KHED LIONS EDUCATION SOCIETY,RATNAGIRI vs. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX, (EXEMPTION), PUNE

This appeal preferred by the assessee emanates from the order of the Ld. CIT(Exemption), Pune dated 30.05.2019 passed u/s.12AA(1)(b)(ii) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 as per the grounds of appeal on record.

The crux of the grievance of the assessee is rejection of application for registration u/s.12AA of the Act in respect of the assessee trust.

The brief facts in this case are that the assessee trust had E-filed Form 10A for registration of the Trust u/s.12AA of the Act on 15.11.2018. The trust is registered under BPT Act, 1950 vide registration number F-279/Ratnagiri dated 30.06.1979. The assessee has uploaded his submission along with certified copy of trust deed and copy of BPT registration along with Form 10A. That on perusal of the memorandum of association uploaded along with Form 10A, it was observed by the Ld. CIT(Exemption) that the main object of the assessee trust is to provide education and to establish primary, secondary, high school and colleges. Thereafter, the assessee trust was called upon to furnish information/clarification on 17.01.2019 for the purpose of verifying existence and genuineness of its activities and utilization of trust fund towards objects of the society in order to process application for registration u/s.12AA of the Act. Thereafter, it was observed by the Ld. CIT(Exemption) that the assessee trust had generated huge surplus in all years and no details were furnished with respect to the fact that the surplus generated was ploughed back to the beneficiaries or utilized for the charitable purposes. Further, no submission was made in respect of income tax returns of last three years along with computation of income. Considering the facts of the case and non submission of any explanation by the assessee trust, the Jt. CIT(Exemption), Pune was asked to carry out a survey action on the assessee to find out the relevant facts on the case and to get necessary evidences in this regard. Accordingly, a survey u/s.133A of the Act was carried out on the assessee on 22.05.2019. Further, the Jt. CIT(Exemption), Pune was asked to submit factual report vide letter dated 28.05.2019 on the basis of findings of the survey, so as to conclude present 12AA proceedings by the Ld. CIT(Exemption)’s Office. The Jt. CIT (Exemptions), Pune has submitted factual report to the office of the Ld. CIT(Exemption) on 29.05.2019.

The Ld. Counsel for the assessee vehemently argued that the Ld. CIT(Exemption) in his order while rejecting the application for granting registration u/s.12AA of the Act in respect of assessee trust has merely relied on the survey report submitted by the Ld. Jt. CIT(Exemption). The assessee was not given any opportunity to make their submission in respect of that survey report. That further, the Ld. CIT(Exemption) has not brought out his findings regarding relevant documentary evidences submitted and furnished before him. He has just placed reliance on the survey report of the Ld. Jt. CIT(Exemptions) and denied the registration of the assessee trust. The survey report was submitted by the Ld. Jt. CIT(Exemptions) on 29.05.2019 and the very next day i.e. on 30.05.2019, the Ld. CIT(Exemption passed the order rejecting the application for registration u/s.12AA of the Act with regard to the assessee trust. There has been huge lapse in terms of natural justice.

Per contra, the Ld. DR placed reliance on the order of the Ld. CIT(Exemption) but principally was agreeable if the matter is restored back to the file of Ld. CIT(Exemption) for re-adjudication in accordance with law.

We have perused the case records and heard the rival contentions. We have also given considerable thought to the facts and circumstances in this case. We find that the survey report was furnished to the office of the Ld. CIT(Exemption) on 29.05.2019 and the entire decision of the Ld. CIT(Exemption) is based on this particular survey report. That further, the order passed by the Ld. CIT(Exemption) was on the very next date i.e. 30.05.2019. Nowhere in the order of the Ld. CIT(Exemption), it comes out that the assessee was given opportunity to counter the survey report or to make any submission in respect thereof before the Ld. CIT(Exemption). That further, opportunity was also not possible since the very next day i.e. on 30.05.2019, the Ld. CIT(Exemption) has passed his order rejecting the application of the assessee trust. The Ld. CIT(Exemption) has not come out with a reasoned order and his findings as per the relevant documentary evidences submitted are missing wherein he has only relied on the survey report and even did not provide the assessee any opportunity to make submissions regarding the said survey report. We take guidance from the judgment of the Hon’ble Kerala High Court in the case of Shri Anjaneya Medical Trust Vs. CIT (supra.) and considering the totality of facts and circumstances, in the interest of justice, we set aside the order of the Ld. CIT(Exemptions) and restore the matter back to his file to adjudicate the issue in accordance with law and as per the principles laid down in the findings of the Hon’ble High Court decision (supra.) after providing reasonable opportunity of hearing to the assessee trust.

In the result, appeal of the assessee trust is allowed for statistical purposes.