Loading judgment…
No AI summary yet for this case.
Detected automatically from the text. The count shows how many other judgments on BharatTax rely on the same authority.
Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, NEW DELHI BENCHES,
ORDER This Appeal by the Assessee is directed against the Order dated 12.1.2014 for the A.Y. 2010-11 of the Ld. CIT(A)-40, New Delhi relating to assessment year 2010-11.
2. The grounds raised by the assessee read as under:-
That the learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) has erred both on facts and in law in confirming the order of assessment and has further erred in upholding the denial of exemption claimed under section 11 & 12 of the I.T. Act.
2. That the learned CIT (A) has failed to appreciate that the registration granted to the Society under section 12A has not been withdrawn and as such it is a fact accompli that its objects are-charitable.
3. That the learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) has failed to appreciate that the assessee society is a charitable institution and is existing for charitable purpose within the meaning of section 2(15) of the I.T. Act.
4. That the findings of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) that the assessee is hit by the mischief of proviso of section 2(15) and as such the AO is justified to deny the exemption u/s 11(1) and accordingly confirmed the action of AO. In fact, such a finding has been reached completely relying on the CIT(A)-XXI, New Delhi order for the A Y 2009-10 in the assessee's own case, and that to without going in to the merits of the Assessee's case. Therefore, the CIT(A) has completely ignored and overlooked the assessee's submission before coming to the conclusion and also without appreciating the fact that the assessee is only engaged in providing training, arranging capacity building programmes, vocational studies, imparting education and program on removal of poverty.
5. That the learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) has failed to comprehend that there is neither any basis nor there is any material, on the basis whereof, any such finding could be arrived.
6. That the learned Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) has further erred in sustaining the interest levied and rejecting the various grounds of appeal raised before him summarily.
It is therefore prayed that the order of CIT(A) and that of the Ld. ITO(E), Trust Ward-II, Delhi be set aside and it be held that the demand raised of Rs. 11,41,040/- was unsustainable both on law and on facts. 2
3. During the course of hearing, the Ld. Counsel for the assessee, at the very outset stated that on the similar issues, the appeals of the assessee were allowed by the ITAT vide Order dated 27.5.2016 passed in for the assessment year 2009-10 wherein it has been held that “invocation of proviso to section 2(15) of the Act to deny claim of exemption under section 11 and 12 of the Act is not justified.
Accordingly, grounds of appeal are allowed.” It was further submitted that the said Order of the ITAT has been affirmed by the Hon’ble Jurisdictional High Court. Ld. A.R. of the Assessee has filed a small Paper Book enclosing therewith the copy of the aforesaid orders for record.
In his rival submissions, the Ld. DR although supported the Order of the AO, but could not controvert the aforesaid contentions of the Ld. Counsel for the Assessee.
I have considered the submissions of both the parties and carefully gone through the material available on record. In the present case, it is noticed that the similar grounds in the assessment year 2009-10 were allowed vide the Order dated 27.5.2016 by the ‘G’ Bench of the ITAT, Delhi passed in and relevant finding has been given vide para no. 7.1 & 8 of the said Order dated 27.5.2013 which read as under:-
“5. We have considered the rival submissions, perused the material on record and orders of the authorities below. Section 2(15) of the Act is amended by the Finance Act, 2009 reads as under: 3 "2. Definitions.-In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires— (15) "charitable purpose" includes relief of the poor, education, medical relief, Preservation of environment (including watersheds, forests and wildlife) and preservation of monuments or places or objects of artistic or historic interest, and the advancement of any other object of general public utility; Provided that the advancement of any other object of general public utility shall not be a charitable purpose, if it involves the carrying on of any activity in the nature of trade, commerce or business, or any activity of rendering any service in relation to any trade, commerce or business, for a cess or fee or any other consideration, irrespective of the nature of use or application, or retention, of the income from such activity; Provided further that the first proviso shall not apply if the aggregate value of the receipts from the activities referred to therein is ten lakh rupees or less in the previous year;"
5.1 Charitable purpose as indicated above is an inclusive definition and includes relief of the poor, education, medical relief, advancement of any other object of general public utility and "preservation of environment (including watersheds, forests and wildlife) and preservation of monuments or places or objects of artistic or historic interest. As regards, the proviso inserted by Circular No. 11 of 2008 dated 19.12.2008 provides as under: “1. Section 2(15) of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (‘Act’) defines “charitable purpose” to include the following :— i) Relief of the poor ii) Education iii) Medical relief, and iv) The advancement of any other object of general public utility.
An entity with a charitable object of the above nature was eligible for exemption from tax under section 11 or alternatively under section 10(23C) of the Act. However, it was seen that a number of entities who were engaged in commercial activities were also claiming exemption on the ground that such activities were for the advancement of objects of general public utility in terms of the fourth limb of the definition of ‘charitable purpose’. Therefore, section 2(15) was amended videFinance Act, 2008 by adding a proviso which states that the ‘advancement of any other object of general public utility’ shall not be a charitable purpose if it involves the carrying on of— (a) any activity in the nature of trade, commerce or business; or (b) any activity of rendering any service in relation to any trade, commerce or business; for a cess or fee or any other consideration, irrespective of the nature of use or application, or retention of the income from such activity.
The following implications arise from this amendment.
2.1 The newly inserted proviso to section 2(15) will not apply in respect of the first three limbs of section 2(15), i.e., relief of the poor, education or medical relief. Consequently, where the purpose of a trust or institution is relief of the poor, education or medical relief, it will constitute ‘charitable purpose’ even if it incidentally involves the carrying on of commercial activities.
2.2 ‘Relief of the poor’ encompasses a wide range of objects for the welfare of the economically and socially disadvantaged or needy. It will, therefore, include within its ambit purposes such as relief to destitute, orphans or the handicapped, disadvantaged women or children, small and marginal farmers, indigent artisans or senior citizens in need of aid. Entities who have these objects will continue to be eligible for exemption even if they incidentally carry on a commercial activity, subject, however, to the conditions stipulated under section 11(4A) or the seventh proviso to section 10(23C) which are that :— (i) the business should be incidental to the attainment of the objectives of the entity, and (ii) separate books of account should be maintained in respect of such business. Similarly, entities whose object is ‘education’ or ‘medical relief’ would also continue to be eligible for exemption as charitable institutions even if they incidentally carry on a commercial activity subject to the conditions mentioned above.
The newly inserted proviso to section 2(15) will apply only to entities whose purpose is ‘advancement of any other object of 5 general public utility’ i.e., the fourth limb of the definition of ‘charitable purpose’ contained in section 2(15). Hence, such entities will not be eligible for exemption under section 11 or under section 10(23C) of the Act if they carry on commercial activities. Whether such an entity is carrying on an activity in the nature of trade, commerce or business is a question of fact which will be decided based on the nature, scope, extent and frequency of the activity.”
5.2 Thus the amended provision of section 2(15) of the Act will have no application viz-a-viz the clauses other than object of general public utility. The Hon’ble Court further in the case of Indian Trade Promotion Organization v. DGIT(E) 371 ITR 333 (Del) on examination of the proviso, has held that the proviso has two parts. The first part has reference to the carrying on of any activity in the nature of trade, commerce or business. The second part has reference to any activity of rendering any service "in relation to" any trade, commerce or business. Both these parts are further subject to the condition that the activities so carried out are for a cess or fee or any other consideration, irrespective of the nature or use or application or retention of the income from such activities. However, it was noted specifically that the proviso applies to only the last part of the clause of section 2(15) of the Act i.e. of any other advancement of any other object of general public utility. The Hon’ble Court has also held that merely because a fee or some other consideration is collected or received by an institution, it would not lose its character of having been established for a charitable purpose. It has been held that what is important is to examine as to what is the dominant activity of the institution. If the dominant activity of the institution was not business, trade or commerce, then any such incidental or ancillary activity would also not fall within the categories of trade, commerce or business. In the aforesaid judgment, it has been held as under:
27. As observed above, fee charged and quantum of income earned can be indicative of the fact that the person is carrying on business or commerce and not charity, but we must keep in mind that charitable activities require operational/running expenses as well as capital expenses to be able to sustain and continue in long run. The petitioner has to be substantially self-sustaining in long-term and should not depend upon government, in other words taxpayers should not subsidize the said activities, which nevertheless are charitable and fall under the residuary clause – general public utility. The impugned order does not refer to any statutory mandate that a charitable institution falling under the last clause should be wholly, substantially or in part must be funded by voluntary contributions. No such requirement has been pointed out or argued. A practical and pragmatic view is required when we examine the data, which should be analyzed objectively and a narrow and coloured view will be counter-productive and contrary to the language of Section 2(15) of the Act.
5.3 In fact, in an earlier judgment dated 26.09.2013 , in the case of civil writ petition No. 7797/2009 between M/s GS1 India and Director General of Inccome-tax, the assessee had acquired intellectual property rights from GS1 (Belgium) and thereafter received registration fees from third parties in India. The Hon’ble Delhi Court held on such facts as under:
22. Business activity has an important pervading element of self- interest, though fair dealing should and can be present, whilst charity or charitable activity is anti-thesis of activity undertaken with profit motive or activity undertaken on sound or recognized business principles. Charity is driven by altruism and desire to serve others, though element of self-preservation may be present. For charity, benevolence should be omnipresent and demonstrable but it is not equivalent to self-sacrifice and abnegation. The antiquated definition of charity, which entails giving and receiving nothing in return is outdated. A mandatory feature would be; charitable activity should be devoid of selfishness or illiberal spirit. Enrichment 7 of oneself or self-gain should be missing and the predominant purpose of the activity should be to serve and benefit others. A small contribution by way of fee that the beneficiary pays would not convert charitable activity into business, commerce or trade in the absence of contrary evidence. Quantum of fee charged, economic status of the beneficiaries who pay, commercial value of benefits in comparison to the fee, purpose and object behind the fee etc. are several factors which will decide the seminal question, is it business?
5.4 It was further held as under:
On the flip side, where an institution is not driven primarily by a desire or motive to earn profits, but to do charity through the advancement of an object of general public utility, it cannot but be regarded as an institution established for charitable purposes.
5.5 In the said judgment, it was concluded as under:
The correct interpretation of the proviso to Section 2(15) of the said Act would be that it carves out an exception from the charitable purpose of advancement of any other object of general public utility and that exception is limited to activities in the nature of trade, commerce or business or any activity of rendering any service in relation to any trade, commerce or business for a cess or fee or any other consideration. In both the activities, in the nature of trade, commerce or business or the activity of rendering any service in relation to any trade, commerce or business, the dominant and the prime objective has to be seen. If the dominant and prime objective of the institution, which claims to have been established for charitable purposes, is profit making, whether its activities are directly in the nature of trade, commerce or business or indirectly in the rendering of any service in relation to any trade, commerce or business, then it would not be entitled to claim its object to be a 'charitable purpose'.
5.6 Having regard to the facts of the case, we are of the opinion that the appellant society has engaged in education which has been accepted in the preceding assessment years consistently by the Revenue in assessments framed under section 143(3) of the Act.
6 Coming to the facts of the case, it is stated that objectives of the society under the Memorandum of Association are as under: i. To explore, develop, refine and promote the concept and practice of Participatory Research; ii. To strengthen and advance the Participatory Research Network; iii. To promote research, training, action and education for people’s participation in developmental process nationally and internationally; iv. To catalyze, advocate and support use of Participatory Research in various developmental projects and programs in different countries of Asia and elsewhere; v. To use participatory methodologies to promote and enhance democratic governance in society; vi. To collaborate and maintain links with other networks and institutions for fulfilling objectives of PRIA; vii. To disseminate information through all media-print, oral or electronic; viii. To establish and maintain libraries, documentation and resource centers; ix. To develop and distribute learning, public education and advocacy materials in print, audio-visual and software modes and to create facilities for the acquisition, production, storage and dissemination of the same; x. To organize seminars, workshops, conferences, exchange visits, study tours etc. on all subjects of interest in the context hereof for the time being; xi. To promote continuing and liberating education of adults in particularly the under privileged and disempowered citizens of different societies; xii. To sponsor and support training programs on participatory research and its related aspects; xiii. To publish books, papers, monographs and other educational material for furtherance of the objectives of PRIA; xiv. To conduct projects on Participatory Research and related subjects both on its own and on behalf of others; xv. To support, fund and collaborate with similar projects being conducted by like-minded institutions; xvi. To promote new organizations in furtherance of the objectives hereof; xvii. To offer fellowships, scholarships, prizes, stipends, grants etc. in furtherance of the objects of PRIA; 9 xviii. To issue appeals, proposals and applications for money and funds in furtherance of the said objects and to accept gifts, grants, donations and subscriptions of cash and securities and of any property, movable or immovable; xix. To invest and otherwise deal with funds and moneys of PRIA to optimize the same, including creation of Corpus Fund; and to vary, alter or to transpose such investments from time to time in accordance with laws of the land; xx. To purchase or otherwise acquire or take on lease or hire temporarily or permanently, any movable or immovable property necessary or convenient for furtherance of the objects of PRIA; xxi. To sell, mortgage, lease, exchange and otherwise transfer or dispose of or deal with all or any property, movable or immovable, of PRIA for the furtherance of the objects of PRIA; xxii. To construct, maintain, alter, improve or develop any buildings or works necessary of convenient for the objects of PRIA; xxiii. To create administrative, academic and other positions needed to run PRIA and to make appointments accordingly; xxiv. To borrow or raise funds on mortgage, promissory notes or other securities founded or based upon all or any of the properties of PRIA or without any securities; xxv. To make rules and bye-laws for conduct of the affairs of PRIA and add to, amend, vary or rescined them from time to time; xxvi. To do, or cause to get done, all such other lawful things as are conducive or incidental to the attainment of the objects of PRIA; xxvii. To utilize all income of PRIA towards promotion of aims and objectives of PRIA only.
6.1 We note that pursuant to the above objects, the appellant society in the instant year, has declared income of Rs. 21,46,38,866/- , the break-up of the aforesaid income is as under: a) Research and training grants - Rs. 15,91,42,039/- b) Contribution – Rs. 4,18,69,272/- c) Other income – Rs. 1,36,27,555/- 6.2 According to the learned Assessing Officer, since in the instant year, there was surplus of Rs. 1.09 crores, the same clearly shows the profit motive behind the activities carried out by the appellant society. It has been held that receipts of the appellant society are contractual in nature on account of deduction of TDS. Further, it has been also held that since the receipts from educational activities is only Rs. 20.65 lacs out of total receipts of Rs. 21.46 crores declared during the year, therefore activities of the appellant cannot be considered to be education. The learned counsel for the assessee however has assailed the above conclusion by pointing out that consistently that the revenue itself has accepted that the appellant is engaged in education.
6.3 We find that in the year 1984-85, in the case of the appellant society in the claim of the appellant under section 10(22) of the Act was denied and the matter travelled to the Tribunal. On appeal by the Revenue, claim of exemption stood accepted by Tribunal. The Tribunal in an order dated 30.7.1987 has held as under: “4. After taking into consideration of the rival submissions and looking to the facts to and going through sec.10(22) as per which any income of society or other educational institutions existing solely for educational purposes and not for purposes of profit will not form part of the total income. We are unable to interfere in the finding of the AAC. The assessee society has been pursuing some activities as in the past which comprised of educational workshop and training programme for field worker who are engaged in rural and urban development areas in India. It was in order to support the above educational programme that the society had conducted special workshop and printing and learning material about the theme. We are in agreement with the learned Appellate asstt. Commissioner that the books published for purely educational purpose, the income from the same deserves to be exempt u/s. 10(22). Action of the AAC is, therefore confirmed and in the result, the revenue’s appeal is dismissed.”
6.4 Moreover, we also notice that the Assessing Officer in the order for assessment year 1994-95 under section 143(3) of the Act has held as under: 11 “There is no change in the aims, objects and activities of the society. The society is engaged in educational activities like training for adult education, training of trainers, educational programmes for rural and urban field level workers, training programme on occupational healthy related activities etc. etc. The activities of the society are covered u/s 10(22) of the Act and, therefore, its income is assessed at Rs. Nil.”
6.5 From the aforesaid, it is apparent that the activities of the appellant have been accepted to be within the scope of education under section 2(15) of the Act and also under section 10(22) of the Act. In such circumstances, the conclusion of the Assessing Officer to hold that the activities of the assessee are not in the nature of education only on the pretext that income from education is confined to Distance Learning course fee of Rs. 20.65 lacs out of total receipts of Rs. 21.45 crores is incorrect. On the contrary, we notice that the activities of the appellant are in the nature of participatory research. In the order of assessment of the appellant for assessment year 1983-84, it has been observed that the participatory research is a new development of the last decade and was arisen out of the experience of grassroots educational efforts in the Third World Countries. It has been noted that the Participatory Research can be utilized depend upon the needs of the poor and deprived. It has been noted that it has worked on the problems of forest, land, rural development, drinking water, primary health care, women’s income generating efforts, occupational and environmental health etc. The appellant has also emphasized that it work with the community organizers, adult educator, health care workers, social workers etc. in training them to use participatory research methodology in their work. The appellant produces own educational materials for use in educational programmes and for wider dissemination.
6.6 Similar view has also been expressed in the case of Praxis Institute of Participatory Practices v. DIT(E) 154 ITD 10 (Del) wherein it has been held as under: “Having gone through the activities of the assessee made available at page Nos. 101, 113, 130, 141, 151, 156 etc. of the paper book filed on behalf of the assessee about the activities of the assessee, we find that for Care India, the task involves on the part of the assessee is planning and conducting capacity building program for state lead and implementing partners, field visits and facilitation of reflection process of the organization development etc. mainly in respect of HIV and Sex Workers. At page Nos. 8 & 9 of the annual report relevant activities and photograph study for community mobilization have been provided. For the Leprosy Mission Trust India (TLM) the role of the assessee is to focus its approach to work with people and communities effected leprosy and disability and to address poverty and industries through enhanced quality people centered intervention. One of the points to be ensured by the assessee is the key area, where capacity is lacking at the field level and also to make field visits to projects where needed. The assessee was to visit selected project locations in Delhi to explore alternative to the existing structure and system. Field work will be organized to sensitized the usages of the participatory approaches, requirement of paradiagram shift from technical to community centric approaches. Semi-structured interviews will be held with the Leprosy Effected, Disability, Socially Excluded People to know about their aspirational and attitudinal behavior which they are looking for. The assessee will also hold discussion with officials of leprosy mission. Page No. 10/A of the annual reports contains the relevant activities and page 19C contains photograph depicting the plans. For the Plan International ( a child rights organization working to elevate child poverty) the objective is to understand the CC based microplanning through classrooms and field based training evolves a process and identity mythology for a participatory needs assessment to develop line centered community level microplan and field work etc., page Nos. 18/19A of the annual report contains the relevant activities and photographs depicting therein online high and micro level planning for UNICEF, the task of the assessee involve fixing understanding the living condition of the tribal people and dynamics of their social exclusion (page No. 16 of the annual report contains the relevant activities and photographs depicting the immersional lending program). For international labour office (ILO), the task of the assessee is to carry out rapid assessment on the vulnerability of workers to bondages/labour exploitation in Tamilnadu by organizing separate works job/consultation meetings with employer, NGOs and government etc. Also to find out specific issues of women workers such as Child Care including sexual harassment/violence etc. Page No. 12 of the annual report contains the relevant activities and photographs depicting the living and working condition of workers.
For Pellastakaa Laspset-Radda Banen(save the children, contract Finland), the assessee was entrusted to undertake the study on qualitative base line in eight village of southern Rajasthan for formulating an educational model for promoting and protecting the rights of children of indigenous community through a right based approach in the area of root causes of violation of rights of children, nature and impact of such violation etc.
We find that during the year, the assessee undertook 25 such projects, the details of which were submitted before the authorities below but the Learned CIT(Appeals) or the Assessing Officer did not determine the nature of the activities for the very purpose of the objects. The Assessing Officer was of the view that the assessee involves in carrying on the activities in the nature of rendering services in relation to trade, commerce or business as assessee is providing consultancy, workshop, training program, conducting research on behalf of other agencies. Thus, we find that the above view of the Assessing Officer was based upon the fact that assessee is providing consultancy, workshop and training program etc. We are of the view that the activities of the assessee can in no way be covered in trade, commerce etc. as it is not charging any fee from the beneficiaries who are poor communities. It is also worth noting that the NGOs who have engaged the assessee are itself charitable institutions like WHO, UNICEF etc. and they ensure that the grant etc. given to the assessee are fully utilized only for the purpose of charitable activities and not for any business. The assessee did not have any receipt in excess of expenditure during the year. The books of account clearly show that no amount of current receipt or out of unutilized receipt of the past has been treated as profit in the sense it would be treated, had it been a business and that no amount has ever been given to any member of the board of the society or any member of the assessee society except the reimbursement of expenses incurred in connection with the board's meeting. It is also 14 not the case of the department that any part of profit or gain shown as receipt over expenditure has been transferred to any member of the society. Thus, the activity of the assessee society is certainly not for making profit and it is certainly not in the nature of any trade, business or commerce, so as to be headed by the first proviso to sec. 2(15) of the Act even if it is treated as advancement of any general public utility. Similar are the facts in the case of Society for Essential Health Action & Training (supra). In that case also, the assessee had received an amount of Rs. 42 lacs from SAS for research conducting on implementation of various medicine related to children invocation. This research was part of the research activities which were to be carried out by SAS, but SAS could not carry out. This research was carried out by the assessee society in pursuance of a written arrangement with SAS. As per the arrangement/agreement, the assessee provided techno-medical research support and compilation of DATA in a project called "ROTA VIROS" . In consideration thereafter, SAS agreed to pay the assessee a lump sum amount of Rs. 50 lacs. It was termed as service fee. The Assessing Officer construed the above said agreement to be a commercial agreement. The services provided by the assessee to SAS were taken as being of commercial nature. The Assessing Officer held that the proviso to sec. 2(15) of the Act is applicable to "any other object of general public utility and not to charitable organization engaged in providing either relief to the poor or medical relief or education and that since the activities of the assessee did not fall under either relief to the poor or medical relief or education, it could be safely presumed that they fall under the category of general public utility", that for such activities, the assessee was receiving contractual income, irrespective of whether it resulted in profit or loss and that as such, the assessee had violation of the provisions of section 2(15) of the Act, that since the assessee did not fall within the scope "charitable purpose", as defined in sec. 2(15) of the Act, the benefit of sec. 11/12 of the Act was being disallowed to the assessee for the year under consideration. The Assessing Officer also sent a proposal for withdrawal of registration to the assessee under sec. 12AA of the Act to the DIT(E), separately. The grievance of the revenue before the ITAT was that the Learned CIT(Appeals) has erroneously held the activities of the assessee society to be falling under "advancement of any other object of general public utility" as defined therein. The ITAT held that the aims and objects of the assessee society, as per its Memorandum of Association includes medical research and informal education and communication activities of health and nutritional issue for urban 15 slum and rural communities. The ITAT thus held that the activities in question is undisputedly the activity of research i.e. Techno Medical Research Support for research and compilation of DATA on account of "ROTA VIRUS" to SAS. Therefore, the activity carried on by the assessee cannot be said to be beyond its main aims and objects. It also remains irrefutable that the assessee society continues to enjoy registration under sec. 12A of the Act, as a charitable trust, confirming that the charitable purposes for which the assessee society was established remains unchanged. The activities of assessee during the year was in pursuance of such purposes thereafter following the ratio laid down by the Co-ordinate Bench of the ITAT in the case of Harnam Singh Harbans Kaur v. DIT (Exemption) [2012] 49 SOT 387/17 taxmann.com 103, Delhi, the ITAT upheld the action of the Learned CIT(Appeals). As per the cited decisions, charitable institution registered under sec. 12A of the Act and carrying the activities in the nature of charity, cannot be held to be engaged in the activity of advancement of any other object of general public utility.
Similar view has been expressed by the Hyderabad Bench of the ITAT in the case of GVK EMRI (UP)(supra). Similar are facts in the case of assessee as most of the NGOs related to WHO/UNO etc. do not have any experience of connecting/collecting the poor and needy people like destitute orphans, sex workers, drug addicts in which assessee society has gained experience over a period of time and has capacity to collect these particulars classes of people and motivate them to get out of it. Besides, there is no change in the activity of the assessee which all along has been covered under the first three limbs of charitable activities laid down under sec. 2(15) of the Act as in the assessment years for 2006-07, 207-08 and 2008-09 in the assessment framed under sec. 143(3), the activities of the assessee trust have been treated as charitable in nature and within the meaning of sec. 2(15) of the Act. As discussed above, the activities of the assessee firstly cannot be treated as advancement of any other object of general public utility nor it can be said that the activity of the assessee involves the carrying of any activity in the nature of trade, commerce or business or any activity of rendering any service in relation to any trade, commerce or business for a cess or fee or any other consideration. Respectfully following the above referred decisions on identical issues on almost similar facts as of the present assessee before us, we hold that the activities as discussed hereinabove of the present assessee cannot be held to be engaged in the activity of advancement of any other object of general public 16 utility. The activities carried on by the assessee cannot be said to be beyond its main aims and objects and it is also an undisputed fact that the assessee society continued to enjoy registration under sec. 12A of the Act as a charitable trust and that the charitable purpose for which the assessee society was established remained unchanged. Under the circumstances, we while setting aside the first appellate order as well as order of the learned DIT(E) direct the Assessing Officer to allow the assessee the claimed exemption under sec. 11(12) of the Act and the ld. DIT(E) is directed to allow the application of the assessee for continuance of the approval granted under sec. 80G(5)(vi) of the Income-tax Act, 1961. The grounds of the appeals are thus allowed in favour of the assessee.”
6.7 Also Hon’ble Delhi High Court in the case of CIT v. Praxis Institute of Participatory Practices dated 23.9.2015 approving the above judgment has held as under: “3 The question that arose is whether the activities of the Assessee would fall within the scope of ‘general public utility’ under Section 2(15) of the Act and whether the Assessee is therefore entitled to exemption under Sections 11 and 12 of the Act?
4 The ITAT has returned a factual finding, after analyzing the documents on record, that the activities of the Assessee can in no way be termed as trade and commerce etc. as it is not charging any fee from the beneficiaries who belong to the poor communities. The ITAT also noted that the NGOs like the WHO, UNICEF etc. which have engaged the Assessee are themselves charitable instructions. They ensure that the grants given to the Assessee are utilized for the purpose of charitable activities and not for any business. The consultants’ fees were also paid out of such grants. Further, the Revenue was not able to show that any part of the profit or gains has been transferred to any member of the Assessee society.”
7. As regards the basis of surplus, the Hon’ble Apex Court in the case of Queen’s Educational Society v. CIT 372 ITR 699 has referred to the judgment in the case of American Hotel & Lodging Association, Educational Institute v. CBDT 301 ITR 86 (SC) and noted as under:
“11. Thus, the law common to Section 10(23C)(iiiad) and (vi) may be summed up as foll0ws: (1) Where an educational institution carries on the activity of education primarily for educating persons, the fact that it meaks a surplus does not lead to the conclusion that it ceases to exist solely for educational purposes and becomes an institution for the purpose of making profit. (2) The predominant object test must be applied – the purpose of education should not be submerged by a profit making motive. (3) A distinction must be drawn between the making of a surplus and an institution being carried on “for profit”. No inference arises that merely because imparting education results in making a profit, it becomes an activity for profit. (4) If after meeting expenditure, a surplus arises incidentally from the activity carried on by the educational institution, it will ont be cease to be one existing solely for educational purposes. (5) The ultimate test is whether on an overall view of the matter in the concerned assessment year the object is to make profit as opposed to educating persons.”
7.1 The Hon’ble Court in the aforesaid judgment affirmed the judgment of the Punjab & Haryana High Court n the case of Pinegrove International Charitable Trust v. UOI 327 ITR 73 wherein it was held that merely because profits have resulted from the activities of imparting education, it would not result in change of character of the education that it was solely for educational purpose. 8 Thus, respectfully following the aforesaid judgments, we hold that the invocation of proviso to section 2(15) of the Act to deny claim of exemption under section 11 and 12 of the Act is not justified. Accordingly, grounds of appeal are allowed.
In the result, the appeal filed by the assessee is allowed.”
The aforesaid Order of the ITAT has been affirmed by the Hon’ble Jurisdictional High Court vide its Order dated 25.11.2016 in ITA 845/2016 & CM No. 43732/2016 by holding as under:-
“The standard question of law sought to be urged is whether having regard to the facts of the case the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) acted in accordance with law in holding that the proviso to Section 2(15) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 was not attracted so as to deny the benefit of Section 11 of the Act.
The assessee was a recipient of research and training grant and other income to the tune of Rs. 1.36 crores. The AO determined that the latter were commercial receipts and guided by proviso to Section 2(15) and held that the assessee could not avail the benefit under section 11(23) of the Act. The ITAT relied upon the judgement in the case of India Trade Promotion Organisation vs. Director General of Income Tax (2015) 371 ITR 333 which had observed that as long as the predominant activity of an institution is not business or commerce, and that the so called suspect income is derived on the basis of some subsidiary or incidental activity, the exemption cannot be denied.
This court notices that the reasoning in India Trade Promotion Organization (Supra) has been affirmed and applied in several other judgments, therefore, no question of law arises.
The appeal is, consequently, dismissed.”
I therefore, after considering the totality of the facts as discussed hereinabove, is of the view that the issues involved in the present appeal is squarely covered in favour of the assessee by ITAT decision dated 27.5.2016 passed in (AY 2009-10) which has been upheld by the Hon’ble Jurisdictional High Court’s Order dated 25.11.2016, as aforesaid. Therefore, respectfully following the above precedents, the present appeal of the Assessee is allowed.
In the result, the Appeal filed by the Assessee stand allowed.
Order pronounced in the Open Court on 17/02/2017.