SARASWATHI EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE TRUST,BENGALURU vs. INCOME TAX OFFICER EXEMPTIONS, BANGALORE , KARNATAKA
What did the Tribunal hold?
The Tribunal noted that the orders were passed ex-parte and the assessee had failed to furnish details due to oversight. In the interest of justice, the Tribunal set aside the CIT(E)'s orders.
What were the facts?
The assessee, a charitable trust, applied for registration under Section 12A and approval under Section 80G. The CIT(E) rejected the applications citing non-submission of activity reports and high administrative expenditure.
What were the issues?
Whether the rejection of registration and approval was justified without providing the assessee with an opportunity to furnish details, and if the ex-parte nature of the order warrants a remand.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, BANGALORE BENCHES, BANGALORE
Before: SHRI PRASHANT MAHARISHI, VICE – & SHRI SOUNDARARAJAN K.
PER SHRI SOUNDARARAJAN K., JUDICIAL MEMBER:
These appeals are filed by the assessee challenging the orders of the Ld.CIT(E) in which the registration sought for u/s. 12A as well as approval
ITA Nos. 1676 & 1704/BANG/2026 SARASWATHI EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE TRUST
sought for u/s. 80G has been rejected vide separate orders both dated 23/03/2026.
The brief facts of the case are that the assessee is a charitable organization and applied for registration u/s. 12AB of the Act and also applied for the approval u/s. 80G of the Act. The Ld.CIT(E) had considered the said applications and held that the activity report was not filed by the assessee and also the administrative expenditure is more than the welfare expenses and on that score, the Department could not verify the genuineness of the activities and therefore, rejected the applications.
As against the said rejection orders, the assessee is in appeals before this Tribunal.
At the time of hearing, the Ld.AR fairly submitted that the assessee had failed to appear and furnish the details before the Ld.CIT(E) even though their activities are charitable in nature and also submitted that if one more opportunity is granted, the assessee would appear and furnish the details as sought for by the Ld.CIT(E) including the activity report and prayed to allow the appeals.
The Ld.DR relied on the orders of the Ld.CIT(E) and prayed to dismiss the appeals.
We have heard the arguments of both sides and perused the materials available on record.
We have perused the impugned orders in which the Ld.CIT(E) had observed that the activity report was not filed by the assessee and therefore, the genuineness could not be verified by the Department. We have also considered the submission made by the assessee that the assessee had not furnished the details by oversight and undertook to appear before the Ld.CIT(E) with all the documents. Considering the fact that the impugned
ITA Nos. 1676 & 1704/BANG/2026 SARASWATHI EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE TRUST
orders are passed ex-parte, in the interest of justice, we are inclined to set aside the orders of the Ld.CIT(E) and remit both the matters to the file of the Ld.CIT(E) with a direction to consider the applications afresh and in accordance with law after hearing the assessee.
In the result, both the appeals filed by the assessee are allowed for statistical purposes.
Order pronounced in the open court on 24th August, 2026.
Sd/- Sd/- PRASHANT MAHARISHI SOUNDARARAJAN K. VICE – PRESIDENT JUDICIAL MEMBER Bangalore, Dated: 24th August, 2026.
Copy to: M/s. Saraswathi Educational and Charitable Trust, No. 10, 1st B Cross, HMT Layout, Opp. Chowdeshwari Bus Stop, 1 Mathikere, Bangalore – 560 054. Karnataka. The Income Tax Officer (Exemptions), 2 Ward – 3, Bangalore. 3 The PCIT / CIT, 4 The D.R., ITAT, Bangalore Bench BY ORDER
ASSISTANT REGISTRAR, I.T.A.T., BANGALORE.
More judgments on Section 12A
- Desire Foundation, Jaipur vs Income Tax Officer, JaipurITA 1646/JPR/2026[2024-25]Status: Disposed21 Oct 2026AY 2024-25
- Sanskardham Nandan, Mehsana vs CIT(Exemption), AhmedabadITA 2980/AHD/2026[2025-26]Status: Disposed16 Oct 2026AY 2025-26
- Global University Foundation, Hyderabad vs CIT(Exemption), HyderabadITA 777/HYD/2026[2026-27]Status: Disposed16 Oct 2026AY 2026-27
- Global University Foundation, Hyderabad vs CIT(Exemption), HyderabadITA 776/HYD/2026[2026-27]Status: Disposed16 Oct 2026AY 2026-27
- Shiva Shiksha Samiti, Deendayal Puram, Up… vs Income-Tax Officer, Ward-Exemption, Agra…ITA 415/AGR/2026[2017-18]Status: Disposed15 Oct 2026AY 2017-18
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