16 February 2010
In the case of CIT Vs Mahendra Mills (2000) 243 ITR 56 supreme court held that the claim of depreciation as optional. The Finance Act 2001 inserted explanation 5 to Section 32 (1) to provide that the depreciation has to be allowed whether or not the assessee has claimed the same. Hence, depreciation is a mandatory allowance now effective from the assessment year 2002-03.