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Showing contexts for: Freebies in Aristo Pharmaceuticals P. Ltd, Mumbai vs Dcit Circle 2(1)(1), Mumbai on 28 June, 2019Matching Fragments
2. For that the Ld. CIT(A) has erred in holding that expenditure incurred for distribution of costly articles (exceeding Rs.750/- each article) are freebies to doctors and professionals.
3. For that the Ld. CCT~(A) has erred in holding that the such expenditures (exceeding Rs.750/- each articles) have been incurred in violation of CBDT circular no. 5/2012 dated 01.08.2012 and are against regulations issued by Medical Counsel of India.
4. For that the Ld. CIT(A) has erred in holding that such expenditures are prohibited by law and thus hit by Explanation to section 37(1).
6. Aggrieved by the order of Ld.CIT(A), assessee as well as the revenue are in appeal before us.
7. The Ld.DR submitted that the Ld.CIT(A) was erred in deleting disallowance of sales promotion expenses without considering circular No.5 of 2012 dated 01-08-2012 issued by the CBDT where it was categorically stated that any kind of freebies given to doctors and other medical professionals by a pharmaceutical company is not allowable u/s 37(1) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 in view of specific circular issued by MCI prohibiting medical professional from accepting freebies from pharmaceutical companies.
Coming to the gift articles and free samples of medicines, it is seen that the assessee gives various kind of articles like, diaries, pen sets, calendars, paper weights, injection boxes etc. embossed with bold logo of its brand name and the product name so that the doctors remembers the brand of the assessee and also the name of the medicine. All the gift articles, as pointed out by the assessee before the authorities below and also before us are very cheap and low cast articles which bears the name of assessee and it is purely for the promotion of its product, brand reminder, etc. These articles cannot be reckoned as freebies given to the doctors. Even the free sample of medicine is only to prove the efficacy and to establish the trust of the doctors on the quality of the drugs. This again cannot be reckoned as freebies given to the doctors but for promotion of its products. The pharmaceutical company, which is engaged in manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceutical products, can promote its sale and brand only by arranging seminars, conferences and thereby creating awareness amongst doctors about the new research in the medical field and therapeutic areas, etc. Every day there are new developments taking place around the world in the area of medicine and therapeutic, hence in order to provide correct diagnosis and treatment of the Aristo Pharmaceuticals P Ltd patients, it is imperative that the doctors should keep themselves updated with the latest developments in the medicine and the main object of such conferences and seminars is to update the doctors of the latest developments, which is beneficial to the doctors in treating the patients as well as the pharmaceutical companies. Further as pointed out and concluded by the learned CIT(A) there is no violation by the assessee in so far as giving any kind of freebies to the medical practitioners. Thus, such kind of expenditures by a pharmaceutical companies are purely for business purpose which has to be allowed as business expenditure and is not impaired by EXPLANATION 1 to section 37(1).
3. On the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the CIT(A) has erred in allowing sales promotion expenses, without appreciating the pro hib itio n impo s ed b the Medical Co uncil of India o n me dical practitioners from accepting gifts, travel facilities, hospitality, cash or monetary grants (freebies) from pharmaceutical and allied healthcare sector Industry and the Circular no 5/2012 issued by CBDT not to allow such expenses which are prohibited by law."
31. Briefly stated, the assessee company had e-filed its return of income for A.Y. 2012-13 on 21.09.2012, declaring a total income of Rs. 270,68,80,787/-. The case of the assessee was thereafter taken up for scrutiny assessment under Sec. 143(2) of the Act. The A.O inter alia carrying out a disallowance of Rs. 11,37,45,179/- of sales promotion expenses assessed the income of the assessee company under Sec. 143(3) at Rs. 282,06,25,970/-. The book profit of the assessee under Sec. 115JB was computed by the A.O at Rs. 365,71,93,685/-. The A.O while framing the assessment had disallowed the entire amount of sales promotion expenses of Rs. 11,37,45,179/- for the reason viz. (i) the Medical Council of India (MCI) had imposed prohibition on medical practitioners from accepting gifts, travel facilities, hospitalities, cash or monetary grants (known as "freebies") from pharmaceutical and allied health care sector industry; and (ii) the CBDT circular No. 5/2012 issued vide F.No. 225/142/2012-ITA.II, dated 01.08.2012 had clarified that such "freebies" shall be inadmissible under Sec. 37(1) of the Act, being an expense prohibited by the law. On the basis of the aforesaid deliberations the A.O being of the view that the expenditure incurred by the assessee on distribution of "freebies"