Home Case Index All Cases Income Tax Income Tax + AT Income Tax - 2024 (1) TMI AT This
Forgot password New User/ Regiser ⇒ Register to get Live Demo
2024 (1) TMI 998 - ITAT BANGALOREExemption u/s 11 - cancelling registration granted u/s 12AA/12AB of the Act by invoking the provisions of section 12AB(4)(ii) of the Act with retrospective effect - main contention of the ld. A.R. is that the ld. PCIT has cancelled the registration granted to the assessee w.e.f. the previous year i.e. 2020-21 relevant to assessment year 2021-22 by applying the provisions as stood on 12.5.2023, which cannot be applied for the violations of the provisions of section 12AA or 12AB of the Act - HELD THAT:- In the present case, the ld. PCIT invoked the provisions of section 12AB(4)(a)(ii) of the Act as stood in the assessment year 2022-23. In the case of Isthmian Steamship Lines [1951 (11) TMI 1 - SUPREME COURT] wherein the Hon’ble Supreme Court held that “it is a cardinal principle of the tax law that law to be applied is that in force in the assessment year unless otherwise provided expressly or by necessary implication”. Being so, we find force in the argument of ld. A.R. that in income-tax matters, law to be applied is the law in force in the assessment year unless otherwise stated or implied. In the present case, ld. PCIT is cancelling the registration granted u/s 12AA/12AB of the Act w.e.f. previous year 2020-21 relevant to assessment year 2021-22. In our opinion, the law as stated in the assessment year 2021-22 is to be applied and not the law as stood in the assessment year 2022-23. Thus we are of the view that no retrospective cancellation could be made u/s 12AB(4)(ii) of the Act as it has been provided or is seen to have explicitly provided to have a retrospective character or intended. Therefore, without a specific mention of the amended provisions to operate retrospectively, no cancellation for the earlier years could be made. PCIT has cancelled the registration under the new provisions of the Act i.e. 12AB(4)(ii) of the Act, which specifically provides that cancellation can be done for such previous year and all subsequent previous years, which makes it clear that the cancellation cannot be retrospective, therefore, in view of the above discussion, we are of the opinion that cancellation of registration with retrospective effect is invalid in these cases. Since the ld. PCIT invoked the provisions of section 12AB(4)(ii) of the Act, which has been introduced by the Finance Act, 2022 w.e.f. 1.4.2022 so as to cancel the registration with retrospective effect from assessment year 2021-22, which is bad in law. We also note that same view has been taken by Coordinate bench of Mumbai in the case of Heard Foundation of India in ITA No.1524/Mum/2023 vide order dated 27.7.2023, wherein held that registration granted u/s 12A of the Act dated 21.7.1989 cannot be cancelled by ld. PCIT (Central) vide order dated 6.3.2023 w.e.f. assessment year 2016-17, by invoking the provisions of section 12AB(4)(ii) of the Act. Accordingly, we allow the primary ground and order of ld. PCIT passed u/s 12AB(4)(ii) of the Act is quashed. Appeals of the assessee are allowed.
|