INDIAN BY BLOOD FOUNDATION,GURGAON vs. CIT(E), CHANDIGARH

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ITA 6092/DEL/2017Status: DisposedITAT Delhi14 October 20194 pages
AI SummaryRemanded

What did the Tribunal hold?

The Tribunal held that the CIT(E)'s reason for rejecting the application based on the non-filing of an appeal against a previous rejection was not in accordance with the law. The absence of specific clauses in the trust deed does not bar registration, and issues regarding beneficiary clauses or discrepancies can be addressed during assessment proceedings.

What were the facts?

The assessee, Indian By Blood Foundation, applied for registration under Section 12AA of the Income Tax Act. The CIT(E) rejected the application, citing a previous rejection, lack of amendment/irrevocability/utilization/beneficiary clauses in the MOU, no activities carried out, discrepancies in donations, and cash donations not deposited in the bank.

What were the issues?

Whether the rejection of a fresh application for registration under Section 12AA is justified solely on the ground that a previous application was rejected and no appeal was filed. Whether the absence of specific clauses like irrevocability or beneficiary clauses in the trust deed is a valid ground for rejecting registration.

Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?

Section 12AA

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Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, DELHI BENCH “C”: NEW DELHI

Before: SHRI BHAVNESH SAINI & SHRI PRASHANT MAHARISHI

For Respondent: Mr. Paramita M. Biswas, CIT DR
Hearing: 09/10/2019Pronounced: 14/10/2019

O R D E R PER PRASHANT MAHARISHI, A. M. 1. This appeal is filed by the assessee against the order of the ld CIT (E), Chandigarh dated 31.07.2017 u/s 12AA of the Act rejecting application of the assessee dated 17.01.2017 seeking registration u/s 12AA of the Act. The sole ground raised by the assessee as per the grounds of appeal is with respect to rejection of application.

2. The brief facts of the case shows that the assessee is a charitable trust filed an application u/s 12AA of the Act in the form 10A having the object of elimination of caste system, spreading the sense of secularism, educate public through the members of Indian by Blood Foundation and for the benefit of Indians who are surviving like a slave. The LD CIT (E) on application made an enquiry as per para five of his order, which is responded by the assessee on 12.06.2017. Further, queries were raised on 24.07.2017, which was complied on 28.07.2017. The ld CIT rejected the application of the assessee for the reason that assessee has filed an earlier application which was rejected on 27.11.2015 on the ground that MOU of the assessee does not contain amendment clause, irrevocability clause, utilization clause or beneficiary clause. He further noted that though assessee is incorporated on 31.05.2012 but till the date of passing of the Indian By Blood Foundation Vs CIT(E), order did not carry out any activity. Further, he pointed out that there is discrepancy in the details of corpus donation and other donation. Further, the cash donation received was also not deposited in the bank account. He further noted that the assessee did not file appeal against the order of the rejection and thus, filing afresh application amounts to subverting the due process of law and is not tenable when the case is rejected on merits. According to him, the only remedy available with the assessee was to file an appeal before ITAT. He further noted that still in the MOU such clause are not there which could prove that it is general public character. Thus, he rejected the application of the assessee.

3.

Despite notice to the assessee, none remain present and therefore, the issue is decided on merits of the case. On the earlier occasion, also none remain present. Thus, there is no alternative left for us. This also noted by us that this appeal though was filed on 28.09.2017 but was granted early hearing based on the application of the assessee dated 11.05.2019.

4.

The ld DR vehemently supported the order of the ld AO and submitted that the assessee has not changed the clauses of memorandum of MOU and therefore, it does not deserve the registration u/s 12AA of the Act. It was further submitted that application of the assessee has been rejected earlier but assessee has not filed any appeal thus now the assessee again filed this appeal without challenging the earlier order of rejection.

5.

We have carefully considered the contentions and perused the orders of ld CIT (E). In the present case the only reason that the application of the assessee is rejected as the assessee did not file any appeal before the tribunal against earlier order of the rejection by the CIT exemption. We do not find any such bar in the provision in the Income Tax Act. Assessee might have chosen to file a fresh application for registration u/s 12 A of the income tax act. However, the reason given by the learned CIT – E to reject the present application for non-filing of the appeal by the assessee against the earlier order of the rejection is not in accordance with the law.

6.

Further, the assessee has submitted MOU, which is the trust deed. The rejection of application for the reason that there is no beneficiary clause/dissolution in the trust deed is not the right reason for rejection Page | 2

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