is dismissed. No costs.