SATYA RANI RAMPAL TRUST,CHANDIGARH vs. CIT EXEMPTIONS, CHANDIGARH

1. “That on the facts, circumstances and legal position of the case, the Worthy CIT(E) has erred in rejecting application moved seeking the approval u/s 80G(5), even when the appellant was eligible for the same.

That on law, facts and circumstances of the case, the order passed by Worthy CIT(E) deserves to be quashed since the same has been passed without affording reasonable opportunity of being heard to the appellant. 3. That the appellant craves leave for any addition, deletion or amendment in the grounds of appeal on or before the disposal of the same.”

During the course of hearing, the Ld. AR submitted that the assessee trust is duly registered under section 12AB of the Act and the present case relates to rejection of application filed by the assessee for seeking final registration under section 80G of the Act. It was submitted that after grant of the provisional approval under section 80G on 29/10/2021, the assessee applied for final registration in Form No. 10AB on 30/09/2022 and which has been rejected by the Ld. CIT(E) vide impugned exparte order dt. 19/01/2023. It was submitted that after filing of the application, the assessee did not received any notice either physically or o the registered email ID. It was further submitted that only on routine visit at the portal of the Income Tax Department for some other compliance in the month of October, 2023, that the assessee noticed the ex- parte order dt. 19/01/2023 having been passed under section 80G of the Act. It was submitted that on perusal of the order, it was noted that it talked about issuance of notices dt. 10/11/2022, 22/12/2022 and 11/01/2023 and none of these notices have been served either physically or on the registered email ID. It was submitted that even the order was uploaded on the IT Portal and was never communicated to the assessee. It was accordingly submitted that the assessee was therefore not aware any of the notices have been issued by the Ld. CIT(E) resulting in non-submission of the responses before him and even the impugned order was not received by the assessee which was only uploaded on the IT Portal. It was submitted that in recent decision of the Hon’ble Punjab & Haryana High Court in case of Munjal BCU Centre of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Vs. CIT(E) Chandigarh in CWP No. 21028/2023 dt. 04/03/2024, it was held that service of notice solely on IT portal is no service in accordance with the provision of Section 282(1) r.w.r 127 as the assessee cannot be presumed to have knowledge of the proceedings. It was accordingly submitted that there existed the reasonable and bonafide reason for non filing of submissions/documents before the Ld. CIT(E) and the same reasoning applies for the delay in filing the present appeal. In support, it was submitted that a duly sworn affidavit of founder of the assessee trust has been placed on record and it was submitted that the said delay is bonafide and without any intend to defraud the Revenue or to gain any undue benefit and the delay so happened in filing the appeal be condoned. It was submitted that the rejection of application for seeking approval under section 80G of the Act was highly unjustified and the matter may be remanded back to the file of the Ld. CIT(E) to decide the same afresh after providing reasonable opportunity to the assessee.

In his submission, the Ld. CIT/DR didn’t specifically contest the contents of the affidavit so submitted by the assessee and fairly submitted that the order has been passed ex-parte without going into the merits of the case. It was submitted that the Revenue has no objection where the matter is set aside to the file of the Ld. CIT(E).

After hearing both the parties and considering the material available on the record, we find that there exist reasonable cause for the delay in filing the present appeal due to non-service of the impugned order and as soon as the assessee became aware of the passing of the impugned order, steps were taken and the appeal was filed and accordingly, the delay is hereby condoned. Further, given that the matter has not been decided on merits and the assessee also deserve an opportunity to represent its case, the matter is set aside to the file of the Ld. CIT(E) to decide the same afresh as per the law after providing reasonable opportunity to the assessee. Needless to say, the assessee shall participate in the proceedings and file necessary submissions/documentation as so called for and/or as so advised.