SAFINDIA CHARITABLE TRUST, LUDHIANA V. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX ( EXEMPTIONS), CHANDIGARH

ITA 82/ASR/2023

AI Insights

The case involves the Safindia Charitable Trust appealing against the decision of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemption), Chandigarh, which arbitrarily rejected the trust's application for approval under section 80G(5) of the Income Tax Act. The trust argued that the rejection was made without proper consideration of the documents and facts, particularly the trust's existing registration under sections 12AA/12AB. The trust also claimed that they did not receive any communication regarding the questionnaire/letters from the CIT(E), which led to the ex-parte decision. The tribunal found merit in the trust's arguments and decided to restore the matter to the CIT(E) for a fresh hearing, emphasizing the principles of natural justice.

• Counselvise Citation: [2023] 140 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 114665 (ITAT-AMRITSAR)
• Duration Of Justice: 2 month(s) 15 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 28-05-2023
• Appeal Filed By: Assessee
• Order Result: Allowed
• Bench Allotted: DB
• Next Hearing Date: 23-05-2023
• Assessment Year: 2022-2023
• Appeal Filed On: 14-03-2023
• Laws Referred To: Section 80G(5) of the Income Tax Act
• Result in Favour of: Assessee
• Court: TRIBUNAL
• Keywords: Charitable institution; Opportunity of being heard; Principle of natural justice

Judgement Text

IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL AMRITSAR BENCH, AMRITSAR BEFORE DR. M. L. MEENA, ACCOUNTANT MEMBER AND SH. ANIKESH BANERJEE, JUDICIAL MEMBER I.T.A. No. 82/Asr/2023 Assessment Years: NA Safindia Charitable Trust House No. 3, Anand Nagar, Threekay Road, Near Ayali Chowk, Ludhiana-142021 [PAN: AARTS 0486K] (Appellant) V. Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemption), Chandigarh (Respondent) Appellant by Sh. Subhash Jain & Sh. Kartik Jain, CAs Respondent by Dr. Vedanshu Tripathi, Sr. DR Date of Hearing : 24.05.2023 Date of Pronouncement : 29.05.2023 ORDER Per Dr. M. L. Meena, AM: The captioned appeal has been filed by the assessee against the order of the Ld. Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions), Chandigarh I.T.A. No. 82/Asr/2023 Safindia Charitable Trust v. CIT 2 challenging therein the rejection of application of the appellant for approval u/s 80G(5) of the Act ex-parte qua the appellant assessee. 2. At the outset, the ld. counsel for the assessee has submitted that the application of the appellant trust for approval u/s 80G(5) has been arbitrarily rejected without considering the document filed on record and without appreciating the fact that the trust enjoys the registration of Charitable Trust u/s 12AA/12AB. The counsel argued that the questionnaire/letters issued by the CIT(E), Chandigarh has referred in the impugned order of rejecting application u/s 80G(5) were not received by the appellant trust either by post or by e-mail or by SMS. Consequently, the aforesaid notices issue from the Income Tax portal did not come to notice of the appellant. In support, the ld. AR has filed an affidavit of the appellant trust certifying the facts regarding the non receipt of the letters/questionnaire as above (APB, pg. nos. 58 to 59). Accordingly, he prayed that the matter may be restored back to the ld. CIT(E) to adjudicate the matter afresh after granting adequate opportunity of being heard. 3. Per contra, the ld. DR has no objection to the request of the ld. AR in view of the natural justice. I.T.A. No. 82/Asr/2023 Safindia Charitable Trust v. CIT 3 4. We have heard the rival contention, perused the material on record, written submissions and paper book filed by the appellant and the impugned order. Admittedly, the notices issued for granting opportunity has not been received by the appellant trust. The ld. CIT(E) has mentioned the factum of issue of notice but he has not mentioned the factum of service of notice/questionnaire on the appellant trust either by post or e-mail. The ld. CIT(E) has merely stated that no reply has been furnished in the present case nor any communication received from the applicant trust through any channel till the passing of this impugned order. The ld. CIT(E) accordingly, rejected the application of the appellant stating therein ‘that the applicant is not interested pursuing the matter.’ 5. In view of the principles of natural justice, we consider it deem fit to restore the matter back to the CIT(E) to adjudicate the issue of approval u/s 80G(5) of the Act. The CIT(E) is directed to grant adequate opportunity of being heard and consider the written submission filed on record, the paper book comprising of 59 pages. No doubt, the assessee shall co-operate in the fresh proceedings before the ld. CIT(E). I.T.A. No. 82/Asr/2023 Safindia Charitable Trust v. CIT 4 6. In the result, the appeal of the assessee is allowed for statistical purposes. Order pronounced in the open court on 29.05.2023 Sd/- Sd/- (Anikesh Banerjee) (Dr. M. L. Meena) Judicial Member Accountant Member *GP/Sr./P.S.* Copy of the order forwarded to: (1)The Appellant (2) The Respondent (3) The CIT (4) The CIT (Appeals) (5) The DR, I.T.A.T. True Copy By Order