Principal Commissioner of Income Tax vs. M/s.Bhakthavatsalam Memorial Trust

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TCA/227/2022HC Madras19 November 2024Bench: Honourable Mr Justice R. SURESH KUMAR4 pages
AI SummaryDismissed

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court did not adjudicate on the substantial questions of law. The learned Standing Counsel for the appellant Revenue brought to the court's notice CBDT's Circular No. 9 of 2024 dated September 17, 2024, which states that the tax effect in the instant case is less than the monetary limit imposed. Consequently, the Revenue requested that the appeal be disposed of, keeping the substantial questions of law open for future adjudication. Recording this submission, the High Court dismissed the Tax Case Appeal due to low tax effect, explicitly stating that the substantial questions of law remain open for adjudication at an appropriate stage. No costs were awarded. The specific findings or reasoning of the ITAT on the issues raised were not discussed or decided by the High Court.

What were the facts?

The Revenue has filed a Tax Case Appeal under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, challenging an order dated January 11, 2018, passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Chennai Bench. The appeal concerns the assessment of M/s. Bhakthavatsalam Memorial Trust, the respondent assessee. The core of the dispute revolves around the assessee's eligibility for exemption under Section 11 of the IT Act and alleged violations of other provisions. The High Court was seized of the matter, with the Revenue presenting its case.

What were the issues?

The Tribunal was asked to decide the following substantial questions of law: 1. Whether the assessee is eligible for exemption under Section 11 of the IT Act, 1961, given a mismatch between the assessee trust's objects and those of the recipient trust to which funds were advanced. 2. Whether there was a violation of Section 13(1)(b) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, considering the recipient trust was established for the welfare of a particular religious community. 3. Whether the provision created for standard assets is allowable as a deduction under Section 36(1)(viia) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, as standard assets are considered performing and recoverable. 4. Whether there was a violation of Section 13(1)(b) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, due to the assessee's failure to accumulate and invest funds as per Section 11(5) of the IT Act. The Revenue argued that there was a mismatch in trust objects and a violation of Section 13(1)(b) due to the recipient trust's religious community focus and the failure to comply with Section 11(5). The Revenue also contended that provisions for standard assets are not deductible under Section 36(1)(viia). The judgment does not record specific arguments from the assessee.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 260A,Section 11,Section 13(1)(b),Section 36(1)(viia),Section 11(5)

AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below

T.C.A.No.227 of 2022 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 19.11.2024 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE R.SURESH KUMAR AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE C.SARAVANAN Tax Case Appeal No.227 of 2022 Principal Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions-II/The ITO (Exemptions) Ward-2, Ayakar Bhavan, Annexe Building III Floor, 121, MG Road, Nungambakkam Chennai 600 034. .... Appellant Vs. M/s.Bhakthavatsalam Memorial Trust Plot No.14, 31st Street, Periyar Nagar Korattur, Chennai 600 080. .... Respondent ----- Tax Case Appeal filed under Section 260A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, 'C' Bench Chennai, dated 11.01.2018 made in I.T.A.No.971/Mds/2014. For Appellant : Mrs.V.Pushpa Senior Standing Counsel J U D G M E N T (Delivered by R.SURESH KUMAR, J.) This Tax Case Appeal has been filed by the Revenue calling in question the correctness of the order passed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai by raising the following substantial questions of law: https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis T.C.A.No.227 of 2022 1. Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the appellate Tribunal was right in law in holding that the assessee is eligible for exemption u/s.11 of the IT Act, 1961 without appreciating the fact that there is a complete mismatch between the objects of the assessee trust and that of the recipient trust to which the assessee had advanced money? 2. Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Hon'ble ITAT was right in law in holding that there was no violation u/s.13(1)(b) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 irrespective of the fact that the recipient trust is established for the welfare of a particular religious community? 3. Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the appellate Tribunal is right in not appreciating that standard assets are considered as performing and recoverable assets and are not in the nature of bad debts and hence the provision created for standard assets is not allowable as deduction under Section 36(I)(viia) of the Income Tax Act, 1961? 4. Whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case, the Tribunal was right in holding that there was no violation u/s.13(1)(b) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 without appreciating the fact that there is a complete failure on the part of the assessee to accumulate and invest the funds in terms of the provisions of Section 11(5) of the I.T.Act? https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis T.C.A.No.227 of 2022 2. It is brought to our notice by the learned Standing Counsel for the appellant Revenue that in the instant case, as per the CBDT's Circular No.9 of 2024 dated 17.09.2024 the tax effect is said to be less than the monetary limit imposed and therefore, the appeal can be disposed of, keeping the substantial questions of law raised in this appeal open for adjudication at a later point of time. 3. Recording the aforesaid submission made by the learned Standing Counsel for the appellant Revenue, this Tax Case Appeal is dismissed for low tax effect, keeping open the substantial questions of law for adjudication at appropriate stage. No costs. (R.S.K.,J.) (C.S.N.,J.) 19.11.2024 NCS : Yes/No KST To The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal 'C' Bench, Chennai. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis T.C.A.No.227 of 2022 R.SURESH KUMAR, J. AND C.SARAVANAN, J. KST T.C.A.No.227 of 2022 19.11.2024 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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