PUBLIC POLITICAL PARTY vs. DEPUTY COMMISISONER OF INCOME TAX AND ANR
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court upheld the Tribunal's order. It found that the Tribunal had made a categorical finding of fact that the assessee had indulged in issuing bogus donation receipts to facilitate deductions under Sections 80GGB and 80GGC for donors, and that the purported donation amounts were paid back to the donors. This finding of fact, being unassailable under Section 260A, led the court to conclude that the Tribunal's approach of taxing 6% of the total amount as income under Section 56, representing commission, was not erroneous. The court rejected the assessee's claim for exemption under Section 13A, stating that a violator of law cannot claim exemption. Furthermore, the court noted that the appellant had flouted the second proviso to Section 13A by filing improper reports or no reports to the Election Commission of India in certain assessment years, thereby losing its eligibility for exemption under Section 13A. Consequently, the appeals were dismissed.
What were the facts?
The appellant, a Public Political Party, challenged a common order dated December 17, 2025, passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT). The ITAT's order dealt with appeals filed by the appellant concerning additions made by the Assessing Officer (AO) and affirmed by the Commissioner Income Tax (Appeals) [CIT(A)]. The core dispute revolves around the taxability of donations received by the political party. The AO had made additions under Section 68 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, which the Tribunal partially modified. The appeals before the High Court concern the Tribunal's direction to add 6% of the donation amount under Section 56 of the Act, instead of the entire amount added by the AO under Section 68.
What were the issues?
1. Whether the Tribunal erred in directing an addition of 6% of the donation/contribution under Section 56 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, when it had concluded that the addition under Section 68 of the Act was not sustainable? (Question of law and fact, turning on Section 56 and Section 68). Assessee's Contention: The appellant argued that if the addition under Section 68 was found unsustainable, then as a natural corollary, its income should be eligible for exemption under Section 13A of the Act. The Tribunal's direction to add 6% under Section 56 was thus challenged. Revenue's Contention: The revenue argued that the appellant, a political party, had neither conducted genuine political activities nor received genuine contributions. It had issued forged receipts and returned the donation amounts to the payers. The Tribunal's decision to add 6% as commission under Section 56 was maintained, without prejudice to the department's stand that the entire amount should have been added under Section 68 as originally done by the AO. The revenue also contended that the appellant had failed to comply with the second proviso to Section 13A by filing improper or no reports to the Election Commission of India.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
Section 68,Section 56,Section 13A,Section 80GGB,Section 80GGC,Section 260A
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Cause title — parties, addresses and appearances
O R D E R %
2026
By way of present appeals, the appellant has challenged the common order dated 17.12.2025 passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal ‘C’ Bench, New Delhi, (hereinafter referred to as ‘Tribunal’) in the appeals filed by the appellant. This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 15/07/2026 at 11:52:06
Learned counsel for the appellant argued that when the Tribunal has come to a conclusion that the addition under Section 68 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Act of 1961’), made by the Assessing Officer (AO) as affirmed by the Commissioner Income Tax, (Appeal) [hereinafter referred to as ‘CIT (A)]’, was not sustainable it could not have directed addition of 6% of the donation/contribution under Section 56 of the Act of 1961. 3. He argued that once the addition made under Section 68 of the Act of 1961 was found to be untenable, then as a natural corollary, the appellant’s income was eligible for exemption under Section 13A of the Act of 1961. 4. Mr. Shlok Chandra, learned Senior Standing Counsel, on the other hand, argued that the appellant, a political party has as neither done any political activity nor has it received any genuine political contribution or donation and as a matter of fact it had issued forged receipts. He further submitted that a perusal of the order of the Tribunal and record would reveal that it had issued receipts of the donation and had given back the amount to the payers for which, the Assessing Officer had made addition under Section 68 of the Act of 1961. He argued that the Tribunal in turn has held that instead of adding the entire amount i.e., 6%, being commission in fact on such amount should be added under Section 56 of the Act of 1961. He nevertheless maintained that this is without prejudice to the Department’s stand that as a matter of fact entire amount should have been added under Section 68 of the Act of 1961, as has been done by the Assessing Officer.
Heard learned counsel for the parties.
On perusal of the record and orders of the authorities below, more particularly, the order of the Tribunal, we find that the Tribunal has recorded a This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 15/07/2026 at 11:52:06
categorical finding that the assessee has indulged in issuing bogus donation receipts to various persons in a bid to give them undue advantage of deductions under Section 80GGB and Section 80GGC of the Act of 1961. 7. The Tribunal has recorded a finding that the so-called amount received as donation has been paid back to the persons from whom the amount was purportedly received. Such finding recorded by the Tribunal is a finding of fact, which cannot be interfered with by this Court under Section 260A of the Act of 1961. 8. If such finding is taken into consideration, then we do not find any error or infirmity in the approach of the Tribunal. It has rightly taken 6% of the total amount as assessee’s income rather than the entire amount of purported donation. Because the assessee had facilitated false donation receipts in order to enable them to claim deduction under Section 80GGB and 80GGC of the Act of 1961. 9. Assessee’s claim that once the addition under Section 68 of the Act of 1961 is deleted, the appellant should get benefit of Section 13A of the Act of 1961 is misplaced and misconceived, inasmuch as a violator of law, cannot claim exemption. Such benefit will result in mischief with the mandate of the provisions of Section 13A of the Act, as appellant’s books of accounts do not reflect a true and correct picture.
A perusal of the assessment order (para No. 4.13.1) shows that the appellant had failed to submit report to the Election Commission of India as per second proviso to Section 13A of the Act of 1961. 11. In light of the findings recorded by the AO and CIT (A), we are of the view that the appellant has flouted the second proviso to Section 13A of the Act of 1961 by filing the improper report in some assessment years, while in This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 15/07/2026 at 11:52:06
other assessment years, it did not file any report at all. Therefore, the assessee had lost the very eligibility to claim exemption under Section 13A of the Act of 1961. 12. The appeals along with pending applications, therefore, fail. DINESH MEHTA, J. RAJNEESH KUMAR GUPTA, J. JULY 13, 2026 neelam This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 15/07/2026 at 11:52:06
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