ICG-IISU ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION- BANDHAN,JAIPUR vs. CIT(EXEMPTION), JAIPUR

At the outset, the ld. AR submitted that there has been a delay in filing the present appeal by 27 days. It was submitted that the impugned order was passed by the ld. CIT(E) on 30.03.2021 and the same was received by the assessee on 30.03.2021 and ordinarily, the 2 ICG-IISU Alumnae Association-Bandhan, Jaipur vs. CIT (Exemption), Jaipur appeal should have been filed before the Tribunal on or before 28.05.2021. However, the same was filed on 24.06.2021. It was submitted that the delay so happened in filing the present appeal was on account of the 2nd outburst of COVID-19 Pandemic and consequent lockdown announced by the State Government. It was accordingly submitted that due to lockdown, the assessee was prevented from filing the present appeal and the delay so happened was not deliberate. In support, the reliance was also placed on the decision of Hon’ble Supreme Court dated 27.04.2021 wherein the period of limitation in filing of appeal, irrespective of the limitation prescribed under the general law or special laws whether condonable or not shall stand extended with effect from 14th March, 2021 till further orders. It was accordingly submitted that the delay so happened in filing the present appeal was beyond the control of the assessee and the same may be condoned and appeal of the assessee be heard on merits.

Per contra, ld. Pr.CIT/DR did not raise any specific objection and fairly accepted that the explanation so furnished by the ld. AR regarding delay in filing the present appeal on account of COVID-19 pandemic may be considered by the Bench as it deems fit and appropriate.

After hearing both the parties and considering the material on record, we find that there was a reasonable cause for delay in filing the present appeal due to COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown imposed in the state of Rajasthan which was beyond the control of the assessee. Therefore, the delay so happened is hereby condoned and the appeal so filed by the assessee is hereby admitted for adjudication on merits. 3 ICG-IISU Alumnae Association-Bandhan, Jaipur vs. CIT (Exemption), Jaipur 5. On merits, the ld. AR submitted that the appellant is a company incorporated under the provisions of Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013 and promoted by IIS (Deemed to be University) Trust which is also solely engaged in imparting education having necessary approvals u/s 12AA of the Act. It was submitted that the main object of the appellant company is to foster the spirit of comradeship and to promote co-operation and mutual help amongst the students passing out from the International College for Girls (ICG) as well as from the IIS (Deemed to be University) (IISU), Jaipur. The Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association are placed at APB 18-43.

It was submitted that an application seeking approval u/s 12AA in Form 10A was filed with the office of ld CIT(E) on 16.10.2020 which was however rejected by ld. CIT(E) vide his order dated 30.03.2021 for the sole reason that the object no. (a) 6, 8 & (b) 2, 8, 26 as stated in the memorandum of association are having element of commercial/business nature. It was submitted that every reputed educational institution runs an Alumni Association for its past students. This is to maintain the contact for ensuring continuity for education. The activities are extension of education and, therefore, allegation of business/commercial nature is unfounded. Proviso to Section 2(15) is not applicable on educational activities. It was submitted that the ld. CIT(E) has accepted the objects being charitable in nature and after having found the objects being charitable in nature, has rejected the application for the reason of “elements of Commercial/Business nature”. It was submitted that ld. CIT(E) has totally ignored the fact that the applicant before him was a company incorporated u/s 8 of the 4 ICG-IISU Alumnae Association-Bandhan, Jaipur vs. CIT (Exemption), Jaipur Companies Act, 2013 and attention is drawn towards following clauses contained in the memorandum of association of the appellant company:

Without prejudice to above, it was submitted that alleged commercial/business nature of activities cannot be a reason for rejection of the application u/s 12AA and in support, reliance was placed on the following judicial precedents:

It was further submitted that the provision of section 13(8) introduced in the Finance Act, 2012 w.r.e.f. 01.04.2009 may be considered where it has been provided that nothing contained in section 11 and 12 shall operate where provisions of first proviso to section 2(15) become applicable in any previous year. This makes it clear that allegation of commercial/business nature cannot be a reason for rejection of application u/s 12AA. It was submitted that activities of commercial/business nature whether actually carried out or not and allowability of benefit u/s 11 and 12 can be examined by the Assessing Officer at the time of regular assessment for the relevant previous years. In view of the above, it was submitted that the order of CIT(E) denying approval u/s 12AA deserves to be quashed and he may be directed to grant approval to the appellant company.

Per contra, the ld. Pr. CIT/DR in his submission taken us through the application filed by the appellant company in Form No. 10A wherein the object of the appellant company has been specified as education and advancement of other objects of General Public Utility. It was further submitted that the assessee has also submitted the description of its other objects as promoting co-operation and mutual help among the students. It was submitted that the assessee company is basically incorporated to foster co-operation and mutual help among the students who have passed out from International College Girls as well as from IIS (Deemed to be University), Jaipur. It was submitted that the 8 ICG-IISU Alumnae Association-Bandhan, Jaipur vs. CIT (Exemption), Jaipur assessee company is therefore for the benefit of ex-students who have passed out from these educational institutions and therefore, the benefit of the activities of the assessee company are restricted to the ex-students only and cannot be held as benefiting the public at large. Therefore, the objects of the assessee company cannot be held as objects advancing General Public Utility. It was further submitted that given the objects of the assessee company, it is no where comprehended that assessee company is involved in any activity of formal education rather it is in form and substance an alumni association formed by the promoters of the IIS University. It was further submitted that nothing has been brought on record that the activities of the assessee company are charitable in nature. It was submitted that on perusal of its memorandum of association, it is seen that certain objects as highlighted by the PCIT are having elements of commercial/business nature and the appellant company failed to furnish valid explanation on why these activities should not be considered as commercial in light of section 2(15) of the Act. Given that it was a limitation matter and inspite of giving sufficient opportunities, the appellant company failed to produce details and furnish explanation, therefore, the ld CIT(E) rejected the application based on material available on record.

It was further submitted that merely because the assessee company has been registered u/s 8 of the Companies Act, the same by default does not necessarily mean that it shall be eligible for registration u/s 12AA of the Act. It was submitted that both are separate legislation operating in respective domain and in absence of anything mentioned in 9 ICG-IISU Alumnae Association-Bandhan, Jaipur vs. CIT (Exemption), Jaipur the Income Tax Act, the companies registered u/s 8 of the Companies Act does not necessarily qualify for registration u/s 12AA of the Act. The company, where it seeks registration u/s 12AA, has to independently apply seeking registration and file requisite documentation in support of its application, and the Commissioner has to consider its objects and genuineness of activities and then take appropriate action in terms of either accepting or rejecting its application seeking registration u/s 12AA of the Act. It was accordingly submitted that there is no infirmity in the findings of the ld. CIT(E) in rejecting application of the assessee company seeking registration u/s 12AA of the Act. In support, the reliance was placed on the following decisions: • CIT(E), Jaipur vs. Dali Bai Sewa Sansthan [2018] 99 taxmann.com 290 (SC) • CIT(E), Chandigarh vs. Goenka Charitable Trust [2018] 89 taxmann.com 311 (Amritsar-Tribunal) • CIT-1, Kochi vs. Indian Nutritional Medical Association [2013] 35 taxmann.com 505 (Cochin-Tribunal) • CIT vs. Norka Roots [2018] 89 taxmann.com 181 (Kerala) • Income Tax Officer (Tech.), Kochi vs. State Forum of Bankers Club (Kerala) [2015] 56 taxmann.com 172 (Cochin-Tribunal)

We have heard the rival contentions and perused the material available on record. It is noted that the assessee company had filed an application on 16.10.2020 seeking registration u/s 12AA of the Act. Thereafter, the assessee company was issued a letter dated 30.12.2020 asking them to submit certain documents/ explanation and to submit original registration certificate and Memorandum of Association for 10 ICG-IISU Alumnae Association-Bandhan, Jaipur vs. CIT (Exemption), Jaipur verification. However, only part information/documentation was submitted by the assessee company. Thereafter, a show cause notice dated 11.03.2021 was issued asking for certain specific details/information and matter was fixed for hearing on 15.03.2021. In response to the show cause, the ld PCIT stated that the assessee company furnished part details and failed to furnish clarification regarding certain objects having elements of commercial/ business nature and clarification on the objects benefiting particular community or class in terms of ICG-IISU Alumnae Association and not for general public utility, ownership proof of the assessee premises. The ld. Pr.CIT therefore stated that the assessee company has failed to furnish valid explanation inspite of giving sufficient opportunity and being a limitation matter, he decided basis material available on record and application seeking registration u/s 12AA was rejected.

During the course of hearing, the ld. AR submitted that in response to the show cause dated 11.03.2021, the assessee company did submit its response vide letter dated 19th of March, 2021 and it is therefore, factually not correct that the assessee company has not submitted the requisite information and explanation as sought by the ld. Pr. CIT rather he has failed to correct appreciate the submissions so filed by the assessee company.

We therefore find that while examining the assessee’s application seeking registration u/s 12AA, the ld. Pr. CIT has raised broadly two issues which require deeper examination. Firstly, certain objects of the assessee company have been stated to be having elements of 11 ICG-IISU Alumnae Association-Bandhan, Jaipur vs. CIT (Exemption), Jaipur commercial/ business nature and secondly, whether the objects sought to be achieved were for the benefit of Alumnae ICG-IISU and whether the same qualify as benefiting the public at large and can therefore be classified as object of general public utility. Though the assessee claims to have submitted the requisite explanation, however, in absence of findings by the ld. Pr. CIT, we deem it appropriate that the matter is set aside to the file of ld. Pr. CIT to examine the same afresh as per law after taking into consideration the submissions so filed by the assessee company and calling for any further information/ clarification as may be desired and after providing reasonable opportunity to the assessee company. Both the parties are, at liberty, to raise the contentions so advanced before us and the same are thus left upon and have not been examined by us.