The Pr. Commissioner Of Income Tax -7 v. Steria India Pvt. Ltd.

$~89 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + ITA 305/2026 THE PR. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX -7 .....Appellant Through:

Mr. Ruchir Bhatia, SSC with Mr.

Anant Mann, JSC & Mr. P. Gupta, JSC.

versus STERIA INDIA PVT. LTD.

.....Respondent Through:

Mr. Ajay Vohra, Sr. Adv. with Mr.

Neeraj Jain, Mr. Aniket D. Agrawarl & Ms. Kashish Harwani, Advs.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE DINESH MEHTA HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VINOD KUMAR

O R D E R

% 10.04.2026 CM APPL. 23479/2026 (delay in re-filing the appeal) 1.

Instant application has been filed under Section 260A(2A) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 read with Section 5 of the Limitation Act, 1963 for condonation of delay of 1408 days in re-filing the appeal. 2.

For the reasons stated in the application, the delay of 1408 days in refiling the appeal is condoned. 3.

Application stands disposed of.

ITA 305/2026 4.

This appeal lays a challenge to order dated 17.11.2020 passed by the learned Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Bench „1-2‟, New Delhi ("ITAT") passed in Appeal No. 511/Del/2016 relating to Assessment Year ("AY") ITA 305/2026 Page 1 of 10 The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

2011-12.

5.

The appellant has proposed the following substantial questions of law for consideration:- "2.1 Whether the Ld. ITAT erred in not appreciating that the Arm's Length Price of an international transaction, as defined in Section 92F(ii) of the Income tax Act, 1961, is the price applied or proposed to be applied in an uncontrolled transaction, and consequently must remain uninfluenced by extraneous factors and post transaction events like foreign exchange fluctuation which are likely to materially affect the actual receipt or payment but do not impact the price intended to be charged or paid.? 2.2 Whether the Ld.

ITAT erred in not appreciating the fact that the TPO followed the provisions of' Rule 10B(3) by similarly treating foreign exchange fluctuation as nonoperating cost/revenue of the tested party as well as of the comparables to eliminate the differences, thereby leading to a consistent and reliable basis for comparison? 2.3 Whether in the facts and circumstances of the case the Ld. ITAT was right in, law in considering Infosys RPO fit. Ltd. as functionally non comparable without considering the findings of the TPO w.r.t the fact that the assessee company is also enjoying brand name as in the case of the comparable i.e. BPO Infosys Pvt. Ltd.?

2.4 Whether in the facts and circumstances of the case the Ld ITAT was right in law in considering TCS E-Serve International Ltd as functionally non comparable without considering the findings of the TPO w.r.t the fact that the assessee company is also enjoying brand name as in the case of the comparable.?

2.5 Whether in the facts and circumstances of the case the Ld. ITAT was right in law in considering TCS E Serve. as functionally non comparable without considering the findings of the TPO with respect to the fact that the assessee company is also enjoying brand name as in the case of the comparable i.e. TCS E-Serve?

ITA 305/2026 Page 2 of 10 The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

2.6 Whether in the facts and circumstances of the case the Ld. ITAT was right in law in considering Accentia Technologies Ltd. as functionally non comparable on the ground of amalgamation. Whether amalgamation of companies should be treated as an extraordinary event for the purpose of comparable when functions of the company remain unchanged?

2.7 Whether in the facts and circumstances of the case the Ld., ITAT was right in law in considering Infinite Data System as functionally non comparable without considering the findings of the TPO w.r.t the fact that the comparable company has passed all the appropriate filters applied by the TPO?

2.8 Whether in the facts and circumstances of the case the Ld. ITAT was right in law in considering Persistent Systems as functionally non comparable on the ground that it is engaged in software product business and this segment of business is not the part of the software development services?

Whether the exclusion of the comparable entities can be sustained as done by the Ld. ITAT without determining the specific characteristics of the transactions: FAR (functions performed, assets deployed and risk assumed) analysis; contractual terms and market conditions as prescribed in Rule 10B(2) of the 1. T. Act, 1962?"

6.

Mr. Bhatia fairly states that the issue, which arises for consideration in this appeal is covered against the Revenue and in favour of the assessee on all the proposed substantial questions of law, details of which are provided in the following chart which is reproduced as under:- Q.

No.

Issue Reason for ITAT in the Covered in favour of Impugned Order dtd.

the Assessee by the 17.11.2020 (Annex following legal authorities 2.1 „I‟,pp. 43-108)  Direct Value derived  Revenue‟s appeal bearing ITA 739/2025 for AY 2010-11 dismissed by Hon‟ble Whether ITAT erred in treating Foreign Exchange & 2.2 from forex fluctuations on trading items arising from international ITA 305/2026 Page 3 of 10 The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

Fluctuation as operation?

transactions cannot be treated as nonoperating  Matter restored to TPO to verify whether forex fluctuations relates to trading items - if YES, to be treated as „operating‟ Court on 12.12.2025  TPO, in the setaside proceedings post-ITAT, accepted that forex fluctuations arose on „trading‟ items  Woodward Governor India (P.) Ltd. [2009] 312 ITE 254 (SC)  Ameriprise India (P.) [ITA 206/2016;

dtd.

23.03.2016] (Del)  Safe Harbour Rules, (Paras 16-18) dated 18.09.2013  CBDT Letter dated 20.12.2013 reg. Safe Harbour Rules ITES Segment 2.3 Whether ITAT erred excluding TCS E-Serve  Significant brand Value (Paras 41-12)  Revenue's appeal bearing ITA 739/2025 for AY 2010-11 dismissed by this Hon'ble Court on 12.12.2025  B.C.

Management Services (P.) Ltd.

[2018] 403 ITR 45 (Del) [AY 2011-12]  Oracle (OFSS) BPO Services (P.) [2019] ITR51 (Del)  Avaya India (P.) Ltd. [2019] 416 ITR 638 (Del)  Evalueserve SEZ (Gurgaon) (P.) Ltd.

[ITA 211/2018;

decided on 26.02.2018] (Del) ITA 305/2026 Page 4 of 10 The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

 Cadence Design Systems (India) 12025) 182 ITR 115 (Del)  United Health Group Information Services (P.) Ltd.

[ITA 1180/2017:

Order dated 21.12.20171] (Del) 2.4 Whether ITAT erred in excluding Accentia Technologies Led.

as  Owns significant intangible assets  Revenue‟s appeal bearing ITA 739/2025 for AY 2010-11 dismissed by this Court on 12.12.2025  B.C.

Management Services (P.) Ltd.

[2018] 403 ITR 15 (Del) [AY 2011-12]  Evalueserve SEZ (Gurgaon) (P.) Ltd.

[2019] 416 ITR 51 (Del) [AY 2011-12]  Inductis (India) (P.)  Functionally Different:

Medical Services  No Segmental Data (Paras 51-56) [2019] taxmann.com (Del) [AY 2011-12]  United Health Group Information Services (P.) Ltd.

[ITA 1180/2017;

Order dated 21.12.2017] (Del) 2.5 Whether ITAT erred excluding ICRA Techno Analytics Ltd.

as  Functionally  B.C.

Management Services (P.) Ltd.

[2018] 408 ITR 45 (Del) [AY 2011-12]  Evalueserve SEZ (Gurgaon) (P.) Ltd.

[ITA 241/2018;

decided on 26.02.2018] (Del) - followed in AY Different:

Software development, consultancy, licensing, web development, hosting services, etc.

 No Segmental Data ITA 305/2026 Page 5 of 10 The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

(Paras 60-64) 2011-12, reported @ [2019] 416 ITR 51 (Del)  Macquarie Global Services (P.) Ltd.

[2022] 449 ITR 306 (Del) [AY 2011-12] 2.6 Whether ITAT erred in excluding Eclerx Services as  Functionally  B.C.

Management Services (P.) Ltd.

[2018] 403 ITR 45 (Del) [AY 2011-12]  Rampgreen Different: KPO (Paras 71-74) Solutions (P.) Ltd.

[2015] 377 ITR 533 (Del)  Honeywell International (India) (P.) [2024] taxmann.com (Del)  Reservation Data Maintenance India (P.) Ltd. [2023] 156 taxmann.com (Del)  Future First Info.

Services (P.) Ltd.

[2021] 162 ITR 157 (Del)  Corporate Executive Board India (P.) [2020] 420 ITR 52 (P&H) Software / IT Segment 2.7 Whether ITAT erred in excluding EInfochips Ltd.

as  Saxo India (P.) Ltd.

 Functionally Different: Diversified Business - Soltware, ITeS and Products  No Segmental Data [2017] 397 ITR 160 (Del) [AY 2011-12]  Alcatel Lucent India Ltd. [2018] 95 taxmann.com (Del) [AY 2011-12]  United Health (Paras 99-100) ITA 305/2026 Page 6 of 10 The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

Group Information Services (P.) Ltd.

[ITA 1180/2017;

Order dated 21.12.2017] (Del)  Comverse Network Systems India (P.) [2020] taxmann.com (P&H) 2.8 Whether ITAT erred excluding EZest Solutions as  Functionally  Rampgreen Different:

KPO - Product development and Technical Services (Paras 106-107) Solutions (P.) Ltd.

[2015] 377 ITR 533 (Del)  Mentor Graphics (India) (P.) [2024] 469 ITR 524 (Del)  Barclays Technology Centre India (P.) [2018] 409 ITR 138 (Bom) 2.9 Whether ITAT erred in excluding Acropetal Technologies as  Functionally  Omniglobe Different:

Engineering Design, Information Technology, Healthcare Industry  Difference Business Information Technologies (India) (P.) [2024] 460 ITR 249 (Del)  Freescale Model: Major portion of activity is outsourced; Employee Cost less than 25% of Total Cost  Significant R&D & Semiconductor India (P.) [2024] taxmann.com (Del) Advertisement Expense (Paras 108, 111-112) ITA 305/2026 Page 7 of 10 The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

 Significant brand value  Functional Profile:

Engaged Development of Sofiware products (Paras 115-117)  Revenue's appeal bearing ITA 739/2025 for AY 2010-11 dismissed by this Hon'ble Court on 12.12.2025  Microsoft India (R&D) (P.) [2021] 131 ITR 183 (Del) [AY 2011-12]  Global Logic India 2.10 Whether ITAT erred excluding Infosys Technologies as Whether ITAT erred in excluding Wipro Technologies as [2023] taxmann.com (Del) [AY 2011-12]  Open Solutions Software Services (P.) Ltd. [2020] 315 CTR 197 (Del)  Cashedge India (P.) Ltd. [ITA 279/2016;

decided on 01.05.2016] (Del)  Agnity India Technologies (P.) [2013] Taxman 26 (Del)  Revenue's appeal bearing ITA 739/2025 for AY 2010-11 dismissed by this Hon‟ble Court on 12.12.2025  Microsoft India (R&D) (P.) [2021] 431 ITR 483 (Del) [AY 2011-12]  Open Solutions Software Services (P.) Ltd. [2020] 315 CTR 197 (Del)  Cashedge India (P.) 2.11 Whether ITAT erred in excluding Persistent Systems  Functional Profile:

R&D, engineering services, on-site professional services  No Segmental Data for software services  Difference Business Model:

Outsourcing of product development services (Paras 118, 122 123) Ltd. [ITA 279/2016;

decided on 01.05.2016] (Del)  Mentor Graphics ITA 305/2026 Page 8 of 10 The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

(India) (P.) [ITA 126/2022:

decided On 26.01.20221] (Del) 2.12 Whether ITAT erred in including Thinksoft Global Services  Similar Functional Profile:

Software verification & validation service, which is subset of software services;

 No differentiating parameter between the assessee and this Co.

(Paras 124, 127)  Finastra Software Solutions (India) (P.) Ltd. [2018] 93 taxmann.com (Bang. Trib.)  EF Information Systems (P.) Ltd.

[2020] taxmann.com (Bang. Trib.)  Atlas Healthcare Software India (P.) Ltd. [2020] 185 ITD 372 (Kol. Trib.)  Data Core (India) (P.) Ltd. [2018] 89 taxmann.com (Kol. Trib.) 2.13 Whether ITAT  Agnity India Technologies (P.) [2013] Taxman 26 (Del)  Rampgreen Factors considered while adjudicating comparability in terms of 10B(2)/(3):

 Specific followed principles outlined u/r 10B(2)?

characteristics of the property transferred or services provided in controlled uncontrolled transactions;

 functions performed, Solutions (P.) Ltd.

[2015] 377 ITR 583 (Del)  Chryscapital Investment Advisors (India) (P.) [2015] 376 ITR 183 (Del)  Oracle (OFSS) BPO Services (P.) Ltd. [2019] 416 ITR 54 (Del)  Open Solutions Software Services (P.) Ltd. [2020] 315 CTR 197 (Del) taking into account assets employed or to be employed and the risks assumed, by the respective parties;

 the contractual terms between respective parties;

 market conditions such as geography, size, laws, labour and ITA 305/2026 Page 9 of 10 The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

capital costs, economic development, competition, etc.;

 reasonably accurate adjustments to be made to eliminate the material ellects of differences between controlled and uncontrolled transactions.

7.

Since the substantial questions of law arising in this appeal have already been set at rest, the appeal is liable to be dismissed as no question remains to be decided.

8.

The appeal is, accordingly, dismissed.

DINESH MEHTA, J VINOD KUMAR, J APRIL 10, 2026/sr ITA 305/2026 Page 10 of 10 The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.