The Commissioner Of Income Tax-2 vs Hdfc Bank Ltd. on 5 September, 2014
7.2 We have heard both sides, perused the materials available on record
and gone through the orders of authorities below. By reiterating the
submissions as made before the ld. CIT(A), It was the submission of the ld.
7 I.T.A. Nos.2147 & 2188/M/17
Counsel for the assessee that the impugned investments have been made a
long time ago and the interest free funds of ₹.684.27 lakhs far outweigh the
borrowed funds of ₹.181.38 lakhs for the assessment year 2014-15.
Similarly, for the assessment year 2013-14 also, the interest free funds of
₹.671.67 exceed the borrowed funds at ₹.482.37 lakhs. Therefore, it was
submitted that there was no question of allocation of interest expenditure
under Rule 8D. While considering similar issue, in the case of CIT v. HDFC
Ltd. (supra), the Hon'ble Bombay High Court has held that where assessee's
capital, profit reserves, surplus and current account deposits were higher
than the investments in tax free securities, it would have to be presumed that
investment made by the assessee would be out of the interest free funds
available with the assessee and no disallowance is warranted under section
14A of the Act. The ld. DR could not controvert the above findings of the
Hon'ble Bombay High Court. Thus, we are of the considered opinion that the
ld. CIT(A) has rightly followed the above judgement of Hon'ble Bombay High
Court and held that no disallowance under Rule 8D(2)(ii) could be made in
this case. Hence, the ground raised by the Revenue is dismissed for both
the assessment years.