B.R. BASKARAN, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER 
AND RAVISH SOOD, JUDICIAL MEMBER

K. Gopal, and Ms. Neha Paranjpefor the Appellant. S. Padmaja for the Respondent.

ORDER

B.R. Baskaran, Accountant Member. – The assessee has filed this appeal challenging the order dated 29-09-2016 passed by Ld CIT(A)-3, Mumbai and it relates to the assessment year 2012-13. The assessee is aggrieved by the decision of Ld CIT(A) in confirming the addition of Rs.60.24 crores relating to excess share premium made by AO u/s 68 of the Act. The grounds of appeal urged by the revenue read as under:—

(i)		On the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the Id.CIT(A) erred in deleting addition made to total income of Rs. 60,24,03,736/- on account of share premium when receipts of premium over and above the DCF valuation report submitted by the assessee was devoid of justification of its nature as required by the provisions of section 68 of the Act.
(ii)		On the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, the Id.CIT(A) erred in deleting the addition made to total income amounting to Rs.60,24,03,734/-
(iii)		On the facts and in the circumstances of the case and in law, without prejudice to ground No.1 and 2 above, the Id.CIT(A) ought to have held that share premium is a revenue receipt taxable under the Act being accretion to assets without corresponding increase in liability and the corresponding reserves generated can be distributed as dividend in the form of bonus/shares”.

2. The facts as narrated by AO are extracted below:—

“Facts of the case:- The assessee company was incorporated on 28.12.2010 the name Anumati Properties Private Limited. The assessee company was acquired by current Management on 14.3.2011 and its name was changed to Varsity Education Management Pvt Ltd w.e.f. 27.3.2011. The assessee is engaged in the business of providing services like content development, facilities management, transportation management, text books and uniforms, mess and canteen services of students of K-10 schools (Kinder garden to Class 10) and Junior Colleges situated in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The assessee company had two subsidiary companies, the details of which are as under:—

(i)		Junior Varsity Education Management Pvt Ltd (Formerly known as Diamond Dreamz IT Solutions Pvt Ltd) which was incorporated on 7.4.2010. The company is engaged in the business of providing products & services like curricular, co-curricular or extra-curricular activities in relation to technology, education, content, training, consulting, transport facilities, facility management, brand building and marketing, provision of assets and other services to various educational institutions across the state of Andhra Pradesh.
(ii)		K-12 Education Management Pvt Ltd: The company was incorporated on 16.9.2009 and engaged in the business of providing services like curriculum development, teacher recruitment, training, facilities management, transportation, accounting and information Technology, marketing testing services , text books, uniforms, mews and canteen etc to students up to 10th class in the trust schools situated in Karnataka & Andhra Pradesh.”

3. The assessee company was acquired by current management on 14.3.2011. The share holders of the company as on 31.3.2012 are following persons, who were allotted shares at Par value on 24.03.2011:—

(a)	Trilochan Properties Pvt Ltd (now known as Coeus Education Management Pvt Ltd)	29,41,150 shares
(b)	Ms Sushama B	29,425 shares
(c)	Ms Seema B	29425 shares

4. The AO noticed that a Mauritius based company named M/s NSR PR Mauritius LLC had invested in the assessee company on 21.3.2011 (relevant to AY 2011-12) in 12,01,923 Compulsory Convertible Preference Shares (CCPS) of Rs.10/- each at premium of Rs. 1030/- per share. During the year under consideration, i.e., in the financial year relevant to the AY 2012-13, the assessee company has again issued to the very same investor, viz., NSR PE Mauritius LLC 16,82,692 Compulsory Convertible preference shares (CCPS) of Rs 10/- each at a premium of Rs 1030/- per share. Thus, during the year under consideration, the assessee has received share premium of Rs 173.31 crores during the year under consideration and the same was credited to Securities premium account in the Balance Sheet. The AO noticed that the assessee company has allotted the shares to management entities/people at par on 24.3.2011, whereas, it has allotted the Compulsory Convertible Preference shares to NSR PR at a premium at Rs 1,030/- per share on 21.3.2011 & 5.12.2011. The AO noticed that the book value of the shares of the company on the above dates was Nil, as evidenced by the Balance Sheet of the assessee company. Hence the AO asked the assessee to give justification for premium received.

5. The explanations furnished by the assessee are extracted by the AO in the assessment order and for the sake of convenience, we also extract the same below:—

“M/s NSR PR Mauritius LLC is (known as New silk route growth capital) is a Mauritius based private equity fund registered with the SEBI as a venture capital fund vide registration no In/FVCI/08-09/119 dated 16.1.2009 (Herein after referred to as ‘NSR’) The registration details can be viewed on the SEBI website also. The url address is www. sebi. gov. in/investor/forventure. html. During the Previous year relevant to the AY 2012-13, the company has received Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from NSR PE Mauritius LLC against allotment of 16.82.692/- Compulsory Convertible Preference shares (CCPS) of Rs.10/- each at a premium of Rs 1030/- per share. The share premium of Rs 173,31,72,760/- credited to Securities Premium account. Further we submit that USD 349,99,993 received from NSR PE Mauritius LLC on 5.12.2011 and exchange rate as on that date is Rs 51.90/USD. The total amount credited is Rs 179.16 crores. The balance of Rs 4.16 cr, after allotting CCPS of 16,82,6927- of Rs 10 each at a premium of Rs 1030/-per share, has been refunded to M/s NSR PE Mauritius LLC. This allotment is done as per the terms and conditions of the investment agreement dt 16.3.2011, particularly as per clause 2.1(i). As per this clause, it is agreed that the assessee is required to allot CCPS of ` 10 each at a premium of Rs 1030/-. Therefore, the nature of money received from NSR is towards the allotment of CCPS at a premium. The entire procedure has been followed to infuse capital into the assessee company. It is exclusive commercial decision of the investing company. The copy of the agreement with NSR is already available in the department records in the file of AY 2011-12. In support of the above, we are herewith enclosing Foreign Exchange Inward Remittance certificate (FIRC) from Axis Bank and Bank statement at Page no 1 & 2. Return in form FC-GPR filed with Reserve Bank of India, evidencing the proof of amount received towards allotment of CCPS is enclosed.

The assessee has further stated that its submissions for the earlier year may be considered. The same are reproduced below:—

2. For the purpose of FDI investment into the assessee company the valuation report has been prepared and has been submitted to you for your perusal. The Receipts and Profits projected in the valuation report are purely on estimated basis. However, your honours may note that the actual profits earned by each company mentioned in the valuation report, are equal or more than the projections made in the valuation report. This can be verified by your Honours from the Profit & Loss a/c file before you for the future subsequent years of the assessee, i.e. Varsity and also Junior Varsity Education Management Pvt i.e (Jr Varsity). Therefore the assessments/projections made in the valuation are more or less near to the real valuation.

The below table demonstrate the comparison:

	Name of the Company	Assessment year	Profit as per the valuation report	Profit as per actual profit & loss a/c
	Varsity education Management Pvt ltd	2012-13	18,60,00,000	17,96,98,259
	-do-	2013-14	34,00,00,000	44,63,07,687
	Diamond dreams IT Solutions Pvt ltd(presently known as Jr Varsity Education Management Pvt ltd	2012-13	43,60,00,000	78,05,15,719
	-do-	2013-14	46,60,00,000	85,42,58,692

3. It is to submit that as per the valuation report, the value of Varsity Education Management Pvt ltd i.e. assessee works out to Rs 2,31,36,85,924/- whereas the valuation of junior Varsity Education Management Pvt ltd works out to Rs 2,13,01,85,5247-. Thus the total valuation of both the companies works out to Rs 4,44,38,71,449/-.

(i)		However the valuer at the time of valuation has discounted the above said valuation and accordingly arrived at a value of Rs 682/-per equity share. This valuation has been done based on the discounted cash flow method as per RBI guidelines. The guidelines have been already filed with you. Under the RBI guidelines any FDI coming into Indian company has to be valued as per DCF method. Further, investment in Indian company should not be less than the valuation arrived as per the DCF method. After the valuation as per DCF method, the assessee and the NSR have negotiated the price and arrived at share premium of 1030/-. This premium has worked out making a discount of 30% to the total value of 4,44,38,71,449/-. The discounted value works out to 3,11,07,10,014/- and the no of equity shares are 30,00,000.. Thus the value per share works to Rs 1037/-. Base on this valuation CCPS has been allotted to the NSR at 1030/- premium as far as the assessee is concerned.
(ii)		As per the agreement the assessee is required to make investment in K-12 Education Management Pvt ltd as well as Akash Multimedia. The first tranche of investment made by NSR is used for acquisition of shares in K-12 and also Akash Multimedia which has been reflected in the Balance Sheet of the assessee.
(iii)		Being a startup company the assessee is not in a situation to demand a certain premium. The NSR being a venture capital fund, it is their prerogative to invest or not and normally venture capital funds invest as per their own valuations. It is to submit that there is no relationship between the assessee company and NSR.
(iv)		NSR has not only invested in assessee company and also in various companies in India and in other countries. Some of the investments they made are Vector Life sciences Ltd. Cafe Coffee day, VRL logistics, 9X Media Pvt Ltd, KS oils etc. you may visit their website to know their total investments http://nsrpartners. Com/portfiolio.
(v)		After the investment by the NSR in assessee, the assessee has created huge employment opportunity in group companies and has paid substantial tax to the government.
(vi)		The valuation report pertains to equity value whereas the assessee has allotted the CCPSs. The CCPS allotted to NSR will be converted after a certain date i.e. after completion of second tranche of investment. While valuing the shares the assessee has also considered benefits that are going to be derived from the acquisition of K-12 and also Akash Multimedia. Whereas the valuer has not considered same at the time of valuation report.
(vii)		Your Honours may also observe that K-12 has become 100% subsidiary of the assessee over a period of time. In view of the above, it is not justified to for any addition under section 68 of the Act.”

6. The assessee further submitted that the assessee has discharged the onus placed upon it u/s 68 of the Act by providing all the documents. It also submitted that the provisions of sec.68 will not be applicable to this receipt as the investment has been made by Foreign Venture Capital Fund. The AO had referred to the decision rendered by Hon’ble Bombay High Court in the case of Major Metals Ltd. v. Union of India [2012] 19 taxmann.com 176/207 Taxman 185/359 ITR 450 in the query raised by him. The assessee submitted that the above said decision is not applicable to the facts of the present case. It was submitted that the Hon’ble Bombay High Court, in the above said case, refrained from interfering with the decision reached by the Settlement Commission as the petitioner has failed to demonstrate before the Court that the order passed by the Settlement Commission was perverse. The assessee placed reliance on the decision rendered by Delhi bench of ITAT in the case of Russian Technology Centre (P.) Ltd. v. Dy. CIT [2013] 37 taxmann.com 400/145 ITD 88 to contend that no addition is warranted u/s 68 of the Act if the identity of the non-resident remitter is established and the money has come in through banking channels.

7. The assessing officer noticed that the assessee has furnished a valuation report to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), wherein the value per share was estimated at Rs.682/- (Face value of Rs.10/- plus premium of Rs.672/-) only by following “Discounted Cash Flow” (DCF) method. Accordingly the AO took the view that the assessee should have collected premium of Rs.672/- only per share and accordingly held that there is no justification for collecting premium at Rs.1030/- per share, meaning thereby, the difference amount of Rs.358/-per share was considered by AO as unjustified premium. Accordingly the AO took the view that the unjustified premium amount of Rs.358/- cannot be considered as “Share premium amount” as claimed by the assessee. The AO held that the assessee is required to explain the “nature” and “Source” of the cash credits in order to discharge the burden placed upon him u/s 68 of the Act. The AO took the view that the assessee has only proved the “source” and not the “nature of receipts” in respect of unjustified premium amount of Rs.358/- per share. Accordingly, the AO took the view that the decision rendered by Hon’ble Bombay High Court in the case of Major Metals Ltd (supra) is applicable to the facts of the present case, as the question of reasonableness of premium was also examined in the above said case. The AO further took support of the following decisions to contend that the unjustified share premium can be added u/s 68 of the Act:—

(a)		ITO v. ZARA Trading (P.) Ltd. [IT Appeal No.3284 (Delhi) of 2009, dated 26-2-2010]
(b)		ITO v. Kushara Real Estate (P.) Ltd. [IT Appeal No.4247 (Delhi) of 2009].

The AO also observed that the assessee has not received funds from Venture Capital Funds & Venture Capital Company and hence exemption provided in sec. 68 of the Act is not applicable to the assessee. Further the AO held that the assessee has allotted shares at par to the management people, but collected premium from M/s NSR PR Mauritious LLC, which is against all rationale and logics.

8. Accordingly the AO took the view that the assessee has failed to justify excess premium of Rs.358/- per share, which amounted to Rs.60.24 crores. The AO noticed that unjustified excess premium amounting to Rs.43.02 crores was assessed as income of the assessee in AY 2011-12 also. Further, the AO also took the view that the phrase “nature” occurring in section 68 takes care of situation where premium received is beyond justification. Accordingly, the AO assessed the above stated excess premium amount of Rs.60.24 crores as income of the assessee u/s 68 of the Act.

9. We have earlier noticed that the assessee had received funds in the immediately preceding year, i.e., in AY 2011-12 by issuing CCPS at a premium of Rs.1030/- per share. In that year also, the AO had considered the excess premium of Rs.358/- per share as unjustified premium and accordingly added Rs.43.02 crores as income of the assessee u/s 68 of the Act. In the appellate proceedings pertaining to AY 2011-12, the Ld CIT(A) had deleted the addition by holding that the assessee has proved the identity and creditworthiness of investor/shareholder as well as genuineness of transactions in terms of sec.68 of the Act. The assessee had also contended before Ld CIT(A) that the amounts received on account of issue of equity shares are in the nature of capital receipts as held by Hon’ble Bombay High Court in the case of Vodafone India Services (P.) Ltd. v.. Union of India [2015] 228 Taxman 25/[2014] 50 taxmann.com 300/368 ITR 1.

10. In the instant year, the ld CIT(A) followed the decision rendered by him in AY 2011-12 and deleted the addition made by the AO by observing that there is no logic in making addition of alleged excess premium of Rs.358/- per share, when the identity and source of the same have been proved. Aggrieved, the revenue has filed this appeal.

11. The Ld CIT-DR submitted that the addition made in the year under consideration is identical in nature to the addition made in AY 2011-12, i.e., both relate to the assessment of excess premium as income of the assessee u/s 68 of the Act. The Ld D.R submitted that the Ld CIT(A) has deleted the addition in AY 2011-12 and during the year under consideration, the Ld CIT(A) has granted relief to the assessee by following his order passed for AY 2011-12. The Ld D.R submitted that the order passed by Ld CIT(A) in AY 2011-12 has since been reversed by the co-ordinate bench of ITAT in ITA No.486/Mum/2015 dated 11.01.2017. Accordingly the Ld D.R submitted that the order passed by the Tribunal for AY 2011-12 should be followed in this year also and accordingly the addition should be confirmed by reversing the order of Ld CIT(A) passed for this year.. The Ld D.R submitted that the judicial discipline demands that the order passed in an earlier year on identical set of facts on the very same issue by one bench of Tribunal should be followed by another bench. In support of this proposition, the Ld D.R placed her reliance on the following case law:-

(a)		Blue Star Ltd. v. CIT [1995] 79 Taxman 281/[1996] 217 ITR 514 (Bom)
(b)		DIT(IT) v. Societe Generale [2016] 65 taxmann.com 215/237 Taxman 182 (Bom.)
(c)		HDFC Bank Ltd. v. Dy. CIT [2016] 67 taxmann.com 42/383 ITR 529 (Bom.)
(d)		Hinduja Global Solutions Ltd. v. Union of India [2015] 59 taxmann.com 456/235 Taxman 476/[2016] 381 ITR 518 (Bom.)
(e)		Hatkesh Co-op Hsg Society Ltd. v. Asstt. CIT [2016] 75 taxmann.com 39/243 Taxman 213 (Bom.)

12. The Ld D.R submitted that the book value of shares on the date of investment was NIL and hence the basis for receiving premium of Rs.1030/- per share is not borne out of record except the financial projections made by the assessee. As per the valuation report submitted by the assessee, the premium on shares was arrived at Rs.672/- per share only. Hence the assessee has failed to prove the genuineness of the excess premium of Rs.358/- per share. She submitted that the assessee is required to prove the “nature” as well as “source” of the cash credit to the satisfaction of the AO as per the provisions of sec.68 of the Act. She submitted that the assessee has failed to explain the “nature” in respect of receipt of Rs.358/- per share and hence the assessee cannot be said to have discharged the onus placed upon its shoulders under sec. 68 of the Act. By placing reliance on the decision rendered by Mumbai bench of ITAT in the case of Angel Pipes & Tubes (P.) Ltd.v. ITO [2014] 50 taxmann.com 128/[2015] 153 ITD 520, the Ld D.R contended that the burden of proof would shift back to the shoulders of the Assessee, when the AO was not satisfied with the explanations furnished by the assessee. In the instant case, the assessee has failed to prove the genuineness of excess premium of Rs.358/- per share and hence the burden has shifted back to the assessee and the assessee has failed to discharge the same.

13. The Ld D.R further submitted that the decision rendered by Hon’ble Bombay High Court in the case of Major Metals Ltd. (supra) would squarely apply to the facts of the present case. In the above said case, the assessee collected huge premium of Rs.990/- per share. The Settlement Commission found that neither the subscribers had financial standing for giving such huge amount nor the past performance of assessee would justify payment. Hence the addition was made u/s 68 of the Act. The Hon’ble Bombay High Court has refused to interfere with the decision taken by the Settlement Commission. The Ld D.R submitted that, in the present case also, the assessee has failed to justify the excess premium of Rs.358/- per share, as the valuation report justifies premium to the extent of Rs.672/- per share only.

14. The Ld D.R submitted that the assessee has placed its reliance on the decision rendered by Hon’ble Bombay High Court in the case of Vodafone India Service (P.) Ltd.(supra) to contend that the share premium is capital receipt. She submitted that the decision was rendered by the Hon’ble Bombay High Court in the context of Transfer pricing provisions and not u/s 68 of the Act. Hence the assessee cannot take support of the above said decision.

15. The Learned AR, on the contrary, submitted that the assessee has entered into an agreement with M/s. NSR PR Mauritius LLC on 16.3.2011, as per which the above said Mauritius company has invested funds in the assessee company in three tranches. The first tranche of funds was received in the financial year relevant to AY 2011-12; the second trench of funds was received during the year under consideration and the third trench of funds was received during F.Y. 2013-14 relevant to AY 2014-15. The Learned AR submitted that the assessee has received funds by issuing CCPS in all the three years. He submitted that the assessee has issued CCPS by complying with the all formalities prescribed by Reserve Bank of India (RBI). As per the requirement of RBI, the assessee is required to furnish Valuation certificate estimating the Share premium amount. As per the RBI rules, the assessee could not issue shares/CCPS less than the value so determined through valuation certificate. However, there is no restriction in issuing shares at a price higher than that arrived at through Valuation Certificate. In support of this submission, the Ld A.R referred to the Notification No.FEMA 205/2010-RB dated April 7, 2010 issued by the Reserve Bank of India. This notification is placed at pages 207-208 of paper book and Clause 5 of the notification states that the price of shares issued to persons resident outside India under this Schedule “shall not be less than” …. As per the valuation certificate the value of equity share was arrived at Rs.682/-, i.e. par value of Rs.10/- plus premium of Rs.672/-. However, the Assessing Officer has taken the view that the assessee should not have collected money more than the share value determined through Valuation Certificate. Accordingly he did not accept the alleged excess premium in AY 2011-12 and 2012-13. Accordingly he has assessed the excess premium amount as unexplained cash credit u/s 68 in AY 2011-12 & 2012-13. The Ld A.R submitted the assessee has received third tranche of funds in AY 2014-15 at the same premium amount of Rs. 1030/- per share. The AO has accepted the same in AY 2014-15 and accordingly, he did not make any addition towards alleged excess premium in AY 2014-15. The Ld A.R, accordingly contended that the addition made by the AO in this year should be deleted.

16. The Learned AR submitted that M/s NSR PR Mauritius LLC (also known as New Silk route growth capital) is a venture capital fund registered with SEBI, vide registration No.IN/FVCI/08-09/119 dated 16.1.2009. He submitted that the above said investor company is not related to the assessee in any manner. The Learned AR further submitted that the above said investor company has given a letter dated 3.3.2014 to the assessee, copy of which is placed at page No. 200 of the paper book, wherein the above said investor company has explained that it has taken commercial decision to invest in the assessee company looking at the bright future it had. The Learned AR submitted that above said investor-company has invested funds in other concerns in India as well as in other Countries also. In this regard, he invited our attention to the material placed at page No. 198-199 of the paper book, wherein newspaper report about the investments made by the above said company with the assessee firm and other concerns is given. The Learned AR further submitted that the assessee and the investor company has entered into an agreement on 16-03-2011 and it has invested funds in the assessee as per the terms and conditions agreed between the parties. He submitted that the agreement so entered between the parties is a detailed one containing various terms and conditions on the issue of preference shares, exit policy, conversion policy, rate of return, if the CCPS is returned back etc. The learned AR, in particular, invited our attention to page No. 61 of the paper book, wherein the condition relating to “Benchmark price” is stated. The above said clause states that in the event that the investor exercised buy back option and/or the put option pursuant to clause 4.6(i), a price per investor shares at which investor receives IRR of 18% is the bench mark price. If it is under clause 4.6(ii), then the IRR shall be 12% etc. The Learned AR submitted that this clause would indicate that investor has taken a conscious decision to make investment in the assessee expecting a particular rate of return, duly considering the earning potentials of the assessee. The same has been confirmed by the investor by its letter dated 3.3.2014.

17. The Learned AR submitted that the assessee has issued CCPS at a premium of Rs.1030/- as per agreement reached between the parties. He submitted that it was a commercial decision reached by the investor company and the assessee. He submitted that the was not right in law in questioning the commercial decision reached by both the parties, as he is not entitled to sit in the arm chair of the assessee and dictate the manner in which the business should be conducted. Accordingly, he submitted that the Assessing Officer was not justified in accepting share premium only to the extent of Rs. 672/- per share and further not justified in holding difference amount of Rs. 358/- per share does not represent share premium. The Learned AR submitted that the assessee as well as the investor company has accepted share premium amount as Rs.1030/- per share and the said amount was collected as Share premium only. It is the AO, who has bifurcated the share premium as justified amount of Rs.672/- and unjustified amount of Rs. 358/- per share. Accordingly he submitted that “nature” of amount of Rs.358/- per share cannot be considered to be something else other than “Share premium”.

18. The Learned AR submitted that the Tribunal has passed the order for A.Y. 2011-12 on 11.1.2017 upholding the view of the Assessing Officer in assessing alleged excess premium as income of the assessee. He submitted that Hon’ble Bombay High Court has considered the issue of excess share premium in the case of CIT v. Green Infra Ltd. [2017] 78 taxmann.com 340/392 ITR 7. He submitted that Revenue itself has accepted before the Hon’ble High Court that Share premium should also be judged on touch stone of section 68 of the Act. Accordingly, it was held that once the assessee has discharged burden placed upon him u/s. 68 of the Act, no addition could be made on account of share premium collection. The Learned AR submitted that identical view was expressed by Hon’ble Bombay High Court in the case of CIT v. Gagandeep Infrastructure (P.) Ltd. [2017] 80 taxmann.com 272/247 Taxman 245/394 ITR 680. The ld AR submitted that the Coordinate Bench of the Tribunal, while disposing of the appeal of the assessee for A.Y. 2011-12, did not have benefit of decisions rendered by Hon’ble Bombay High Court in the case of Green Infra Ltd. (supra) as well as in the case of Gagandeep Infrastructure (P.) Ltd. (supra). He submitted that the decision rendered by Hon’ble jurisdictional Bombay High Court is binding upon the Tribunal and hence the Tribunal need not follow the decision rendered by it in the assessee’s own case in AY 2011-12, when it is required to follow the decision rendered by jurisdictional Bombay High Court. The Ld A.R took support of the following observations made by Hon’ble Bombay High Court in the case of Hatkesh Co-op Housing Society Ltd.(supra):—

“….. We are of the view that when an identical issue, which had earlier arisen before the Co-ordinate Bench of the Tribunal on identical facts and a view has been taken on the issue then judicial discipline would demand that a subsequent bench of the Tribunal hearing the same issue should follow the view taken by its earlier Co-ordinate bench. No doubt this discipline is subject to well settled exceptions of the earlier order being passed per in curium or sub silentio or in the meantime, there has been any change in law either statutory or by virtue of judicial pronouncement……”

Accordingly the Ld A.R submitted that, in view of the binding decisions rendered by Hon’ble Bombay High Court, subsequent to the decision rendered by the Tribunal in AY 2011-12, the decision so rendered by the Tribunal is not required to be followed in this year.

19. With regard to the reliance placed by Ld D.R on the decision rendered by Hon’ble Bombay High Court in the case of Major Metals Ltd (supra), the Ld A.R submitted that the order was passed in the above said case on the writ filed by the assessee against the order passed by Settlement Commission u/s 245D(4) of the Act. The Hon’ble Court, after considering the arguments of both the sides as well as the facts, refrained to interfere with the order passed by the Settlement Commission as it found the view expressed by the Settlement Commission was one of the possible view. The Ld A.R that the Hon’ble Bombay High Court has made following observations in the case of Pr. CIT v. Apeak Infotech [2017] 88 taxmann.com 695/397 ITR 148 with regard to its decision rendered in the case of Major Metals (supra):—

“(d) We may also point out that decision of this court in Major Metals Ltd. v. Union of India (2013)(359 ITR 450)(Bom)proceeded on its own facts to uphold the invocation of section 68 of the Act by the Settlement Commission. In the above case, the Settlement Commission arrived at a finding of fact that the subscribers to shares of the assessee-company were not creditworthy in as much as they did not have financial standing which would enable them to make an investment of Rs.6,00,00,000/- at premium at Rs.990 per share. It was this finding of the fact arrived at by the Settlement Commission which was not disturbed by this Court in its writ-jurisdiction. In the present case the person who have subscribed to the share and paid share premium have admittedly made statement on oath before the Assessing Officer as recorded by the Tribunal. No finding in this case has been given by the authorities that shareholders/share applicants were unidentifiable or bogus.”

Accordingly the Ld A.R submitted that the decision rendered by Hon’ble Bombay High Court was on the point whether there was any perversity in the order passed by the Settlement Commission or not, i.e., the Hon’ble Bombay High Court did not adjudicate the issue on merits. Hence it cannot be said that the said decision shall have any binding effect.

20. The Ld A.R submitted that the share premium amount has to be examined under sec.68 of the Act only. The assessing officer has satisfied with the identity, credit worthiness and genuineness of funds invested by NSR PE Mauritius LLC in the preference shares issued by the assessee company, meaning thereby, the assessee has discharged the burden placed upon its shoulders u/s 68 of the Act. The AO has accepted the investment in part, i.e., par value of shares plus share premium to the extent of Rs.672/- per share. When the AO was satisfied with the three main ingredients relating to share application/share premium, there is no reason to disbelieve the remaining amount of share premium of Rs.358/- per share. He submitted that the AO has made addition u/s 68 of the Act stating that the amount of Rs.358/- per share represents unjustified premium. He submitted that there is no scope under sec.68 of the Act to assess the alleged unjustified premium. He submitted that the AO himself has accepted the premium amount of Rs.1030/- in AY 2014-15 and hence there is no reason to take a different view in this year, viz., that the share premium amount is unjustified. He submitted that the Share Premium amount represents capital receipts and hence there is no scope for assessing the same as income of the assessee, when the AO was satisfied with the test of three main ingredients u/s 68 of the Act.

21. He further submitted that the definition of the term “income” has been expanded by Finance Act 2012 with effect from 1.4.2013 by including following clause in sec.2(24) of the Act:—

“(xvi) any consideration received for issue of shares as exceeds the fair market value of the shares referred to in clause (viib) of sub-section (2) of section 56.”

The AR submitted that the AO is entitled to assess the excess premium, if any, only from AY 2013-14, that too after proving that the value of shares has exceeded fair market value. The above said clause is held to be applicable only from AY 2013-14 by Hon’ble Bombay High Court in the case of Gagandeep Infrastructure (P.) Ltd.(supra) and also in the case of Apeak Infotech (supra). Accordingly the A.R submitted that there is no scope for assessing the alleged excess share premium during the year under consideration, as the same represents capital receipt and further the AO was satisfied with the identity and creditworthiness of the investor and the genuineness of transactions. The Ld. A.R submitted that the AO has accepted the fair market value of CCPS in AY 2014-15, when the above said provisions of sec.2(24)(xvi) read with sec.56(2)(viib) was very much applicable. Accordingly he submitted that there is no reason to suspect the share premium during the year under consideration also. Accordingly he submitted that the order passed by Ld CIT(A) should be upheld.

22. The Ld D.R, in the rejoinder, submitted that the co-ordinate bench has held that the assessee has failed to explain the basis of share premium collected by it over and above the valuation as per RBI guideline and accordingly held that the assessee has failed to satisfactorily explain genuineness of transactions to the satisfaction of the assessing officer. The ld DR further submitted that the decision rendered by Hon’ble Bombay High Court in the case of Major Metals Ltd (supra) was not referred to in the decisions rendered by the Bombay High Court in the case of Green Infra Ltd (supra) and Gagandeep Infrastructure Ltd(supra). Accordingly, the Ld D.R submitted that the decision rendered by the Tribunal in AY 2011-12 should be followed.

23. We have heard rival contentions and perused the record. The assessee has issued CCPS to M/s NSR PR Mauritius LLC, a SEBI registered Venture Capital Fund at a premium of Rs.1030/- per share. In the valuation certificate submitted to Reserve bank of India, the price of share was worked out at Rs.682/- per share, consisting of Rs.10/- par value plus premium of Rs.672/-per share. We notice that the assessing officer has taken the view that the premium collected by the assessee over and above the premium worked out in the Valuation Certificate is unjustified premium and accordingly assessed the same as income of the assessee u/s 68 of the Act. There is no dispute with regard to the fact that the AO is otherwise satisfied with the identity and creditworthiness of the investor and that the transactions were carried out through banking channels.

24. The first question that arises is whether the Share premium can be considered as income taxable under the Act. This question was considered by the co-ordinate bench of Tribunal in the case of Green Infra Ltd (supra). In the above said case, the assessee had collected share premium of Rs..490/- per share on allotment of shares of face value of Rs.10/- per share. The AO considered the share premium as unscientific and unjustified. Accordingly, he assessed the amount collected as Share Premium as income of the assessee u/s 56 of the Act. When this issue came before the Tribunal, the Tribunal deleted the addition with the following observations:—

“10. We have considered the rival submissions and carefully perused the orders of the lower authorities and the material evidences brought on record in the form of Paper book. The entire dispute revolves around the charging of share premium of Rs. 490/- per share on a book value of Rs. 10/- each. This dispute is more so because of the fact that the assessee company was incorporated during the year under consideration. Therefore, according to the revenue authorities, it is beyond any logical reasoning that a company with zero balance sheet could garner Rs. 490/-per share premium from its subscribers. Such transaction may raise eyebrows but considering the subscribers to the assessee company, the test for the genuineness of the transaction goes into oblivion. It is an undisputed fact admitted by the Revenue authorities that 10,19,000 equity shares has been subscribed and allotted to IDFC PE Fund-II which company is a Front Manager of IDFC Ltd., in which company Government of India is holding 18% of shares. The contributors to the IDFC PE Fund-II who is a subscriber to the assessee’s share capital, are LIC, Union of India, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Indian Overseas Bank and Canara Bank which are all public sector undertakings. Therefore, to raise eyebrows to a transaction where there is so much of involvement of the Government directly or indirectly does not make any sense.

10.1 No doubt a non-est company or a zero balance company asking for a share premium of Rs. 490/- per share defies all commercial prudence but at the same time we cannot ignore the fact that it is a prerogative of the Board of Directors of a company to decide the premium amount and it is the wisdom of the share holders whether they want to subscribe to such a heavy premium. The Revenue authorities cannot question the charging of such of huge premium without any bar from any legislated law of the land. Details of subscribers were before the Revenue authorities. The AO has also confirmed the transaction from the subscribers by issuing notice u/s. 133(6) of the Act. The Board of Directors contains persons who are associated with IDFC group of companies, therefore their integrity and credibility cannot be doubted. The entire grievance of the Revenue revolves around the charging of such of huge premium so much so that the Revenue authorities did not even blink their eyes in invoking provisions of Sec. 56(1) of the Act.

10.2 Let us consider the provisions of Sec. 56(1) of the Act:

’56. Income from other Sources.— (1) Income of every kind which is not to be excluded from the total income under this Act shall be chargeable