THE COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX vs. FR MULLERS CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS

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ITA/589/2007HC KarnatakaKAHC01038465200710 February 2014Bench: B.MANOHAR,DILIP B.BHOSALE21 pages
AI SummaryDismissed

What did the High Court hold?

The High Court held that the first substantial question of law is against the revenue and in favour of the assessee. It agreed with the Supreme Court's pronouncement that for invoking Section 263, both conditions – that the order is erroneous and prejudicial to the interest of the revenue – must be satisfied. If one of these conditions is absent, Section 263 cannot be invoked. The Commissioner cannot use this power to correct every mistake. Regarding the second and third substantial questions, the Court held, in agreement with the Bombay and Delhi High Courts, that Section 13(1)(d) of the Act makes only the income from such investment or deposit made in violation of Section 11(5) liable to be taxed. A violation under Section 13(1)(d) does not lead to denial of exemption under Section 11 on the total income. The proviso to Section 164(2) applies only to that part of the income which has forfeited exemption, not the entire income. The Court found no infirmity in the ITAT's order restoring the AO's order.

What were the facts?

The Revenue has appealed against a common order of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) for assessment years 2000-01 and 2001-02. The assessee, Fr. Mullers Charitable Institutions, a trust running various institutions, claimed exemption under Section 11 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, and filed 'Nil' returns. Following a tax evasion petition, notices under Section 148 were issued. The Assessing Officer (AO) found that the assessee advanced Rs. 30,00,000 in AY 2000-01 and Rs. 50,00,000 in AY 2001-02 to M/s. Janamadhyama Prakashana Limited, which was mentioned as 'loans and advance' in the trust's balance sheet. The AO held this advance violated Section 11(5) and was taxable. The Commissioner of Income Tax (CIT), invoking Section 263, found the AO's order erroneous and prejudicial to revenue, directing assessment of the entire income under Section 13(1)(d). The ITAT set aside the CIT's order, restoring the AO's order.

What were the issues?

1. Whether the Tribunal was correct in holding that the Commissioner of Income Tax could not set aside the Assessing Officer's order under Section 263 when two views were possible and the AO's view was prejudicial to the revenue? 2. Whether the Tribunal was correct in holding that only the income violating Section 13(1)(d) is subject to the maximum marginal rate of tax, not the whole income, especially when Section 11(5) was violated? 3. Whether the proviso to Section 164(2) is applicable when there is no 'income derived from the property'? Assessee's Contentions (as inferred from the judgment): The assessee contended that the advance was for advertisement, printing, and publicity. They argued that the ITAT correctly held that the CIT's invocation of Section 263 was contrary to law as not every error can be corrected under it. They also argued that only the income violating Section 13(1)(d) is taxable at the maximum marginal rate, not the entire income, and that the proviso to Section 164(2) is applicable only to the extent of income violating Section 11(5). Revenue's Contentions: The revenue contended that the ITAT's order was contrary to law. They argued that if a case falls under Section 13(1) of the Act, nothing in Section 11 or 12 shall operate to exclude income from the total income. Once the AO found a contravention of Section 13(1)(d), the entire income should have been assessed.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 11,Section 11(5),Section 12,Section 13(1)(d),Section 148,Section 164(2),Section 260-A,Section 263

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BANGALORE

DATED THIS THE 10TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2014

PRESENT

THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE DILIP B.BHOSALE

AND

THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE B.MANOHAR

ITA NO.588/2007 & ITA NO.589/2007

ITA NO.588/2007

BETWEEN:

1.

The Commissioner of Income Tax, C.R.Building, Attavara, Mangalore.

2.

The Income-Tax Officer, Ward – 2(1), C.R.Building, Attavara, Mangalore.

…Appellants

(By Sri.E.R.Indrakumar, Sr.Adv for E.Sanmathi Indra Kumar, Advocate)

AND:

Fr.Mullers Charitable Institutions, Kankanady, Mangalore.

…. Respondent

(By Sri.S.Parthasarathi, Advocate)

ITA filed U/s.260-A of I.T.Act, 1961 arising out of Order dated 27-02-2007 passed in ITA No.187/Bang/2006 for the Assessment year 2000-01, praying that this Hon’ble Court may be pleased to:

(i) formulate the substantial questions of law stated therein,

(ii) allow the appeal and set aside the order passed by the ITAT, Bangalore Bench-B in ITA.No.187/BANG/2006 dated 27-02-2007 and confirm the order passed by the Assessing Authority, in the interest of justice and equity.

ITA NO.589/2007

BETWEEN:

1.

The Commissioner of Income Tax, C.R.Building, Attavara, Mangalore.

2.

The Income-Tax Officer, Ward – 2(1), C.R.Building, Attavara, Mangalore.

…Appellants

(By Sri.E.Sanmathi Indra Kumar, Advocate)

AND:

Fr.Mullers Charitable Institutions, Kankanady,

Mangalore.

…. Respondent

(By Sri.Mallaharao.K., Advocate for Sri.S.Parthasarathi, Advocate)

ITA filed U/s.260-A of I.T.Act, 1961 arising out of Order dated 27-02-2007 passed in ITA No.188/Bang/2006 for the Assessment year 2001-02, praying that this Hon’ble Court may be pleased to:

i. formulate the substantial questions of law stated therein,

ii. allow the appeal and set aside the order passed by the ITAT, Bangalore Bench in ITA.No.188/BANG/200 dated 27-02-2007 and confirm the order passed by the Assessing Authority, in the interest of justice and equity.

These appeals are having been heard and reserved for Pronouncement of Judgment this day, B. MANOHAR.J., delivered the following:

J U D G M E N T

The revenue has preferred these two appeals under Section 260-A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (for short ‘the Act’) being aggrieved by the common order dated 27-2-2007 made in ITA Nos.187 & 188/Bang/2006 passed by the Income Tax Appellate

Tribunal, Bangalore Bench ‘B’ (hereinafter referred to ‘the Tribunal’) wherein the Tribunal had allowed the appeal filed by the respondent-assessee setting aside the order passed by the Commissioner of Income Tax, Mangalore under Section 263 of the Act upholding the order passed by the Assessing Officer for the assessment years 2000-01 and 2001-02.

2.

The facts leading to the filing of these two appeals are as follows:

The respondent-assessee is a Charitable Trust running a large number of Institutions such as Fr. Muller General Hospital, Fr. Muller Medical College, Fr.Muller Homeopathy Medical College, Pharmaceutical Division, St.Johns Leprosy Hospital, Rehabilitation Unit and Father Muller College of Nursing. The assessee- Trust claimed exemption under Section 11 of the Act. For the assessment year 2000-01 and 2001-02, the assessee filed ‘Nil’ return of income on 31-10-2001

claiming exemption of income. On the basis of tax evasion petition received by the Additional Commissioner of Income Tax, an enquiry was conducted and notice under Section 148 of the Act was issued for both assessment years. During the course of enquiry, the Assessing Officer noticed that the assessee-Trust had advanced a sum of Rs.30,00,000/- during the assessment year 2000-01 and a sum of Rs.50,00,000/- during the assessment year 2001-02 respectively to M/s. Janamadhyama Prakashana Limited which was running Kannada daily known as JANAVAHINI. Before the Assessing Officer, the assessee has contended that the said amount was advanced to M/s.Janamadhyama Prakashana for the purpose of advertisement, printing and publicity of the programmes of the Trust. The Assessing Officer on verification of the records and the balance sheet of the Trust found that the said amount was mentioned under the head ‘loans and advance’. Advancing of the such a huge amount is in violation of

Section 11(5) of the Act. Hence, the assessee is not entitled for exemption for the said amount. Accordingly, the Assessing Officer by giving elaborate reasons by its assessment order dated 29-5-2005 held that the amount given to M/s.Janamadhyama Prakashana Limited as advance infringes provision of Section 11(5) of the Act. Hence, the said amount is liable to be taxed. The assessee being aggrieved by the assessment order passed by the Assessing Officer preferred an appeal in F.No.1/263/CIT/MNG/2005-06 before the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), Mangalore (‘CIT’ for short). When the said appeal was pending before the CIT, the Commissioner in exercise of his suo-motu power under Section 263 of the Act issued show cause notice stating that the assessment order passed by the Assessing Officer is erroneous and prejudicial to the interest of the revenue and Assessing Officer ought to have assessed the total income of the Trust under

Section 13(1)(d) of the Act and not only the amount advanced to M/s.Janamadhyama Prakashana Limited.

3.

In pursuance of the notice issued by the Commissioner, an authorized representative of the assessee entered appearance and filed objections. The Commissioner of Income Tax after considering the matter in detail found that in violation of Section 11(5), a sum of Rs.80,00,000/- was advanced to M/s.Janamadhyama Prakashana Limited, which was a sinking company. Subsequently, the said Prakashana was closed down. In view of Section 13(1)(d) of the Act, total income of the Trust has to be assessed for the tax in view of the said violation. The Commissioner by an order dated 27-12-2005 held that the assessment order dated 29-03-2005 passed by the Assessing Officer is erroneous and prejudicial interest of the revenue. Accordingly, set aside the assessment order passed by the Assessing Authority with a direction to the

Assessing Officer to assess the entire income of the respondent-assessee after giving opportunity of hearing. The assessee being aggrieved by the order dated 27-12-2005 preferred an appeal before the Tribunal. The Tribunal after considering the matter in detail and on examining Sections 11, 12, 13(1)(d) and Section 164(2) of the Act held that the order passed by the Commissioner of Income Tax is contrary to Section 164(2) of the Act and the entire income of the respondent-assessee cannot be assessed. The Tribunal also held that invoking of power under Section 263 is contrary to law and every error committed by the Assessing Authority cannot be corrected by invoking Section 263 of the Act. Accordingly set aside the order passed by the Commissioner of Income Tax and restored the order passed by the Assessing Officer. The revenue being aggrieved by the order passed by the Tribunal, filed this appeal.

4.

The appeal was admitted to consider the following substantial questions of law:

(i) Whether the Tribunal was correct in holding that when two view are possible and if one view is taken b the Assessing Officer the same cannot be set aside by the Commissioner of Income Tax exercising the power under Section 263 when the said view is prejudicial to the interest of the revenue?

(ii) Whether the Tribunal is correct in holding that when a part of income is held to be violative of the provisions of Section 13(1)(d) only to the said extent maximum marginal rate of tax is to be levied and not for the whole income more particularly when there is violation of provisions of Section 11(5) of the Act?

(iii) Whether the proviso to Section 164(2) of the I.T. Act is applicable to the facts of the case when there is no “income derived from the property”?

5.

Sri.E.R.Indra Kumar, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the revenue contended that the order passed by the Tribunal setting aside the order passed by the Commissioner of Income Tax is contrary to law. The Tribunal has failed to consider the fact that if the

case is covered under Section 13(1) of the Act, nothing contained in Section 11 or 12 shall operate to exclude from the total income of the previous year of a person in receipt thereof. Once the Assessing Officer holds that the assessee has contravened the provision of Section 13(1)(d), the Assessing Officer should have held the entire income of the Trust as taxable. The reason assigned by the Tribunal for setting aside the order passed by the Commissioner is contrary to law. Further, under Section 263 of the Act, if the Commissioner is of the opinion that any order passed is erroneous insofar as it is prejudicial to the interest of the revenue, he may, after giving the assessee an opportunity of being heard, pass such order, as the circumstances of the case justifies. In the instant case, the Commissioner, exercising his revisional power, corrected the order passed by the Assessing Officer which was prejudicial to the interest of the revenue. The finding of the Tribunal that the Commissioner has

erroneously invoked the revisional power is contrary to law and sought for setting aside the same.

6.

On the other hand, Sri.S.Parthasarathi, learned counsel appearing for the assessee argued in support of the order passed by the Tribunal and contended that in view of Section 164(2) of the Act, the entire income of the Trust cannot be brought to tax. Further, on the basis of the opinion of the Commissioner, the power under Section 263 cannot be invoked to correct each and every type of mistakes and error committed by the Assessing Officer. Sri.S.Parthasarathi, relied upon following judgments reported in (2001) 249 ITR 533 (Bom) in the case of DIRECTOR OF INCOME TAX (EXEMPTIONS) v/s SHETH MAFATLAL GAGALBHAI FOUNDATION TRUST and (2002) 253 ITR 593 in the case of DIRECTOR OF INCOME TAX (EXEMPTION) v/s AGRIM CHARAN FOUNDATION and sought for dismissal of the appeal.

7.

We have carefully considered the arguments addressed by the learned counsel for the parties and perused the orders impugned in these appeals.

8.

The records clearly disclose that the respondent- assessee is administering number of institutions and it had obtained exemption under Section 11 and 12 of the Act. The assessee filed Nil return of income for the aforesaid assessment years. On the basis of the tax evasion petition, an enquiry was conducted and during the course of assessment proceedings, the Assessing Officer noticed that the respondent-Trust advanced a sum of Rs.30,00,000/- during the assessment year 2000-01 and advanced another sum of Rs.50,00,000/- during the assessment year 2001-02 to M/s.Janamadhyama Prakashana Limited, which was running a Kannada daily known as “Janavahini”. In the balance sheet of the respondent-Trust, the said

amounts were mentioned under the head known as “loans and advances”. The Charitable Institution, advancing loan amount to M/s.Janamadhyama Prakashana Limited and obtaining exemption in payment of income tax is in violation of Section 11(5) of the Act. As per Section 13(1)(d), income of the Trust shall not be entitled for exemption under Sections 11 and 12 of the Act. Accordingly, the Assessing Officer assessed the advance made to M/s.Janamadhyama Prakashana Limited for tax. Being aggrieved by the said assessment order, the respondent-assessee preferred an appeal before the Commissioner of Income Tax. The Commissioner of Income Tax, after verification of the records of the Assessing Officer found that the order passed by the Assessing Officer is erroneous and prejudicial to the interest of the revenue. Accordingly, initiated the proceedings under Section 263 of the Act. The Commissioner was of the opinion that in view of violation of Section 11(5), the entire income of the

respondent-Trust ought to have been assessed and they are not entitled for any exemption under Sections 11 and 12 of the Act and revised the order passed by the Assessing Officer. The said order was questioned before the Tribunal. The Tribunal allowed the appeals and set aside the order passed by the Commissioner of Income Tax under Section 263 of the Act. Being aggrieved by the said order, the revenue preferred these two appeals.

9.

The first substantial question of law framed in this appeal with regard to power of Commissioner under Section 263 of the Act is no more res- Integra. The Division Bench of this Court in ITA No.30/2006 considered the power of the Commissioner to exercise his suo-motu power under Section 263, taking into consideration various judgments of the Hon’ble Supreme Court reported in (2000) 243 ITR 83 (MALABAR INDUSTRIAL CO. LIMITED v/s COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX) and another

judgment reported in (1957) 31 ITR 872 (DAWJEE DADABHOY AND CO. v/s S.P.JAIN AND ANOTHER). The Division Bench of this Court in ITA No.30/2006 in Paragraph 16 has held as under: 16. As is clear from the wording in Section 263, the Commissioner gets the jurisdiction to revise any proceedings under this Act, if he considers that any order passed therein by the Assessing Officer is erroneous insofar as it is prejudicial to the interest of the Revenue. Therefore, it is clear that he cannot exercise the power of revision solely on the ground that the order passed is erroneous. He gets jurisdiction only if such erroneous order is prejudicial to the interest of the Revenue. Prejudicial to the Revenue means, lawful revenue due to the State has not been realized or cannot be realized. In other words, by the order of the Assessing Authority if the lawful revenue to the State has not been realized or cannot be realized, as the said order is prejudicial to the interest of the Revenue and also erroneous, he gets jurisdiction to interfere with the said order under Section 263. Therefore, for attracting Section 263, the condition precedent is (a) the order of Assessing Officer sought to be revised is erroneous and (b) it is prejudicial to the interest of the Revenue. If one of them is absent, i.e., if the order of the Income tax

officer is erroneous but is not prejudicial to the Revenue, recourse cannot be had to Section 263(1) of the Act. The satisfaction of both the conditions stipulated in the Section is sine quo non for the Commissioner to exercise his jurisdiction under Section 263.

10.

We respectfully agree with the order passed by the Division Bench of this Court. The law declared by the Hon’ble Supreme Court made it very clear that if one of the requirements for satisfaction of taking action under Section 263 of the Act is absent, then recourse cannot be made to Section 263 of the Act. The Commissioner cannot invoke his revisional power to correct each and every type of mistakes committed by the Assessing Officer. Accordingly, the first substantial question of law is held against the revenue and in favour of the assessee.

11.

With regard to second and third substantial questions of law are concerned, reading of Section 13(1)(d) of the Act makes it clear that it is only the

income from such investment or deposit which has been made in violation of Section 11(5) of the Act that is liable to be taxed and that violation under Section 13(1)(d) does not tantamount to denial of exemption under Section 11 on the total income of the assessee. An identical question came before the Bombay High Court in the case reported in (2001) 249 ITR 533 (Bom) (supra). The question before the Bombay High Court is “Whether violation of Section 11(5) r/w Section 13(1)(d) by the assessee-Trust attracts maximum marginal rate of tax on the entire income of the Trust? The Bombay High Court held that in case of contravention of Section 13(1)(d), maximum marginal rate of tax under Section 164(2), proviso is applicable only to that part of income of the Trust which has forfeited exemption and not the entire income. Relevant paragraph reads as under:

Sec.164(2) refers to the relevant income which is derived from property held under trust wholly for charitable or religious purposes. If such income consists of severable portions, exempt as well as taxable, the portion which is exempt is to be left out and the portion which is not exempt is charged to tax as if it is the income of an AOP. Therefore, a proviso was inserted by the Finance Act, 1984 w.e.f. 1st April 1985, under which in cases where the whole or any part of the relevant income is not exempt under s.11 or s.12 because of the contravention of s.13(1)(d), the tax shall be charged on such income or part thereof, as the case may be, at the maximum marginal rate. In other words, only the non-exempt income portion would fall in the net of tax as if it was the income of an AOP. The phrase ‘relevant income or part of the relevant income’ in the proviso is required to be read in contradistinction to the phrase ‘whole income’ under s.161(1A). This is only by way of comparison. Under s.161(1A), which begins with a non obstante clause, it is provided that where any income in respect of which a person is liable as a representative assessee consists of profits of business, the tax shall be charged on the whole of the income in respect of which such person is so liable at the maximum marginal rate. Therefore, reading the above two phrases shows that the legislature has clearly indicated its mind in the proviso to s.164(2) when it categorically refers to

forfeiture of exemption for breach of s.13(1)(d), resulting in levy of maximum marginal rate of tax only to that part of the income which has for forfeited exemption. It does not refer to the entire income being subjected to maximum marginal rate of tax. This interpretation is also supported by Circular No.387, dt. 6th July, 1984. Vide the said Circular, it has been laid down in para 28.6 that where a trust contravenes s.13(1)(d), the maximum marginal rate of income-tax will apply only to that part of the income which has forfeited exemption under the said provision and not to the entire income. There is a vital difference between eligibility for exemption and withdrawal of exemption/forfeiture of exemption for contravention of the provisions of law. These two concepts are different. They have different consequences. In the circumstances, there is merit in the contention of the assessee that in the present case the maximum marginal rate of tax will apply only to the divided income from shares held in contravention of s.13(1)(a) and not to the entire income. Therefore, income other than dividend income shall be taxed at normal rate of taxation under the Act.

A similar view has been taken by the Delhi High Court in a judgment reported in (2002) 253 ITR 593 (Supra).

Reading of the proviso to Section 142 is very clear that the legislature has clearly contemplated that in a case, where the whole or part of the relevant income is not exempted under Section 11 by virtue of violation of Section 13(1)(d) of the Act, tax shall be levied on the relevant income or a part of the relevant income at the maximum marginal rate. The said analogy is applicable to the facts of the present case.

12.

We are in respectful agreement with the views expressed by the Bombay High Court as well as Delhi High Court for violating Section 11(5) of the Act and the entire income of the respondent-Trust cannot be assessed for the tax. 13. We do not find any infirmity or irregularity in the order passed by the Tribunal restoring the order passed by the Assessing Authority. Accordingly, both second and third substantial questions of law are answered

against the revenue and in favour of the assessee. Accordingly, both the appeals are dismissed.

Sd/-

JUDGE

Sd/-

JUDGE

mpk/-*

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