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2015 (9) TMI 558 - DELHI HIGH COURTScope of Section 115 BBC on trust - Registration under Section 12A denied - receipt of anonymous donations - whether the case of the Assessee is clearly hit by the provision of Section 115BBC? - the case of the Assessee is not of public religious trust but a case of spiritual organization as held by AO - Penalty proceedings under Section 271(1)(c) were directed to be initiated separately - ITAT allowing the Assessee’s appeal concluded that the Revenue had wrongly applied Section 115 BBC of the Act to the case of the Assessee and accepting that the Assessee-Trust was carrying out various religious activities Held that:- What can constitute religious activity in the context of the Hindu religion need not be confined the activities incidental to a place of worship like a temple. The Supreme Court in The Commissioner, Hindu Religious Endowments, Madras v. Sri Lakshmindra Thirtha Swamiar [1954 (4) TMI 29 - SUPREME COURT] held that “a religious denomination or organization enjoys complete autonomy in the matter of deciding as to what rites and ceremonies are essential according to the tenets of the religion they hold and no outside authority has any jurisdiction to interfere with their decision in such matters.” It might well be that a Hindu religious institution like the Assessee is also engaged in charitable activities which are very much part of religious activity. In carrying on charitable activities along with organising of spiritual lectures, the Assessee by no means ceases to be a religious institution. The activities described by the Assessee as having been undertaken by it during the AY in question can be included in the broad conspectus of Hindu religious activity when viewed in the context of the objects of the Trust and its activities in general. No legal infirmity in the conclusion of the ITAT that for the purpose of Section 115 BBC (2) (a) anonymous donations received by the Assessee would qualify for deduction and it cannot be included in its assessable income. - Decided against revenue.
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