Bhagabati Prasad Banerjee J. - (1.) The Tribunal has referred to this court the following question of law under Section 256(1) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 ("the Act") : "Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case and on a correct interpretation of Section 43(1) of the Income-tax Act, 1961, the Tribunal was right in holding that a sum of Rs. 11,22,102 received by the assessee as subsidy under the 'Central Outright Grant or Subsidy Scheme, 1971,' should not be deducted from the cost of the capital assets mainly plant and machinery and factory building ?"
(2.) The assessment year involved is 1980-81 for which the relevant accounting year ended on June 30, 1979.
(3.) The facts of this case, as is evident from the statement of case, are as follows : "The assessee is a private limited company. It derives income from the business in the manufacture and sale of raw silk fabrics. The assessment year involved in this reference is 1980-81, the relevant previous year was the year ending June 30, 1979. Under the Central Outright Grant or Subsidy Scheme, 1971, introduced by the Central Government and implemented by different State Governments, the assessee received certain sums as subsidy from the M. P. Government for establishing an industry in a backward area. The Income-tax Officer deducted the amount of such subsidy from the cost of the fixed assets employed in the assessee's business and allowed depreciation only on the balance value of those assets. The assessee appealed to the Commissioner (Appeals) and contended that the Income-tax Officer should not have deducted the value of the subsidy amount from the cost of the fixed assets for the purpose of allowing depreciation under the Income-tax Act, 1961. The Commissioner (Appeals) accepted the claim of the assessee and directed that depreciation should be allowed on the full cost of the fixed assets without any deduction of the subsidy amount therefrom. The Department appealed to the Tribunal and contended that the Commissioner (Appeals) erred in his decision. On the other hand, the assessee supported the order of the Commissioner (Appeals). The Tribunal considered the contentions of both the parties as well as the facts on record. The Tribunal found that the issue raised before them had already been considered by the Special Bench of the Tribunal in the case of Pioneer Match Works (1 SST 331). In that case, it has been decided that the amount of subsidy was given after the fixed assets were purchased by the assessee and the assessee was free to use the subsidy amount for any purpose other than acquisition of the fixed assets. Consequently, it was held therein that no portion of the subsidy amount could be said to have been given specifically towards the acquisition of the fixed assets and so the cost of the fixed assets to the assessee could not be reduced by the amount of subsidy for the purpose of determining the written down value for the purpose of Section 43(1) of the Act. Respectfully following the aforesaid decision of the Special Bench of the Tribunal, the Tribunal upheld the order of the Commissioner (Appeals) and dismissed the departmental appeal.";