The contract is a complex arrangement. Petronat and Appellant are not the only parties thereto, there are other members of the consortium who are required to carry out different parts of the contract. The consortium included an Indian company. The fact that it has been fashioned as a turnkey contract by itself may not be of much significance. The project is a turnkey project. The contract may also be a turnkey contract, but the same by itself would not mean that even for the purpose of taxability the entire contract must be considered to be an integrated one so as to make the appellant to pay tax in India. The taxable events in execution of a contract may arise at several stages in several years. The liability of the parties may also arise at several stages. Obligations under the contract are distinct ones.

Supply obligation is distinct and separate from service obligation. Price for each of the component of the contract is separate. Similarly offshore supply and offshore services have separately been dealt with. Prices in each of the segment are also different.

The very fact that in the contract, the supply segment and service segment have been specified in different parts of the contract is a pointer to show that the liability of the appellant thereunder would also be different.

The contract indisputably was executed in India. By entering into a contact in India, although parts thereof will have to be carried out outside India would not make the entire income derived by the contractor to be taxable in India. We would, however, deal with this aspect of the matter a little later.

Scope of work is contained in clause 2.1 of Ex. A appended to the contract which includes supply of equipment, materials and facilities. The said exhibit spells out different systems to be set in place. It imposes an obligation on the contractor to supply equipments required therefor. It was to arrange for the engineering services in relation thereto. It was also required to render various other services within India. Ex. D, however, provides for the prices to be paid in respect of offshore supplies and offshore services, onshore supply and onshore services, construction and erection.

Payment schedule has also been separately specified in respect of each of the components separately.

It is not in dispute that title in the equipments supplied was to stand transferred upon delivery thereof outside India on high-sea basis as provided for in Article 22.1. Similarly, Article 13.1. provides for a lump sum contract price, whereas Article 13.3.2. specifically refers to the cost of offshore supplies. The provisions with regard to offshore supplies and offshore services were to be read with the provisions contained in Ex. D which formed the basis of customs duty. Clause 13.4 refers to Ex. D as the basis for price escalation.

The question of imposition of tax on income arising from a business connection may, thus, have to be considered keeping in view the aforementioned factual backdrop.

Section 9(1)(i) of the Act states that income accruing or arising whether directly or indirectly, through or from any business connection in India shall be deemed to accrue or arise in India. Appellant is a non-resident assessee.

Section 9 raises a legal fiction; but having regard to the contextual interpretation and furthermore in view of the fact that we are dealing with a taxation statute the legal fiction must be construed having regard to the object it seeks to achieve. The legal fiction created under Section 9 of the Act must also be read having regard to the other provisions thereof. [See Maruti Udyog Ltd. v. Ram Lal and Others, (2005) 2 SCC 638] For our benefit we may notice the provisions of Section 42 of the Income Tax Act, 1922. It provided that only such part of income as was attributable to the operations carried out in India would be taxable in India.

Territorial nexus doctrine, thus, plays an important part in assessment of tax. Tax is levied on one transaction where the operations which may give rise to income may take place partly in one territory and partly in another. The question which would fall for our consideration is as to whether the income that arises out of the said transaction would be required to be proportioned to each of the territories or not.

Income arising out of operation in more than one jurisdiction would have territorial nexus with each of the jurisdiction on actual basis. If that be so, it may not be correct to contend that the entire income 'accrues or arises' in each of the jurisdiction. The Authority has proceeded on the basis that supplies in question had taken place offshore. It, however, has rendered, its opinion on the premise that offshore supplies or offshore services were intimately connected with the turnkey project.

The learned Additional Solicitor General in support of his contention that the contract is a composite one, has relied upon the following decisions :

N. Khadervali Sahib (Dead) by L.Rs. and Another v. N. Gudu Sahib (Dead) and Others [(2003) 3 SCC 229]; Hindustan Shipyard Ltd. v. State of A.P.

[(2000) 6 SCC 579]; State of Rajasthan v. M/s Man Industrial Corporation Ltd. [(1969) 1 SCC 567], K.S. Subbiah Pillai v. Commissioner of Income Tax [(1999) 3 SCC 170]; M/s Patnaik and Co. Ltd. v. Commissioner of Income Tax, Orissa [(1986) 4 SCC 16]; BSES Ltd. (Now Reliance Energy Ltd.) v. Fenner India Ltd. and Another [(2006) 2 SCC 728]. The said decisions, in our considered view, are not applicable herein.

In Khadervali Sahib (supra), the question which arose for consideration was whether an award amounted to creation of or transfer of any fresh rights in respect of movable or immovable properties so as to require registration under Section 17 of the Registration Act, when the same related to the properties of a partnership firm. Therein by reason of an award, the residue upon settlement of accounts on dissolution of the partnership firm was allocated to the partners. It was held that the award did not require any registration.

In Hindustan Shipyard (supra), the question which arose for consideration was whether a contract constituted a sale or works contract.

Laying down the tests therefor, having regard to the terms and conditions contained therein, it was opined that a contract of sale of goods was separate from a contract for works and labour. In regard to the categories of contract, it was stated :

1. the contract may be for work to be done for remuneration and for supply of materials used in the execution of the work for a price;

2.  it may be a contract for work in which the use of the materials is accessory or incidental to the execution of the work; and

3. it may be a contract for supply of goods where some work is required to be done as incidental to the sale." Whereas the first contract was held to be a composite contract, the second was held to be a contract for work and labour not involving the sale of goods; and the third was held to be a contract of sale where the goods were sold as chattels and the work done was merely incidental thereto.

The view taken in State of Madras v. Gannon Dunkerley & Co.

(Madras) Ltd. [1959 SCR 379] is sought to be applied. The contract in such a case must stipulate that the equipment would be supplied on CRF basis. It spells out the price for supply of goods, in which event, for the purpose of sales tax, the contract would involve sale of goods. The principle of Gannon Dunkerly (supra), does not appear to be of much relevance in the instant case.

Decisions of this court under the Sales Tax Laws referred to by the learned counsel, moreover, may have to be considered on a different footing.

In this case, we are faced with a different situation. It is only for the purpose of taxability that the terms of the contract are required to be construed. A turnkey contract may involve supply of materials used in the execution of the contract for price as also for use of the materials by works and labour; but the same may not have any relation with the taxability part of it.

It is interesting to note that Instruction No.1829 issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes on 21.09.1989 provides for certain guidelines having regard to the possibility of undertaking of Hydro Electric Power Project by a consortium of a foreign company, stating :

"The concept of turnkey execution of the project involves total and complete responsibilities of the persons undertaking the contracts for commissioning the project and they are accordingly required to furnish performance guarantees for timely completion." It was further stated :

"Apart from the separate contracts for the jobs mentioned in Para 4 above, there would be an overall co- ordination agreement between the public sector company on the one hand and the foreign contracting parties referred to in Paragraph 4 on the other hand to ensure guaranteed performance of all the contracts in a coordinated manner, and within an agreed time frame and for undertaking to meet necessary liabilities and responsibilities including payments of liquidated damages for delays etc. One of the companies would, for this purpose, act as leader to ensure supervision and coordination of inter-related tasks." In M/s Man. Industrial Corporation Ltd. (supra), this Court held :

"16. Our attention was invited to a judgment of the Court of Appeal in Love v. Norman Wright (Builders) Ltd.

[1944] 1 K.B. 484 In that case the respondents contracted with the Secretary of State for War to do the work and supply the material mentioned in the Schedules to the contract, including the supply of black-out curtains, curtain rails and battens and their erection at a number of police stations. It was held by the Court of Appeal that the respondents were liable to pay purchase-tax. Reliance was placed upon the observations made by Godiard, L.J.

at p. 482:

"If one orders another to make and fix curtains at his house the contract is one of sale though work and labour are involved in the making and fixing, nor does it matter that ultimately the property was to pass to the War Office under the head contract. As between the plaintiff and the defendants the former passed the property in the goods to the defendants who passed it on to the War Office." We do not think that these observations furnish a universal test that whenever there is a contract to "fix" certain articles made by a manufacturer the contract must be deemed one for sale and not of service. The test in each case is whether the object of the party sought to be taxed is that the chattel as chattel passes to the other party and the services rendered in connection with the installation are under a separate contract or are incidental to the execution of the contract of sale." In M/s Patnaik and Co. (supra), whereupon reliance has been placed by the learned Additional Solicitor General, the question which arose for consideration was as to whether the investment in the loan by the assessee out of the advance payment made by the Government departments was a capital asset and the loan was a capital loan or not. We are not herein concerned with such a situation. The said decision, therefore, cannot be said to have any application at all.

In BSES Ltd. (supra), this Court was concerned with the construction of bank guarantees. The question which arose for consideration therein was as to whether in the fact situation of the case, customer faced irretrievable injuries so as to obtain an order of injunction. In view of the terms and conditions of the contract, it was opined, although for the sake of convenience, the same had been split up into four sub-contracts, it constituted a composite contract executable on a turnkey basis. The question which arose for consideration, thus, was whether in terms of the contract having been reduced into writing by the "wrap around agreement", Appellant therein had a right to negotiate any or all the guarantees for any breach of any of the four contracts. The said decision again has no application in the facts of the present case.

Tax under the Act has to be assessed under different heads. Income under one head may be subject to exemption; under same head, deductions may be claimed; yet under another, no tax may be payable at all. Whether a part of the income of the assessee would be taxable or not depends upon the fact of each case. Even there is nothing to prevent the income accruing or arising at the sources.

In Union of India and Another v. Azadi Bachao Andolan and Another (2004) 10 SCC 1], this Court was dealing with a double taxation treaty. It was held :

"6. The Agreement provides for allocation of taxing jurisdiction to different contracting parties in respect of different heads of income. Detailed rules are stipulated with regard to taxing of dividends under Article 10, interest under Article 11, royalties under Article 12, capital gains under Article 13, income derived from independent personal services in Article 14, income from dependent personal services in Article 15, directors' fees in Article 16, income of artists and athletes in Article 17, governmental functions in Article 18, income of students and apprentices in Article 20, income of professors, teachers and research scholars in Article 21 and other income in Article 22.

In Commissioner of Income Tax, Bombay v. Ahmedbhai Umarbhai & Co., Bombay [(1950) SCR 335], this Court, having regard to the provisions contained in Section 42 of the Income Tax Act, 1922, held that profits accrued to the assessee of a part of the business in an Indian State having accrued out of such business carried on in such State are exempted under the third proviso to Section 5 of the Excess Profit Tax Act.

Opining that the source of income can never be the place where the income accrues or arises, Kania, CJ, stated :

"In my opinion there is nothing to prevent income accruing or arising at the place of the source. The question where the income accrued has to be determined on the facts of each case. The income may accrue or arise at the place of the source or may accrue or arise elsewhere, but it does not follow that the income cannot accrue or arise at the place where the source exists.

Therefore it is necessary to ascertain whether that part of the business which is capable of being treated as one separate unit in the Hyderabad State has given rise to the income or profit sought by the assessee to be exempted from taxation in the present case" Patanjali Sastri, J. approved the application of the principle underlying the decision in Commissioner of Taxation v. Kirk [(1900 AC 588], namely, the principle of apportioning profits as between different processes employed in producing those profits and the different places where they were employed.

Mahajan, J. held :

"For instance, where a person carries on manufacture, sale, export and import, it is not possible to say that the place where the profits accrue to him is the place of sale.

The profits received relate firstly to his business as a manufacturer, secondly to his trading operations, and thirdly to his business of import and export. Profit or loss has to be apportioned between these businesses in a businesslike manner and according to well-established principles of accountancy. In such cases it will be doing no violence to the meaning of the words "accrue" or "arise" if the profits attributable to the manufacturing business are said to arise or accrue at the place where the manufacture is being done and the profits which arise by reason of the sale are said to arise at the place where the sales are made and the profits in respect of the import and export business are said to arise at the place where the business is conducted. This apportionment of profits between a number of businesses which are carried on by the same person at different places determines also the place of the accrual of profits. To hold that though a businessman has invested millions in establishing a business of manufacture, whether in the nature of a textile mill or in the nature of steel works, yet no profits are attributable to this business or can accrue or arise to the business of manufacture because the produce of his mills is sold at a different place and that it is only the act of sale by which profits accrue and they arise only at that place is to confuse the idea of receipt of income and realization of profits with the idea of the accrual of profits. The act of sale is the mode of realizing the profits. If the goods are sold to a third person at the mill premises no one could have said that these profits arose merely by reason of the sale. Profits would only be ascribed to the business of manufacture and would arise at the mill premises. Merely because the mill owner has started another business organization in the nature of a sales depot or a shop, that cannot wholly deprive the business of manufacture of its profits, though there may have to be apportionment in such a case between the business of manufacture and business of shop keeping. In a number of cases such apportionment is made and is also suggested by the provisions of Section 42 of the Indian Income Tax Act, reference to which has also been made in Proviso (2) of Section 5 of the Excess Profits Tax Act." In Anglo-French Textile Co. Ltd. v. Commissioner of Income Tax, Madras (1954) SCR 523], the question which arose for consideration, inter alia, was :

" (2) Can the income received in India be said to arise in India within the meaning of Section 4-A(c)(b) of the Act? If not, should only those profits determined under Section 42(3) as attributable to the operations carried out in India be taken into account for applying the test laid down in Section 4-A(c)(b), and remanded the case to the High Court with the direction that it should give its opinion on these two questions." In regard to the first question, it was opined that Section 42(3) had nothing to do with the determination of the income arising in the taxable territories as distinguished from the income arising without taxable territories as understood in Section 4A(c)(b) of the Act, it was held "The phraseology of Section 42(3) of the Act also repels the contention insofar as the profits and gains of the business which are referred to therein and which are capable of apportionment as therein mentioned are deemed to accrue or arise in the taxable territories thus using the words "accrue" and "arise" as synonymous with each other.

The above passage is also sufficient in our opinion to establish that the apportionment of income, profits or gains between those arising from business operations carried on in taxable territories and those arising from business operations carried on without the taxable territories is based not on the applicability of Section 42(3) of the Act but on general principles of apportionment of income, profits or gains" While the first question was answered in negative, question no.2 was answered in the following terms :

"Question 2The income received in British India cannot be said to wholly arise in India within the meaning of Section 4-A(c)(b) of the Act and that there should be allocation of the income between the various business operations of the assessee company demarcating the income arising in the taxable territories in the particular year from the income arising without the taxable territories in that year for the purposes of Section 4-A(c)(b) of the Act." In Carborandum Co. v. Commissioner of Income-Tax, Madras [(1977) 108 ITR 335 : (1977) 2 SCC 862], this Court referring to its earlier decision in Commissioner of Income Tax, Punjab v. R..D. Aggarwal and Co.& Another [(1965) 56 ITR 20], opined :

15. "On a plain reading of sub-sections (1) and (3) of Section 42 it would appear that income accruing or arising from any business connection in the taxable territories even though the income may accrue or arise outside the taxable territories will be deemed to be income accruing or arising in such territory provided operations in connection with such business, either all or a part, are carried out in the taxable territories. If all such operations are carried out in the taxable territories, sub- section (1) would apply and the entire income accruing or arising outside the taxable territories but as a result of the operations in connection with the business giving rise to the income would be deemed to accrue or arise in the taxable territories. If, however, all the operations are not carried out in the taxable territories the profits and gains of the business deemed to accrue or arise in the taxable territories shall be only such profits and gains as are reasonably attributable to that part of the operations carried out in the taxable territories. Thus comes in the question of apportionment under sub-section (3) of Section 42." In CIT v. Mitsui Engineering and Ship Building Co. Ltd. [259 ITR 248], on which reliance was placed; the contention was that the finding that the contract for designing, engineering, manufacturing, shop testing and packing up to f.o.b port of embarkation could not be split up since the entire contract was to be read together and was for one complete transaction. It was in the said fact situation held that it was not possible to apportion the consideration for design on one part and the other activities on the other part.

The price paid to the assessee was the total contract price which covered all the stages involved in the supply of machinery.

This case is clearly distinguishable from the facts of the present case, since the payment for the offshore and onshore supply of goods and services was in itself clearly demarcated and cannot be held to be a complete contract that has to be read as a whole and not in parts.

The principle of apportionment is also recognized by Clause (a) of Explanation I. Thus, if submission of the learned Additional Solicitor General is accepted that the contract is a composite one, then offshore supply would be of equipment designed and manufactured in one territory (Japan), and then sold in another tax territory, leading to division of profits arising in two tax territories, which is not envisaged under our taxation law.

It gives rise to the question as to what would be the meaning of the phrase 'business connection in India'. Mere existence of business connection may not result in income of the non-resident assessee from transaction with such a business connection accruing or arising in India.

In Mazagaon Dock Ltd. v. CIT and Excess Profits Tax [34 ITR 368], whereupon again reliance placed is distinguishable. In that case a non- resident carried on business with a resident, and the issue adjudicated upon by the Court was that whether there was a clear and close connection between them that produced profits or not, and whether any such income generated by the non-resident company sending its ships for repairs to the resident company is taxable, if it amounted to business. The Court answered both questions affirmatively.

The principle laid down therein has no application to the current fact situation because there was an extremely close connection between the appellant company and non residents in that the two non-resident (British) companies beneficially owned the entire share capital of the appellant company. In the present situation there is no such connection, which can be said to give rise to a business connection between the permanent establishment in India and the transaction that is sought to be taxed.

Yet again in Anglo French Textile Co. Ltd. v. CIT Madras [23 ITR 101], in the fact situation obtaining therein, it was held that when there was a continuity of business relationship between the person in India who helps make the profits and the person outside who receives or realizes this profit, a business connection exists.

In that case, the Assessee company incorporated in the UK, owned a textile company in French Pondichery and had appointed another limited company in Madras to act as its constituted agents. The same was held to be a business connection within British India. Such a close connection cannot be envisaged in the present case since it does not involve any such principle- agent relationship between the PE and the non residents.

Barendra Prasad Ray v. ITO [129 ITR 295] whereupon reliance has been placed, is not apposite. Therein, the Court held that the professional relationship of a solicitor, who was a non-resident, with an Indian firm will be a business connection. There was a connection between the Indian firm and the British solicitor which was real and intimate and not just a casual one and the fees earned by the solicitor was only through this connection, and could not have done so without associating himself with the firm. Thus, the income earned by the solicitor was subject to tax in India, and payable by the firm as agents of the solicitor.

The principle of this case, is again not applicable in the present scenario since the nature of the relationship between the permanent establishment, the foreign firms and the Indian firms are evidently contractual and not professional. And the transaction of sale and supply of goods offshore have not taken place with the involvement of the permanent establishment, therefore excluding this transaction from the scope of taxation in India.

In Commissioner of Income-Tax, A.P. v. Toshoku Ltd. [(1980) 125 ITR 525 : (1980) Supp. SCC 614], this Court interpreted Section 9(1)(i) and the Explanation thereto on the factual matrix obtaining therein that the statutory agent exported his goods to Japan and France where they were sold through the assessee and the entire sales price was received in India by the said agent who made credit entries in his accounts books regarding the commission amounts payable to the assessees and remitted the commission amounts to them subsequently. Having regard to the fact that the Japanese company was a non-resident company, distinguishing the case Raghava Reddi & Another v. Commissioner of Income Tax, A.P. [(1962) 44 ITR 720] , it was held :

"It is not possible to hold that the non-resident assessees in this case either received or can be deemed to have received the sums in question when their accounts with the statutory agent were credited, since a credit balance without more only represents a debt and a mere book entry in the debtor's own books does not constitute payment which will secure discharge from the debt. They cannot, therefore, be charged to tax on the basis of receipt of income actual or constructive in the taxable territories during the relevant accounting period." A Division Bench of the Karnataka High Court presided over by Venkataramiah, J., in VDO Tachometer Werke, West Germany etc. v.

Commissioner of Income-Tax, Karnataka-I etc. [(1979) 117 ITR 804] following Carborandum Co. (supra), held that notwithstanding the amendment of Section 9 of the Act by the addition of Clauses (vi) and (vii), the cases continued to be governed by the provisions of Section 9 of the Act.

In Commissioner of Income-Tax v. Atlas Steel Co. Ltd. [(1987) 164 ITR 401], a Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court following Carborandum (supra) and other decisions held :

35. "The expression "business connection" in the context of the Income-tax Act has come to acquire a special meaning as laid down by the Supreme Court in R.

D. Aggarwal & Co.'s case. A business connection contemplated under Section 42 of the Indian Income-tax Act, 1922 (corresponding to Section 9 of the Income-tax Act, 1961, involved "a relation between a business carried on by a non-resident and some activity in the taxable territories which are attributable directly or indirectly to the earnings, profits or gains of such business". It was laid down by the Supreme Court that there must be trading activity both outside and within the taxable territory. In the facts of this case, for the supply of inventions, patents, application for patents, secret knowledge and know-how, no trading activity had been or was required to be carried on by the assessee within the taxable territory. Further, on a consideration of the agreement, it cannot be said that the trading activity which was intended to be carried on by the assessee as production adviser of Hindustan Steel Ltd., in future was relatable to or connected with the past supply of the said know-how and other items.

[See also Income-Tax Officer and Others v. Shriram Bearings Ltd. (1987) 164 ITR 419] A similar view was taken, when the matter came before this Court in Income-Tax Officer and Others v. Shriram Bearings Ltd. [(1997) 224 ITR 724 : (1997) 10 SCC 332], wherein B.P. Jeevan Reddy, J. speaking for the Division Bench, opined :

"We are not prepared to agree that the High Court has not correctly understood the purport of the agreement between the respondent and M/s Nippon Seike Kabushiki Kaisha (NSK). The agreement is in two parts. It is true that the two parts are interdependent but yet the consideration for the sale of trade secrets and consideration of technical assistance is separately provided for and mentioned under separate sections. So far as the consideration for the technical assistance is concerned, its taxability is not in doubt. The only controversy is with respect to the taxability of 1,65,000 US Dollars which is stipulated as the consideration for sale of trade secrets. The agreement specifically says that the said sale is effected in Japan. We are unable to see on what basis it can be said that any part of the said amount has been earned in India." In construing a contract, the terms and conditions thereof are to be read as a whole. A contract must be construed keeping in view the intention of the parties. No doubt, the applicability of the tax laws would depend upon the nature of the contract, but the same should not be construed keeping in view the taxing provisions.

In Commissioner of Income-Tax, Tamil Nadu-V v. Fried Krupp Industries [(1981) 128 ITR 27], a Division Bench of the Madras High Court opined :

"Nowadays we have what are called turnkey projects, and in such projects until the machinery is actually run and proves its performance, the responsibility of the foreigner would continue. But in the present case the contract cannot be equated to a turnkey contract. The operations in India for the erection of the machinery are only the responsibility of the Indian company. It is only any defect in the machinery or any negligence in the performance of the foreign engineer, that may give rise to a claim for damages. But that is not the same as the foreign company performing any operation in pursuance of this contract in India. Whatever we have said above would apply also to deputation of foreign personnel for procuring Indian spare parts. It was obviously considered necessary to get foreign personnel from abroad for this purpose only because the type of spare parts required for the foreign machinery could be better picked up by these personnel, who have experience in running the machinery. It is merely an assistance provided to the Indian company, the foreign personnel being treated as the employees of the Indian company. Having gone through the terms of the agreement in full, we are satisfied that there are no operations in India attributable to the foreign company which can give rise to any profits being earned in India. The agreement itself says that the terms of the payments were in Germany. Thus, there is absolutely no operation in India which would give rise to tax liability in India as far as the foreign company is concerned" The term 'permanent establishment' has not been defined in the Income Tax Act.

Since the appellant carries on business in India through a Permanent Establishment, they clearly fall out of the applicability of Article 12(5) of the DTAA and into the ambit of Article 7. The Protocol to the DTAA, in paragraph 6, discusses the involvement of the permanent establishment in transactions, in order to determine the extent of income that can be taxed. It is stated that the term 'directly or indirectly attributable' indicates the income that shall be regarded on the basis of the extent appropriate to the part played by the permanent establishment in those transactions. The permanent establishment here has had no role to play in the transaction that is sought to be taxed, since the transaction took place abroad.

Clause 1 of Article 7, thus, provides that if an income arises in Japan (Contracting State), it shall be taxable in that country unless the enterprise carries on business in the other Contracting State (India) through a permanent establishment situated therein. What is to be taxed is profit of the enterprise in India, but only so much of them as is directly or indirectly attributable to that permanent establishment. All income arising out of the turnkey project would not, therefore, be assessable in India, only because the assessee has a permanent establishment.

It is relevant to note that the tax treaty between India and Japan is essentially based on OECD model, providing :

1. "the income of a resident, including of the kind that would fall under would be table under Section 9, would be taxed in the State of residence, save and except the income attributable to a Permanent Establishment, and

2. even in the case of a permanent establishment, income from business would be taxable in the State of residence." In Klaus Vogel on Double Taxation Conventions, it is stated :

3. "No force of attraction principle : The second sentence of Art. 7 (1) allows the State of the permanent establishment to tax business profits, 'but only so much of them as is attributable to that permanent establishment'. The MC has thus decided against adopting the so-called 'force of attraction of the permanent establishment', i.e. against the principle that, where there is a permanent establishment, the State of the permanent establishment should be allowed to tax all income derived by the enterprise from sources in that State irrespective of whether or not such income is economically connected with the permanent establishment. In line with the domestic law then prevailing in the USA, such a 'force of attraction' was, for instance, incorporated in Germany's 1954 DTC with USA (second sentence of Art. III (I). In contrast, the second sentence of Art. 7(1) MC allows the State of the permanent establishment to tax only those profits which are economically attributable to the permanent establishment, i.e. those which result from the permanent establishment's activities, which arise economically from the business carried on by the permanent establishment (cf. also para 5 MC Comm. Art. 7, supra m. no. 10). As regards the profits made by the enterprise in the State of the permanent establishment, a distinction must always be made between those profits which result from the permanent establishment's activities and those made, without any interposition of the permanent establishment, by the head office or any other part of the enterprise (also for mere assembly permanent establishment :BFH 37 RIW 258 (1991). It is only when there is a connection with the permanent establishment that the State of the permanent establishment is entitled to impose tax.

Conversely, losses incurred in connection with direct transactions may not be set off against a permanent establishment's profits. Since a DTC may not increase tax liability, the USA, it is true, imposes tax at the lower amount that would ensue if the permanent establishment's business and direct transactions were combined and treated as if no DTC existed (of course, the taxpayer may, in such event, not only set off the result of individual direct transactions, which amounted to a loss against the permanent establishment's positive operating result :I.R.S. Rev. Rul. 84-17, 1984-I Cum. Bull. 308).

According to that ruling, the taxpayer is in such cases entitled to elect taxation which discounts the DTC. (see surpa Art. I, at m. no.44)." We generally agree with the said statement law.

The distinction between the existence of a business connection and the income accruing or arising out of such business connection is clear and explicit. In the present case, the permanent establishment's non- involvement in this transaction excludes it from being a part of the cause of the income itself, and thus there is no business connection.

Article 5.3 provides that a person is regarded as having a permanent establishment if he carries on construction and installation activities in a Contracting State only if the said activities are carried out for more than six months. Paragraph 6 of the Protocol to India Japan Tax Treaty also provides that only income arising from activities wherein the permanent establishment has been involved can be said to be attributable to the permanent establishment. It gives rise to two questions, firstly offshore services are rendered outside India; the permanent establishment would have no role to play in respect thereto in the earning of the said income.

Secondly, entire services having been rendered outside India, the income arising therefrom cannot be attributable to the permanent establishment so as to bring within the charge of tax.

For attracting the taxing statute there has to be some activities through permanent establishment. If income arises without any activity of the permanent establishment, even under the DTAA the taxation liability in respect of oversea services would not arise in India. Section 9 spells out the extent to which the income of non-resident would be liable to tax in India.

Section 9 has a direct territorial nexus. Relief under a Double Taxation Treaty having regard to the provisions contained in Section 90(2) of the Income Tax Act would arise only in the event a taxable income of the assessee arises in one Contracting State on the basis of accrual of income in another Contracting State on the basis of residence. Thus, if Appellant had income that accrued in India and is liable to tax because in its State all residents it was entitled to relief from such double taxation payable in terms of Double Taxation Treaty. However, so far as accrual of income in India is concerned, taxability must be read in terms of Section 4(2) read with Section 9, whereupon the question of seeking assessment of such income in India on the basis of Double Taxation Treaty would arise.

In cases such as this, where different severable parts of the composite contract is performed in different places, the principle of apportionment can be applied, to determine which fiscal jurisdiction can tax that particular part of the transaction. This principle helps determine, where the territorial jurisdiction of a particular state lies, to determine its capacity to tax an event.

Applying it to composite transactions which have some operations in one territory and some in others, is essential to determine the taxability of various operations.

It is, therefore, in our opinion, the concepts profits of business connection and permanent establishment should not be mixed up. Whereas business connection is relevant for the purpose of application of Section 9;

the concept of permanent establishment is relevant for assessing the income of a non-resident under the DTAA. There, however, may be a case where there can be over-lapping of income; but we are not concerned with such a situation. The entire transaction having been completed on the high seas, the profits on sale did not arise in India, as has been contended by the appellant.

Thus, having been excluded from the scope of taxation under the Act, the application of the double taxation treaty would not arise. Double Tax Treaty, however, was taken recourse to by Appellant only by way of an alternate submission on income from services and not in relation to the tax of offshore supply of goods.

We would in the aforementioned context consider the question of division of taxable income of offshore services. Parties were ad idem that there existed a distinction between onshore supply and offshore supply. The intention of the parties, thus, must be judged from different types of services, different types of prices, as also different currencies in which the prices are to be paid.

Section 9(1)(vii)(c) of the Act states that "a person who is a non- resident, where the fees are payable in respect of services utilized in a business or profession, carried on by such person in India, or for the purposes of making or earning any income from any source in India".

Reading the provision in its plain sense, it can be seen that it requires two conditions have to be met the services which are the source of the income that is sought to be taxed, has to be rendered in India, as well as utilized in India, to be taxable in India. In the present case, both these conditions have not been satisfied simultaneously, therefore excluding this income from the ambit of taxation in India. Thus, for a non-resident to be taxed on income for services, such a service needs to be rendered within India, and has to be a part of a business or profession carried on by such person in India. The Petitioners in the present case have provided services to persons resident in India, and though the same have been used here, it has not been rendered in India.

Section 9(1)(vii) of the Act whereupon reliance has been placed by the learned Additional Solicitor General, must be read with Section 5 thereof, which takes within its purview the territorial nexus on the basis whereof tax is required to be levied, namely, : (a) resident; and (b) receipt or accrual of income.

Global income of a resident although is subjected to tax, global income of a non-resident may not be. The answer to the question would depend upon the nature of the contract and the provisions of DTAA.

What is relevant is receipt or accrual of income, as would be evident from a plain reading of Section 5(2) of the Act.. The legal fiction created although in a given case may be held to be of wide import, but it is trite that the terms of a contract are required to be construed having regard to the international covenants and conventions. In a case of this nature, interpretation with reference to the nexus to tax territories will also assume significance. Territorial nexus for the purpose of determining the tax liability is an internationally accepted principle. An endeavour should, thus, be made to construe the taxability of a non-resident in respect of income derived by it. Having regard to the internationally accepted principle and DTAA, it may not be possible to give an extended meaning to the words 'income deemed to accrue or arise in India' as expressed in Section 9 of the Act. Section 9 incorporated various heads of income on which tax is sought to be levied by the Republic of India. Whatever is payable by a resident to a non-resident by way of fees for technical services, thus, would not always come within the purview of Section 9(1)(vii) of the Act. It must have sufficient territorial nexus with India so as to furnish a basis for imposition of tax. Whereas a resident would come within the purview of Section 9(1)(vii) of the Act, a non resident would not, as services of a non-resident to a resident utilize in India may not have much relevance in determining whether the income of the non-resident accrues or arises in India. It must have a direct live link between the services rendered in India, when such a link is established, the same may again be subjected to any relief under DTAA. A distinction may also be made between rendition of services and utilization thereof.

Section 9(1)(vii)(c) clearly states "where the fees are payable in respect of services utilized in a business or profession carried on by such person in India" It is evident that Section 9(1)(vii), read in its plain, same envisages the fulfillment of two conditions : services, which are source of income sought to be taxed in India must be (i) utilized in India and (ii) rendered in India. In the present case, both these conditions have not been satisfied simultaneously.

The provisions of Section 9(1)(vii) of the Act are plain and capable of being given a meaning. There, therefore, may not be any reason not to give full effect thereto. However, even in relation to such income, the provisions of Article 7 of the DTAA would be applicable, as services rendered outside India would have nothing to do with permanent establishment in India. Thus, if any services have been rendered by the head office of Appellant outside India, only because they were connected with permanent establishment.

Even in relation thereto, principle of apportionment shall apply.

The Authority, in our opinion, has committed an error in this behalf, as if services rendered by the head office are considered to be the services rendered by the permanent establishment, the distinction between Indian and foreign operations and the apportionment of the income of the operations shall stand obliterated.

It would be contrary to the intent and purport of the Double Taxation Convention which is a part of the scheme under the Income Tax Act.

We, therefore, hold as under :

Re : Offshore Supply :

1. That only such part of the income, as is attributable to the operations carried out in India can be taxed in India.

2. Since all parts of the transaction in question, i.e. the transfer of property in goods as well as the payment, were carried on outside the Indian soil, the transaction could not have been taxed in India.

3. The principle of apportionment, wherein the territorial jurisdiction of a particular state determines its capacity to tax an event, has to be followed.

4. The fact that the contract was signed in India is of no material consequence, since all activities in connection with the offshore supply were outside India, and therefore cannot be deemed to accrue or arise in the country.

5. There exists a distinction between a business connection and a permanent establishment. As the permanent establishment cannot be said to be involved in the transaction, the aforementioned provision will have no application. The permanent establishment cannot be equated to a business connection, since the former is for the purpose of assessment of income of a non-resident under a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement, and the latter is for the application of Section 9 of the Income Tax Act.

6. Clause (a) of Explanation 1 to S. 9(1)(i) states that only such part of the income as is attributable to the operations carried out in India, are taxable in India.

7. The existence of a permanent establishment would not constitute sufficient 'business connection', and the permanent establishment would be the taxable entity. The fiscal jurisdiction of a country would not extend to the taxing entire income attributable to the permanent establishment.

8. There exists a difference between the existence of a business connection and the income accruing or arising out of such business connection.

9. Paragraph 6 of the Protocol to the DTAA is not applicable, because, for the profits to be 'attributable directly or indirectly', the permanent establishment must be involved in the activity giving rise to the profits.

Re: Offshore Services :

1. Sufficient territorial nexus between the rendition of services and territorial limits of India is necessary to make the income taxable.

2. The entire contract would not be attributable to the operations in India viz. the place of execution of the contract, assuming the offshore elements form an integral part of the contract.

3. Section.9(1)(vii) of the Act read with Memo cannot be given a wide meaning so as to hold that the amendment was only to include the income of non-resident taxpayers received by them outside India from Indian concerns for services rendered outside India.

4. The test of residence, as applied in international law also, is that of the taxpayer and not that of the recipient of such services.

5. For Section 9(1)(vii) to be applicable, it is necessary that the services not only be utilized within India, but also be rendered in India or have such a "live link" with India that the entire income from fees as envisaged in Article 12 of DTAA becomes taxable in India.

6. The terms 'effectively connected' and 'attributable to' are to be construed differently even if the offshore services and the permanent establishment were connected.

7. Section 9(1)(vii)(c) of the Act in this case would have no application as there is nothing to show that the income derived by a non-resident company irrespective of where rendered, was utilized in India.

8. Article 7 of the DTAA is applicable in this case, and it limits the tax on business profits to that arising from the operations of the permanent establishment. In this case, the entire services have been rendered outside India, and have nothing to do with the permanent establishment, and can thus not be attributable to the permanent establishment and therefore not taxable in India.

9. Applying the principle of apportionment to composite transactions which have some operations in one territory and some in others, is essential to determine the taxability of various operations.

10. The location of the source of income within India would not render sufficient nexus to tax the income from that source.

11. If the test applied by the Authority for Advanced Rulings is to be adopted here too, then it would eliminate the difference between the connection between Indian and foreign operations, and the apportionment of income accordingly.

12. The services are inextricably linked to the supply of goods, and it must be considered in the same manner.

For the reasons aforementioned, the appeal is allowed in part and to the extent mentioned hereinbefore. No costs.

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