Sabyasachi Mukharji, J. - (1.) In this reference under Section 256(1) of the I.T. Act, 1961, two questions have been referred to this court which are as follows: " (1) Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, and on a proper interpretation of Section 2(45), Section 80B(5) and Section 80A(2) of the Income-tax Act, 1961, the Tribunal was correct in holding that the deduction under Section 80M of the said Act should be calculated with reference to the total income and gross total income as they stood before setting off the losses under Section 71 or Section 72 of the Act ? (2) Whether, on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in holding that the mistake, if any, in the allowance of relief under Section 80M in the original assessment orders was not a mistake apparent from the record that could be corrected under Section 154?"
(2.) So far as the first question is concerned in view of the ratio of the decision of this court in the case of National Engineering Industries Ltd. v. CIT [1978] 113 ITR 252 and the ratio of the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Cloth Traders (P.) Ltd. v. Addl. CIT , the question is answered in the negative and in favour of the revenue.
(3.) So far as the second question is concerned, it is necessary for us to refer to certain facts; it may be mentioned that the facts of this case for both the years under reference are more or less identical. We can take the facts for the assessment year 1968-69. For that year, the business loss of the assessee after giving effect to the order of the AAC in the quantum appeal was Rs. 9,36,240 and the assessee's income under other heads included the income of Rs. 4,91,097 by way of dividends was Rs. 10,09,017. The business loss of Rs. 9,36,240 was set off against the income of Rs. 10,09,017 under other heads in order to arrive at the assessee's gross total income for the year. By so setting off, the gross total income of the assessee for that year came to Rs. 72,777 only. The Tribunal held that the relief under Section 80X which occurs in Chap. VIA could not, therefore, exceed Rs. 72,777 which represented the gross total income. This is the subject-matter of the second controversy as regards the second question. Section 80A in Chap. VIA of the I.T. Act; 1961, provides as follows : " 80A. Deduction to be made in computing total income.--(1) In computing the total income of an assessee, there shall be allowed from his gross total income, in accordance with and subject to the provisions of this Chapter, the deductions specified in Sections 80C to 80VW. (2) The aggregate amount of the deductions under this Chapter shall not, in any case, exceed the gross total income of the assessee. (3) Where, in computing the total income of a firm, association of persons or body of individuals, any deduction is admissible under Section 80G or Section 80HH or Section 80J or Section 80JJ or Section 80K or Section 80QQ or Section 805 or Section 80T or Section 80TT, no deduction under the same section shall be made in computing the total income of a partner of the firm or, as the case may be, of a member of the association of persons or body of individuals in relation to the share of such partner in the income of the firm or the share of such member in the income of the association of persons or body of individuals.";