COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX V. CHANDRA CHARITABLE TRUST

ITR/234/1995

AI Insights

The case revolves around the Income Tax Department's challenge to the status of Chandra Charitable Trust, questioning its classification as a religious trust and the applicability of tax exemptions under the Income Tax Act. The core legal issues addressed were whether Jainism qualifies as a religion and whether the Trust's activities, which include promoting Jainism and supporting related community activities, disqualify it from tax exemptions under Section 13(1)(b) of the Act. The Tribunal and subsequent High Court deliberations focused on these interpretations, referencing various precedents and legal interpretations of what constitutes a religion and the specific activities that can be classified as charitable.

• Counselvise Citation: [2006] 140 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 717887 (HC-GUJARAT)
• Appeal Type: Others
• Pronouncement Date: 31-07-2006
• Assessment Year: misc
• Other Referred Cases: Shantagauri Ramniklal Trust And Others Vs. Commissioner of Income Tax And Another, Bal Patil and Another Vs. Union of India and Others, Commissioner of Income Tax Vs. Barkate Saifiyah Society
• Laws Referred To: Income Tax Act
• Result in Favour of: Respondent
• Court: HIGH COURT
• Department Lawyers: R K PATEL
• Assessee Lawyers: MONA BHATT
• Keywords: Assessment; Charitable Trust; Exemption; Income Tax; Religious Trust; Jainism
• Section: 11; 12; 13(1)(b)

Judgement Text

"ITR/234/1995 1/5 JUDGMENT IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD INCOME TAX REFERENCE No. 234 of 1995 For Approval and Signature: HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R.S.GARG HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.R. SHAH ========================================================= 1 Whether Reporters of Local Papers may be allowed to see the judgment ? 2 To be referred to the Reporter or not ? 3 Whether their Lordships wish to see the fair copy of the judgment ? 4 Whether this case involves a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of the constitution of India, 1950 or any order made thereunder ? 5 Whether it is to be circulated to the civil judge ? ========================================================= COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX - Applicant(s) Versus CHANDRA CHARITABLE TRUST - Respondent(s) ========================================================= Appearance : Mrs. Mona M. BHATT for Applicant(s) : 1, MR RK PATEL for Respondent(s) : 1, ========================================================= CORAM : HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R.S.GARG and HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.R. SHAH Date : 31/07/2006 ORAL JUDGMENT (Per : HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R.S.GARG) ITR/234/1995 2/5 JUDGMENT Mrs. Mona Bhatt, learned counsel for the Revenue and Mr. R.K. Patel, learned counsel for the assessee. 2. At the instance of the Revenue, the Tribunal has referred the following questions for our opinion; (1) “Whether the appellate Tribunal is right in law and on facts in holding that the assessee trust is a religious trust entitled to the benefit of section 11 ? (2) Whether, the Tribunal is right in law and on facts in holding that jainism is not a religion, and if jainism is not a religion, the bar contained under section 13(1)(b) would not apply in the present case ? (3) Whether, the Appellate Tribunal is right in law and on facts of the case in holding that the fresh assessment made by the Income-tax Officer pursuant to the order u/s. 263 made by the Commissioner of Income-tax is redundant ?” ITR/234/1995 3/5 JUDGMENT 3. Learned counsel for the Revenue submits that Section 11 and Section 12 of the Income Tax Act while provide certain exemption to Charitable Religious Trusts, Section 13(b), contraindication to Section 11 and 12, denies exemption in particular situations. She submits that, according to Section 13(1)(b), exemption would not be available in the case of a Trust for charitable purposes or a charitable institution created or established after the commencement of the Act, any income thereof if the Trust or Institution is created or established for the benefit of any particular religious community or caste. Referring to a Division Bench Judgment of this Court in the matter of Shantagauri Ramniklal Trust And Others Vs. Commissioner of Income Tax And Another, 239 ITR 528, it is submitted that what are the requirements to be taken note of while deciding the question whether the Trust is a Religious Charitable Trust or not. Reliance is also placed on a Judgment of the Apex Court in the matter of Bal Patil and Another Vs. Union of India and Others, AIR 2005 S.C. 3172 to contend that Jainism is not a simple philosophy or a life-style but in fact it is a religion itself. Referring to certain covenants of the Trust Deed, it was submitted that as the basic purpose of creation of the Trust ITR/234/1995 4/5 JUDGMENT was to promote the Jainism which is a religion or to help the caste/community which follows Jainism, and, if that be so, exemptions would not be available, but the case of the Respondent Trust would be counted out of the exemption clause and would be included in exceptions. 4. Shri Patel, learned counsel for the respondent assessee, on the other hand, placed reliance upon yet another Judgment of this Court in the matter of Commissioner of Income Tax Vs. Barkate Saifiyah Society, 213 ITR 492 and submitted that exclusion from exemption under Section 13(1) (b) applies only to charitable trusts and charitable institutions and if the Trust is charitable as well as religious in nature, the assessee would be entitled to exemption under Section 11 of the Act. 5. The question, that what should be the principle adopted and whether Jainism is a life-style or a religion, would lose much of its importance in view of the judgment of this Court in the matter of Commissioner of Income Tax Vs. Barkate Saifiyah Society. If Jainism is accepted to be a religion and from the covenants of the Trust Deed it can be ITR/234/1995 5/5 JUDGMENT spelt out that not only to propagate Jainism or help and assist maintenance of the Temple, Sadhus, Sadhvis, Shraviks and Shravaks, yet other goals are set in the Trust Deed, then the Trust would become a Charitable Trust, so also a Religious Trust or it can be addressed as a Charitable Religious Trust, and, if that be so, Section 13(1)(b) would not be applicable. Once the basic question is answered against the interests of the Revenue, then the other questions can conveniently be decided against the interests of the Revenue. The Reference stands disposed of accordingly. No costs. [ R.S. Garg, J. ] [ M.R. Shah, J. ] rmr. "