SRE JEYAMKONDA CHOLEESWARA SOUNDARANAYAKI AMMAN KUMBABISHEKA MALAR KUZHU,SIVAGANGAI vs. THE ITO, EXEMPTIONS WARD, , MADURAI

This appeal by the assessee is arising out of the order of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemption), Chennai in Form 10AD of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter the ‘Act’) vide Application No.CIT(Exemption), Chennai/2022-23/12AA/11960 dated 04.03.2023.

At the outset, it is noticed that the appeal filed by the assessee is barred by limitation by 135 days. The impugned order passed by the CIT(Exemption) dated 04.03.2023 was served on the assessee on 04.03.2023. The appeal has to be filed on or before 03.05.2023 but it was actually filed on 15.09.2023 with a delay of 135 days. The assessee has filed affidavit along with condonation petition stating the reason that the CIT(Exemption has rejected the assessee’s application in Form 10AB seeking registration as infructuous and non-maintainable that means a technical error and assessee was under the impression that it could be corrected. But, however seeking professional advice, the assessee was advised to file another application in Form No.10AB, which he did. However, assessee was also advised to file an appeal before the Tribunal against the rejected application. Hence, this delay was caused, which is beyond the control of the assessee. When this was confronted to ld.CIT-DR, he objected to condone the delay. We find the cause as reasonable and hence, condone the delay and admit the appeal.

The only issue in this appeal of assessee is rejecting the application filed in Form No.10A u/s.12A(1)(ac)(ii) of the Act, as - 3 - infructuous and non-maintainable and rejected on technical ground without affording opportunity to rectify the application.

Brief facts are that the assessee trust was created on 21.09.2021 as a charitable trust for providing relief to the poor and to provide education and medical relief. The assessee filed application for registration in Form No.10A u/s.12A(1)(ac)(ii) of the Act on 30.05.2022 and consequently, Form No.10AC was issued on 20.06.2022 granting provisional registration u/s.12A(1)(ac)(vi) of the Act for the AY 2023-24 to AY 2025-26. Subsequently, on 03.09.2022, six months prior to expiry of provisional registration, the assessee filed Form No.10AB seeking registration u/s.12A(1)(ac)(ii) of the Act. The assessee received hearing notices, which was responded by the assessee but the CIT(Exemption) vide his order in Form No.10AD on 04.03.2023 rejected the assessee’s application treating it as infructuous and non-maintainable by stating the reason that the assessee ought to have applied u/s.12A(1)(ac)(iii) of the Act instead of 12A(1)(ac)(ii) of the Act. The CIT(Exemption) recorded the fact and rejected the application by observing as under:- 4. While processing the said application, it is noticed from the applicant's Form 10AC issued by the Central Processing Centre (CPC) that the applicant has been granted provisional registration (fresh registration) for the registration period of 3 years (from AY 2023-24 to AY 2025-2026).

After hearing both the sides and going through the facts, it is noted that the assessee has simpliciter made a technical mistake in applying u/s.12A(1)(ac)(ii) instead of 12A(1)(ac)(iii) of the Act. It was informed to the Bench by the ld.counsel for the assessee that even now the assessee has filed fresh Form No.10AB seeking registration u/s.12A(1)(ac)(iii) of the Act, which can also be considered. In our view, the same purpose will be served by adjudicating the same application. Hence, we set aside the order of CIT(Exemption) and remand the matter back to his file for fresh

In the result, the appeal filed by the assessee is allowed for statistical purposes.