SRI CHANNAMALLIKARJUNA TRUST COMMITTEE,KOPPAL vs. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX, (EXEMPTIONS), BENGALURU

The Assessee applied for grant of registration u/s.12AA of the Act and filed form No.10A of the Act for grant of registration as a “Charitable Association” for establishing and carrying on charitable activities for the overall benefit of the community at the outset at Gangavathi and over all Karnataka and for the benefit of the public at large mainly promoting education, sports and environment protection. The Assessee also applied for grant of recognition u/s.80G of the Act. Section 80G applies only to charitable trusts or institutions. It does not apply to religious trusts or institutions whereas scheme of exemption u/s 12A applies to both charitable as well as religious trusts. Section 80G of the Income Tax Act’1961

The CIT(E) exemption was of the view that the objects of the trust were for religious purpose and therefore registration can be granted only as “Religious Trust” rather than “Charitable Trust”. The Assessee in a letter filed on 9.3.2018 submitted that the trust does not discriminate on the basis of caste, creed or religion and the benefit of the trust is open to one and all without any bias towards caste, creed and religion. The intention of the trust was to do charitable activities. The Assessee placed reliance on a decision of the ITAT Nagpur Bench in the case of M/S.Shiv Mandir Devasttan Panch Committee Sanstan Vs. CIT (2013) 56 SOT 456 (Nagpur) and contended that reference to idol of Lord Mallikarjunaswamy and performance of pooja cannot be the basis to hold that the trust was religious in nature because, Lord Shiva does not represent any particular religion but are merely regarded as superpowers of the universe. Hinduism is not a religion nor a community but a way of life and therefore worship of Shiva and maintenance of temple cannot be regarded as religious purpose. Anybody who wants to visit the temple whether for worship or not are allowed to come and avail of facilities available to the public at large (providing free food). The Assessee was running Yoga Centre, eye clinic for the poor. In the case of M/S.Shiv Mandir Devasttan Panch Committee Sanstan (supra) The Assessee trust was set up with the object of “worship of Lord Shiva, Hanumanji, Goddess Durga and maintaining of temple” and “to celebrate festivals like Shivratri, Hanuman Jayanti, Ganesh Uttasav, Makar Sankranti”. It applied for a certificate under section 80G. S. 80G (5) provides that the trust should be established for a “charitable purpose”. Explanation 3 to s. 80G provides that “charitable purpose” does not include a purpose which is of a “religious nature”. S. 80G(5)(iii) also stipulates that the trust should not be expressed to be for the benefit of any particular religious community or caste. The CIT rejected the application on the ground that the Assessee was set up for “religious” purposes. On appeal by the Assessee to the Tribunal, the Tribunal held reversing the order of CIT that the objects of the Assessee are not for advancement, support or propagation of a particular religion. Worshipping Lord Shiva, Hanumanji, Goddess Durga and maintaining the temple is not advancement, support or propagation of a particular religion. Lord Shiva, Hanumanji & Goddess Durga do not represent any particular religion. They are merely regarded to be the super power of the universe. Further, there is no religion like “Hinduism”. The word “Hindu” is not defined in any of the texts nor in judge made law. The word was given by British administrators to inhabitants of India, who were not Christians, Muslims, Parsis or Jews. Hinduism is a way of life. It consists of a number of communities having different gods who are being worshipped in a different manner, different rituals, different ethical codes. The worship of god is not essential for a person who has adopted Hinduism way of life. Therefore, expenses incurred for worshipping of Lord Shiva, Hanuman, Goddess Durga and for maintenance of temple cannot be regarded to be for religious purpose. In holding so, the Tribunal referred to the decisions in the case of Commissioner of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments vs. Sri Lakshmindra Thirtha Swamiar 1954 SCJ 335 & T. T. Kuppuswamy Chettiar Vs. State of Tamil Nadu (1987) 100 LW 1031.

In the impugned order of the CIT(E), there is no reference to any of these contentions and the CIT(E) proceeded to hold that the Trust is granted registration u/s.12A of the Act, with salient activities as “Religious activities”. The Assessee is aggrieved by the order of the CIT(E) in not recognizing the Assessee as a trust with salient activities as “Charitable activities”. Hence this appeal by the Assessee before the Tribunal. The Assessee’s application for grant of recognition u/s.80G(5)(vi) of the Act was also rejected by the CIT(E) by a separate order dated 14.3.2018 but that order is not subject matter of this appeal. In the said order the CIT(E) held that since the Assessee was granted registration u/s.12A of the Act as a “religious Trust” and since as per the provisions of Sec.80G read with Explanation 3 to Sec.80G provides that the benefits of Sec.80G are not available to Religious Trusts, the Assessee’s request for grant of recognition u/s.80G(5)(vi) of the Act is being rejected.

We have heard the rival submissions. Apart from reiterating submissions made before the CIT(E), the learned counsel for the Assessee submitted that the Learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemption) considered the Trust as Religious in nature based on the assumption that by performing Pooja namely `Rudrabhisheka' the trust generates major income without appreciating the fact that the Trust is carrying out the activities of providing free food and Hostel Facilities to Students and also to General Public. The facilities provided are for people without distinction relating to caste, creed or community. The CIT (Exemptions) did not appreciate the fact that the Author of the trust has clearly specified in his Will that he has received monies and properties from people of different caste and creed which clearly proves that the Trust is not dedicated to only one religion or caste. People from different walks of life are free to enter the Holy place, meditate, pray and worship. The monies collected in the form of voluntary contributions are utilised for providing food and hostel facilities, Conducting Training for creating employment, helping the needy people by giving them Sewing machines and other necessary equipment and support for sustaining livelihood for mainly people below poverty line.

It was submitted that the Audited Financial Statements for the past three Assessment years clearly shows the nature of activities carried out which are majorly charitable in nature. Besides the above, the Assessee has also enclosed Newspaper reports in support of its claim that the activities carried out are in the nature of supporting general public and not related to any particular caste, community or creed.

The learned counsel for the Assessee relied on the decision of Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of CIT v.Dawoodi Bohra Jamat (2014) 364 ITR 31 (SC) in support of his claim that the Assessee is entitled to registration as a “Charitable Institution”. The facts of the case before the Hon’ble Supreme Court, was a case in which some of the objects of the institution were religious and some charitable. The objects of the trust exhibited dual tenor of religious and charitable purposes and activities. The Hon’ble Supreme Court held that such trusts with composite objects would not be expelled out of the purview of Section 13(1)(b) per se i.e., a trust existing solely for religious purpose. The Hon’ble Court made reference to the decision of the Constitution Bench of this Court in Addl. CIT v. Surat Art Silk Cloth Manufacturers’ Association [1979] 2 Taxman 501 (SC) wherein it was held that if the primary purpose and the predominant object of a trust are to promote the welfare of the general public the purpose would Page 9 of 14 be charitable purpose. If the primary or predominant object of an institution is charitable, any other object which might not be charitable but which is ancillary or incidental to the dominant purpose, would not prevent the institution from being a valid charitable trust. The Court then held that the Section requires it to be established that such charitable purpose is not for the benefit of a particular religious community or caste. That is to say, it needs to be examined whether such religious-charitable activity carried on by the trust only benefits a certain particular religious community or class or serves across the communities and for society at large. The section of community sought to be benefited must be either sufficiently defined or identifiable by a common quality of a public or impersonal nature. The Hon’ble Court held that the objects of the trust in that case were based on religious tenets under Quran according to religious faith of Islam. The Court found on perusual of the objects and purposes of the trust that the activities of the trust though both charitable and religious are not exclusively meant for a particular religious community. The objects do not channel the benefits to any community if not the Dawoodi Bohra Community and thus, would not fall under the provisions of Section 13(1)(b) of the Act. In that view of the matter, the Court held that the respondent-trust is a charitable and religious trust which does not benefit any specific religious community and therefore, it cannot be held that Section 13(1)(b) of the Act would be attracted to the trust and thereby, it would be eligible to claim exemption under Section 11 of the Act.

The learned counsel submitted that benefits of section 80G allowed for donations to charitable institutions is not available for a donation for religious purposes. Merely because the Assessee is religious institution, it should not come in the way of recognition under section 80G when it runs

The learned DR submitted that whatever be the nature of charitable activities that may be performed by the Assessee, the purpose for which the trust came into existence was for religious purpose and therefore the CIT(E) was right in recognizing the Assessee as existing for religious purposes only. The case of the Assessee does not fall within the parameters of the law to enable grant of registration as existing for charitable purpose.

We have carefully considered the rival submissions. As already observed, Sec. 80G applies only to charitable trusts or institutions. It does not apply to religious trusts or institutions whereas scheme of exemption u/s 12A applies to both charitable as well as religious trusts. Section 80G of the Income Tax Act’1961 provides deduction while computing the total income in the hands of donor. It provides deduction in respect of donations to certain funds, charitable institutions, etc. The recipient of money or the donee gives a receipt of donation, based on which the donor is entitled to claim a deduction, provided the donee institution is approved under section 80G of the Income Tax Act’1961. One of the Conditions to be satisfied to get approval under Section 80G (5) is that the Institution should be established in India for Charitable purpose and institution should not be for the benefit of any particular religious community or caste.

In sections 11, 12 & 13, a distinction has been drawn between 'charitable purpose' and 'religious purposes', but there is no definition of the term 'religious purpose' in the Act. Generally interpreted, it would encompass within its fold all institutions or funds, which are for the advancement, support or propagation of a religion and its tenets. How religion is to be understood in the context of the Act, has been examined in the case of Dawoodi Bhora Jamat (supra). If the benefit of religious endowments too ensures for the benefit of the public, then the religious trusts/endowments too will be entitled to the exemption provided by section 11 of the Act. A religious trust could be 'public' or 'private'. Section 13(1)(a) bars exemption to any private religious trust, which does not enure for the benefit of the public. Section 80G(5)(iii) makes a distinction in cases of institutions or funds, which are for the benefit of any particular religious community or caste - say for Hindus, Muslims, Christians or for Brahmins, etc. Donors to such trusts are debarred from claiming benefit of deduction from income for donations made to such trusts. Conversely, it follows that for donations made to religious bodies, which do not fall in the category mentioned in section 80G(5)(iii), benefit of deduction under section 80G can be claimed. Thus, it could be said that a public religious trust, not meant for the benefit of a particular community, caste or section, will be entitled to claim exemption on its income in the same way as a public charitable trust.

A perusal of the original will of late His Holiness Sri.Channa Basava Swamy, reveals that he had only public benefit in mind to be the beneficiaries and the benefit was through performing puja and all kinds of religious activities. No private person belonging to any caste or creed, is the beneficiary. It is undisputed that the objects of the trust as per the supplementary deed dated 21.3.2009 are charitable. Admittedly the Assessee has been carrying on charitable activities like providing free notebook, blood donation camp, conducting free coaching classes for poor students for appearing in competitive exams, providing free education, hostel rooms etc. The objects of the Assessee as per the original will as well as the supplementary deed (addendum) would show that the predominant object of the Assessee was public benefit and not benefit of any private individual. The Assessee is admittedly carrying out the activities of providing free food and Hostel Facilities to Students and also to General Public. The facilities provided are for people without distinction relating to caste, creed or community. The Author of the trust has clearly specified in his Will that he has received monies and properties from people of different caste and creed which clearly proves that the Trust is not dedicated to only one religion or caste. People from different walks of life are free to enter the Holy place, meditate, pray and worship. The monies collected in the form of voluntary contributions are utilised for providing food and hostel facilities, Conducting Training for creating employment, helping the needy people by giving them Sewing machines and other necessary equipment and support for sustaining livelihood for mainly people below poverty line. The Audited Financial Statements for the past three Assessment years clearly shows the nature of activities carried out which are majorly charitable in nature. Besides the above, the Assessee has also enclosed Newspaper reports in support of its claim that the activities carried out are in the nature of supporting general public and not related to any particular caste, community or creed.

We are of the view that the objects and purposes of the Assessee are both charitable and religious, the Assessee does not exist exclusively for the benefit of a particular religious community. The objects do not channel the benefits to any community and thus, would not fall as an institution existing solely for religious purpose. In that view of the matter, we are of the view that the Assessee is a charitable and religious trust which does not benefit any specific religious community and therefore, it cannot be held that it exists solely for religious purpose. It cannot be characterised as religious object especially when it does not make a distinction between caste, creed, race, religion, etc.

In the light of the aforesaid discussion, we are satisfied that the plea of the Assessee to recognize it as existing for “Charitable Purpose” deserves to be accepted and is accepted. We accordingly allow the plea of the Assessee and direct that the registration be allowed treating the Assessee as existing for “Charitable purpose”.

In the result, appeal of the Assessee is allowed.