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11. The old lines stands replaced by optical fibres lines.

12. New technology and devices made possible a multitude of new and intelligent network services. A host of new services were introduced by MTNL after 1.4.1995. These are -Cellular services, virtually calling card, account calling card, premium rate service, virtual private network and ISDN, calling line identification presentation, call forwarding on busy and free, electronic clearing scheme, voluntary deposit scheme, credit card payment scheme, tele- mart interactive voice response services, telephone bill assistance, tele-cardiology and Directory on CDROM.

14. Various add on services such as Datacom, Inet, DID PABX, voice mail, Radio paging and ISDN has been started after 1.4.1995. In addition to this phone plus facilities like dynamic locking, call waiting/call transfer, hot lines etc. has been extended to valued customers. Further in order to minimize human re-interface, important operator based special services have been automated with IVRS (Interactive Voice Response Systems).

9 ITA Nos.2208 to 2211 & 2700/D/07
"(4C). This section applies to any undertaking which starts providing telecommunication services, whether basic or cellular including radio- paging, domestic satellite services or network of trunking and electronic data interchange services at any time on or after the 1st of April, 1995 but before the 31st day of March, 2000."

36. A plain reading of the above Section makes it clear that unlike provisions of sub-section 2 of Section 80IA in respect of industrial undertaking which imposes a condition that it should be a new undertaking and that it should not be formed by splitting up or reconstruction of a business already in existence nor there is any condition that it should not be formed by transfer to a new business of machinery or plant previously used for any purpose. After analyzing all these eligibility criteria, the AO has reached to the conclusion that assessee is eligible for deduction u/s 80IA u/s 4C of the IT Act. Now, we have to see whether AO was justified in restricting claim of deduction with reference to exchanges installed after 1995. It is pertinent to mention here that deduction u/s 80IA is to be computed on the profits of the eligible business and not on the basis of amount invested in plant & machinery in the form of telephone exchanges. Therefore, the profit accruing from telecommunication services is required to be taken into account while granting claim of deduction u/s 80IA. In this regard, we found that after 1995, there is a complete revolution in telecommunication industry and old exchanges if any had been totally revamped. It was not merely addition of the new exchanges but there was entire change in the set up, technology, instruments and equipments. The exchanges which were earlier operating on old technology whereby there was use of big cross bar exchanges with large telephone instruments of dialing numbers mechanically by rotating the dial. Since this technology has been totally abandoned and revamped, replacing the old, most of the income generated is attributable to such new technology exchanges. Merely on the number of old exchanges which were not in operation at all or had undergone totally revamped, income cannot be attributable to such old exchanges, we found that the new technology and the new exchanges made possible a multitude of new intelligent network services which are like cellular services, virtually calling card services, premium rate services, ISDN, calling line identification, call forward on busy and free lines, credit card payment scheme, tele-mart interactive voice response services, directory on CD-Rom etc. Various add on services such as Datacom, Inet, DID PABX, voice mail, Radio paging and ISDN has been started after 1.4.1995. In addition to this phone plus facilities like dynamic locking, call waiting/call transfer, hot lines etc. has been extended to valued customers. Further in order to minimize human re-interface, important operator based special services have been automated with IVRS (Interactive Voice Response Systems). We also found that the assessee MTNL started providing several other advanced and other add on services such as virtual card/account card calling, free phone, virtual private network, premium rate service, telewaiting etc. A new technique named DLC (digital loop carrier system) has also been established. Thus, 1995 onwards the assessee's industry has underwent a tremendous revolution resulting from the possibilities opened up by automatic self operated exchanges. This was not a change or modification but introduction of totally different facilities. It has inducted de novo systems and technology in place of outmode and antiquated system and technology. In view of the above discussion, it is crystal clear that merely on the basis of attributing the income in the ratio of telephone exchanges not proper, but we have to see the various services rendered by MTNL after 1995 which were actually generating income. Since the deduction is to be allowed in respect of income generated by all these facilities, we are required to compute deduction as per these host of services being rendered by MTNL. The lower authorities have also nowhere declined the very fact of old exchanges totally being revamped, most of which were non-operating and under discarded position. As the income generated through so many services being rendered by the new exchanges which is eligible for claim of deduction u/s 80IA, we cannot restrict the claim in respect of the nominal income if any generated out of the old exchanges. Keeping in view the totality of facts and circumstances of the case, we direct the AO to attribute 75% (seventy five percent) of the income from various services enumerated above as having been carried out only by virtue of new exchanges having been installed. 25% of the income may be attributed to the old exchanges. Accordingly, the matter is restored back to the file of the AO for recomputing the claim of deduction u/s 80IA with reference to 75% of the income being eligible for deduction, whereas balance 25% is not eligible for deduction in all the years under consideration. We direct accordingly.