Case Law Details
CIT Vs R.S. Bajaj Society (Allahabad High Court)
The only ground on which the CIT rejected the application for registration was that though the society was established in August 2011 with a dominant object of imparting higher medical education by establishing Medical Colleges, Hospitals and Research Centres, such charitable activities had not still been commenced.
Where a trust, set up to achieve its objects of establishing educational institution, is in the process of establishing such institutions, and receives donations, the registration under section 12AA cannot be refused, on the ground that the trust has not yet commenced the charitable or religious activity. Any enquiry of the nature would amount to putting the cart before the horse. At this stage, only the genuineness of the objects has to be tested and not the activities, which have not commenced. The enquiry of the Commissioner of Income-tax at such preliminary stage should be restricted to the genuineness of the objects and not the activities unless such activities have commenced. The trust or society cannot claim exemption, unless it is registered under section 12AA of the Act and thus at that such initial stage the test of the genuineness of the activity cannot be a ground on which the registration may be refused.
FULL TEXT OF THE HIGH COURT ORDER / JUDGEMENT
The appeal by the revenue under Section 260-A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 arises from a judgement of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Lucknow Bench dated 7 August 2013.
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