Phi Seeds Ltd v. Dcit Circle 14 1

ITA 1988/DEL/2006 | 2002-2003
Pronouncement Date: 18-12-2017 | Result: Dismissed

Appeal Details

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RSA Number 198820114 RSA 2006
Assessee PAN xxxxxxxxxxx
Bench xxxxxxxxxxx
Appeal Number xxxxxxxxxxx
Duration Of Justice 11 year(s) 6 month(s) 17 day(s)
Appellant xxxxxxxxxxx
Respondent xxxxxxxxxxx
Appeal Type Income Tax Appeal
Pronouncement Date 18-12-2017
Appeal Filed By Assessee
Order Result Dismissed
Bench Allotted F
Tribunal Order Date 18-12-2017
Date Of Final Hearing 19-06-2017
Next Hearing Date 19-06-2017
Assessment Year 2002-2003
Appeal Filed On 01-06-2006
Judgment Text
In The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal Delhi F Bench New Delhi Before Shri S K Yadav Judicial Member And Shri B P Jain Accountant Member Ita No 1988 Del 2006 Assessment Year 2002 03 Ita No 4383 Del 2006 Assessment Year 2003 04 Ita No 443 Del 2010 Assessment Year 2005 06 Ita No 5285 Del 2012 Assessment Year 2007 08 Ita No 3 670 Del 2013 Assessment Year 2008 09 Ita No 1903 Del 2014 Assessment Year 2009 10 Ita No 4269 Del 2014 Assessment Year 2010 11 M S P H I Seeds Pvt Ltd Vs The Dy C I T B 4 Greater Kailash Enclave Circle 14 1 Part Ii New Delhi New Delhi Pan Aabcs 5374 D Ita No 2223 Del 2014 Assessment Year 2009 10 The Dy C I T Vs P H I Seeds Pvt Lt D Circle 14 1 B 4 Greater Kailash Enclave New Delhi Part Ii New Delhi Pan Aabcs 5374 D Appellant Respondent Date Of Hearing 2 3 1 0 2017 Date Of Pronouncement 18 12 2017 2 Assessee By Shri Ajay Vohra Sr Adv Smt Kavita Jha Adv Shri Aditya Vohra Adv Revenue By S Mt Paramita Tripathy Cit Dr Order Per B Ench This Is A Bunch Of 8 Appeals One Filed By The Revenue And Remaining 7 Filed By The Assessee Pertaining To Same Assessee For Assessment Years 2002 03 2003 04 2005 06 2007 08 To 2010 11 Since Identical Issues Are Involved In All These Appeals An D Were Heard Together These Are Being Disposed Of By This Common Order For The Sake Of Convenience And Brevity First Of All We Take Up The Appeal For Assessment Year 2002 03 And Since The Issue Is Identical In All Other Years Our Decision For Assessment Year 2002 03 Shall Be Identically Applicable In All Other Years Ita No 1988 Del 2006 Ay 2002 03 2 The Assessee Is In Appeal Against The Order Dat Ed 22 02 2006 Passed By The Cit A New Delhi The A Ssessee Is A Company Incorporated Under The Companies Act 1956 And Is A 100 Subsidiary Of Pioneeer Overseas Corpn Usa Poc In The Relevant Ay 2002 03 The Assessee Filed Its Return Of Income Declaring An Income Of Rs 3 38 53 720 After Claiming Exemp Tion Under Section 10 1 Of The Income Tax Act 1961 Hereinafter Referred To As The Act For Short According To The Assessee C Om Pany The Main Activity Of The C Ompany Is To Procure Various Variety Of Seeds From Growers Processing And Packing And S Ubsequent Sale The Procurement Of Seeds From Growers Is At A Fixed Rate The Procurement Cost Is Bifurcated In The Books Of Account Under The Following Heads A Land Lease Rent B Fertilizers Chemicals C Labour Service Charges The Case Of The Asses See Was Selected For Scruti Ny Assessment Under Section 143 2 Of The Act The Ao Show Caused The Assessee To Explain As To Why The Claim Of Agricultural Income Not Be Disallowed The Assessee Submitted That Its Claim Of Business Activities Being Agricult Ural In Nature Is Entitled For Exemption Under Section 10 1 Of The Act The Ao Rejected The Contention Raised By The Assessee And Held That The Charges For Superv Ision And Guidance Cannot Be Said To Be Agricultural Activities Within The Meaning Of The Act It Was Further Held That The Assessee Does Not Indulge In Agricultural Operations In Accordance With Tests Laid In The Judgment Of The Honble Supreme Court In The Case Of Cit Vs Raja Benoy Kumar Sahas Roy It Was Observed In The Assessment Order That The Case Of T He Assessee Is 4 Similar To The Method Ology Adopted By National Seeds Corporation Ltd As The Assessee Also Pays Advance To Farmer Who Approaches The Company With Its Crop In View Of The Above The Claim O F Exemption Under Section 10 1 Of The Act Was Denied To Be Assessee The Total Income Of The Assessee Was Assessed At Rs 3 27 75 246 3 Aggrieved By The Assessment Order Dated 22 03 2005 The Assessee Preferred Appeal Before The Ld Cit A The Ld Cit A Vide Impugned Order Dated 09 03 2006 Dismissed The Appeal Of The Assessee The Cit A Observed That The Assessee Company Is Not Engaged In The Performance Of Agricultural Operations Because The Basic Operations Like Tilling Sowing Etc Are Bein G Performed By The Farmer 4 Aggrieved By The Order Passed By The Ld Cit A The Assessee Is In Appeal Before Us Grounds No 1 To 12 Pertain To The Addition On Account Of Denial Of Claim Under Section 10 1 Of The Act The Ld Ar Referred To The Subm Issions Made During The Course Of Assessment And Explained The Transaction Entered Into With The Farmer As Under I Parent Seed Sown Which Is The Most Expensive And Vital Input Continues To Be Owned By The Company And Loss On This 5 Account Res Ulting From Low Production By The Job Workers Is Borne By The Company Ii The Standardized Cost Of Expenditure On Fertilizer And Chemicals Is Normally Reimbursed By The Company Iii The Job Workers Does Not Have The Right To Retain Any Seeds Or Plants With Himself Except With The Approval Or Permission Of The Company As The Property In Such Speeds And Plants Belongs To The Company Iv Parent Seeds Sown As Well As Hybrids Grown Are Always The Property Of The Company The Company Either Destroys Substandard Seeds Or Commingles And Seeds Them As Ordinary Grain The Assessment Orders For A Y 1996 97 To 2001 02 And The Audit Reports Are Factually Incorrect In Stating Th At Defective Or Substandard Seeds Are Returned To The Farmers However As A Matter Of Goodwill And Established Practice The Sales Proceeds Of The Grain Are Credited To The Job Workers V Male Chopping Charges Debited Under Labour And Service Charges Are Paid Out On Per Acre Basis In The Case Of All Crops Except Mustard 6 Vi As Against The Small Number Of Cases Where Balances Were Negative The Company Has Incurred Far Greater Loss By Way Of Its Inputs In Terms Of Parent Weed Costs And The Expenditure Towards Field Production Staff Vii For F Y 2000 01 The Company Ploughed Down 442 Acres Of Land Where The Seeds Sown Did Not Sprout Within A Few Days Of Sowing As A Result The Lease Got Frustrated And The L And Was Returned To The Farmer Under Mutual Agreement This Clearly Shows That The Company Had Possession Of Leased Lands And Also The Property In The Seeds Belonged To It Viii Consideration For Purchase Of Goods Can Never Be A Negative Figure Yet It Has Happened This Is So Because In A Job Contract The Contractor Becomes Liable To Pay Damages For Loss Caused To The Party Who Has Given This Goods For Processing Had It Been A Transaction Of Sale Purchase Of Hybrid Seeds As Alleged By The A O There Would Have Been No Question Of The Farmer Paying To The Company Ix Had It Been A Case Of Purchase Of Seeds There Would Have Been No Question Of Paying Male Chopping Charges To The Farmers On Per Acre Basis A Fact Complet Ely And Conveniently Ignored By The Auditors And By Your Honour 7 Over And Above The General Labour Charges Paid On The Basis Of The Yield X It Is Wrong To Call Organizers Middlemen Or Commissi On Agent They Are Paid For Services Like Identi Fying The Farm Hands Arranging For The Possession And Guiding The Farmers In Implementing The Agricultural Protocol Prescribed By The Company Xi The Company Itself Gets The Crops Harvested And Transports The Produce Of Raw Seeds From Field To Depot Account And Expense Without Prejudice For The Sake Of Argument Even If It Be Held That Farmer Shares Some Risk A Greater Risk Is Shared By The Assessee And Thus The Assessee Carries The Risk In The Cultivation Activity Even On This Basis The Assessees Activities Are Agricultural Activities And Its Income There From Is Agricultural Inc Ome Reliance Is Placed Upon The Decision Of The Case Of Associated Metals Co 117 Itr 428 And Itat No 3137 Del 1985 Copies Of The Reported Decision And Itat Order Are Attached It Is Submitted That These Decisions Have Been Accepted By The Departme Nt And Favourably Considered In The Appeal Proceedings Of Seed Companies Similar To The Assessee 8 5 The Ld Ar Invited Our Attention To The Lease Agreement And The Service Provider Agreement I T Is Submitted That The Lea S E And License Agreement Clearly Shows That The Farmer Had Allowed The Assesse E The Exclusive Right To Use His Property For Undertaking Agricultural Production In Lieu Of License Fee Clause 1 A Of The Service Agreement Provides That The Assessee Had Agreed To Supply Par Ent Seeds Or Other Material To The Farmer For The Production Of Seeds Crops On Behalf Of The Assessee It Is Further Provided That The Control And Supervision Shall Remain With The Assessee The Ld Ar Referred To Clause 1 B And 1 K To Show That The P Arent Material And The Subsequent Harvest Shall Remain The Property Of The Assessee Annexure A Of The Said Agreement Provides That Compensation To The Farmer Towards Inputs I E Fertilizers Chemicals Insecticides Etc Shall Be Paid At The Rate Per Acre Mentioned In The Agreement 6 The Ld Ar Has Further Referred To The Confirmation Of The Farmer Stating That They Were Provided Seeds For Planting By The Assessee And On The Directions And Guidance By The Assessee The Entire Range Of Agricultural Opera Tion Were Carried Out It Was Further Stated In The Conf I Rmation That The Assessee Had Paid To The Farmer A Composite Sum Calculated At The Rate Per Kg Of Good Seeds 9 7 The Ld Ar Submitted That The Report Given By The Di Hyderabad Which Contains Adverse Findings Against The Assessee Was Prepared Behind The Back Of The Assessee In A Surprise Field Visit The Enquiry Report Dated 21 0 2 2004 Revealed The Following I All The Lands Referre D To In The Annexure Have Been Taken On Lease By Phi Seeds Ltd Delhi For The F Y 2000 01 On An Annual Rent Of Rs 1500 Per Acre Ii M S Phi Seeds Ltd In Turn Handed Over The Lands Back To The Farmers Themselves To Cultivate Maize Iii M S Phi Seeds Lt D Supplied The Male And Female Seeds In The Farmers At Free At Free Of Cost And Given The Technical Assistance Through Their Employees And Finally Collected Rs 200 Per Acre Towards Supervision Charges Iv All The Agricultural Expenses Were Borne By The Farmers Only V After Harvesting M S Phi Seeds Ltd Purchased The Maize From The Farmers At Fixed Rate Per Quintal As Mentioned In 10 Lease Agreement And Paid Rs 1500 Per Acre As Lease Rent And The Balance As Bonus It Is Further Submitted That The Afore Said Report Has Not Be En Considered In The Right Perspective By The Ao And The Cit A And The Confirm Ations Statements U S 131 Of The Farmers Were Ignored 8 Referring T O The Written Submissions The L D Ar Further Argued That I The Claim Of All Expenses On Lease Rent And Labour Charges For Carrying Out Agri Operations Have Been Fully Allowed The Accounts Have Been Accepted In Toto In All The Years Excepting Accounting Treatment Opening Closing Stock Ii The Assessee Being In Lawful Possession Of The Impugned Lands Taken On Lease For The Cropping Season For Raising Crops Has Derivative Interest In The Land There Is No Contrary Finding By Ao Cit A Iii The Lease Rent Per Acre Agreed To Between The Assessee And The Owner Of Land Is Always Payable By The Assessee Company Regardless Whether The Production Of Seed Is 11 Higher Or Below Than The Standard Production Of Seed Per Acre Which Forms The Agreed Basis Or Measure Of Payment Or Consideration For Labour I V The Agreement With The Same Farmers For Providing Labour Is A Sound Business Policy Almost All Of Them Are Small Or Marginal Farmers Owing 1 5 Acres In Order To S Upplementary Income These Farmers Want To Put In Labour In Addition To Lease Rent This Is Sound Business Strategy For Getting Willing Labour And Avoiding Friction If Any Outsides Are Engaged V The Attachment Of A Farmer To His Land Is Well Known Vi The Payment Of Compensation On The Basis Of The Quantity Of Seed Produced By The Farmer Instead Of Paying Fixed Wages Is A Business Decision Which Is Agreed To By Every Farmer The Company Adopted This Strategy For Managing Production By More Than 5000 Farmers With Their Fields Spread Across Several Districts And For Maximizing Efficiency Of The Contract Labour 12 Vii The Contract Is Between Two Independent And Unrelated Parties And It Is Not Permissible For The Revenue Cannot Be Allowed To Take Business Decision On Assessees Behalf The Revenue Has Clearly Confused Measure Of Payment With The Quality And Character Of Payment Ref Senniram Dongarmal 42 Itr 392 Sc At Pg 1 Dp B 1 Vii In Any Event The Mode And Basis Of Payment Of Compensation For Labour Is A Matter Between The Company And The Farmer If The Farmer Is Satisfied With Such An Arrangement Which He Enters Into Year After Year It Is Not For The Revenue To Contend That The Assessee Should Have Adopted Some Other Business Model And State That For This Reason The Income Is Not Agricultural As Lon As It Shown That The Assessee Had Derived Income From Agri Land In Which It Has Interest The Income Is Exempt U S 10 1 Of The Act Viii The Company Being Artificial Person Cannot Cultivate Land Itself It Can Either Employ Labour On Wages Or Engage Contract Labour The Company Has Contracted With Farmer Also For Providing Labour On As Many As 5000 6000 Plots Of Lands Aggregating 15 000 16 000 Across Andhra Pradesh 13 And Also Some In Rajasthan Karnataka Gujarat The Present Arrangement Wa S Found To Be Most Feasible For Managing The Production On So Many Plots Of Land Scattered So Far And Wide I X All Aspects Of Dealings With The Farmers Like Lease Rent Price Per Quintal Of Output Additional Labour Charges For Male Chopping Unifor M Compensation For Pesticide Fertilizer Agronomies For Weeding And Irrigation Are Settled And Agreed To With The Farmers In Village Meetings Prior To Showing Thus Both Farmer And The Company Share The Cost Of Production The Assessee Pays Lease Rent Agreed Cost Of Fertilizer Chemicals Labour Additional Labour Charges And Above All Cost Of Basic And Most Expensive Input Parent Seed About Rs 5000 6000 Per Acre It Also Employs Several Technicians To Provide Field Assistance To Farmers On Day To Day Basis 9 The Ld Ar R Elied Upon The Judgment Of The Honble Supreme Court In The Case Of Rajendra Pratap Singh Vs Rameshwar Prasad 1998 7 Scc 602 To Counter The Argument Raised By The Revenue That Lease Deeds Relied Upon Were Defective And Some Of Them Were Not Signed By The Farmers It Was Submitted That In View Of S Ection 107 14 R W S 117 Of The Transfer Of Property Act Merely Because The Document Shows Only The Signature Of One Of The Parties It Is Not Enough To Conclude That The Non Signing Party Has Not Joined In The Execution Of The Instrument The Ld Ar Argued That The Possession Of The Agricultural Land By The Assessee Company For A Cultivation Season Creates A Derivative And Beneficial Interest In The Land It Is Further Submitted That It Is The Derivative Interest That Ma Tters In The Claim U S 10 1 Of The Act And It Is Immaterial If Such A Person Carries Out Cultivation On The Land Itself Or By Others Contracted By Him 10 On The Averment That The Agreement Is A Device It Is Submitted By The Ld Ar That The Aforesaid Allegation Is Unsubstantiated And Baseless As The Rent And Labour Charges Paid In Accordance With The Agreement Were Fully Allowed By The Ao 11 The L D Ar Relied Upon The Case Of M S Monsanto India Limited Vs Acit Itat Mumbai Ita No 1209 Of 2010 Wherein The Tribunal Relying Upon The Judgment In The Case Of Namdhari Seeds Pvt Ltd Itat Bangalore Ita No 3102 Bang 2004 Held As Under 7 We Have Heard The Learned D R And The Learned Counsel For The Assessee Similar Issue Has Been Considered By The Honble Itat In Assessees Own Case For Assessment Year 2001 02 2003 15 04 2004 05 And Decided The Issue In Favour Of The Assessee In Ita No 6093 Mum 2007 For A Y 2004 05 The Tribunal Held As Under 3 The Learned Counsel For The Assessee Contended Before Us That The Issue Is Covered In Favour Of The Assessee By The Decision Of The Tribunal In The Assessees Own Case For The Assessment Year 1993 94 To 2003 04 Copies Of The Relevant Orders Have B Een Placed On Record The Issue Has Extensively Been Considered By The Tribunal In Ita Nos 286 287 Bang 03 307 To 309 Bang 02 And 1070 1895 1896 Bang 04 Vide Order Dated 26 11 2007 The Relevant Facts Are Contained In Para 4 To 4 1 Of The Order We Reproduce Para Nos 4 4 1 And 10 To 18 Of The Order As Under 4 Briefly Stated The Facts Are That The Assessee Company Was Incorporated In The Year 1988 For Production Of High Yielding Hybrid Seeds In Terms Of The Approval Of The Foreign Inves Tment Promotion Board Fipb Dated 24 6 84 The Company Is Engaged In The Business Of Production And Marketing Of Hybrid Seeds The Company With The Help Of Farmers Carries Out The Production Of Hybrid Seeds According To The Assessee Growing Of Hybrid Seeds Involves Carrying Out Agricultural Operations Jointly With The Land Owners The Assessee Company Enters Into Agreement With The Land Owners For Using Their Land The Land Owners Remain The Legal Owners Of The Agricultural Land And They Allow The Usage Of Land Exclusively For The Growing Of Hybrid Seeds The Farmers Land Owners Agreed To Assist The Assessee Company In Its Agricultural Activities Under The Supervision Of Companys Supervisors Before Selecting Farmers Who Own The Agricultural Land The Assessee Company Takes Into Consideration Factors Such As Quality Of Land Quality Of Soil Location Of Village Track Records Of Farmers And Climatic Conditions Etc 4 1 After Selecting The Farmers The Company Enter S Into Seed Production Agreement With The Farmers To Jointly Carry Out The Agricultural Operations Under Control And Supervision Of The Company The Salient Features Of The Agreement Are As Under A The Farmer Is The Sole And Absolute Owner O F The Agricultural Land B The Company Having The Technical Know How Necessary For The Production Of Hybrid Seeds Enters Into 16 An Agreement With The Farmers For Utilizing The Agricultural Land Belonging To The Farmer C The Farmer Agrees Tha T The Land Would Be Allowed To Be Used Exclusively For The Production Of The Companys Hybrid Seeds In Other Words The Agreement Gives Beneficial Ownership Of Lands To The Company To Carry Out Its Agricultural Activities D The Farmer Shall Provide Ma Npower In Carrying Out Its Agricultural Operations Such As Land Preparation Planting Irrigation Fungicide Pesticide And Harvesting On The Land Under The Supervision Of The Company E The Company Shall Be Entitled To Carry Out Or Direct The Farme R To Carry Out All Such Activities Such As Use Of Fertilizer Pesticides Etc Which Are Considered Necessary By It For The Better Production Of The Produce F Further The Farmer Shall At All Times Be Ready And Willing To Carry Out Specific Tasks A Ssigned By The Company From Time To Time Should Be Called To Do The Failure Of The Farmer To Carry Out The Tasks Assigned By The Company With Entitle The Company To Carry Out The Same At The Cost Of The Farmer Which Also Includes The Contribution Of Labour G The Agreement Categorically States That All Produce From The Land During The Production Period Shall Exclusively Belong Only To The Company The Landowner Cum Farmer Shall Have No Right And Shall Have No Lien Over The Produce H The Company Shall Have Total Access To The Land At Any Time To Supervise Agricultural Activities Inspect And Testing The Farmers Shall Not Obstruct The Servants Agents And The Officers Of The Company To Have Access To The Land These Facts Are Enumerated In The Order Of The Cit A At Pages 2 To 4 10 We Have Heard Rival Submissions And Considered Them Carefully After Examining The Order Of The Assessing Officer And Cit A We Do Not Find Any Infirmity In The Fin Dings Of The Id Cit A These Are Undisputed Facts That The Assessee Has Shown Agricultural Income On The Same Activity For Ay 90 91 Onwards During The Assessment Proceedings For Ay 90 91 The Claim Of The Assessee Was Negated By The Assessing Officer The Assessee Filed Appeal Before The Cit A Who After Discussing The Issue In Detail Allowed The Claim Of The Assessee Of Doing Agriculture Activity And The Assessing Officer Was Directed To Accept The Agricultural Income Shown By The A Ssessee The Assessments For 17 Ay 91 92 And 92 93 Were Passed U S 143 3 And The Assessing Officer Has Accepted The Agricultural Income As Shown By The Assessee Himself However Thereafter The Assessing Officer Negated The Claim Of The Assesse E The Assessments For Ay 96 97 And 97 98 Were Reopened U S 147 148 The Assessee Filed A Letter Dated 24 12 2000 Requesting The Ao To Treat The Return As Return Filed In Response To Notice U S 148 As Discussed Above That The Assessing Officer Was Not Satisfied With The Explanation That The Activity Done By The Assessee Are Of Agricultural Activity As In His View These Are Commercial Activities Therefore The Assessing Officer Passed Assessment By Holding That The Receipts Are Of Business Receipts Against Agricultural Receipts Shown By The Assessee 11 Similarly For Other Years I E Ay 93094 To 2000 01 The Assessing Officer Treated All The Receipts As Business Receipts Against The Claim Of Agricultural Income The Cit A Allowed The Claim Of The Assessee By Holding That The Facts In Both The Ays I E Ay 96 97 And 97 98 Are Identical To The Facts Of Earlier Year When The Assessing Officer Allowed The Claim Of The Assessee Himself Further Reliance Was Placed On The Decision Of Allahabad High Court In 197 Itr 428 Supra Wherein Identical Facts Were Involved As Involved In The Case Of The Assessee The Cit A Has Also Observed That The Appeals Of The Assessee Have Been Allowed By His Predecessor For A Y 93 94 To 95 96 Accordingly The Claim Of The Assessee Was Allowed By The Cit A For These Two Years Also 12 We Further Noted That Bangalore B Bench In The Case Of Indo American Exports In Ita No 1040 Bang 2002 For Ay 98 99 And In The Case Of Namdhari Seeds Pvt Ltd In Ita No 3102 Bang 2004 For Ay 2001 02 Has Decided Identical Issues In Favour Of The Assessee In These Cases Also The Assesses Have Entered Into Identical Contract With Agriculturists And Provide Them With Hybrid Vegetab Le Seeds The Land Holdings Of The Agriculturist Extend From 0 75 Acres To A Maximum Of 2 Acres The Agriculturist S Are Required To Undertake Cultivation Of The Seeds In Their Land In Order To Multiply Them The Contract Period Was Also Mentioned The Assessee Company Supplies The Parents Of The Hybrid Viz The Male And Female Seeds Or Seedling To The Contract Grower The Receipts Shown By The Assessee Were Shown As Agricultural Receipts The Assessing Officer Negated The Claim Of These Assesses By Obs Erving That The Land Belonging To The Farmer In Their Own Right As Owner Term Lessee And Was In The Possession 18 And Cultivation By Further Observing That The Contract Entered Contrary To The Provisions Of Karnataka Land Reforms Act 1961 Klra And Such Conditions Prevailed Under Klra Prescribed In The Contract Will Not Prevail Over The Provisions Of The Act The Assessing Officer While Negating The Claim Of The Assessee Also Observed Certain Further Objections The Assessee Preferred Appeal Befor E The Cit A Who Allowed The Claim Of These Assesses By Observing That The Receipts Shown By These Assesses Are Agricultural Receipts On Appeal Before The Tribunal The Tribunal Held That The Receipts Shown By The Assessee Are Agricultural Receipts The Tribunal Has Discussed The Issue In Detail The Meaning Of Agricultural Income Has Also Been Discussed And By Placing Reliance On The Decision Of Madras High Court In The Case Of Maddi Venkatasubbayya In 20 Itr 151 And In The Case Of Associated Metal Co In 177 Itr 428 Alld Wh Ere The Facts Were Identical Decided The Issue In Favour Of The Assessee The Decision Of The Supreme Court In The Case Of Raja Benoy Kumar Sahas Roy In 2002 Tiol 150 Sc It 32 Itr 466 Was Also Take N Into Consideration By The Tribunal While Discussing The Ratio Of These Decisions In Details The Tribunal Came To The Conclusion That On Entering Into An Agreement With Farmers The Receipts Shown By The Assessee Are Agricultural Receipts We Further Noted That The Cit A Who Allowed The Appeal In The Case Of Indo American Exports And Namdhari Seeds Pvt Ltd Supra Has Also Taken Into Consideration The Decision Of The Cit A In The Case Of The Assessee It Was Noted By The Cit A T Hat The Facts In The Case In Hand And The Facts In The Case Of Monsanto India Ltd The Assessee Are Identical These Facts Have Been Noted By The Tribunal While Deciding The Appeal In The Case Of Indo American Exports And Namdhari Seeds Pvt Ltd Supra At Page 7 Of Its Order This Order Was Passed On 14 7 2006 At Bangalore 12 1 The Ld Dr Has Raised A Contention That By Entering Into An Agreement With The Farmers The Assessee Has Created Value Based Additions In Its Capital Therefore Should Not Be Treated As Agricultural Income In The Hands Of The Assessee In Our View These Contention Of The Ld Dr Cannot Be Accepted Because There Is No Dispute That The Assessee Entered Into Agre Ement With Various Farmers Who Cultivated The Land As Per The Terms And Conditions Of Agreement The Seeds Supplied By The Assessee Company Were Used For Cultivating The Land And Whatever The Product Produced The Same Was Shown As Sold In 19 The Market By The Assessee As Per Terms And Conditions Of Agreement Whatever The Share Of The Farmer Was There That Was Given To Them As Per The Clauses Of Agreement Therefore We Hold That Whatever The Receipts Were There They Were On Account Of Agr Icultural Activities And Have To Be Treated As Agricultural Receipts 13 The Allahabad High Court In The Case Of Associated Metal Supra Has Decided Identical Issue In Favour Of The Assessee In That Case Also The Land Was Cultivated By The Far Mers As Per Agreement Clauses And Whatever The Produces Were There That Were Treated In The Hands Of The Lessor 14 All Other Cases Relied Upon By The Ld Ar Have Already Taken Into Consideration By The Tribunal While Deciding The Appeal In Ca Se Of M S Namdhari Seeds Supra Therefore Without Going Into Detail Further We Hold That The Receipts Shown By The Assessee Are Agricultural Receipts And The Ld Cit A Was Justified In Allowing The Claim Of The Assessee 15 In View Of Ru Le Of Consistency Also The Assessee Deserves To Succeed As For Ay 1990 91 To 92 93 The Department Has Accepted The Claim Of The Ass Essee Itself There Is No Change In Facts Or In Circumstances Therefore Rule Of Consistency Will Be Applicable On T He Facts Of The Present Case 16 The Honble Supreme Court In The Case Of Radhaswamy In 2002 Tiol 745 Sc It 193 Itr 325 Has Held That If There Is No Change In Facts Then Rule Of Consistency Will Prevail Upon Many High Courts Have Also Held So 17 Respectfully Following The Decision Of The Supreme Court And Other High Courts We Hold That Even In View Of Consistency There Is No Infirmity In The Findings Of The Ld Cit A Who Has Also Taken Into Consideration The Past History Of The Case Accordingly We Confirm The Order Of The Ld Cit A For These Two Years 18 The Facts In The Remaining Years Are Identical Therefore In View Of The Reasoning Discussed Above We Confirm The Orders Of The Ld Cit A For The Remaining Ye Ars Also 4 Since The Decision Of The Cit A Is In Accord With The Order Of The Tribunal In The Assessees Own Case For Earlier Years Supra We Find No Justification To Interfere 5 The Appeal Of The Revenue Is Accordingly Dismissed Respectf Ully Following The Decisions Of The Coordinate Benches In Earlier Years We Reject The Ground Of The Revenue 20 12 The Aforesaid Judgment Was Challenged By The Revenue Before The Honble Bombay High Court In Ita No 633 2010 Wherein It Was Held As Under 3 Perusal Of The Order Of The Itat Shows That The Tribunal Has Confirmed The Order Of Cit A By Recording Finding Of Fact That The Assessee In Fact Carried On Agricultural Operations And That The Orders Passed To That Effect In Assessment Y Ears 1990 91 To 1992 93 Have Been Accepted By The Revenue For Earning Agricultural Income It Is Not Necessary That The Assessee Must Own The Land And It Is Enough If It Is Established That The Agricultural Operations Have Been Actually Carried On By The Assessee I View Of The Finding Of Fact Recorded By The Itat That Even In The Past The Assessee Has Been Carrying Agricultural Operations In The Absence Of Any Material To The Contrary The Decision Of The Itat Cannot Be Faulted 13 Lastly It Is Submitted By The Ld Ar That The Case Of Cit Vs Namdhari Seeds Pvt Ltd Ita No 75 2007 Passed By The Honble Bombay High Court Relied Upon By The Revenue Is Not Applicable To The Facts Of The Present Case As The Court Held That The Leasing Of The Land Is Prohibited Under The Karnataka Land Reforms Act And Therefore The Income From Such Lands Is Not Agricultural 14 The L D Dr On The Other Hand Rebutted The Submissions Made By The L D Ar By Relying Upon The Orde Rs Passed B Y The Ao And The Cit A It Was Submitted That The Assessee Did Not Carry Out Actual Agricultural 21 Operations And The Assessee Also Did Not Bear Risks Pertaining To The Agricultural Produce I T Was Submitted That The Method Of Payment Followed By The Assessee Clearly Shows That The Agreement Was A Device To Claim Exemption The L D Dr Further Submitted That The Assessee Is Not Shown As A Cultivator In The Revenue Records 15 We Have Heard The Rival Submissions An D Perused The Relevant Material On Record The Principles Regarding The Scope Of Agricultural Activities And Agricultural Income Has Been Laid Down By The Honble Supreme Court In The Case Of Cit Vs Raja Benoy Kumar Sahas Roy Supra Wherein It Was Held As Under T He Primary Sense In Which The Term Agriculture Is Understood Is Agar Field And Cultra Cultivation I E The Cultivation Of The Field And If The Term Is Understood Only In That Sense Agriculture Would Be R Estricted Only To Cultivation Of The Land In The Strict Sense Of The Term Meaning Thereby Tilling Of The Land Sowing Of The Seeds Planting And Similar Operations On The Land They Would Be The Basic Operations And Would Require The Expenditure Of Human Skill And Labour Upon The Land Itself There Are However Other Operations Which Have Got To Be Resorted To By The Agriculturist And Which Are Absolutely Necessary For The Purpose Of Effectively Raising The Produce From The Land They Are Operatio Ns To Be Performed After The Produce Sprouts From The Land E G Weeding Digging The Soil Around The Growth Removal Of Undesirable Undergrowths And All Operations Which Foster The Growth And Preserve The Same Not Only From Insects And Pests But Also From Depredation From Outside Tending Pruning Cutt Ing Harvesting And Rendering The Produce Fit For The Market The Latter Would All Be Agricultural Operations When Taken In Conjunction With The 22 Basic Operations Above Described And It Would Be Futile To Urge That They Are Not Agricultural Oper Ations At All We Are Of Opinion That The Mere Performance Of These Subsequent Operations On The Products Of The Land Where Such Products Have Not Been Raised On The Land By The Performance Of The Basic Operations Which We Have Describ Ed Above Would Not Be Enough To Characterize Them As Agricultural Operations In Order To Invest Them With The Character Of Agricultural Operations These Subsequent Operations Must Necessarily Be In Conjunction With And A Continuation Of T He Basic Operations Which Are The Effective Cause Of The Products Being Raised From The Land It Is Only If The Products Are Raised From The Land By The Performance Of These Basic Operations That The Subsequent Operations Attach Themselves To The Products Of The Land And Acquire The Characteristic Of Agricultural Operations The Cultivation Of The Land Does Not Comprise Merely Of Raising The Products Of Land In The Narrower Sense Of The Term Like Tilling Of The Land Sowing Of The Se Eds Planting And Similar Work Done On The Land But Also Includes The Subsequent Operations Set Out Above All Of Which Operations Basic As Well As Subsequent From One Integrated Activity Of The Agriculturist And The Term Agriculture Has Got To Be Understood As Connoting This Integrated Activity Of The Agriculturist One Cannot Dissociate The Basic Operations From The Subsequent Operations And Say That The Subsequent Operations Even Though They Are Divorced From The Basic Op Erations Can Constitute Agricultural Operations By Themselves If This Integrated Activity Which Constitutes Agriculture Is Undertaken And Performed In Regard To Any Land That Land Can Be Said To Have Been Used For Agricultural Purposes And The In Come Derived There From Can Be Said To Be Agricultural Income Derived From The Land By Agriculture If The Term Agriculture Is Thus Understood As Comprising Within Its Scope The Basic As Well As Subsequent Operations In The Process Of Agriculture And The Raising On The Land Of Products Which Have Some Utility Either For Consumption Or For Trade And Commerce It Will Be Seen That The Term Agriculture Receives A Wider Interpretation B Oth In Regard To Its Operations As Well As The Results Of The Same Nevertheless There Is Present All Throughout The Basic Idea That There Must 23 Be At The Bottom Of It Cultivation Of Land In The Sense Of Tilling Of The Land Sowing Of The Seeds Pl Anting And Similar Work Done On The Land Itself This Basic Conception Is The Essential Sine Qua Non Of Any Operation Performed On The Land Constituting Agricultural Operation If The Basic Operations Are There The Rest Of The Operations Found Themselve S Upon The Same But If These Basic Operations Are Wanting The Subsequent Operations Do Not Acquire The Characteristic Of Agricultural Operations All These Operations No Doubt Require The Expenditure Of Human Labour And Skill But The Human Labour And Skill Spent Upon The Land The Human Labour And Skill Spent In The Performance Of Subsequent Operations Cannot Be Said To Have Been Spent On The Land Itself Though It May Have The Effect Of Preserving F Ostering And Regenerating The Products Of The Land 16 The Honble Supreme Court In The Aforesaid Judgment Has Clearly Held That Agricultural Income Will Arise When Basic Operations Such As Cultivation Of Land Like Tilling Of The Land Sowing Of S Eeds Planting And Other Similar Operations Are Carried Out The Said Basic Operations Should Be On The Land Itself And It Cannot Be Outside The Land Section 2 1 A B I Refers To Income Derived From Such Land By Agriculture Sec 2 1 A B Ii Refers To Any Income Derived From Such Land By The Performance Of A Cultivator Or Receiver Of Rent In Kind To Render The Produce Raised Or Received By Him Fit To Be Taken To The Market 17 The Factual Matrix Of The Present Case Reveal S That The Farmer Had Entered Into Lease Agreement With The Assessee Company And The Farmer Is The Lawful Owner Of The Land The Said Farmers Had Leased 24 The Farm Land To The Assessee Company Which Has Handed It Back To The Farmer To Carry Out Cultivation Of Seeds On Behalf Of The Assessee Company The Parent Seeds Are Provided Free Of Cost To The Farmer By The Assessee Company The Farmer Is Paid Amount For Procurement Of Seeds By The Assessee At Fixed Rate Which Is Bifurcated Under The Heads Land Lease Rent Fertilizers Chemicals And Labour Services Charges 18 We Find From T He Arrangement Between The Farmer And The Assessee That The Assessee Is Not Carrying Any Agricultural Operations Required In Terms Of Tests Laid In The Judgment Of The Honble Supreme Court In The Case Of Cit Vs Raja Benoy Kumar Sahas Roy Supra The Actual Cultivation On The Land Is Done By The Farmer Like Tilling Sowin G Etc The Mere Supervision B Y The Assessee Without The Carrying Of The Basic Operations Would Leave No Manner Of Doubt That No Agricultural Income Arose In The Hands Of The Assessee The Argument Of The Assessee That The Company Is An Artificial Person And Could Not Have Conduct Ed The Agricultural Operations By Itself And Therefore Required Such Kind Of An Arrangement With The Farmers For Earning Agricultural Income Does Not Have Any Merit The Farmers Are Not The Employees Of The Assessee Company Had It Been The Case Where The 25 Actual Agricultural Operations Were Carried Out By The Employees Of The Assessee Company It Would Have Been A Different Case Altogether 19 The Features Of The Agreement Relied Upon By The Asse S See Like Composite Payment Giving Parent Seeds Free Of Cost To The Farmer Not Carrying Out Any Agricultural Operations By Itself Clearly Shows That The Assessee Company Is Only Earning Business Income From The Activity And Not Agricultural Income It Is The Farmer In The Present Case Who Has To Ensure T He Watering Of The Land Fertility And The Suitability Of The Land Without Carrying Out The Basic Operations Alongwith The Subsequent Operations On The Agricultural Field The Assessee Cannot Claim Agricultural Income The Facts Of The Present Case Thou Gh Represent A Legal Business Model Preferred By The Assessee And The Farmer But The Said Arrangement Only Gives Rise To Business Income In The Hands Of The Assessee And Not Agricultural Income The Leave And License Agreement As Well As The Service Provider Agreement Read Alongwith The Statements Of The Farmers Also Show That The Agricultural Operations Are Carried Out By The Farmers Only 20 The Reliance Placed By The Ld Ar Upon The Judgmen T In The Case Of Cit Vs Monsanto India Ltd Passed By The Honble Bombay High Court Is Misplaced In As Much As Even In The Said Judgment The 26 Honble High Court In Para 3 Has Clearly Observed That Agricultural Operations Ought To Have Been Actually Carr Ied Out By The Assessee 21 The Judgment Of The Honble Karnataka High Court Rendered In The Case Of Cit Vs Namdhari Seeds Pvt Ltd Is Applicable To The Facts Of The Present Case The Submission Of The Ld Ar That The Present Case Is Different From Namdhari Seeds Supra Case And Therefore The Ratio Of The Said Judgment Is Not Applicable Does Not Appeal To Us It Has Been Submitted By The Ld Ar That The Aforesaid Was A Case Where The Agreement Was Contrary To The Karnataka Land Reforms Act However In The Present Case The Agreement Is Not In Contravention With Any Law We Find That The Said Ground Was Only An Additional Factor For Denying The Claim Of Agricultural Income To The Assessee Therein The Principle Ground For Rejection Of The Claim Of The Assessee Was That No Actual Agricultural Operations Were Carried Out By The Assessee Therein The Facts Are Similar To The Present Case And The Ratio Of The Aforesaid Judgment Is Squarely Applicable To The Present Case In The Aforesaid Judgment Of Namdhari Seeds The Honble High Court Held As Under 54 From Different Terms And Conditions Of Arrangement What We Notice Is Except Supplying The Foundation Seeds And Giving Scientific Advice From Time To Time Either At The Time Of Sowing Or Pollination Or Harvesting None Of Th 6 E Normal Activities Of 27 Agriculture Are Undertaken By The Assessee Company Except Sowi Ng The Foundation Seeds Belonging To The Assessee Farmer Is Not Entitled To Grow Any Other Seeds In The Land Earmarked For The Purpose Of Growing Hybrid Seeds And Is Not Allowed To Part With The Seeds Supplied To Him To Anyone Else And So Far As Unused Seeds He Had To Give Back The Same To The Company Farmer Conducts The Cultivation And Assessee Company Only Allots Machinery And Personnel For The Purpose Of Achievement Of Better Results In Producing The Quality Hybrid Seeds Preparation Of Bed Sowing Of The Seeds Cultivation And Harvesting Of Hybrid Seeds Is Done By The Farmer He Is Entitled For The Price Fixed By The Assessee Per Quintal For All Such Seeds Which Would Qualify The Specification Indicated By The Assessee The Seeds Which Do N Ot Qualify The Specification Are Also Not Sold By The Farmer But By The Company And The Sale Consideration If Any Is Given To The Farmer The Farmer While Multiplying Foundation Seeds Uses His Land And Labour The Input Given By The Assessee Is Only Te Chnical Supervision Of The Company Whatever Seeds Grown By The Farmer Whether Qualifies The Specification Indicated By The Assessee Or Not Has To Be Given To The Assessee And The Assessee Will Pay A Fixed Price So Far As The Seeds Which Quality The Specification And Other Seeds Will Be Sold In The Open Market By The Assessee And There Is No Fixation Of Any Price For The Seeds Which Do Not Meet The Specification Th E Farmer Has To Ensure Fertility Of The Land Suitability Of The Land Cultivation Of The Land Watering Of The Land Use Of The Seeds Supplied By The Assessee And Also Had To Sell The Hybrid Seeds At A Price Fixed By The Assessee I F The Farmer Has To Arrange The Labour And Pay The Labour Charges And Also Spend Money For Other Operations Either Basic Or Subsequent Operations He Can Only Take Advance Amount From The Assessee And Such Amount Paid By The Assessee Would Be Ded Ucted From The So Called Compensation To Be Paid For The Qualified Foundation Seeds At The End By The Assessee The Entire T Erms Of Agreement Would Only Indicate That The Foundation Seeds Grown By The Farmer Would Be Purchased By The Assessee At The End For A Certain Price Provided Seeds Qualify The Specifications As Per The Agreement It Is Nothing Short Of A Fertile Womb Bein G Offered By A Surrogate Mother For The Growth Of Child Of Someone Else The 28 Assessee Supervises And Oversees T He Sowing Cultivation Right From The Process Of Sowing Till The End In Order To Get The Qualified Foundation Seeds As Per The Specifications So As To Carry On His Trade In Selling Certified Seeds The Main Interest Of The Assessee Is To S Ee That Good An D Healthy Seeds Are Produced By The Farmer Meeting The Requirement Specified By It Such Input Or Scientific Method In Giving Advice To The Farmer Cannot Be Termed As Either Basic Agricultural Operation Or Subsequent Operations Ordin Arily Employed By The Farmer Or Agriculturist If The Basic Operations Of Agriculture Are Not Carried On By The Assessee Company Then The Harvested Foundation Seeds Purchased By Him And Converting Them To Certification Seeds Cannot Be Termed As Integrated Part Of The Foundation Activity Of Agriculture Therefore Even If We Agree That The Mechanical Process Of Agricultural Operations Either Basic Operations Or Subsequent Operations Would Not Be An Impediment To Make Such Operations As Ag Ricultural Operations The Question Is Whether Such Operations Are Conducted By The Assessee Or The Farmer Or Someone Else The Entire Reading Of The Terms Of The Agreement Would Only Indicate That Assessee Company Was Interested Only To Have Healthy Foundation Seeds Grown For The Process Of Converting The Same As Certified Seeds 58 Therefore The View Of First Appellate Authority That 100 Per Cent Of The Operations Upto Conversion Of The Foundation Seeds As Agricultural Activi Ty Conducted By The Assessee Company And Therefore Income Deserves To Be Exempted From Tax Under S 10 1 Of The Act Is Erroneous Similarly Exemption Given By The Tribunal For 90 Per Cent Of The Income Is Also Erroneous We Opine That The Tribunal Wa S Justified In Treating 10 Per Cent Of The Income As Business Income Which Involved Processing Of Foundation Seeds To Certified Seeds In That View Of The Matter We Hold That The Entire Income Amounts To Business Income As A Matter Of Fact For S Ome Of The Assessment Years Based On The Opinion Of One Of The Senior Counsel On Taxation Mr K R Prasad The Assessee Company Offered Its Income As Business Income And Even Claimed Deduction Under S 80 Hhc Of The Act 29 22 In View Of The Af Oresaid We Affirm The Reasoning Given By The Ao And The Cit A And Dismiss Grounds No 1 To 12 Raised By The Assessee Rest Of The Grounds Raised By The Assessee Are Not Pressed And The Same Are Disposed Off Accordingly 23 As A Result The Appeal Of The Assessee Stands Dismissed Ita No 4383 Of 2006 Ay 2003 04 24 This Is An Appeal Of The Assessee For Ay 2003 04 Grounds No 1 To 9 Pertain To Claim Of Agricultural Income Under Section 10 1 Of The Act Since The Facts Are Identical To The Case Of The Assessee For Ay 2002 03 We Follow Our Own Decision In Ita No 1988 Del 2006 And Dismiss The Aforesaid Grounds 25 Ground No 11 Pertains To The Disallowance Of Cont Ribution To Superannuation Fund Of Rs 3 23 767 T He Other Additions Disallowances Are Not Pressed In The Aforesaid Ground Of Appeal With Respect To The Said Ground The Submission Of The Assessee Before The Ao And The Cit Appeal Has Been That The Su M Is Allowable As Per Companies Act Since Its Income Being Agricultural The Aforesaid Have Not Been Added Back To The Total Income Since We Have Held 30 That The Assessee Is Not Entitled For The Claim Of Agricultural Income The Aforesaid Amount Is To Be Added To The Total Income Of The Assessee Ground No 11 Raised By The Assessee Is Dismissed 26 Rest Of The Grounds Raised Are Not Pressed Hence They Are Dismissed As Not Pressed 27 As A Result T He Appeal Of The Assessee Is Dismissed Ita No 443 Del 2010 Ay 2005 06 And Ita No 1903 2014 Ay 2009 10 28 These Appeals Of The Assessee Pertain To A Y S 2005 06 And 2009 10 Since The Issues Involved Are Common The Appeals Are Taken Up Together Grounds No 1 To 7 Of Ita No 443 Del 2010 Pertain To Claim Of Agricultural Income Under Section 10 1 Of The Act Since The Facts Are Identical To The Case Of The Assessee For Ay 2002 03 We Follow Our Own Decision In Ita No 1988 Del 2006 And Dismiss The Aforesaid Grounds 29 Ground No 8 Pertains To The Claim Of Bad Debt Amounting To Rs 25 26 958 The Cit A Had Disallowed The Aforesaid Sum As The Assessee Failed To Prove That The Aforesaid Debts Arose From Business 31 E Ven Before Us The Assessee Has Failed To Sho W That The Advances Were Related To Or Incidental To The Business Or Profession Of The Assessee We Find No Reason To Interfe Re With The Findings Of The Cit A The Aforesaid Ground Is Dismissed 30 Rest Of The Grounds Raised Are Not Pressed 31 As A Result T He Appeal S Are Dismissed Ita No 5285 Del 201 2 Ay 200 7 0 8 Ita No 3670 Del 201 3 Ay 2008 09 And Ita No 4269 2014 Ay 2010 11 32 These Appeals Of The Assessee Pertain To Ay S 2007 08 2008 09 And 2010 11 Since The Issues Involved Are Common The Appeals Are Taken Up Together Grounds No S 1 To 4 In Ita No 5285 Del 2012 Pertain To Claim Of Agricultural Income Under Section 10 1 Of The Act Since The Facts Are Identical To The Case Of The Assessee For Ay 2002 03 We Follow Our Own Decision In Ita No 1988 Del 2006 And Dismiss The Aforesaid Grounds 33 Rest Of The Grounds Raised Are Not Pressed Hence The Same Are Dismissed As Not Pressed 34 As A Result T He Appeal S Are Dismissed 32 Ita No 1903 Of 201 4 Ay 200 9 10 D Epartment Appeal 35 This Is An Appeal Of The Department For Ay 2009 10 The Grounds Raised Pertain To Disallowance Of Provision For Bad Debts It Has Been Submitted By Both The Parties That The Said Appeal Has Become Infructuous 36 We Have Considered The Rival Arguments Made By Both The Sides And The Material Available On Record It Was Stated By Shri Ajay Vohra The Ld Counsel For The Assessee That The Grievance Of The Assessee Was Rectified By Assessing Officer U S 154 Of The Act And In Fact The Appeal Before The Ld Cit A And As Well As Before The Tribunal Is Held To Be Infructuous In View Thereof The Departmental Appeal Is Dismissed 3 7 To Sum Up All The Appeals Of The Assessee As Well As The Appeal Of The Revenue Are Dismissed The Order Is Prono Unced In The Open Court On 1 8 1 2 2017 Sd Sd S K Yadav B P Jain Judicial Member Accountant Member Date D 1 8 T H December 2017 33 Vl Copy Forwarded To 1 Appellan T 2 Respondent 3 Cit 4 Cit A Asst Registrar 5 Dr New Delhi