Suryoday Social Foundation, Pune V. Commissioner of Income Tax, Pune, Pune

ITA 543/PUN/2023

AI Insights

The case involves the Suryoday Social Foundation, which appealed against the order of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemption), Pune, rejecting their application for regular registration under section 12AB of the Income-tax Act, 1961. The foundation had initially filed an application seeking registration as a charitable trust but failed to respond to notices requesting additional information. Consequently, the CIT(E) rejected their application and canceled the provisional registration due to non-compliance and lack of tangible material to support the genuineness of the foundation's activities. The tribunal found that the CIT(E) had not provided sufficient opportunity for the foundation to address the discrepancies, thus violating the principles of natural justice.

• Counselvise Citation: [2023] 140 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 136180 (ITAT-PUNE)
• Duration Of Justice: 2 month(s) 21 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 24-07-2023
• Appeal Filed By: Assessee
• Order Result: Allowed
• Bench Allotted: B
• Next Hearing Date: 24-07-2023
• Assessment Year: misc
• Appeal Filed On: 03-05-2023
• Laws Referred To: Income-tax Act, 1961
• Result in Favour of: Assessee
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Keywords: Charitable institution; Principle of natural justice

Judgement Text

॥ आयकर अपीलीय न्यायाधिकरण, पुणे “ ” न्यायपीठ, पुणे में ॥ ITAT-Pune Page 1 of 4 IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL, PUNE “B” BENCH, PUNE BEFORE HON’BLE SHRI S. S. VISWANETHRA RAVI, JUDICIAL MEMBER AND SHRI G. D. PADMAHSHALI, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER आयकर अपीलसं. / ITA No. 0543/PUN/2023 Suryoday Social Foundation Flat No. 101, H.No.-1 Ashtvinayak Sadan, Kondhwa Bk., Pune-411048. PAN:ABBAS9881J . . . . . . . अपीलाथी / Appellant बनाम / V/s. Commissioner of Income Tax Officer Exemption, Pune. . . . . . . .प्रत्यथी / Respondent द्वारा / Appearances Assessee by : Mr. B. B. Mane Revenue by : Mr. Ajay Kumar Kesari सुनवाई की तारीख / Date of conclusive Hearing : 25/07/2023 घोषणा की तारीख / Date of Pronouncement : 25/07/2023 आदेश / ORDER PER G. D. PADMAHSHALI, AM; Against the order passed u/s 12AB of the Income-tax Act, 1961 [for short ‘the Act’] dt. 31/03/2023, rejecting to grant regular registration by the Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemption), Pune [for short ‘CIT(E)’] the appellant assessee filed the present appeal u/s 253(1)(c) of the Act. Suryoday Social Foundation ITA No.0543/PUN/2023 PAN: ABBAS9881J ITAT-Pune Page 2 of 4 2. We note the brief facts emanating are such that; 2.1 The appellant assessee has e-filed an application in Form No 10AB u/s 12A(1)(ac)(iii) on 15/09/2022 seeking grant of regular registration under the category of charitable trust / institution. 2.2 The Ld. CIT(E) in-order to verify the objects, activities and to ascertain the fulfilment of conditions for granting registration was put the appellant to notices dt. 23/01/2023 & 19/03/2023 requesting certain additional information vis-à-vis certain clarification, which were remained unattended by the appellant assessee. 2.3 Due to non-compliance, Ld. CIT(E) without further notice, has rejected the application and cancelled the provisional registration granted to it on 01/10/2021 iterating the absence tangible material and explanation against discrepancies noticed by him while vouching the very genuineness of activities undertaken, donation received, utilization of funds on the object of the trust etc. Suryoday Social Foundation ITA No.0543/PUN/2023 PAN: ABBAS9881J ITAT-Pune Page 3 of 4 3. The present challenge of the appellant foundation is considered and after vouching the facts of the case, it transpired that, the preliminary submission of the appellant did not productively prove its eligibility and claim for grant of approval for 12AB, as a consequence the Ld. CIT(E) without further opportunity to the appellant rejected the application in violation of principle of natural justice as commanded by the provision of section 12AB(1)(b)(ii)(B) of the Act, thus action of the Ld. CIT(E) suffered from sufficiency of reasonable opportunity to the appellant to refute the rejection vis-à-vis to comply with the requirements sought. It shall be worthy to underline that the opportunity of being heard should be real, reasonable and effective and same should not be empty formalities, it should not be a paper opportunity. The doctrine of natural justice is a facet of fair play in action and no person shall be saddled with a liability without being heard. 4. Thus for the aforestated reason, we without commenting on the merits of the case, deem fit to Suryoday Social Foundation ITA No.0543/PUN/2023 PAN: ABBAS9881J ITAT-Pune Page 4 of 4 remand the matter back to the file of Ld. CIT(E) for passing well-reasoned order after according effective three opportunities to the appellant foundation to refute the rejection vis-à-vis to comply with the discrepancies communicated. Needless the state, the appellant assessee shall comply with the direction of the registering authority without seeking unreasoned adjournment. 5. Thus, the appeal of the assessee is ALLOWED FOR STATISTICAL PURPOSE in above terms. In terms of rule 34 of ITAT Rules, the order pronounced in the open court on this Tuesday 25 th day of July, 2023. -S/d- -S/d- S. S. VISWANETHRA RAVI G. D. PADMAHSHALI JUDICIAL MEMBER ACCOUNTANT MEMBER पुणे / PUNE ; दिन ांक / Dated : 25 th day of July, 2023. आदेश की प्रधिधलधप अग्रेधिि / Copy of the Order forwarded to : 1. The Appellant. 2. The Respondent. 3. The Pr. CIT, Pune 4. The Pr. CIT(E), Pune 5. DR, ITAT, “B” Bench, Pune 6. ग र्डफ़ इल / Guard File आिेश नुस र / By Order, वररष्ठ दनजी सदिव / Sr. Private Secretary आयकरअपीलीय न्य य दिकरण, पुणे / ITAT, Pune.