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2020 (1) TMI 831 - KARNATAKA HIGH COURTDeduction u/s 80P - Whether an entity registered under the Karnataka Souharda Sahakari Act, 1997 fits into the definition of “co-operative society” as enacted by sec. 2(19) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 for the purpose of Section 80P thereof?” - HELD THAT:- In both these definitions as defined by sec.2(d-2) of 1959 Act and Sec. 2(e) of 1997 Act the word ‘co-operative’ is employed not as an adjective but as a noun; the definition of other relative concepts in the dictionary clauses of these Acts strengthens this view; this apart, sec.7 of the 1997 Act provides that the entity registered as a ‘co-operative’ shall be a body corporate, notwithstanding the conspicuous absence of the word ‘society’ as a postfix; sec.9 of the 1959 Act makes the entity once registered u/s.8 thereof a body corporate; both the entities have perpetual succession by operation of law; thus on registration be it under the 1959 Act or the 1997 Act, a legal personality is donned by them, so that inter alia they can own and possess the property; The employment of the word “Sahakari” in the very title of the 1997 Act is also not sans any significance; ‘Sahakaar’ in Sanskrit is the equivalent of ‘sahakaara’ in Kannada which means ‘co-operation’; as already mentioned above both the 1959 Act and the 1997 Act employ this terminology; the 1997 Act is woven with the principles of co-operation; sec.4 of this Act bars registration of an entity unless its main objects are to serve the interest of the members in the area of co-operation and its bye-laws provide for economic and social betterment of its members through self-help & mutual aid in accordance with the cooperative principles; this apart, even sub-section (2) of sec.4 is heavily loaded with co-operative substance. These writ petitions succeed; a declaration is made to the effect that the entities registered under the Karnataka Souharda Sahakari Act, 1997 fit into the definition of “co-operative society” as enacted in sec.2(19) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 and therefore subject to all just exceptions, petitioners are entitled to stake their claim for the benefit of sec.80P - Decided in favour of assessee.
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