DIGNITY EDUCATION SOCIETY,RAIPUR vs. COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX(EXEMPTION), BHOPAL

The only issue assailed by the assessee in this appeal is on account of an order passed by ld. CIT(E) denying approval of u/s 80G of the Income Tax Act. The relevant fact as culled out from the order of ld. CIT(E) is as under:- The assessee filed an application for exemption 80G of the Act in form No. 10G on 28.06.2018. In order to verify the object and activities of the applicant and to ascertain the fulfilment of conditions mentioned u/s 80G, the applicant was given an opportunity of being heard by issue a notice dated 31.10.2018 fixing the hearing on 06.12.2018. In response, the assessee filed written submission and after going through the written submission the following deficiencies are noticed:- 1. No. Justification has been furnished to seek exemption u/s 80G even though the assessee Society is only engaged in educational activities and not

The assessee was vide e-mail dated 06/12/2018 asked to clarify/explain the above observations/deficiencies notices dated 12.12.2018. In response to above nothing has been heard from the assessee till date of passing of order by the ld. CIT(E). The ld. CIT(E) further observed that ld. JCIT and Assessing Officer vide report dated 04.12.2018 has also not recommended the case for approval u/s 80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961 on account of the following reasons. (i) The Society runs a college in the name of Dignity College of Architecture. The Society also generating surplus out of fees charged to students for providing education. (ii) The society is not involved in any other activities on mentioned in application Form 10G.

Further from the report of Income Tax Inspector and Assessing Officer, it has been observed that the society is not carrying out any other activities except running of Dignity College of Architecture. During the spot verification by the Income Tax Inspector, he found several discrepancies, i.e. no display of sign board of the society’s office. The Income Tax Inspector had also visited the college and as per his report dated 30.11.2018, when he asked about the Audited accounts for the Financial Year 2017-18, Shri Pramod Lunawat, the Director of the

The ld. CIT(E) has observed that details produced by the society reveals that society is charging sufficient fees from the students and also generating sufficient cash surplus as observed from the audited accounts for the Financial Years 2014-15, 2015-16 & 2016-17. In the terms of the above observations, the ld. CIT(E) has not granted approval to the society u/s 80G of the Act.

Aggrieved from the said order of the ld. CIT(E), the assessee is preferred in appeal before us and has raised the following grounds of appeal :- “1. That learned CIT erred in rejecting application for grant of approval u/s 80G of the Income-tax Act, 1961 of the society without considering the facts and circumstances of the case properly and judicially and without properly appreciating the materials furnished before him to prove that society is genuine and is engaged in charitable activities. 2. The appellant reserves the right to add, amend, or alter any ground or grounds of appeal at the time of hearing.”

During the course of hearing, the ld. AR appearing on behalf of the assessee submitted that the assessee trust is already accorded an approval u/s 12AA of the Income Tax Act vide No. registration number ITBA/EXM/S//12AA/2016-17/1000438830(1) dated 21/10/2016.

The ld. AR of the assessee also submitted that merely there is no sign board and inability of Director of Society to submit the audit report and the surplus accumulated by the assessee cannot be sufficient ground for rejection for approval u/s 80G of the Act. Since the assessee trust is already fulfilling all the requirement of section 12AA of the act and enjoying the benefit of section 12AA of the Act.

The reason placed while rejecting approval u/s. 80(G) of the Act are not sufficient to deny the recognition. Otherwise, the assessee trust is fulfilling all the conditions for registration under section 80(G) of the Act. The reasons based on which the recognition denied are not in accordance with the law. The ld. AR also produced before us the assessment order for Assessment Year 2016-17 wherein the ld. AO has granted benefit of registration u/s 12AA and there is no such adverse finding in the assessment order.

The ld. AR of the assessee submitted a copy of the decision of the Hon’ble Punjab and Haryana High Court in the case of CIT Vs. Rajmala Education Society [ 65 DTR 307 ] held that merely because there are some surplus with the respondent, this should not be a ground to deny the registration under section 80G(5)(vi) of the Act.

The ld. AR appeared on behalf of the assessee trust also placed before us the decision of the Co-ordinate Bench of this Tribunal wherein the Tribunal has observed that when the ld. CIT(E) has granted registration u/s 12AA after examination genuineness of activities of trust and the registration granted has not been revoked or cancelled than it is not proper for ld. CIT(E) to reject the application of trust for benefit of exemption u/s 80G by holding that the activities of the trust were not found eligible for approval u/s 80G of the Act. The relevant finding of the Co-ordinate Bench decision relied upon by the ld. AR is reproduced hereinbelow. “6. We have heard the rival submissions and perused the material available on record. The issue in present grounds is with respect to rejection of application u/s. 80G of the Act. Before us, the Ld. A.R. has submitted that assessee has been granted registration u/s. 12AA of the Act and the registration continues till date and the aforesaid registration has not been cancelled by the Commissioner of Income Tax. The aforesaid contention of the Ld. A.R. has not been controverted by the Revenue. We find that the Agra Bench of the Tribunal in the case of Dr. Gyanendra Goel Foundation Vs.

The decision of Co-ordinate Bench where the facts are similar and the ld. DR did not object to any of the argument raised by the ld. AR of the assessee and he has merely relied upon the order of ld. CIT(E) and also heavily relied upon the observations of the Inspector Income Tax, assessing officer and JCIT while giving findings to the ld. CIT(E).

We have heard both the parties, perused materials available on record. The order of the Co-ordinate Bench and arguments of ld. AR of the assessee we hold that the assessee is eligible for approval of 80G of the Act since their 12AA registration is granted and continue. Even the assessment proceedings for A. Y. 2016-17 completed with out any

In the result, the appeal of the assessee is allowed.