D.Y. INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY,PUNE vs. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX (EXEMPTION), PUNE

ORDER PER DR. DIPAK P. RIPOTE, AM: Both these appeals arises out of ld.CIT(Exemption) orders rejecting assessee’s application under section 12AA of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Both these appeals were clubbed, heard together and disposed of by a common order. The assessee in raised the following grounds of appeal: “1. Commissioner of Income Tax(Exemption), Pune has erred in rejecting registration U/s..12A/12AA of The Income Tax Act, 1961. Same may please be granted.

3. Honourable CIT(Exemptions has erred in stating “I am not satisfied about the Charitable Nature of the object as well as genuineness of activities of the institution” when the university is established by special Act by Statute.

ITA No.416/PUN/2020 & 627/PUN/2020 (02 Appeals) D.Y. Patil International University, Pune [A] Trust Activity Note and Trust Accounts are submitted with form 10A, Application. Appellant prays to direct the CIT to Grant Registration.

5. Appellant prays to add, alter, amend, modify, clarify and / or withdraw the ground/s of appeal during the proceedings.”

2. Honorable CIT has erred in not allowing proper opportunity of being heard. Order is bad in law for lack of opportunity.

3. Pr. CIT has erred not being just and fair in passing the order. 4 Appellant prays to add, alter, amend, modify, clarify and/or withdraw the ground/s of appeal during the proceedings.” 3 The only issue involved is eligibility of assessee under section 12AA of the Act. In appeal no.627/PUN/2020 the assessee has appealed against the ld.CIT(Exemption)’s order dated 01.10.2020. The ld.CIT(Exemption) vide order dated 01.10.2020 rejected assessee’s application dated 29.03.2020 u/s.12AA. The time limit for disposal of the application has been extended to 31/03/2021 as per CBDT Notification No.S.O.2033(E), dated 24/06/2020 read with provisions of The Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation of Certain ITA No.416/PUN/2020 & 627/PUN/2020 (02 Appeals) D.Y. Patil International University, Pune [A] Provisions) Ordinance 2020, No.2 of 2020 dated 31/03/2020. The ld.CIT(Exemption) rejected assessee’s application on the ground that applicant has not furnished the requisite details. Similarly, in ld.CIT(Exemption) vide order dated 30.09.2019 rejected assessee’s application for registration under section 12AA of the Act on the ground that assessee has not furnished the requisite details. The ld.Authorised Representative(ld.AR) of the assessee submitted that assessee had uploaded the requisite details on the Income Tax Department’s Portal. The assessee filed copies of the Screenshots to demonstrate that the details were uploaded, however, it is a fact that ld.CIT(Exemption) has rejected the registration u/s.12AA only on the ground of non-availability of particulars. Thus, the ld.CIT(Exemption) has not applied his mind towards the objects of the assessee, actual activities of the assessee and whether assessee fulfils the conditions mentioned under section 12AA of the Act, therefore in the interest of justice, the case is set-aside to the ld.CIT(Exemption) to decide the application denovo after giving opportunity to the assessee. The ld.CIT(Exemption) shall decide the application in the light of Hon’ble Supreme Court recent decision in the case of New Noble Education Society & Others in Civil Appeal No.3795 of 2014 order dated 19.10.2022 and all other applicable provisions. Accordingly, the assessee’s appeal is allowed for statistical purpose.

ITA No.416/PUN/2020 & 627/PUN/2020 (02 Appeals) D.Y. Patil International University, Pune [A] : 4. As we have noted above that the assessee has raised identical ground of appeal and the facts of this appeal under consideration are almost identical to the facts in . Therefore, our decision in ITA No.627/PUN/2020 will apply mutatis-mutandis to the appeal number in ITA No.416/PUN/2020. Accordingly, this appeal of the assessee is also allowed for statistical purpose.

Order pronounced in the open Court on 1st November, 2022.