CIT vs. Veerakeralam Primary Agricultural
Co-operative Credit Society; 388 ITR 492 (Mad):
Assessee is a primary agricultural
co-operative credit society. For the A. Ys. 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2011-12, the
Assessing Officer disallowed the assessee’s claim for deduction u/s. 80P on the
ground that assessee is a co-operative bank. The Tribunal allowed the assesee’s
claim.
On appeal by the Revenue, the Madras High
Court upheld the decision of the Tribunal and held as under:
“i) The benefit of section
80P is excluded for co-operative banks, whereas the primary agricultural credit
societies are entitled to the deduction.
ii) The primary object of the
assessee-society was to provide financial accommodation to its members to meet
all the agricultural requirements and to provide credit facilities to the
members, as per the bye-laws and as laid down in section 5(cciv) of Banking
Regulation Act, 1949.
iii) The assessee society was
admittedly not a co-operative bank but a credit co-operative society. It was
entitled to deduction u/s. 80P.”