Idea Cellular Limited, Indore vs Dcit Tds, Indore on 23 April, 2024
58. The Hon'ble Delhi High Court in the case of CIT vs. Bharati Cellular Ltd.
reported in 319 ITR 139 has given a finding that the facility in question
Page 52 of 65
ITA No. 415/Ind/2014 & 265/Ind/2018 - AY 2010-11
M/s Vodafone Idea Ltd. (Formerly M/s Idea Cellular Ltd.)
provided to the assessee is a "service" and in a broader sense a
"communication service". The facility of interconnection is held as providing
service which is "technical" in the sense that involved sophisticated
technology. Thus the factual finding of the Jurisdictional High Court in this
very facts and circumstances is that "technical services" is being provided by
the FTO's to the assessee but that such "Technical Service" is not FTS as
defined u/s. 9(1)(vii) of the Act as there is no human intervention. This finding
that it is a "service" has not been upheld by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of
India only the factual issue as to whether there was human intervention was
set aside to AO. Under such circumstances, the question of taking a contrary
view that it is not a "technical services", but a case where the FTO had
granted the assesse a right to use a process and the payment is for 'royalty'
cannot be countenanced. Applying the binding decision of the Hon'ble
Jurisdictional High Court we have to hold that the payment cannot be termed
as covered by Explanation 2 read with Section 9(1)(vi) of the Act. On this
ground alone the order of the First Appellate Authority has to be upheld. The
charge that the payment in question is FTS u/s. 9(1)(vii) excludes the
possibility of the payment being royalty under section 9(1)(vi) of the Act. Both
these sections deal with different set of facts situation which cannot co-exist.