Senior Citizen Foundation, Gujrat V. Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemption), Pune, Pune

ITA 90/PUN/2023

AI Insights

The case involves the Senior Citizen Foundation, which appealed against the decision of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemption), Pune, who had refused to grant registration under section 12AB of the Income-tax Act, 1961. The foundation had filed an application seeking registration as a charitable trust/institution but failed to respond to notices requesting additional information. Consequently, the CIT(E) rejected the application due to non-compliance and lack of tangible material to support the activities of the trust. The tribunal found that the rejection was in violation of the principles of natural justice as the appellant was not given a sufficient opportunity to comply or contest the rejection.

• Counselvise Citation: [2023] 140 COUNSELVISE.COM (IT) 136181 (ITAT-PUNE)
• Duration Of Justice: 5 month(s) 27 day(s)
• Appeal Type: Income Tax Appeal
• Pronouncement Date: 31-05-2023
• Appeal Filed By: Assessee
• Order Result: Allowed
• Bench Allotted: B
• Next Hearing Date: 31-05-2023
• Assessment Year: 2022-2023
• Appeal Filed On: 04-12-2022
• 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. 90/PUN/2023 Senior Citizen Foundation 16, Vidyanagar Society, Mehsana Chansma Rd., Mehsana-384002, Gujarat. PAN:AAITS7253H . . . . . . . अपीलाथी / Appellant बनाम / V/s. Commissioner of Income Tax Officer Exemption, Pune. . . . . . . .प्रत्यथी / Respondent द्वारा / Appearances Assessee by : None Revenue by : Shri Sardar Singh Meena सुनवाई की तारीख / Date of conclusive Hearing : 01/06/2023 घोषणा की तारीख / Date of Pronouncement : 01/06/2023 आदेश / ORDER PER G. D. PADMAHSHALI, AM; Against the order of refusal to grant registration passed u/s 12AB of the Income-tax Act, 1961 [for short ‘the Act’] by the Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemption), Pune [for short ‘CIT(E)’] dt. 30/09/2022, the appellant assessee filed this present appeal. Senior Citizen Foundation ITA No.90/PUN/2023 PAN: AAITS7253H ITAT-Pune Page 2 of 4 2. In the absence of able assistance of appellant, we have proceeded u/s rule 24 of the ITAT-Rules, 1963 ex-parte and heard the learned departmental representative; and subject to the provisions of rule 18 of ITAT Rules, perused the material placed on record. 3. We note the brief facts emanating are such that; 3.1 The appellant assessee has e-filed an application in Form No 10AB u/s 12A(1)(ac)(iii) on 31/03/2022 seeking grant of registration under the category of charitable trust / institution. 3.2 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. 18/07/2022 & 18/09/2022 requesting certain additional information vis-à-vis certain clarification, which were remained unattended by the appellant assessee. Senior Citizen Foundation ITA No.90/PUN/2023 PAN: AAITS7253H ITAT-Pune Page 3 of 4 3.3 Due to non-compliance, thus Ld. CIT(E) without further notice, has rejected the application iterating the absence tangible material to vouch engagement of activities as to whether they are in line with the object of the trust / institution. 4. 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 proviso to section 12AA(1)(b)(ii) 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 Senior Citizen Foundation ITA No.90/PUN/2023 PAN: AAITS7253H ITAT-Pune Page 4 of 4 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. Thus for the aforestated reason, we without commenting on the merits of the case, deem fit to remand the matter back to the file of Ld. CIT(E) for according reasonable & effective opportunity to refute the rejection vis-à-vis to comply with the requirements. 5. Resultantly, the appeal 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 Thursday 01st day of June, 2023. -S/d- -S/d- S. S. VISWANETHRA RAVI G. D. PADMAHSHALI JUDICIAL MEMBER ACCOUNTANT MEMBER पुणे / PUNE ; दिन ांक / Dated : 01 st day of June, 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.