DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF INCOME-TAX vs. SOCIETY OF SAINT URSULA, PUNE

आदेश / ORDER

PER VIKAS AWASTHY, JM

This appeal by the Revenue is directed against the order of Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), Pune-10 dated 03.05.2016 for the assessment year 2012-13.

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“1. Whether on the facts and the circumstances of the case and in law, the Ld. CIT(A) was justified in allowing the expense on treatment of persons who were the governing members of the trust, hence, attracting the provisions of sec.13(1)(c) and also in contravention of the law as no part of the income or property of a charitable trust which is claiming exemption u/s.11 of the Act should be used or applied for the benefit of any person specified u/s.13(3) of the Act ? 2. Whether on the facts and the circumstances of the case and in law, the Ld. CIT(A) was justified in holding that the funds of the society are not applied or used or diverted for the benefit of the persons referred to section 13(3) in violation of condition laid down u/s. 13(1)(c) & 13(2)(c)?

at the outset that identical issues were raised by the Revenue in ITA

No.1753/PN/2013, for assessment year 2010-11. The Co-ordinate Bench

of Tribunal vide order dated 04.09.2014 dismissed the appeal of Revenue.

The ld. AR furnished a copy of the order of Tribunal in ITA

No.1753/PN/2013 (supra.)

that the issues raised in the present appeal by Department are similar to

the one raised in appeal by the Department in assessment year 2010-11.

sides and have perused the orders of Authorities below. We find that the

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issues raised by the Revenue in ground No. 1 to 4 of appeal are identical to

the one raised in appeal by the Department in ITA No. 1753/PN/2013 for

assessment year 2010-11. It is an undisputed fact that there has been no

change in facts and circumstances in the assessment year under appeal.

sister Rekha, sister Prema, sister Sunita, sister Rita and sister Karuna. All

the aforementioned persons are Trustees of Governing Body of the

assessee society. The Assessing Officer held that the assessee has applied

its income for the benefit of trustees, therefore, the provisions of section

13(1)(c) of the Act get attracted. The Assessing Officer treated the assessee

as AOP and brought to tax the income of assessee to the extent of

Rs.2,46,12,823/- at maximum marginal rate. The Commissioner of Income

Tax (Appeals) granted relief to the assessee by observing that the sisters

are serving the Trust without charging salary and have no monetary

interest. The expenditure towards medical expenditure of sisters is

insignificant. The issue raised in ground No. 1 and 2 of the present appeal

relating to expenditure on medical treatment of sisters is identical to

ground No. 3 raised in appeal for assessment year 2010-11. The issue of

claim of depreciation raised in ground No. 3 and 4 of the present appeal is

parameteria to ground No.1 raised in appeal for assessment year 2010-11.

The Co-ordinate Bench of the Tribunal decided the issues by observing as

under:

“8. After hearing both the sides, we find both the issues raised by the Revenue in the grounds of appeal have been decided in favour of the assessee by the Tribunal in assessee’s own case for the immediately preceding assessment year. We find the Tribunal in assessee’s own case for A.Y. 2009-10 order dated 28-01-2014 following the order for A.Y. 2008-09 has decided both the issues by observing as under :

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“7. We have considered the rival arguments made by both the sides. The Ld. Counsel for the assessee at the outset filed a copy of the order of the Tribunal in assessee’s own case for A.Y. 2008-09 vide ITA No.1540/PN/2012 order dated 31-12- 2013 and submitted that both the grounds have been decided by the Tribunal in favour of the assessee. He accordingly submitted that this being a covered matter the grounds raised by the Revenue should be dismissed. The Ld. Departmental Representative on the other hand while supporting the order of the Assessing Officer fairly conceded that the issues have been decided in favour of the assessee by the Tribunal. 8. We find the Tribunal in assessee’s own case for A.Y. 2008- 09 (Supra) while deciding the issue of allowability of deduction even when there was violation of provisions of section 13(1)(c) has observed as under (Para 11 of the order) : “11. In so far as the plea of the Assessing Officer that on account of expenditure of RS.20,000/- incurred on medical expenses of Sister Susane (trustee) there is a violation of section 13(1)(c) of the act is concerned, we find that the approach of the Assessing Officer is clearly misdirected. As noted earlier and which has also been appreciated by the CIT(A), the concerned Sister has been serving the Trust without charging any salary and she has devoted entire life in the Trust and therefore it would be natural and even imperative for the assessee Trust to take care of her medical needs. Assessee pointed out before the CIT(A) that Sister Susane was wholly dependent on the Trust with no personal bank account or wealth and therefore it was in the fitness of things that her medical needs were to be taken care by the Trust. The said expenditure under the circumstances of the case, in our view, does not amount to violation of section 13(1)(c) of the Act. Notably, even if we strictly apply section 13(1 )(c) of the Act, it would be evident that the amount has been spent on a person who is rendering services to the Trust and the impugned amount of Rs.20,000/- spend in the whole year cannot be considered as unreasonable or excessive. Therefore, considering the entirety of the circumstances, we find no error on the part of the CIT(A) in holding that there is no violation of provisions of section 13(1)(c) of the Act on account of incurrence of medical expenses of Rs.20,000/- for Sister Susane.”

8.1 So far as the issue relating to denial of depreciation is concerned, we find the Tribunal at para 13 of the order has observed as under :

“13. The only other issue remaining by way of Grounds of Appeal Nos. 3 and 4 relate to the denial of assessee's claim of depreciation of Rs.42,38,718/- on the assets. The CIT(A) has deleted the disallowance following the judgment of the Hon'ble Bombay High Court in the case of DIT (Exemption) vs. Framjee Cawsjee Institute, 109 CTR 463 (Bom). Nothing to the contrary

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has been argued by the Revenue before us and therefore, following the judgment of the Hon'ble Bombay High Court, we find that the CIT(A) made no mistake in allowing the claim of depreciation of Rs.42,38,718/-.Thus, Grounds of Appeal Nos.3 and 4 are also dismissed”. 8.2 Since both the issues have been decided by the Tribunal in favour of the assessee by dismissing the appeal filed by the Revenue and nothing contrary was brought to our notice, therefore, respectfully following the decision of the Coordinate Bench of the Tribunal in assessee’s own case for the immediately preceding assessment year the grounds raised by the Revenue are dismissed.”

the Tribunal in assessment years 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11, in the

absence of any contrary material, we follow the order of Tribunal in

assessment year 2010-11. Accordingly, the ground Nos. 1 to 4 raised in

appeal by Revenue are dismissed being devoid of any merit.

In the result, appeal of the Revenue is dismissed. 8.

Order pronounced on Wednesday, the 20th day of June, 2018.

Sd/- Sd/- (डी. क�णाकरा राव/D. KARUNAKARA RAO) (�वकास अव�थी /VIKAS AWASTHY) लेखा सद�य/ACCOUNTANT MEMBER �या�यक सद�य/JUDICIAL MEMBER

पुणे / Pune; �दनांक / Dated : 20th June, 2018 SB

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आदेश क� ��त�ल�प अ�े�षत / Copy of the Order forwarded to :

अपीलाथ� / The Appellant. 1. ��यथ� / The Respondent. 2. 3. The CIT(Appeals), Pune-10. 4. The CIT (Exemptions), Pune. 5. �वभागीय ��त�न�ध, आयकर अपील�य अ�धकरण, “बी” ब�च, पुणे / DR, ITAT, “B” Bench, Pune. गाड� फ़ाइल / Guard File. 6.

// True Copy // आदेशानुसार / BY ORDER,

�नजी स�चव / Private Secretary आयकर अपील�य अ�धकरण, पुणे / ITAT, Pune.