Income from supervision of agricultural land is not agricultural income : ITAT

ORDER

1. This is a bunch of 8 appeals – one filed by the revenue and remaining 7 filed by the assessee, pertaining to same assessee for assessment years 2002-03, 2003-04, 2005-06, 2007-08 to 2010-11. Since identical issues are involved in all these appeals and were heard together, these are being disposed of by this common order for the sake of convenience and brevity. First of all we take up the appeal for assessment year 2002-03 and since the issue is identical in all other years, our decision for assessment year 2002-03 shall be identically applicable in all other years.

ITA No. 1988/DEL/2006 [AY 2002-03]

2. The assessee is in appeal against the order dated 22.02.2006 passed by the CIT (A), New Delhi. The assessee is a company incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 and is a 100% subsidiary of Pioneeer Overseas Corpn. USA (POC). In the relevant AY 2002-03, the assessee filed its return of income declaring an income of Rs. 38,53,720/- after claiming exemption under section 10(1) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 [hereinafter referred to as ‘the Act’ for short]. According to the assessee-company, the main activity of the company is to procure various variety of seeds from growers, processing and packing, and subsequent sale. The procurement of seeds from growers is at a fixed rate. The procurement cost is bifurcated in the books of account under the following heads:

The case of the assessee was selected for scrutiny assessment under section 143(2) of the Act. The AO show caused the assessee to explain as to why the claim of agricultural income not be disallowed. The assessee submitted that its claim of business activities being agricultural in nature, is entitled for exemption under section 10 (1) of the Act. The AO rejected the contention raised by the assessee and held that the charges for supervision and guidance cannot be said to be agricultural activities within the meaning of the Act. It was further held that the assessee does not indulge in agricultural operations in accordance with tests laid in the judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of CIT v. Raja Benoy Kumar Sahas Roy. It was observed in the assessment order that the case of the assessee is similar to the methodology adopted by National Seeds Corporation Ltd. as the assessee also pays advance to farmer who approaches the company with its crop. In view of the above, the claim of exemption under section 10 (1) of the Act was denied to be assessee. The total income of the assessee was assessed at Rs. 3,27,75,246/-.

3. Aggrieved by the assessment order dated 22.03.2005, the assessee preferred appeal before the ld. CIT (A). The ld. CIT (A) vide impugned order dated 09.03.2006 dismissed the appeal of the assessee. The CIT (A) observed that the assessee company is not engaged in the performance of agricultural operations because the basic operations like tilling, sowing etc. are being performed by the farmer.

4. Aggrieved by the order passed by the ld. CIT (A), the assessee is in appeal before us. Grounds No. 1 to 12 pertain to the addition on account of denial of claim under section 10 (1) of the Act. The Ld. AR referred to the submissions made during the course of assessment and explained the transaction entered into with the farmer as under:—

Without prejudice, for the sake of argument even if it be held that farmer shares some risk, a greater risk is shared by the assessee and thus the assessee carries the risk in the cultivation activity. Even on this basis the assessee’s activities are agricultural activities and its income there from is agricultural income. Reliance is placed upon the decision of the case of CIT v. Associated Metals Co. [1989] 177 ITR 428 (All.) and ITAT No. 3137/Del/1985) (copies of the reported decision and ITAT order are attached). It is submitted that these decisions have been accepted by the Department and favourably considered in the appeal proceedings of seed companies similar to the assessee.

5. The Ld. AR invited our attention to the lease agreement and the service provider agreement. It is submitted that the lease and license agreement clearly shows that the farmer had allowed the assessee the exclusive right to use his property for undertaking agricultural production in lieu of license fee. Clause 1 (a) of the service agreement provides that the assessee had agreed to supply parent seeds or other material to the farmer for the production of seeds crops on behalf of the assessee. It is further provided that the control and supervision shall remain with the assessee. The Ld. AR referred to clause 1 (b) and 1 (k) to show that the parent material and the subsequent harvest shall remain the property of the assessee. Annexure A of the said agreement provides that compensation to the farmer towards inputs i.e. Fertilizers, chemicals, insecticides etc. shall be paid at the rate per acre mentioned in the agreement.

6. The Ld. AR has further referred to the confirmation of the farmer stating that they were provided seeds for planting by the assessee and on the directions and guidance by the assessee, the entire range of agricultural operation were carried out. It was further stated in the confirmation that the assessee had paid to the farmer a composite sum calculated at the rate per kg. of good seeds.

7. The Ld. AR submitted that the report given by the DI, Hyderabad which contains adverse findings against the assessee was prepared behind the back of the assessee in a surprise field visit. The enquiry report dated 21.02.2004 revealed the following:—

It is further submitted that the aforesaid report has not been considered in the right perspective by the AO and the CIT (A) and the confirmations, statements u/s. 131 of the farmers were ignored.

8. Referring to the written submissions, the ld. AR further argued that:—

9. The Ld. AR relied upon the judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Rajendra Pratap Singh v. Rameshwar Prasad [1998] 7 SCC 602 to counter the argument raised by the revenue that lease deeds relied upon were defective and some of them were not signed by the farmers. It was submitted that in view of Section 107 r.w.s 117 of the Transfer of Property Act merely because the document shows only the signature of one of the parties it is not enough to conclude that the non -signing party has not joined in the execution of the instrument. The Ld. AR argued that the possession of the agricultural land by the assessee company for a cultivation season creates a derivative and beneficial interest in the land. It is further submitted that it is the derivative interest that matters in the claim u/s. 10 (1) of the Act and it is immaterial if such a person carries out cultivation on the land itself or by others contracted by him.

10. On the averment that the agreement is a device, it is submitted by the Ld. AR that the aforesaid allegation is unsubstantiated and baseless as the rent and labour charges paid in accordance with the agreement were fully allowed by the AO.

11. The ld. AR relied upon the case of Monsanto India Ltd. v. ACIT [IT Appeal No. 1209 of 2010] wherein the Tribunal relying upon the judgment in the case of Namdhari Seeds (P.) Ltd. [IT Appeal No. 3102 (Bang.) of 2014] held as under:—

7. We have heard the learned D.R. and the learned counsel for the assessee. Similar issue has been considered by the Hon’ble ITAT in assessee’s own case for assessment year 2001-02, 2003-04 & 2004-05 and decided the issue in favour of the assessee. In ITA No. 6093/Mum/2007 for A.Y. 2004-05 the Tribunal held as under:—

3. The learned counsel for the assessee contended before us that the issue is covered in favour of the assessee by the decision of the Tribunal in the assessee’s own case for the assessment year 1993-94 to 2003-04, copies of the relevant orders have been placed on record. The issue has extensively been considered by the Tribunal in ITA Nos. 286 & 287/Bang/03, 307 to 309/Bang/02 and 1070, 1895 & 1896/Bang/04 vide order dated 26.11.2007. The relevant facts are contained in para 4 to 4.1 of the order. We reproduce para nos.4, 4.1 and 10 to 18 of the order as under:—

“4. Briefly stated, the facts are that the assessee company was incorporated in the year 1988 for production of high yielding hybrid seeds. In terms of the approval of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) dated 24.6.84, the company is engaged in the business of production and marketing of hybrid seeds. The company with the help of farmers carries out the production of hybrid seeds. According to the assessee, growing of hybrid seeds involves carrying out agricultural operations jointly with the land owners. The assessee company enters into agreement with the land owners for using their land. The land owners remain the legal owners of the agricultural land and they allow the usage of land exclusively for the growing of hybrid seeds. The farmers (land owners) agreed to assist the assessee company in its agricultural activities under the supervision of company’s supervisors. Before selecting farmers who own the agricultural land, the assessee company takes into consideration factors such as quality of land, quality of soil, location of village track records of farmers and climatic conditions etc.

4.1 After selecting the farmers, the company enters into seed production agreement with the farmers to jointly carry out the agricultural operations under control and supervision of the company. The salient features of the agreement are as under:

(a) The farmer is the sole and absolute owner of the agricultural land. (b) The company having the technical know – how necessary for the production of hybrid seeds enters into an agreement with the farmers for utilizing the agricultural land belonging to the farmer. (c) The farmer agrees that the land would be allowed to be used exclusively for the production of the company’s hybrid seeds. In other words, the agreement gives beneficial ownership of lands to the company to carry out its agricultural activities. (d) The farmer shall provide manpower in carrying out its agricultural operations such as land preparation, planting, irrigation, fungicide, pesticide and harvesting on the land under the supervision of the company. (e) The company shall be entitled to carry out or direct the farmer to carry out all such activities, such as use of fertilizer, pesticides etc., which are considered necessary by it for the better production of the produce. (f) Further, the farmer shall at all times be ready and willing to carry out specific tasks assigned by the company from time to time should be called to do. The failure of the farmer to carry out the tasks assigned by the company with entitle the company to carry out the same at the cost of the farmer which also includes the contribution of labour. (g) The agreement categorically states that all produce from the land during the production period shall exclusively belong only to the company. The landowner cum farmer shall have no right and shall have no lien over the produce.

(h) The company shall have total access to the land at any time to supervise agricultural activities, inspect and testing. The farmers shall not obstruct the servants, agents and the officers of the company to have access to the land.

These facts are enumerated in the order of the CIT (A) at pages 2 to 4, 10 We have heard rival submissions and considered them carefully. After examining the order of the Assessing Officer and CIT (A), we do not find any infirmity in the findings of the ld CIT (A). These are undisputed facts that the assessee has shown agricultural income on the same activity for AY 90-91 onwards. During the assessment proceedings for AY 90-91, the claim of the assessee was negated by the Assessing Officer. The assessee filed appeal before the CIT (A), who after discussing the issue in detail allowed the claim of the assessee of doing agriculture activity and the Assessing Officer was directed to accept the agricultural income shown by the assessee. The assessments for AY 91-92 and 92-93 were passed u/s. 143 (3) and the Assessing Officer has accepted the agricultural income as shown by the assessee himself. However, thereafter the Assessing Officer negated the claim of the assessee. The assessments for AY 96-97 and 97-98 were reopened u/s. 147/148. The assessee filed a letter dated 24.12.2000 requesting the AO to treat the return as return filed in response to notice u/s. 148. As discussed above that the Assessing Officer was not satisfied with the explanation that the activity done by the assessee are of agricultural activity as in his view, these are commercial activities, therefore, the Assessing Officer passed assessment by holding that the receipts are of business receipts against agricultural receipts shown by the assessee. 11 Similarly for other years i.e. AY 93094 to 2000-01, The Assessing Officer treated all the receipts as business receipts against the claim of agricultural income. The CIT (A) allowed the claim of the assessee by holding that the facts in both the AYs i.e. AY 96- 97 and 97- 98 are identical to the facts of earlier year when the Assessing Officer allowed the claim of the assessee himself. Further reliance was placed on the decision of Allahabad High Court in 197 ITR 428 (supra) wherein identical facts were involved as involved in the case of the assessee. The CIT (A) has also observed that the appeals of the assessee have been allowed by his predecessor for AY 93-94 to 95-96. Accordingly, the claim of the assessee was allowed by the CIT (A) for these two years also. 12 We further noted that Bangalore ‘B’ Bench in the case of Indo American Exports in ITA No. 1040/Bang/2002 for AY 98-99 and in the case of Namdhari Seeds Pvt Ltd. in ITA No. 3102/Bang/2004 for AY 2001-02 has decided identical issues in favour of the assessee. In these cases also the assesses have entered into identical contract with agriculturists and provide them with hybrid vegetable seeds. The land holdings of the agriculturist extend from 0.75 acres to a maximum of 2 acres. The agriculturists are required to undertake cultivation of the seeds in their land in order to multiply them. The contract period was also mentioned. The assessee company supplies the parents of the hybrid viz the male and female seeds or seedling to the contract grower. The receipts shown by the assessee were shown as agricultural receipts. The Assessing Officer negated the claim of these assesses by observing that the land belonging to the farmer in their own right as owner/term lessee and was in the possession and cultivation. By further observing that the contract entered contrary to the provisions of Karnataka Land Reforms Act, 1961 (KLRA) and such conditions prevailed under KLRA prescribed in the contract will not prevail over the provisions of the Act. The Assessing Officer while negating the claim of the assessee also observed certain further objections. The assessee preferred appeal before the CIT (A), who allowed the claim of these assesses by observing that the receipts shown by these assesses are agricultural receipts. On appeal before the Tribunal, the Tribunal held that the receipts shown by the assessee are agricultural receipts. The Tribunal has discussed the issue in detail. The meaning of agricultural income has also been discussed and by placing reliance on the decision of Madras High Court in the case of Maddi Venkatasubbayya in 20 ITR 151 and in the case of Associated Metal Co in 177 ITR 428 (Alld.) where the facts were identical decided the issue in favour of the assessee. The decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Raja Benoy Kumar Sahas Roy in – (2002- TIOL-150-SC-IT)=32 ITR 466 was also taken into consideration by the Tribunal. While discussing the ratio of these decisions in details, the Tribunal came to the conclusion that on entering into an agreement with farmers the receipts shown by the assessee are agricultural receipts. We further noted that the CIT (A), who allowed the appeal in the case of Indo American Exports and Namdhari Seeds Pvt. Ltd. (supra) has also taken into consideration the decision of the CIT (A) in the case of the assessee. It was noted by the CIT (A) that the facts in the case in hand and the facts in the case of Monsanto India Ltd (the assessee) are identical. These facts have been noted by the Tribunal while deciding the appeal in the case of Indo American Exports and Namdhari Seeds Pvt. Ltd. (supra) at page 7 of its order. This order was passed on 14.7.2006 at Bangalore. 12.1 The ld DR has raised a contention that by entering into an agreement with the farmers, the assessee has created value based additions in its capital, therefore, should not be treated as agricultural income in the hands of the assessee, in our view, these contention of the ld DR cannot be accepted because there is no dispute that the assessee entered into agreement with various farmers, who cultivated the land as per the terms and conditions of agreement. The seeds supplied by the assessee company were used for cultivating the land and whatever the product produced, the same was shown as sold in the market by the assessee as per terms and conditions of agreement. Whatever the share of the farmer was there that was given to them as per the clauses of agreement. Therefore, we hold that whatever the receipts were there they were on account of agricultural activities and have to be treated as agricultural receipts. 13 The Allahabad High Court in the case of Associated Metal (supra) has decided identical issue in favour of the assessee. In that case also the land was cultivated by the farmers as per agreement clauses and whatever the produces were there that were treated in the hands of the lessor. 14 All other cases relied upon by the ld AR have already taken into consideration by the Tribunal while deciding the appeal in case of M/s. Namdhari Seeds (supra), therefore, without going into detail further, we hold that the receipts shown by the assessee are agricultural receipts and the ld CIT (A) was justified in allowing the claim of the assessee. 15 In view of rule of consistency also the assessee deserves to succeed as for AY 1990-91 to 92-93 the department has accepted the claim of the assessee itself. There is no change in facts or in circumstances; therefore, rule of consistency will be applicable on the facts of the present case. 16 The Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Radhaswamy in – (2002-TIOL-745-SC-IT)= 193ITR 325 has held that if there is no change in facts then rule of consistency will prevail upon. Many High Courts have also held so. 17 Respectfully following the decision of the Supreme Court and other High Courts, we hold that even in view of consistency there is no infirmity in the findings of the ld CIT (A), who has also taken into consideration the past history of the case. Accordingly, we confirm the order of the ld CIT (A) for these two years. 18 The facts in the remaining years are identical, therefore, in view of the reasoning discussed above, we confirm the orders of the ld CIT (A) for the remaining years also. “4. Since the decision of the CIT (A) is in accord with the order of the Tribunal in the assessee’s own case for earlier years (supra), we find no justification to interfere.

5. The appeal of the Revenue is accordingly dismissed.

Respectfully following the decisions of the Coordinate Benches in earlier years, we reject the ground of the Revenue.”

12. The aforesaid judgment was challenged by the revenue before the Hon’ble Bombay High Court in ITA No. 633/2010 wherein it was held as under: —

“3. Perusal of the order of the ITAT shows that the Tribunal has confirmed the order of CIT (A) by recording finding of fact that the assessee in fact carried on agricultural operations and that the orders passed to that effect in assessment years 1990-91 to 1992-93 have been accepted by the revenue. For earning agricultural income, it is not necessary that the assessee must own the land and it is enough if it is established that the agricultural operations have been actually carried on by the assessee. I view of the finding of fact recorded by the ITAT that even in the past the assessee has been carrying agricultural operations, in the absence of any material to the contrary, the decision of the ITAT cannot be faulted.”

13. Lastly it is submitted by the Ld. AR that the case of Namdhari Seeds (P.) Ltd. [2011] 341 ITR 342 (Kar.) passed by the Hon’ble Bombay High Court relied upon by the revenue is not applicable to the facts of the present case as the Court held that the leasing of the land is prohibited under the Karnataka Land Reforms Act and, therefore, the income from such lands is not agricultural.

14. The ld. DR, on the other hand, rebutted the submissions made by the ld. AR by relying upon the orders passed by the AO and the CIT (A). It was submitted that the assessee did not carry out actual agricultural operations and the assessee also did not bear risks pertaining to the agricultural produce. It was submitted that the method of payment followed by the assessee clearly shows that the agreement was a device to claim exemption. The ld. DR further submitted that the assessee is not shown as a cultivator in the revenue records.

15. We have heard the rival submissions and perused the relevant material on record. The principles regarding the scope of agricultural activities and agricultural income has been laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of CIT v. Raja Benoy Kumar Sahas Roy [1957] 32 ITR 466 (SC), wherein it was held as under:

‘The primary sense in which the term agriculture is understood is agar-field and cultra-cultivation, i.e., the cultivation of the field, and if the term is understood only in that sense agriculture would be restricted only to cultivation of the land in the strict sense of the term meaning thereby, tilling of the land, sowing of the seeds, planting and similar operations on the land. They would be the basic operations and would require the expenditure of human skill and labour upon the land itself. There are however other operations which have got to be resorted to by the agriculturist and which are absolutely necessary for the purpose of effectively raising the produce from the land. They are operations to be performed after the produce sprouts from the land, e.g., weeding, digging the soil around the growth, removal of undesirable undergrowths and all operations which foster the growth and preserve the same not only from insects and pests but also from depredation from outside, tending, pruning, cutting, harvesting, and rendering the produce fit for the market. The latter would all be agricultural operations when taken in conjunction with the basic operations above described, and it would be futile to urge that they are not agricultural operations at all………..

…….We are of opinion that the mere performance of these subsequent operations on the products of the land, where such products have not been raised on the land by the performance of the basic operations which we have described above would not be enough to characterize them as agricultural operations. In order to invest them with the character of agricultural operations, these subsequent operations must necessarily be in conjunction with and a continuation of the basic operations which are the effective cause of the products being raised from the land. It is only if the products are raised from the land by the performance of these basic operations that the subsequent operations attach themselves to the products of the land and acquire the characteristic of agricultural operations. The cultivation of the land does not comprise merely of raising the products of land in the narrower sense of the term like tilling of the land, sowing of the seeds, planting, and similar work done on the land but also includes the subsequent operations set out above all of which operations, basic as well as subsequent, from one integrated activity of the agriculturist and the term ” agriculture” has got to be understood as connoting this integrated activity of the agriculturist. One cannot dissociate the basic operations from the subsequent operations and say that the subsequent operations, even though they are divorced from the basic operations can constitute agricultural operations by themselves. If this integrated activity which constitutes agriculture is undertaken and performed in regard to any land that land can be said to have been used for “agricultural purposes” and the income derived there from can be said to be “agricultural income” derived from the land by agriculture.

If the term “agriculture” is thus understood as comprising within its scope the basic as well as subsequent operations in the process of agriculture and the raising on the land of products which have some utility either for consumption or for trade and commerce, it will be seen that the term “agriculture” receives a wider interpretation both in regard to its operations as well as the results of the same. Nevertheless there is present all throughout the basic idea that there must be at the bottom of it cultivation of land in the sense of tilling of the land, sowing of the seeds, planting, and similar work done on the land itself. This basic conception is the essential sine qua non of any operation performed on the land constituting agricultural operation. If the basic operations are there, the rest of the operations found themselves upon the same. But if these basic operations are wanting the subsequent operations do not acquire the characteristic of agricultural operations.

All these operations no doubt require the expenditure of human labour and skill but the human labour and skill spent upon the land. The human labour and skill spent in the performance of subsequent operations cannot be said to have been spent on the land itself, though it may have the effect of preserving, fostering and regenerating the products of the land.’

16. The Hon’ble Supreme Court in the aforesaid judgment has clearly held that agricultural income will arise when basic operations such as cultivation of land like tilling of the land, sowing of seeds, planting and other similar operations are carried out. The said basic operations should be on the land itself and it cannot be outside the land. Section 2(1A)(b)(i) refers to income derived from such land by agriculture. Sec. 2(1A)(b)(ii) refers to any income derived from such land by the performance of a cultivator or receiver of rent -in-kind to render the produce raised or received by him fit to be taken to the market.

17. The factual matrix of the present case reveals that the farmer had entered into lease agreement with the assessee company and the farmer is the lawful owner of the land. The said farmers had leased the farm land to the assessee company which has handed it back to the farmer to carry out cultivation of seeds on behalf of the assessee company. The parent seeds are provided free of cost to the farmer by the assessee company. The farmer is paid, amount for procurement of seeds by the assessee at fixed rate, which is bifurcated under the heads, land lease rent, fertilizers & chemicals and labour & services charges.

18. We find from the arrangement between the farmer and the assessee that the assessee is not carrying any agricultural operations required in terms of tests laid in the judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Raja Benoy Kumar Sahas Roy (supra). The actual cultivation on the land is done by the farmer like tilling, sowing, etc. The mere supervision by the assessee without the carrying of the basic operations would leave no manner of doubt that no agricultural income arose in the hands of the assessee. The argument of the assessee that the company is an artificial person and could not have conducted the agricultural operations by itself and, therefore, required such kind of an arrangement with the farmers for earning agricultural income does not have any merit. The farmers are not the employees of the assessee company. Had it been the case where the actual agricultural operations were carried out by the employees of the assessee company, it would have been a different case altogether.

19. The features of the agreement relied upon by the assessee like composite payment, giving parent seeds free of cost to the farmer, not carrying out any agricultural operations by itself clearly shows that the assessee company is only earning business income from the activity and not agricultural income. It is the farmer in the present case, who has to ensure the watering of the land, fertility and the suitability of the land. Without carrying out the basic operations alongwith the subsequent operations on the agricultural field, the assessee cannot claim agricultural income. The facts of the present case though represent a legal business model preferred by the assessee and the farmer but the said arrangement only gives rise to business income in the hands of the assessee and not agricultural income. The leave and license agreement as well as the service provider agreement read alongwith the statements of the farmers also show that the agricultural operations are carried out by the farmers only.

20. The reliance placed by the Ld. AR upon the judgment in the case of Monsanto India Ltd. (supra) passed by the Hon’ble Bombay High Court is misplaced in as much as even in the said judgment the Hon’ble High Court in para 3 has clearly observed that agricultural operations ought to have been actually carried out by the assessee.

21. The judgment of the Hon’ble Karnataka High Court rendered in the case of Namdhari Seeds Pvt. Ltd. (supra) is applicable to the facts of the present case. The submission of the Ld. AR that the present case is different from Namdhari Seeds Pvt. Ltd. (supra) case and, therefore, the ratio of the said judgment is not applicable does not appeal to us. It has been submitted by the Ld. AR that the aforesaid was a case where the agreement was contrary to the Karnataka Land Reforms Act, however, in the present case, the agreement is not in contravention with any law. We find that the said ground was only an additional factor for denying the claim of agricultural income to the assessee therein. The principle ground for rejection of the claim of the assessee was that no actual agricultural operations were carried out by the assessee therein. The facts are similar to the present case and the ratio of the aforesaid judgment is squarely applicable to the present case. In the aforesaid judgment of Namdhari Seeds, the Hon’ble High Court held as under:—

“54. From different terms and conditions of arrangement, what we notice is except supplying the foundation seeds and giving scientific advice from time to time, either at the time of sowing or pollination or harvesting, none of th6e normal activities of agriculture are undertaken by the assessee company. Except sowing the foundation seeds belonging to the assessee, farmer is not entitled to grow any other seeds in the land earmarked for the purpose of growing hybrid seeds and is not allowed to part with the seeds supplied to him to anyone else and so far as unused seeds, he had to give back the same to the company. Farmer conducts the cultivation and assessee-company only allots machinery and personnel for the purpose of achievement of better results in producing the quality hybrid seeds. Preparation of bed, sowing of the seeds, cultivation and harvesting of hybrid seeds is done by the farmer. He is entitled for the price fixed by the assessee per quintal for all such seeds which would qualify the specification indicated by the assessee. The seeds which do not qualify the specification” are also not sold by the farmer, but by the company and the sale consideration, if any is given to the farmer. The farmer while multiplying foundation seeds, uses his land and labour. The input given by the assessee is only technical supervision of the company. Whatever seeds grown by the farmer whether qualifies the specification indicated by the assessee or not has to be given to the assessee and the assessee will pay a fixed price so far as the seeds which quality the specification and other seeds will be sold in the open market by the assessee and there is no fixation of any price for the seeds which do not meet the specification. The farmer has to ensure fertility of the land, suitability of the land, cultivation of the land, watering of the land, use of the seeds supplied by the assessee and also had to sell the hybrid seeds at a price fixed by the assessee……

….If the farmer has to arrange the labour and pay the labour charges and also spend money for other operations either basic or subsequent operations, he can only take advance amount from the assessee and such amount paid by the assessee would be deducted from the so called compensation to be paid for the qualified foundation seeds at the end by the assessee. The entire terms of agreement would only indicate that the foundation seeds grown by the farmer would be purchased by the assessee at the end for a certain price provided seeds qualify the specifications as per the agreement. It is nothing short of a fertile womb being offered by a surrogate mother for the growth of child of someone else. The assessee supervises and oversees the sowing cultivation right from the process of sowing till the end in order to get the qualified foundation seeds as per the specifications so as to carry on his trade in selling certified seeds. The main interest of the assessee is to see that good an d healthy seeds are produced by the farmer meeting the requirement specified by it. Such input or scientific method in giving advice to the farmer cannot be termed as either basic agricultural operation or subsequent operations ordinarily employed by the farmer or agriculturist. If the basic operations of agriculture are not carried on by the assessee-company, then the harvested foundation seeds purchased by him and converting them to certification seeds cannot be termed as integrated part of the foundation activity of agriculture. Therefore even if we agree that the mechanical process of agricultural operations either basic operations or subsequent operations would not be an impediment to make such operations as agricultural operations, the question is whether such operations are conducted by the assessee or the farmer or someone else. The entire reading of the terms of the agreement would only indicate that assessee-company was interested only to have healthy foundation seeds grown for the process of converting the same as certified seeds.

58. Therefore the view of first appellate authority that 100 per cent of the operations upto conversion of the foundation seeds as agricultural activity conducted by the assessee company and therefore income deserves to be exempted from tax under s. 10(1) of the Act is erroneous. Similarly exemption given by the Tribunal for 90 per cent of the income is also erroneous. We opine that the Tribunal was justified in treating 10 per cent of the income as business income which involved processing of foundation seeds to certified seeds. In that view of the matter, we hold that the entire income amounts to business income. As a matter of fact for some of the assessment years based on the opinion of one of the senior counsel on taxation Mr. K.R. Prasad, the assessee – company offered its income as business income and even claimed deduction under s. 80HHC of the Act.”

22. In view of the aforesaid, we affirm the reasoning given by the AO and the CIT (A) and dismiss grounds No. 1 to 12 raised by the assessee. Rest of the grounds raised by the assessee are not pressed and the same are disposed off accordingly.

23. As a result, the appeal of the assessee stands dismissed.

ITA No. 4383 of 2006 AY 2003-04

24. This is an appeal of the assessee for AY 2003-04. Grounds No. 1 to 9 pertain to claim of agricultural income under section 10 (1) of the Act. Since the facts are identical to the case of the assessee for AY 2002-03, we follow our own decision in ITA No. 1988/DEL/2006 and dismiss the aforesaid grounds.

25. Ground No. 11 pertains to the disallowance of contribution to superannuation fund of Rs. 3,23,767/-. The other additions/disallowances are not pressed in the aforesaid ground of appeal. With respect to the said ground, the submission of the assessee before the AO and the CIT appeal has been that the sum is allowable as per Companies Act since its income being agricultural, the aforesaid have not been added back to the total income. Since we have held that the assessee is not entitled for the claim of agricultural income, the aforesaid amount is to be added to the total income of the assessee. Ground No.11 raised by the assessee is dismissed.

26. Rest of the grounds raised are not pressed, hence they are dismissed as not pressed.

27. As a result the appeal of the assessee is dismissed.

ITA No. 443/DEL/2010 [AY 2005-06] and

ITA No. 1903/2014 [AY 2009-10]

28. These appeals of the assessee pertain to A.Ys 2005-06 and 2009-10. Since the issues involved are common, the appeals are taken up together. Grounds No. 1 to 7 of ITA No. 443/DEL/2010 pertain to claim of agricultural income under section 10 (1) of the Act. Since the facts are identical to the case of the assessee for AY 2002-03, we follow our own decision in ITA No. 1988/DEL/2006 and dismiss the aforesaid grounds.

29. Ground No. 8 pertains to the claim of bad debt amounting to Rs. 25,26,958/-. The CIT (A) had disallowed the aforesaid sum as the assessee failed to prove that the aforesaid debts arose from business. Even before us, the assessee has failed to show that the advances were related to or incidental to the business or profession of the assessee. We find no reason to interfere with the findings of the CIT (A). The aforesaid ground is dismissed.

30. Rest of the grounds raised are not pressed.

31. As a result, the appeals are dismissed.

ITA No. 5285/DEL/2012 [AY 2007-08], ITA No. 3670/DEL/2013 [AY 2008-09] and ITA No. 4269/2014 [AY 2010-11].

32. These appeals of the assessee pertain to AYs 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2010-11. Since the issues involved are common, the appeals are taken up together. Grounds Nos. 1 to 4 in ITA NO. 5285/DEL/2012 pertain to claim of agricultural income under section 10 (1) of the Act. Since the facts are identical to the case of the assessee for AY 2002-03, we follow our own decision in ITA No. 1988/DEL/2006 and dismiss the aforesaid grounds.

33. Rest of the grounds raised are not pressed. Hence the same are dismissed as not pressed.

34. As a result, the appeals are dismissed.

ITA No. 1903 of 2014 AY 2009-10 [Department appeal]

35. This is an appeal of the department for AY 2009-10. The grounds raised pertain to disallowance of provision for bad debts. It has been submitted by both the parties that the said appeal has become infructuous.

36. We have considered the rival arguments made by both the sides and the material available on record. It was stated by Shri Ajay Vohra, the ld. counsel for the assessee that the grievance of the assessee was rectified by Assessing Officer u/s. 154 of the Act and in fact, the appeal before the ld. CIT (A) and as well as before the Tribunal is held to be infructuous. In view thereof, the departmental appeal is dismissed.

37. To sum up, all the appeals of the assessee as well as the appeal of the Revenue are dismissed.