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Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, ‘B’ BENCH, KOLKATA
Before: Shri Rajpal Yadav, Vice-(KZ) & Shri Girish Agrawal
Per Rajpal Yadav, Vice-President (KZ):- The Revenue is in appeal before the Tribunal against the order of ld. Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), Kolkata-20 dated 27.03.2023 passed for A.Y. 2012-13.
On receipt of notice in the Revenue’s appeal, assessee has filed Cross Objection bearing No. 13/KOL/2023. The Revenue has raised five grounds of appeal. However, its grievance revolves around a single issue, namely whether assessee is entitled for deduction of Rs.1,75,00,000/- under section 35(1)(ii) of the Income Tax Act, 1961. This donation has been made to M/s. School of Human Genetic and Population Health, Kolkata. As far as this issue is concerned, the decision over it is covered in favour of the Revenue and against the assessee by the ITAT, Kolkata in the case of Tarasafe International Pvt. Limited –vs.- DCIT in dated 7th March, 2023. However, before taking up the issue on merit, we deem it appropriate to consider the jurisdictional aspect pleaded by the assessee in the Cross Objection. Therefore, we first take the Cross Objection filed by the assessee.
Assessment Year: 2012-2013 & C.O. No. 13/KOL/2023 (in Shalimar Hatcheries Ltd. C.O. No. 13/KOL/2023 3. The assessee has raised four grounds in the Cross Objection. As far as Ground No. 4 is concerned, it is a general ground, which does not call for recording of any finding. Hence, it is rejected.
4. Grounds No. 2 & 3 are in support of the ld. CIT(Appeals)’s finding. They are connected with the issue agitated by the Revenue in its appeal. Therefore, we will take up these issues along with the grounds of appeal raised by the Revenue.
5. The only preliminary issue, which has been agitated by the assessee in its Cross Objection, is pleaded in Ground No. 1. The assessee has pleaded that ld. CIT(Appeals) has erred in not allowing the assessee’s objection under section 147 of the Income Tax Act. The ld. CIT(Appeals) has erred in upholding the reopening of the assessment.
Brief facts of the case are that the assessee is a Private Company and derived its income from Poultry Breeding and Hatching. It has filed its return of income under section 139 on 21.09.2012 declaring total income of Rs.11,49,31,703/-. A search under section 132 of the Income Tax Act, 1961 was conducted in the business premises of the assessee and residence of the Directors on 13.12.2012. Since time limit to issue notice under section 143(2) on the original return was not Assessment Year: 2012-2013 & C.O. No. 13/KOL/2023 (in Shalimar Hatcheries Ltd. expired, therefore, this assessment has been taken as a regular assessment and income of the assessee was assessed under section 143(3) read with section 153A on 27.03.2015.
The ld. Assessing Officer thereafter received an information from DDIT, Kolkata exhibiting the fact that the assessee had gave donation of Rs.1,00,00,000/- to M/s. School of Human Genetic and Population Health, Kolkata. The assessee has claimed weighted deduction under section 35(1)(ii) for donating to an assessee, which is engaged in the research activity. However, Investigation Wing of the Income Tax Department found that M/s. School of Human Genetic and Population Health was engaged in providing accommodation entries to the assessee. The ld. Assessing Officer has recorded the reasons and thereafter issued notice under section 148 of the Income Tax Act on 16.03.2016. This notice was duly served upon the assessee and in response to the notice the assessee submitted a letter dated 23.04.2016, which was received by the ld. Assessing Officer on 24.04.2016. Vide this letter the assessee has requested the ld. Assessing Officer that original return file be treated as return filed in response to the notice under section 148 of the Income Tax Act.
The ld. Counsel for the assessee while impugning the order has raised two-fold of submissions. In his first fold of submission, he emphasized that the assessee has filed objections
Assessment Year: 2012-2013 & C.O. No. 13/KOL/2023 (in Shalimar Hatcheries Ltd. against reopening of the assessment and those objections have not been decided by the ld. Assessing Officer before taking the assessment proceeding. Therefore, the reassessment order is not sustainable. For buttressing this contention, he relied upon a large number of decisions, namely- (i) Jayanthi Natarajan –vs.- ACIT 100 taxmann.com511(Madras High Court- Order dated 14.09.2017; (ii) SAK Industries Pvt. Ltd. –vs.- DCIT 19 taxmann.com 237 (Delhi)- order dated 16.02.2012; (iii) Bayer Material Science Pvt. Limited –vs.- DCIT – 66 taxmann.com 335 (Bombay)- Order dated 27.01.2016; (iv) Swadesh Trading Co. –vs.- DCIT 111 taxmann.com 446 (Karnataka)- Order dated 03.09.2019; (v) Torrent Power SEC Ltd. –vs.-ACIT – 45 taxmann.com 443 (Gujarat)- Order dated 12.03.2014; (vi) Nimitaya Hotel & Resorts Ltd. –vs.- ACIT – 109 taxmann.com 185 (delhi)- Order daed 01.04.2019; (vii) Arvind Sahdeo Gupta –vs.- ITO – 153 taxmann.com 244 (Bombay) – Order dated 08.08.2023; (viii) Ferrous Infra Pvt. Ltd. –vs.- DCIT- 63 taxmann.com 201 (Delhi)- Order dated 21.05.2015. Sr. 1 to 8 (index)
Assessment Year: 2012-2013 & C.O. No. 13/KOL/2023 (in Shalimar Hatcheries Ltd.
The copies of these decisions have been filed before us as discernable from the above Index.
We have duly considered the rival contentions and gone through the record carefully. A perusal of the assessment order would reveal that notices under sections 143(2) and 142(1) were issued on 30.05.2016 fixing the case for hearing on 06.06.2016. It means that reassessment machinery was put in motion. The assessee has allegedly filed the objections vide letter dated 29.08.2016, whose copy is being filed by the ld. Counsel for the assessee in a supplementary paper book, though without any certificate. The ld. Assessing Officer has nowhere taken cognizance of this letter in the impugned assessment order, straightway proceed to take note of the reply submitted by the Tax Consultant of the assessee vide letter dated 08.06.2016 assuming that this letter was filed by the assessee and we take cognizance of this. We assume that these objections were filed and not disposed of by the ld. Assessing Officer whether that step at the end of the ld. Assessing Officer would vitiate the assessment order and it is to be held that the proceeding initiated under section 148 of the Income Tax Act would be culminated to an end.
We have perused the judgments of Hon’ble Courts. The first judgment put into service by the ld. Counsel for the assessee is of Assessment Year: 2012-2013 & C.O. No. 13/KOL/2023 (in Shalimar Hatcheries Ltd. Hon’ble Madras High Court in the case of Jayanthi Natarajan – vs.- ACIT [100 taxmann.com 511 (Madras)]. In this judgment, Hon’ble Madras High Court accepted the contention of the assessee that if Assessing Officer failed to decide the objections filed by the assessee, then, assessment order is to be quashed. However, this view did not meet the approval of a Division Bench of Hon’ble Madras High Court. Immediately after this decision, the Division Bench of Hon’ble Madras High Court has considered this issue in the case of Home Finders Housing Limited –vs.- ITO in Writ Appeal No. 463 of 2017 delivered on 25.04.2018. The Hon’ble Madras High Court did not concur with its earlier decision of the Hon’ble Single Bench. In the Writ Appeal, Hon’ble Madras High Court has held that non-disposal of objections filed by an assessee against the reopening is a procedural irregularity, which would not culminate the proceeding itself to an end.
Similarly Hon’ble Delhi High Court in the case of SAK Industries Pvt. Limited –vs.- DCIT (supra) has set aside the issue to the file of ld. Assessing Officer for disposing of the objections in a time bound period and thereafter framing the assessment. Thus Hon’ble Delhi High Court was also of the view that non- disposal of the objection of an assessee against reopening would not be construed fatal to a proceeding. It was a procedural irregularity, which is to be cured and assessment proceeding is to be undertaken again after removal of the procedural irregularity.
Assessment Year: 2012-2013 & C.O. No. 13/KOL/2023 (in Shalimar Hatcheries Ltd. The finding of the Hon’ble High Court in paragraph no. 14 of this decision is worth to note, which reads as under:- We are informed that the Assessing Officer, i.e. respondent No.1, has now changed. The Assessing-Officer will now pass a fresh order on the objections raised by the petitioner in terms of direction issued by the Supreme Court in GKN Driveshafts (India) Ltd. (supra). The petitioner will appear before the Assessing Officer on 5th March, 2012, when a date of hearing will be fixed and an order disposing of the objections will be passed on or before 16th March, 2012. In case of an adverse order, the Assessing Officer shall give 15 days time to the petitioner to take further steps, in accordance with law, and fix the next date of hearing accordingly. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that they will not raise any objection with regard to the limitation period and a time period may be fixed for passing the re-assessment order. Keeping in view of the aforesaid facts, it is directed that it will be open to the Assessing Officer to thereafter proceed with the assessment and pass a re-assessment order on or before 15th May, 2012. The assessee must fully cooperate in the proceedings. The concerned Commissioner will examine the reassessment file in he present case and is at liberty to take appropriate action, if warranted”.
In the subsequent decision in the case of Home Finders Housing Limited –vs.- ITO, Hon’ble Madras High Court has also remitted the matter back to ld. Assessing Officer for disposal of the objection. Both these decisions are on the Writ Petition. The subsequent decision of the Hon’ble Madras High Court is on a Writ Appeal.
The proposition in other decisions namely Hon’ble Karnataka High Court, Hon’ble Gujarat High Court are on the same line. The directions of the Hon’ble Gujarat High Court in Assessment Year: 2012-2013 & C.O. No. 13/KOL/2023 (in Shalimar Hatcheries Ltd. the case of Torrent Power SEC Ltd. contained in paragraph no. 23 read as under:- “23. Respondent is directed to consider the objections raised by the petitioner against the impugned notice of reopening and dispose of the same within eight weeks of receipt of this order in the light of the settled law and the decision of the appellate authority in the very case of the petitioner. The order if is adverse, period of eight weeks shall be made available to the petitioner for him to approach this Court on judicial side. Respondent shall pay the cost to the petitioner and bear his own cost. Disposed of accordingly. Rule is made absolute to the above extent”.
Therefore, Hon’ble High Courts are unanimous in their approach that in case objections filed by the assessee against the proposition, reopening of assessment are not disposed of, then such an action of the ld. Assessing Officer would not be fatal to the proceeding, rather it is to be construed as a procedural irregularity, which can be cured. All these decisions are rendered on the Writ Petition filed by the assessees during the pendency of assessment proceedings itself.
14. It is pertinent to observe that an appeal before the Tribunal as second Appellate Authority is continuation of original assessment proceeding. The assessees in those judgments have approached the Hon’ble High Court to safeguard themselves from undergoing an assessment proceeding, which would otherwise put cost on their resources for defending such a proceeding. But in the present case, assessee has already undergone that proceeding and raised objections. Therefore, we invited the ld. Counsel for the assessee to explain as to how the acceptance of 9
Assessment Year: 2012-2013 & C.O. No. 13/KOL/2023 (in Shalimar Hatcheries Ltd. those objections would render the assessment proceeding in nullity and if that be so, we will drop the proceeding by quashing the reassessment order. Therefore being a Second Appellate Authority assume our powers as of an Assessing Officer for examining those objections on merit because error committed by the ld. Assessing Officer is a curable error, which is procedural one and, therefore, we can consider those objections filed by the assessee before the ld. Assessing Officer.
We have perused the letter dated 29.08.2016. The objections are running into 10 pages. However, they are narration of various judgments, which started from page no. 3 of the objections. Apart from those judgments, the only pleading taken in the objection reads as under:- “1. We would like to submit here that the Income for the Asst. Year 2012-13 was correctly returned u/s139 and there has been no escapement of any income. 2. Further, the filing of the Return in response to the notice u/s148 is not acceptance to the proceedings initiated u/s147 of the Act. We had our reservations on the validity of your notice u/s148 and we have not legally accepted the said Notice u/s148. However, the Return of Income , in response to your Notice u/s148, was filed in accordance to the pronouncement by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of GKN Driveshafts (India) Ltd Vs ITO & Others (2003)179 C54 (SC). 3. From the reasons provided as stated above it is apparent that the proceedings has been initiated only on the basis of information from the DDIT(lnv),Kol and on the satisfaction (if any), of DIT (Inv), Kolkata only, that income of the assessee company has escaped assessment.
Assessment Year: 2012-2013 & C.O. No. 13/KOL/2023 (in Shalimar Hatcheries Ltd.
4. From the above it is clear that you have formed your belief solely on the basis of survey report of DDIT(lnv). The report says that The School of Human Genetic and Population Health is not doing any scientific research and engaged in providing bogus donation u/s 35(i)(ii) of the I.T. Act in lieu of commission. However, from the said show cause notice it is not clear whether the treasurer or secretary has named the assessee that they have received donation in lieu of commission and returned back cash You have blindly relied on the survey report and formed your belief.
Thus, from above , it is clear that the proceedings u/s147 in this case , has been initiated against the provisions of the Income Tax Act and is initiated without proper “reason to believe” that the income has escaped assessment. It is also clear from the above that the reason [i.e information form the DDI(lnv)] given by you for issuance of Notice u/s148 , can, at the most, be a ‘reason to suspect’ and is not a “reason to believe”. It is also clear from the above that the proceedings have been initiated on the basis of information from the DIT (Inv), Kolkata and on the satisfaction (if any), of DIT(Inv), Kol only, that income of the assessee company has escaped assessment.
6. As per provisions of Sec 147 of the I. T. Act, proceedings u/s 147 can be initiated only if there is ‘reasons’ to form ‘belief that income of an assessee has escaped assessment. As it has been held in various judicial pronouncements, the proceedings u/s147, cannot be initiated on the basis of ‘reasons to suspect’ only, whatever strong the suspicion may be. Mere suspicion of escapement income does not empower to make assessment / reassessment u/s147. Similarly, it has also been held in various judicial pronouncements that the reasons recorded for initiating the proceedings u/s147, have to speak for themselves. The reasons must provide a live link to the formation of the belief that income had escaped assessment. The reasons cannot keep the assessee guessing fur the reasons for initiating the proceedings u/s147. These reasons cannot be supplied 11
Assessment Year: 2012-2013 & C.O. No. 13/KOL/2023 (in Shalimar Hatcheries Ltd. subsequent to the recording of such reasons either in the form of an order rejecting the objections or an affidavit filed by the Revenue. Further, it is also well established law that the satisfaction with respect to escapement of assessment of income must be of the A.O. himself and not a borrowed satisfaction. If the proceedings u/s147 is initiated on the satisfaction recorded by some other authority, like Sales Tax, Excise or Director of Investigation without recording own satisfaction by the AO, the initiation of proceeding u/s 147 of the Act have been held as bad in law.
16. Apart from the above, we have gone into rest of the judgments filed by the ld. Counsel for the assessee during the course of hearing while challenging the reopening of assessment. He submitted in the second-fold, that the assessee has filed its original return, which was duly gone into an assessment under section 143(3) read with section 153A, the search upon the donee took place before completion of assessment order in the case of assessee. The assessment order was completed on 27.03.2015 whereas search upon the donee was conducted somewhere in the month of January. Therefore, all the information regarding the alleged claim of deduction under section 35(1)(ii) was already in the knowledge of the Department. The ld. Assessing Officer could have taken remedial actions. In its objection, similar thing has been pleaded by the assessee emphasizing the point that its claim was examined in a scrutiny assessment, which was allowed. It is not ascertainable whether Secretary of the Donee Trust has named the assessee or not. In support of this proposition, assessee has filed one more paper book containing 16 judgments. 12
Assessment Year: 2012-2013 & C.O. No. 13/KOL/2023 (in Shalimar Hatcheries Ltd.
We have duly considered all these contentions and the proposition raised in those judgments without specifically dealing each one of them, because it is just a step at the end of the assessee to persuade the Tribunal to undertake an academic exercise. The simple question of fact is, whether search/survey carried out on the donee 2-3 months prior to the finalisation of the scrutiny assessment of the assessee would be construed as if material was transmitted to the knowledge of the ld. Assessing Officer or not. In this regard, we are of the view that immediately after the search and survey upon a donee, the material will not be amplified and distributed amongst all the ld. Assessing Officers throughout the country. It was a fraud in an organized manner spreading over throughout the country in which the assessee is also a beneficiary. So it is not humanly possible for the ld. Assessing Officer to lay his hands on that material before finalisation of the assessment order. It is totally new information given to the ld. Assessing Officer by the DDIT, Kolkata.
18. In the next fold of contention, it has been pleaded by the ld. Counsel for the assessee that the ld. Assessing Officer has used borrowed opinion for harbouring the belief that income has escaped assessment. Copy of the reasons for reopening has been placed by the ld. Counsel for the assessee in the second supplementary paper book, which is available on page 2. The ld. Assessing Officer has formed an opinion that on the basis of Assessment Year: 2012-2013 & C.O. No. 13/KOL/2023 (in Shalimar Hatcheries Ltd. information received from DDIT, it is found that assessee has taken a bogus donation. How it can be termed as a borrowed opinion. The DDIT has transmitted the details exhibiting the fact that donee was engaged in providing accommodation entries to alleged such donors. Therefore, we do not deem it necessary to recite six case laws referred by the ld. Counsel for the assessee on this point because it is a question of fact and not any proposition. We agree if there is no specific information to the ld. Assessing Officer, and he has blindly followed some dictum, then reopening is not justified but here the DDIT has remitted the information and on that basis he formed his opinion.
19. The ld. Counsel for the assessee further contended that ld. CIT(Appeals) has erred in rejecting its ground of reopening by following the case law where original assessment was processed under section 143(1) of the Income Tax Act. We are of the view that ld. Assessing Officer reopened the assessment on the basis of information transmitted to it by the DDIT (Investigation). Therefore, that investigation revealed that more than 1500 donors have taken accommodation entries. The ld. Assessing Officer has gone through these materials and thereafter prima facie formed an opinion. Therefore, by making reference to a case law where original assessment was under section 143(1) would not make much change in the opinion formed by the ld. 1st Appellate Authority. The question is assessment has been reopened within four years from the end of the assessment year.
Assessment Year: 2012-2013 & C.O. No. 13/KOL/2023 (in Shalimar Hatcheries Ltd. There was a specific information, which has duly been perused by the ld. Assessing Officer before forming the opinion that income has an escaped assessment. Therefore, after considering all the case laws relied upon by the assessee, which are running into more than 300 pages, we do not find any merit in the Cross Objection raised by the assessee. Accordingly 1st ground of the Cross Objection is rejected.
20. Now we take solitary grievance of the Revenue, that ld. CIT(Appeals) has erred in deleting the disallowance of deduction claimed under section 35(1)(ii) alongwith this filed a grievance. We take rest of the grounds of Cross Objection, which are in support of the ld. CIT(Appeals)’s order.
21. In the past, ITAT has consolidated a number of appeals involving this issue in the case of M/s. Tarasafe International Pvt. Limited –vs.- DCIT in and others. The Tribunal vide its Order dated 7th March, 2023 has decided those appeals. The relevant part of the order reads as under:- “It is a Bunch of 13 appeals and one of the major issues involved in all these appeals is common, therefore, we heard them together and deem it appropriate to dispose of them by this common order. In order to appreciate the facts in a simplified manner, we deem it appropriate to take note of the facts in a seriatim from each appeal. 2. ITA No. 261/KOL/2020 (Tarasafe International Pvt. Limited) The assessee is impugning the order of ld. Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) dated 29.11.2019 passed in A.Y. 2013-14, which has arisen against the assessment order 15
Assessment Year: 2012-2013 & C.O. No. 13/KOL/2023 (in Shalimar Hatcheries Ltd. dated 30.03.2016 passed under section 143(3) of the Income Tax Act. The assesee has taken eleven grounds of appeal. However, on perusal of the grounds, it revealed to us that basically three-folds of grievance are being raised by the assessee, namely- (a) in Grounds No. 2 to 6, the assessee has pleaded that ld. CIT(Appeals) has erred in confirming the action of the ld. Assessing Officer for not allowing the deduction of Rs.87,50,000/- claimed under section 35(1)(ii) of the Income Tax Act, 1961; (b) In Grounds No. 7 & 8, the assessee has submitted that ld. CIT(Appeals) has erred in confirming the action of the ld. Assessing Officer for considering disallowance of Rs.87,50,000/- under normal provisions for computing book profit and thereby erred in calculating the book profit at Rs.4,17,01,736/- as against returned book profit of Rs.3,29,51,736/-. (c) The ld. Assessing Officer has erred in charging interest under section 234C of the Income Tax Act. 2.1. In rest of the grounds, i.e. Grounds No. 1 & 11, it has not raised any specific grievance. Similarly Grounds No. 3 to 6 are supporting arguments with Ground No. 2. 2.2. Brief facts of the case are that the assessee-company has filed its return of income electronically on 29.09.2013 disclosing total income at Rs.2,41,07,380/-. The case of the assessee was selected for scrutiny assessment and a notice under section 143(2) was issued on 04.09.2014, which was duly served upon the assessee. The ld. Assessing Officer thereafter issued a questionnaire by way of a notice under section 142(1). During the course of assessment proceeding, it revealed to the ld. Assessing Officer that assessee has claimed weighted deduction of Rs.87,50,000/- under section 35(1)(ii) of the Income Tax Act. The ld. Assessing Officer has observed that a donation of Rs.50,00,000/- has been paid by the assessee to the School of Human Genetics and Population Health (in short ‘SHG&PH’) and in lieu of such donation, it has claimed deduction @ 175% of the donation. The ld. 16
Assessment Year: 2012-2013 & C.O. No. 13/KOL/2023 (in Shalimar Hatcheries Ltd. Assessing Officer has disallowed such claim of the deduction on the ground that SHG&PH undertakes the transaction of bogus donation through false billing and by providing accommodation entries in this matter. The ld. Assessing Officer has made reference to the investigation carried out in the case of recipient as to how the recipient has gone in Settlement Commission admitting that in lieu of service charges, it has provided accommodation entries of the donation to the donors. Armed with this information, ld. Assessing Officer has confronted the assessee to show its bonafide belief as to how such donation was made. According to the ld. Assessing Officer, nothing was submitted by the assessee except that donation was given to a duly recognized Institution for receiving such donation. In this way, ld. Assessing Officer has made the addition. As far as computation of book profit under section 115JB is concerned, ld. Assessing Officer did not make much discussion. He carried out such adjustment only in the computation. 2.3. Appeal to the ld. CIT(Appeals) did not bring any relief to the assessee. The ld. CIT(Appeals) has allowed partly on other small disallowances, but the issues agitated before the Tribunal, ld. CIT(Appeals) has concurred with the ld. Assessing Officer. ITA Nos. 107/KOL/2020 & 108/KOL/2020 3. (REACHASIA) The present two appeals are directed at the instance of assessee against the separate orders of ld. CIT(Appeals) dated 02.12.2019 passed on the appeals of the assessee for A.Y. 2013-14 and 2014-15. 3.1. The assessee has taken two grounds of appeal in A.Y. 2013-14 and three grounds of appeal in A.Y. 2014-15. 3.2. Ground No. 1 in A.Y. 2013-14 is similar with Ground No. 1 in A.Y. 2014-15. In this ground of appeal, the assessee has pleaded that ld. CIT(Appeals) has erred in confirming the disallowances of deduction amounting to Rs.35,00,000/- and Rs.17,50,000/-, which were claimed by the assessee under section 35(1)(ii) for grant of donation to SHG&PH i.e. School of Human Genetics and Population Health.
Assessment Year: 2012-2013 & C.O. No. 13/KOL/2023 (in Shalimar Hatcheries Ltd. 3.3. Ground No. 2 is common with Ground No. 3 of A.Y. 2014-15. In this ground, the assessee has not raised any specific grievance. In A.Y. 2014-15, it has raised one more ground of appeal whereby it has challenged the disallowance of Rs.13,12,500/-, which was claimed deduction @ 175% in respect of donation of Rs.7,50,000/- to Maitribani Institute of Experimental Research & Foundation. 3.4. Brief facts of the case are that the assessee has filed its return of income on 30.09.2013 and 29.11.2014 declaring total income of Rs.61,76,369/- and Rs.62,00,581/- respectively in A.Y. 2013-14 and 2014-15. The returns of both the years were selected for scrutiny assessment and notices under section 143(2) were issued and served upon the assessee. The ld. Assessing Officer found that the assessee has given donation to SHG&PH, similarly to Maitribani Institute of the Experimental Research & Foundation, Kolkata. He observed that both the Trusts were involved in providing accommodation entries in lieu of such donations. SHG&PH has admitted this fact before the Settlement Commissioner and offered its commission income for providing such an accommodation to the assessee. The ld. Assessing Officer accordingly disallowed the claim of the assessee in both the years and appeal to the ld. CIT(Appeals) did not bring any relief to the assessee. ITA No. 136/KOL/2020
4. (P.S. Magnum) The present appeal is directed at the instance of assessee against the order of ld. CIT(Appeals) dated 02.12.2019 passed for A.Y. 2013-14. 4.1. The appeal before the ld. CIT(Appeals) was filed against an assessment order dated 10.06.2016 passed under section 143(3) of the Income Tax Act. The assesese has taken five grounds of appeal, but its grievances revolve around a single issue, namely ld. CIT(Appeals) has erred in confirming the disallowance of claim under section 35(1)(ii) of the Income Tax Act amounting to Rs.3,50,00,000/-. 4.2. Brief facts of the case are that the assessee-firm had filed its return of income on 26.11.2013 declaring its total income of Rs.5,42,42,510/-. The case of the assessee was selected for scrutiny assessment and a notice under section 143(2) was issued and served upon the assessee. The ld. 18 Assessment Year: 2012-2013 & C.O. No. 13/KOL/2023 (in Shalimar Hatcheries Ltd. Assessing Officer thereafter issued a questionnaire under section 142 of the Income Tax Act. On scrutiny of the accounts, it revealed to the ld. Assessing Officer that assessee has claimed deduction of Rs.3,50,00,000/- under section 35(1)(ii) of the Income Tax Act. The assessee has shown an expenditure of Rs.2,00,00,000/- under the head “Administrative Expenses”. This has been debited under Sub- Head “Donation for Scientific Research”. In the return under Schedule (e), it claimed a deduction of Rs.3,50,00,000/-. The ld. Assessing Officer has disallowed this deduction. He has made a similar discussion as made in the earlier two appeals of the Group. He has made reference to the statements, for appreciating the affairs of SHG&PH, recorded during post- survey enquiry in their cases. He has made reference as to how the donors went to the Settlement Commission and admitted the fact that they have provided only accommodation entries on commission based. All these materials were confronted to the assessee.
5. ITA No. 23/KOL/2020 M/s. Coalsale Co. The present appeal is directed at the instance of assessee against the order of ld. CIT(Appeals) dated 24.12.2019 passed for A.Y. 2015-16. 5.1. The assessee has raised five grounds of appeal, but its grievances revolve around a single issue, namely ld. CIT(Appeals) has erred in confirming the disallowance of deduction claimed under section 35(1)(ii) amounting to Rs.17,50,000/-. 5.2. Brief facts of the case are that the assessee has filed its return of income electronically on 27.09.2015 declaring total income of Rs.1,43,82,590/-. The case of the assessee was selected for scrutiny assessment and a notice under section 143(2) was issued and served upon the assessee. On scrutiny of the accounts, it revealed to the ld. Assessing Officer that the assessee has paid a donation of Rs.10,00,000/- to M/s. SHG&PH. It has claimed deduction under section 35(1)(ii) of the Income Tax Act @ 175% of the donation given by it. In this way, a deduction of Rs.17,50,000/- was claimed. The ld. Assessing Officer has made reference towards the evidence collected by Investigation team on the recipient of the donation, i.e. on the SHG&PH. The ld. Assessing Officer has confronted the 19
Assessment Year: 2012-2013 & C.O. No. 13/KOL/2023 (in Shalimar Hatcheries Ltd. assessee as to how such recipient was involved in providing accommodation entry under the garb of receipt of donation and as to how the recipient has admitted this fact on oath before the Settlement Commission. Contrary to this confrontation, nothing was submitted by the assessee and accordingly ld. Assessing Officer has disallowed the deduction claimed by the assessee. 5.3. Appeal to the ld. CIT(Appeals) did not bring any relief to the assessee. Hence the assessee is in appeal before the Tribunal. ITA No. 132/KOL/2021 6. (Abhilasha Tradecom Pvt. Limited The assessee is in appeal before the Tribunal against the order of ld. CIT(Appeals) dated 31.03.2021 passed for A.Y. 2011-12. 6.1. The assessee has raised five grounds of appeal, but its grievances revolve around two issues, namely – (a) ld. CIT(Appeals) has erred in upholding the reopening of assessment under section 147 of the Income Tax Act; (b) ld. CIT(Appeals) has erred in confirming the addition of Rs.5,25,000/-, which was added by the ld. Assessing Officer by disallowing the claim of the assessee made under section 35(1)(ii) of the Income Tax Act. 6.2. Brief facts of the case are that the assessee has filed its return of income on 26.09.2011 declaring total income of Rs.1,21,426/-. This return of the assessee was processed under section 143(1). The assessment was reopened by issuance of a notice under section 148 of the Income Tax Act on 05.11.2015, which was duly served upon the assessee. The ld. Assessing Officer has issued the notice on the ground that an information was received from the Director (Investigation), Kolkata vide letter No. 75/2015 dated 05.10.2015, in which it has been pointed out that assessee is a beneficiary of bogus donation. The ld. Assessing Officer found that assessee has given a donation of Rs.3,00,000/- to M/s. Horticulture Harbal Healthcare Bio-Harbal Research Foundation (in short ‘HHBRF’) and it claimed weighted deduction of Rs.5,25,000/-. The ld. Assessing Officer has 20 Assessment Year: 2012-2013 & C.O. No. 13/KOL/2023 (in Shalimar Hatcheries Ltd. confronted the assessee with regard to the material unearthed during the course of search by the Investigation Wing in the case of recipient of the donation, but the assessee failed to give any plausible reply to rebut such donation except by submitting that it has given donation under a bonafide belief. Accordingly ld. Assessing Officer has disallowed the claim of the assessee vide assessment order dated 25.10.2016 passed under section 143(3) read with section 147 of the Income Tax Act. Appeal to the ld. CIT(Appeals) did not bring any relief to the assessee.
7. ITA No. 133/KOL/2021 The assessee is in appeal before the Tribunal against the order of ld. CIT(Appeals) dated 31.03.2021 passed for A.Y. 2012-13. 7.1. In the grounds of appeal, the assessee has raised six grounds of appeal, however, its grievances revolve around two issues, namely- (a) ld. CIT(Appeals) has erred in upholding the reopening of assessment; (b) ld. CIT(Appeals) has erred in confirming the addition of Rs.12,25,000/-, which was claimed as a deduction under section 35(1)(ii) of the Income Tax Act. In rest of the grounds, the assessee has raised supporting arguments qua these two issues. 7.2. Brief facts of the case are that the assessee has filed its return of income on 29.09.2012 declaring total income of Rs.4,26,540/-. This return was processed under section 143(1). The assessment of the assessee was reopened by issuance of a notice under section 148 on 05.11.2015. The ld. Assessing Office has reopened the assessment on the strength of information received from the Director (Investigation), Kolkata exhibiting the fact that assessee is a beneficiary of alleged bogus donation given by it. On scrutiny of the accounts, it revealed to the assessee that it has given a donation of Rs.7,00,000/- to M/s. Horticulture Harbal Healthcare Bio-Harbal Research Foundation and claimed weighted deduction @175% of the donation amounting to Rs.12,25,000/-. The ld. Assessing Officer has disallowed this claim as was disallowed in A.Y. 2011-12. The reasonings in both the years are identical and the ld.
Assessment Year: 2012-2013 & C.O. No. 13/KOL/2023 (in Shalimar Hatcheries Ltd. CIT(Appeals) has confirmed the addition, hence appeal before the Tribunal. ITA No. 2247/KOL/2017 8. (Orient Industrial Corporation) The assessee is in appeal before the Tribunal against the order of ld. CIT(Appeals) dated 24.09.2017 passed for A.Y. 2013-14. 8.1. The assessee has raised five grounds of appeal
, but its grievances revolve around a single issue, namely ld. CIT(Appeals) has erred in confirming the addition of Rs.26,25,000/-, which was claimed by the assessee as a deduction under section 35(1)(ii) of the Income Tax Act. 8.2. Brief facts of the case are that the assessee has filed its return of income on 06.09.2013 declaring total income of Rs.37,79,520/-. The case of the assessee was selected for scrutiny assessment and a notice under section 143(2) was issued and served upon the assessee. On scrutiny of the accounts, it revealed to the ld. Assessing Officer that the assessee has donated the amount of Rs.15,00,000/- to School of Human Genetics and Population Health. It has given deduction @175% of the donation under section 35(1)(ii). The ld. Assessing Officer has confronted the assessee with the Investigation Report pointing out as to how affairs of the recipient were found to be bogus and as to how the recipient has approached the Settlement Commission admitting the fact that it was involved in bogus donation. Contrary to this claim, the assessee was unable to submit any evidence except pleading bonafide donation. The ld. Assessing Officer disallowed the claim of the assessee by passing an assessment order on 02.03.2016 under section 143(3) of the Income Tax Act. Appeal to the ld. CIT(Appeals) did not bring any relief to the assessee. ITA Nos. 2316 & 2317/KOL/2019
9. The present two appeals are directed at the instance of assessee against separate orders of ld. CIT(Appeals) dated 28.08.2019 passed in A.Y. 2013-14 and 2014-15. 9.1. The grievance of the assessee is that ld. CIT(Appeals) has erred in confirming the disallowance of Rs.5,25,000/- in A.Y. 2013-14 and Rs.5,25,000/- in A.Y. 2014-15. 22
Assessment Year: 2012-2013 & C.O. No. 13/KOL/2023 (in Shalimar Hatcheries Ltd.
9.2. Brief facts of the case are that the assessee his filed its return of income on 20.12.2013 and 28.03.2015 declaring total income of Rs.13,08,950/- and Rs.13,74,490/- respectively in A.Ys. 2013-14 and 2014-15. All the returns of the assessee involved in both the years were for scrutiny assessment. It was found that the assessee has given bogus donation to School of Human Genetics and Population Health in both the years and such claim of the assessee has been disallowed. The facts of the present appeals are common with & 2449/KOL/2019 discussed in immediate preceding paragraph in the case of assessee M/s. Hiralal Bhandari as represented the legal heir of Late Champalal Bhandari. The earlier appeals are of Late Shri Champalal Bhandari, Kolkata, which are being represented by the assessee. The facts on all vital points are common in all these four appeals. assessee is in appeal before the Tribunal against the order of ld. CIT(Appeals) dated 30.08.2019 passed for A.Y. 2014-15. 10.1. In the solitary substantial ground of appeal, the assessee has pleaded that ld. CIT(Appeals) has erred in confirming the disallowance of Rs.26,25,000/-, which was claimed as a deduction under section 35(1)(ii) of the Income Tax Act. 10.2. Brief facts of the case are that the assessee has filed its return of income on 25.09.2014. The case of the assessee was selected for scrutiny assessment and a notice under section 143(2) was issued and served upon the assessee. On scrutiny of the accounts, it revealed to the ld. Assessing Officer that assesese has claimed weighted deduction @ 175% on donation of Rs.15,00,000/- to School of Human Genetics and Population Health. The ld. Assessing Officer has disallowed this claim of deduction calculated at Rs.26.25.000/-. The ld. Assessing Officer confronted the assessee to the investigation report on the recipient of donation and pointed out that such recipient has admitted before the Settlement Commissioner that it was engaged in providing accommodation entries. On the strength of such material, ld. Assessing Officer disallowed the claim of the Assessment Year: 2012-2013 & C.O. No. 13/KOL/2023 (in Shalimar Hatcheries Ltd. assessee. Appeal to the ld. CIT(Appeals) did not bring any relief to the assessee.
11. (M/s. Hiralal Bhandari) The assessee is in appeal before the Tribunal against the order of ld. CIT(Appeals) dated 28.08.2019 passed for A.Y. 2013-14. 11.1. The assessee has taken three grounds of appeal, but its grievances revolve around a single issue, namely ld. CIT(Appeals) has erred in confirming the disallowance of Rs.35,00,000/- claimed by the assessee under section 35(1)(ii) of the Income Tax Act. 11.2. Brief facts of the case are that the assessee has filed its return of income electronically on 29.09.2013. The case of the assessee was selected for scrutiny assessment and a notice under section 143(2) was issued and served upon the assessee. On scrutiny of the accounts, it revealed to the ld. Assessing Officer that the assessee had claimed a deduction of Rs.35,00,000/- under section 35(1)(ii) on a donation of Rs.20,00,000/- to School of Human Genetics and Population Health. The ld. Assessing Officer confronted the assessee with regard to the material unearthed during the course of search/survey in the case of recipient of the donations. He confronted the assessee as to how this recipient has admitted before the Settlement Commission that it has provided accommodation entries after receipt of commissions. The assessee was unable to submit any evidence in support of its claim except pleading bonafide belief of its donation. It was submitted by the assessee that since recipient was enjoying the status of a Research Institute when it has made donation. If any subsequent enquiry was made, it unearthed that such recipient was receiving bogus donation beyond the control of the assessee, the ld. Assessing Officer was not satisfied with the explanation of the assessee. He disallowed the claim of the assessee and made the addition of Rs.35,00,000/- by way of an assessment order dated 29.11.2016 passed under section 143(3) of the Income Tax Act. Appeal to the ld. CIT(Appeals) did not bring any relief to the assessee.
Assessment Year: 2012-2013 & C.O. No. 13/KOL/2023 (in Shalimar Hatcheries Ltd. ITA No. 2449/KOL/2019 12. (M/s. Hiralal Bhandari) The assessee is in appeal before the Tribunal against the order of ld. CIT(Appeals) dated 28.08.2019 passed for A.Y. 2014-15. 12.1. The grievance of the assessee is that ld. CIT(Appeals) has erred in confirming the disallowance of Rs.61,25,000/-, which was claimed under section 35(1)(ii) of the Income Tax Act.. 12.2. The facts in the present year are almost verbatim except variation of the amounts as available in A.Y. 2013-14 discussed in ITA No. 2448/KOL/2019. Question in dispute 13. With the assistance of ld. Representative, we have gone through the record carefully. The solitary issue involved in all these appeals relates to – “whether the appellants are entitled to weighted deduction @ 175% of the donations given by them to allege Research Institute namely SHG&PH under section 35(1)(ii) of the Act.
It is imperative upon us to take note of this provision, the relevant part reads as under:- “Expenditure on scientific research 35. (1) In respect of expenditure on scientific research, the following deductions shall be allowed- (i).................. (ii) [an amount equal to [one and three-fourth] times of any sum paid] to a [research association] which has as its object the undertaking of scientific research or to a university, college or other institution to be used for scientific research: [Provided that such association, university, college or other institution for the purposes of this clause-
Assessment Year: 2012-2013 & C.O. No. 13/KOL/2023 (in Shalimar Hatcheries Ltd. (A) Is for the time being approved, in accordance with the guidelines, in the manner and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed; and (B) Such association, university, college or other institution is specified as such, by notification in the Official Gazette, by the Central Government;] x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
15. A bare perusal of the above provision would indicate that if an assessee, which is not engaged in carrying out research work on their own and rather contribute to some other scientific research organisation having its main object of undertaking scientific research or to a University, College or other Institution to be used for scientific research, then this Section provides that such Institution, University, College has to be ‘approved’ for such purposes by prescribed authority. Therefore, if a research institute is approved and notified by the prescribed authorities under the Rules of Income Tax Rules, 1962 and the provision of this Act, then the donors will be entitled for a deduction equivalent to 175% of donation given by them. Therefore, as far as scope of this Section or meaning/instruction of the language employed in this section is concerned, there is no dispute between the parties. In other words, interpretation of the meaning of section is not involved, which requires reference to any judgment from the authoritative pronouncements of Hon’ble High Courts as well as Hon’ble Supreme Court.
The dispute relates to the factum of giving donations to a genuine institution for claiming deduction under section 35(1)(ii) of the Income Tax Act. Arguments: 17. Shri S.M. Surana, ld. Sr. Advocate has led the arguments on behalf of the assessees. He could not dispute to the proposition that as far as interpretation and scope of section 35(1)(ii) is concerned, there is no dispute. He submitted that neither the ld. Assessing Officer nor the ld. CIT(Appeals) have denied the fact that payments of donation by all these appellants were made to the Institution, who was enjoying the benefit of registration with the Department. In other words, the section contemplates approval of 26 Assessment Year: 2012-2013 & C.O. No. 13/KOL/2023 (in Shalimar Hatcheries Ltd. prescribed authority for carrying out research work. If such approval is available, then donations given by the donor is allowed to be deduction given in the provision. While elaborating this contention, he submitted that authorities whenever required to approve any Institute engaged in research work, they carry out necessary inquiries/ investigation to ensure the genuineness of such Institution and after analysis all the objects, activities, personnel, who will be managing such organisation, they approve such an organisation to receive donation. Thus a person/entity, who wishes to avail the benefit of section 35(1)(ii) by contributing a specified sum, is not supposed to and in fact is not equipped with so much tools to verify genuineness of the activities of such Institution. It is a bonafide belief that once approval is granted by CBDT, contribution made to such Institution will qualify exemption, more particularly when such Institution is not related at all to the assessee and the assessee has no control whatsoever over the activities of such Institution in any manner. Ld. Counsel for the assessees drew our attention towards Notification vide which approval was granted. This fact is not disputed by the Revenue also about the grant of approval when these assessees have given the donations.
The ld. Counsel for the assessees further contended that approval granted to the SHGPH was rescinded by the competent authority. Such approval was rescinded on 15.09.2016 with a retrospective effect from 01.04.2007. Thus he emphasized that after four years from the date of payment of contribution, how the assessees could be branded that such a donation was bogus one. This retrospective effect cannot be given on the bonafide belief and for this purpose, he relied upon the judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of CIT –vs.- Vatika Township Pvt. Limited reported in 367 ITR 466. He also made reference to the judgment of Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Hitendra Vishnu Thakur –vs.- State of Maharashtra [AIR 1994 S.C. 2623]. On the strength of these two decisions, he submitted that a procedural statute should not generally be applied retrospectively, where the result would be to create new disabilities or obligations, or to impose new duties in respect of transactions are not accomplished. The ld. Counsel for the assessees thereafter made reference to a series of decisions, where ITAT has allowed such a deduction to the assesses. He pointed out that some of the decisions in Kolkata have been upheld upto the Hon’ble High Court also. He pointed out 27 Assessment Year: 2012-2013 & C.O. No. 13/KOL/2023 (in Shalimar Hatcheries Ltd. that across India, such deductions have been allowed to the assessees.
All the ld. Counsels have been by and large took the same line of argument. They only placed on record different ITAT orders in their paper book, wherein identical issues were involved.
Originally Shri Amal Kamat, ld. CIT(DR) appeared in the case of Tarasafe International Private Limited assisted with Smt. Ranu Biswas, Addl. CIT, Sr. D.R. Thereafter Shri Arup Chatterjee, ld. Sr. D.R. represented the Revenue. In the case of Tarasafe International Pvt. Limited, a paper book has been filed by the Revenue running into 268 pages. In this paper book, the Revenue has placed on record the papers recovered during the course of survey conducted at the premises of the recipient of the donations. It has also placed on record the copy of the Settlement Order passed in the case of the recipient. Such order is available on pages no. 52 to 62. On pages no. 63 to 81, a list of the alleged bogus donors has been placed by the Revenue. Such list has been prepared on the basis of alleged brokers, who have arranged the donations to the Institution and a total revenue received through by means of such donation is Rs,159,36,11,602/-. In other words, it is Rs.159.36 crores. Similarly one more list has been placed on pages no. 136 to 159, where the Revenue has complied with PAN, Data, who has availed weighted deduction on this bogus donation. On the strength of all these details, it was submitted by the Revenue that during the course of assessment proceedings in all these appeals, the ld. Assessing Officer has confronted the assessees with the material discovered during the course of survey on the premises of the recipient. None of the assessees has justified their claim. They are only harping upon bonafide. He pointed out that originally the Institute might have prepared the documents and submitted for carrying out the research activities. The motive might be genuine but ultimately it detracted from its motive and indulged in fraudulent activities with the help of brokers. The ld. CIT(DR) thereafter made reference to the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Commissioner of Income Tax , Kolkata –vs.- Batanagar Education & Research Trust. The Batanagar Education & Research Trust was enjoying registration under section 12AA of the Income Tax Act. During the course of survey carried out on SHGPH, it came to the notice of the Revenue that Batanagar Society was receiving bogus 28 Assessment Year: 2012-2013 & C.O. No. 13/KOL/2023 (in Shalimar Hatcheries Ltd. donations and giving the money in cash. Its registration was cancelled by the ld. Commissioner of Income Tax under section 12AA(3)of the Act. The appeal of the assessee was dismissed by the Tribunal bearing ITA No. 756 & 912/KOL/2016.
Dissatisfied with this order, assessee carried the matter in appeal before the Hon’ble High Court. The Hon’ble High Court has reversed the decision of the Tribunal. However, Department took it to the Hon’ble Supreme Court, which reversed the decision of the Hon’ble Calcutta High Court and upheld the rejection of the registration under section 12A(3). He emphasized that in this decision, the Hon’ble Supreme Court has taken note of the discussion made by the ld. CIT (Exemption), who cancelled the registration as well as the finding recorded by the Tribunal. Both these findings are based upon the material discovered during the survey upon SHG&PH and, therefore, in view of this latest decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, he emphasized all other orders of the ITAT and the decisions of the Hon’ble High Court are not to be followed.
Since this decision was supplied by the Revenue after conclusion of the arguments, therefore, we re-fixed the hearing and confronted the assessee with this latest position of law. However, Shri Soumitra Chowdhury, ld. Counsel for the assessee has placed on record the judgment of the Hon’ble Calcutta High Court in the case of Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemption), Kolkata –vs.- Sanskriti Sagar. In this decision, the Hon’ble High Court has considered the judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Batanagar Education & Research Trust and dismissed the appeal of the Revenue. In this case also, registration under section 12AA was cancelled by the ld. Commissioner by exercising the powers under section 12AA(3) of the Act. This cancellation was set aside by the Tribunal and Revenue carried the matter before the Hon’ble High Court, who upheld the order of the ITAT by dismissing the appeal of the Revenue. On the strength of this decision, ld. Counsel for the assessee submitted that Hon’ble High Court has explained the ratio laid down in Batanagar Education & Research Trust and, therefore, this subsequent decision is to be followed.
Assessment Year: 2012-2013 & C.O. No. 13/KOL/2023 (in Shalimar Hatcheries Ltd. “Finding:- 23. The Department has filed a paper book containing 268 pages in M/s. Tarasafe International Pvt. Limited. On second page of the paper book, order of the Settlement Commission dated 22.07.2016 passed under section 245D(4) of the Income Tax Act has been placed on record. In this order, Settlement Commission has noticed the facts of assessee before them, i.e. SHG&PH. Such facts have been noticed by them on the basis of statement of facts filed before them. We deem it appropriate to take note of the facts about the Institution, who has received such a huge donation. As emerging out from that order, the facts are that the Society SHG&PH was registered under West Bengal Society Registration Act, 1961 on 26.04.1993. It was founded by Professor D.P. Mukherjee, the Society was formed with the objective of service oriented researches in the field of Human Genetics and to address all the problems ailing the population i.e. epidemics, ethnicity and ethos of common man along with following welfare activities:- (i) to conduct seminars, lecture sessions, conferences awareness generation; (ii) to acquire, establish and run educational centre (science medicine, IT), (iii) women empowerment through self-help group, women literacy & vocation; (iv) to fight major population health issues, as Cancer Thalassaemia etc. The Registered Office of the donee society is situated at 7, Nilamber Mukherjee Street, Kolkata-700004. The particulars of various registrations/approvals/legal status of the Applicant Society are as under:- Particulars Regn. No. Date Authority Registration DIT(E)/S- 27.10.2004 Director of u/s 12A of 132/8E/23/04-05 Income Tax the I.T. Act (Exemption), Kolkata Registration DIT(E)/906/SE/23/04- 27.10.2004 Director of u/s 05 Income Tax 80G(5)(vi) of 12.12.2011 (Exemption), the I.T. Act, DIT(E)/3248/SE/23/04- Kolkata 1961 (made 05 30
Assessment Year: 2012-2013 & C.O. No. 13/KOL/2023 (in Shalimar Hatcheries Ltd. perpetual) Registration Initial order no. 49 27.02.2004 CCIT-III, u/s 10(23C) Renewal vide No. CCIT- 16.01.2014 Kolkata of the I.T. III/10(23C)(iv)/11- Act 12/245 Recognition Renewal till 31.03.2016 01.04.2013 Government of Scientific vide Communication No. of India, and 14/473/2007-TU-V(for 01.04.2013 Ministry of Industrial 01.04.10 to 31.03.13) 17.06.2010 Science and Research Technology Organization For 01.04.08 to 31.03.10) Gazette Notification No. 4/2010 28.01.2010 Government Notification of India, u/s 35(1)(ii) Ministry of of the I.T. Finance Act, 1961 (Department of Revenue) (Central Board of Direct Taxes) 24. The Governing Body members of the recipient are as under: (a) Dr. Madhumita Roychoudhury President (b) Dr.Shyamal Kumar Nandy Vice-President (c) Dr. Samadrita Mukherjee Secretary Sardar (d) Ms. Basanti Rauth Assistant Secretary (e) Mrs. Moumita Raghavan Treasurer (f) Mr. Gautam Das Executive Member (g) Dr. Debashis Mukherjee Executive Member 25. The Society, carried scientific research in the field inherited genetic diseases, cancer genetics (leukemia) and Geriatric disorders in the research lab. The donee had pursued research in the community understand the population, i.e. monarchial age, nutrition status and reproductive health issues. It is stated that at the level of community welfare, the society had trained teachers and counselors to take care Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder including Cystic Fibrosis Children workshops of Arts & Crafts, which had been published in various national £ international journals. The society had ongoing community projects i.e. Kangaroo Project - exclusive breast feeding in urban and rural Ben; health situation assessment studies at Assessment Year: 2012-2013 & C.O. No. 13/KOL/2023 (in Shalimar Hatcheries Ltd. Ruppur Birbhum, West Bengal and had acquired six acres of land at Ruppur, Birbhum, along with 3 building structures for care centre for elders and disabled senior citizens. Besides, the lab of applicant society is located in approx. 1000 sq. ft space at 6A, Malanga Lane, Kolkata-12, which has been taken on rent of Rs.28,000/- p.m. Various machines and equipments have been purchased for various research/testing etc. by the society at Rs.25 lakh. In addition, the donee has also incurred huge expenses or chemicals, Primars and other consumables for research work, salary and rent etc.
It was further, submitted that as the society had inadequate financial resources, it was made to understand by certain persons acting as mediators about a way of earning some income as commission through the route of giving accommodation entries for 'donations'. The Society was enticed into accepting cheques towards ‘donations' and refunding almost similar amounts by debiting the payments under various heads in books of account after retaining a certain margin of 3% to 8% towards service charges for itself. Owing to lack of financial flows and for the need for meeting their financial requirements, the Secretary and Treasurer of the Society accepted such ‘donations' during the F.Y. 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14, which were accommodating entries for ‘donations’ through mediators. The refunds were made by debiting the payments, mainly under the head Research & Development Expenditures and some other heads i.e. SHG Advances etc. in the books of account and returned to the ‘donors’.
It was also submitted before Settlement Commission that a survey operation under section 133A of the Act was carried out at the premises of the done Society at 6A, Malanga Lane, Kolkat-12 on 27.01.2015. During the course of survey following documents were found and impounded:- Name & Items Annexure Documents Documents Address found impounded School of Books of ‘A’ SHG/1 to SHG/1 to Human accounts SHG/8 and SHG/8 and Genetics & SHG/PD/1 SHG/PD/1 Population (one Pen (one Pen Health, Drive) Drive) 6A, Malanga Cash ‘3’ Lane, Rs.82,400/- NIL Kolkata- Bank A/c. ‘2’ 700012 16 nos. NIL Debit/Credit ‘4’ Card 4 nos. NIL 28. The main allegation and reason for the survey against the donee was that it had received huge amount of donations on which the applicant society earned service charges. During the survey operation, statements of the 32 Assessment Year: 2012-2013 & C.O. No. 13/KOL/2023 (in Shalimar Hatcheries Ltd. Secretary and the Treasurer of the Society were recorded in which they admitted the fact of accepting donations through certain mediators and refunding the same after keeping 3% - 8% as service charges for the society.
In 2019, one of us was posted ITAT, Ahmedabad Vice- President (Judicial Member), when first time such issue came up for consideration. Deduction of Rs.8,75,000/- was claimed by the assessee and we passed the order in ITA No. 1943/AHD/2017. This order was followed in ITA No. 2318 of 2017 since in the first appeal tax effect was less, therefore, it was not challenged by the Revenue before the Hon’ble High Court. However, the second order in the case of Principal CIT-3 –vs.- M/s. Thakkar Govindbhai Ganpatlal HUF was challenged before the Hon’ble High Court in Tax Appeal No. 881 of 2019. The Hon’ble Gujarat High Court has dismissed the appeal of Revenue and upheld the order of the ITAT. The Hon’ble High Court has reproduced the finding of the Tribunal recorded in paragraph no. 2, 4, 5 & 6 verbatim and thereafter held that no question of law is involved. This finding reads as under:- “6. Learned Senior Advocate Mr. M.R. Bhatt for the appellant submitted that there no appeal is filed by the Revenue against the decision of the Tribunal in the case of S.G. Vat Care Private Limited (supra). It would therefore be germane to refer to the following findings, given by the Tribunal in the case of S.G. Vat Care Private Limited (supra):- “2. In the first ground of appeal
, the grievance of the assessee is that the ld.CIT(A) has erred in confirming addition of Rs.8,75,000/- on account of alleged bogus donation to Herbicure Heathcare Bio-Herbal Research Foundation.
3. Brief facts of the case are that the assessee has filed return of income on 20.11.2014 declaring total income at Rs.4,47,9I0/-. On scrutiny of the accounts, it revealed that the assessee-company has given donation to Herbicure Healthcare Bio-Herbal Research Foundation, Calcutta. A survey action was carried out at the premises of the donee wherein it revealed to the Revenue that this concern was misusing the benefit of notification issued by the Income Tax Department. It has been getting donation from various sources, and after deducting certain amount of commission, these donations were refused in cash. On the basis of that survey report registration granted to its favour was cancelled. On the basis of the outcome of that 33 Assessment Year: 2012-2013 & C.O. No. 13/KOL/2023 (in Shalimar Hatcheries Ltd. survey report, the Id.AO construed the donation given by the assessee as bogus. Appeal to the ld.CIT(A) did not bring any relief to the assessee.
Before us, the !d. Counsel for the assessee contended that donations were given on 25.03.2014. At that point of time, donee was notified as eligible institution and fall within the statutory eligibility criterion. Certificate for receiving donation was cancelled on 6.9.2016. There is no mechanism with the assessee to verify whether such donee was a genuine institute or not, which can avail donation from the society.
5. The Id. DR, on the other hand, contended that in the investigation it came to know about bogus affairs conducted by the donee. Hence, these donations are rightly been treated as bogus, and addition is rightly made.
6. We have duly considered rival contentions and gone through the record carefully. The AO is harping upon an information supplied by the survey tern of Calcutta. He has not specifically recorded statement of representative of the donee. He has not brought on record a specific evidence wherein donee has deposed that donations received from the assessee was paid back in cash after deducting commission. On the basis of general information collected from the donee, the donation made by the assessee cannot be doubted. Neither representatives of the donee have been put to cross-examination, nor any specific reply deposing that such donation was not received, or if received the same was repaid in cash, has been brought on record. In the absence of such circumstances, donation given by the assessee to the donee, on which the assessee no mechanism to check the veracity, can be doubted, more particularly, when certificate to obtain donation has * been cancelled after two years of the payment of donation. It is fact which has been unearthed subsequent to the donations. Therefore, there cannot be any disallowance on this issue. We allow this ground”.
7. In the facts of the present case, the CIT(Appeals) has given the finding of the fact that the amount of 34
Assessment Year: 2012-2013 & C.O. No. 13/KOL/2023 (in Shalimar Hatcheries Ltd. donation was transferred to the Herbicure through Bank channel and there is no evidence that the same is returned back in cash. 8. It is also found that the Herbicure Foundation has confirmed that the amount has been utilized for scientific research vide confirmation dated 29.09.2016. Accordingly, the onus placed upon the assessee was discharged.