3.37. Therefore, in view of decision of above decision of ITAT in ITO v. Branch
Manager, sums in question are not taxable in India, in view of Article 23(3)/
Therefore, the facts in the Abhishar Builders
(supra), Harjeev Aggarwal (supra), Sh. Parminder Singh Kalra (supra), Shri
Rajesh Kumar Govindlal Patel (supra) where it was held that the statement
recorded u/s 132(4) is not construed to be as incriminating material. In those
cases, the search action was initiated and the revenue had not found any
incriminating material during the search, they proceeded to collect information
post search proceedings and proceeded to make the addition u/s 153A of the
Act. However, the facts are totally different in the present case, the search was
initiated on the basis of information which was confirmed by the assessee in
the search assessment proceedings, further, the assessee has not retracted
Page | 33
ITA Nos.6743 & 6744/Del/2017 & 3623 to 3627/DEL/2016
And ITA Nos. 6767 ,6769,7756 to 7759,7760/Del/2017
Rajinder Kumar
means he has accepted, it goes to prove that the information with the revenue
is substantially correct. Hence the material with the revenue has to be
considered proper and the action of the AO to accept the revised return of
income and proceeded to complete the assessment goes to prove that the
material with the revenue can be assessable u/s 153A of the Act. Therefore,
we have no choice but to reject the contentions of the assessee.
46. After considering the decisions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the
case of Anvar P.V (supra); Arjun Pandit Rao Khotkar (supra) and the
judgment of the Hon'ble Madras High Court in the case of Vetrivel Mineral
(supra) as well as on perusal of the facts and circumstances of the case,
we are of the considered we that the four conditions stipulated in section
65B(2) i.e., (a) to (d) along with section 65B(4) were not followed while
obtaining the Certificate u/s. 65B of the Indian Evidence Act 1872 in the
case of the assessee which are to be followed mandatorily. Therefore, we
Page | 15
ITA Nos.6743 & 6744/Del/2017 & 3623 to 3627/DEL/2016
And ITA Nos. 6767 ,6769,7756 to 7759,7760/Del/2017
Rajinder Kumar
have no hesitation to hold that this Certificate is not a valid Certificate as
prescribed under the Indian Evidence Act 1872 and hence cannot be
enforced. Therefore, the Certificate obtained in the case of the assessee
cannot be regarded as a legally valid certificate u/s. 65B of the Indian
Evidence Act and the same has no recognition in the eyes of law. The
information contained in the seized pen drive is could not be considered
as admissible evidence as per the provisions of section 65B of Indian
Evidence Act. Therefore, we are of the considered view that such
inadmissible seized material is not sustainable in the eyes of law. Thus,
the assessment order passed in the case of the assessee on 31-3-2022 is
not a valid assessment order in the eyes of law and it deserves to be set
aside.
In DCIT v. Turquoise Investments & Finance Ltd, [2008] 300 ITR 1 (SC),
20.02.2008, Supreme Court of India (Relevant para: 9, Page 544-546 of case law
compendium Volume 3.2) the Hon'ble Supreme Court upheld the decision of
Madhya Pradesh High Court following decision in Kulandayan Chettiar case.
In DCIT v. Turquoise Investments & Finance Ltd, [2008] 300 ITR 1 (SC),
20.02.2008, Supreme Court of India (Relevant para: 9, Page 544-546 of case law
compendium Volume 3.2) the Hon'ble Supreme Court upheld the decision of
Madhya Pradesh High Court following decision in Kulandayan Chettiar case.
In DCIT v. Bank of India [ITA No. 3082/2015/ITAT Mumbai 08.11.2017]
(Relevant para: 5 & 12, Page 551-561 of case law compendium, Volume 3.2)
relate to the appeal filed by the revenue for AY 2009-10 regarding taxability of
business income earned in another state. It related to India-Kenya treaty for
income from house property. ITAT relied upon its own rulings for AY 2004-05
and AY 2003-04, Therein it was held (relying on text the Article 7 of DTAA states
that if the enterprise of one State carries on business in another State through
permanent establishment) that the State where the business is carried out alone
would levy tax on the profits attributable to the permanent establishment.
Similarly, for AY 2009-10 with regards to DTAA between India and Kenya, the
ITAT took note of Notification No. 91/2008 and held that any notification or
circular cannot alter the nature of income that has been specifically included in
DTAAs. Even amendment in a section of the Act would not affect the provisions
of tax treaties unless same are not ratified by both the signatories of the treaty.
Therefore, for AY 2009-10 it was held that house property income had to taxed
as per Article 6 of the DTAA and as per that article income from Kenyan house
property could not be taxed in India.
3.19. However, the notification number 91/2008 dated 28.08.2008 was held to
retrospective and applicable to AY 2006-07, AY 2007-08 and AY 2008-09 by the
decision of Mumbai bench of ITAT in Essar Oil Ltd. v. ACIT, (2014) 42
taxmann.com 21 (Mumbai ITAT) (Relevant para: Para 54, 60 & 61, Page 562-
637 of case law compendium, Volume 3.2).
3.20. The above order of the ITAT in Essar Oil case is contrary to the principles
flowing from the judgement of Hon'ble Bombay High Court in Godrej & Boyce
Mfg. Co. Ltd. v. DCIT, [2010] 328 ITR 81, dated 12.08.2010 (Relevant para 65,
66 & 67, Page 638-676 of case law compendium, Volume 3.2) and the ruling of
Hon'ble Supreme Court in CIT v. Essar Teleholdings Ltd., [2018] 300 CTR 561
dated 31.01.2018 (Relevant para: 23 & 48, Page 677-692 of case law
compendium, Volume 3.2. These judgements were no doubt in the context of
Rule 8D and Section 14A of the Act and not in the context of Notification
91/2008 dated 28.8.2008. However, these judgements have held that the
Rules/notifications issued under the fiscal statutes will be, unless otherwise
expressly provided, prospective in nature.
a) Late Shri Bhushan Lal Sawhney vs. DCIT (supra) (Relevant para: 8, 8.1, 8,2,
Page 171-184 of case law compendium, Volume 3.1) No addition could be made
of any unexplained bank deposits or interest earned thereon in the case of
assessee for the relevant AYs i.c., 2006-2007 to 2011-2012 as by virtue of
Notification No. 2903 (E) dated 27.12.2011 no information was provided by
Swiss Authorities for the period prior to 01.04.2011.