Hapag Lloyd India P. Ltd, Mumbai vs Dcit 7(1)(2), Mumbai on 27 September, 2019
19. A careful reading of the observations of the Tribunal reproduced
above would make it clear that the Tribunal had clearly and
categorically observed that the price received by GESA under the sub-
agency agreement cannot be applied as internal CUP to determine the
arm's length price of business support services provided to the AE. The
same view was expressed by the Tribunal while deciding identical issue
in the first round of litigation in the impugned assessment year vide
order passed in ITA no.1134/Mum./2015, dated 27th February 2015.
Admittedly, the Revenue has not contested the aforesaid observations
of the Tribunal. Thus, the fact of the matter is, non-applicability of the
price paid under sub-agency agreement to GESA as internal CUP has
attained finality by virtue of the decisions of the Tribunal as referred to
above. That being the case, the same cannot be a subject matter of
review or reconsideration by the Transfer Pricing Officer in the fresh
proceedings in pursuance to the directions of the Tribunal. Thus, in our
view, by again applying the price paid to GESA under the sub-agency
agreement as internal CUP, the Transfer Pricing Officer has clearly
violated the directions of the Tribunal, hence, has exceeded his
jurisdiction. In fact, in the fresh order passed under section 92CA(3) of
the Act, though, the Transfer Pricing Officer acknowledges the fact that
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Hapag-Lloyd India P. Ltd.