Case Law Details
ITO Vs Adhikar (ITAT Cuttack)
In the instant case, it is not in dispute that the assessee is engaged in the activity of Micro Finance. The Assessing Officer considered the same as non-charitable activity within the meaning of section 2(15) of the Act on the ground that the activities were carried out on commercial lines.
Cuttack Bench of the Tribunal in the case of Bharat Integrated Social v. CIT, Sambalpur [ITA NO.115/CTK/2011], wherein, it was held that the micro finance activity are per se charitable in nature and earning of interest was incidental in nature. The interest earned was also within permissible market rates, therefore, could not be treated as business of earning interest.
High Court of Bombay ruling in the case Commissioner of Income-tax v. Agricultural Produce and Market Committee [2007] TAXMAN 359 (BOM.). In this ruling, it was held that even if there was some profit in activity carried on by trust/institution, so long as dominant object was of general public utility.
The Hon’ble Supreme Court has emphatically clarified that the primary activity cannot be run for profit, once the primary activity is not run with profit motive the organization can have other activities which may generate profit. There is a fundamental difference between running the primary activity for profit and having incidental profit-making activities. In appellant’s case, micro finance is the primary activity under which profits are generated continuously and throughout the years.
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