IN THE INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL HYDERABAD BENCHES “B” : HYDERABAD BEFORE S/SHRI B. RAMAKOTAIAH, A.M. & SAKTIJIT DEY, J.M. ITA.No.1645/Hyd/2013 Assessment Year 2007-2008 Asst. Director of Income Tax, (Exemptions)-I, Hyderabad. (Appellant) vs. Hyderabad Study Circle Hyderabad. PAN AAATT1873G (Respondent) Cross Objection No.23/Hyd/2014 Arising out of ITA.No.1645/Hyd/2013 – Assessment Year 2007-2008 Hyderabad Study Circle Hyderabad. PAN AAATT1873G vs. (Cross Objector) For Revenue For Assessee Asst. Director of Income Tax, (Exemptions)-I, Hyderabad. (Respondent) : Mr. Rajat Mitra : Mr. V. Raghavendra Rao Date of Hearing : 09.12.2014 Date of pronouncement : 30.01.2015 ORDER PER SAKTIJIT DEY, J.M. This appeal by the department is directed against the Order of the Ld. CIT(A)-IV, Hyderabad dated 06.09.2013 for the assessment year 2007-2008. Assessee has also filed cross objection against the same order of the Ld. CIT(A). 2 ITA.No.1645/Hyd/2013 & C.O.No.23/Hyd/2014 Hyderabad Study Circle, Hyderabad. ITA.No.1645/Hyd/2013 : 2. The Department has raised the following grounds : “1. The order of the Ld.CIT (Appeals) is erroneous both on facts and in law. 2. On the facts and in circumstances of the case and when the assessee is conducting only coaching classes for students for appearing in civil services examination, the Ld. CIT(Appeals) erred in holding that the assessee is eligible for exemption u/s.10(23C)(iiiad) of the LT Act, 1961. 3. The Ld. CIT(Appeals) ought to have appreciated that conducting only coaching classes for students to enable them for the purpose of appearing in civil services examination does not come under the purview of education as defined in Section 2(15) of the LT Act, 1961. 4. The Ld. CIT(Appeals) ought to have appreciated that the activity of coaching conducted by the assessee to enable students for appearing in competitive examination does not come under the ambit of education, having regard to the decision of Hon'ble Patna High Court in Bihar Institute of Mining & Mine Surveying Vs. CIT (1994) 208 ITR 608, and hence the assessee is not entitled to exemption u/s.10(23C)(iiiad) of the LT Act, 1961. 5. The Ld. CIT(Appeals) erred in law in holding that the net income is to be taxed when the gross receipts from fee collection, in the hands of the assessee, which constitutes its total income is taxable, as it is not entitled for exemption for the grounds of appeal raised above. 6. The Ld. CIT(Appeals) is not justified in deleting the disallowance of depreciation, when the assessee has debited a sum of Rs.3,64,941 in the Income & Expenditure Account and its income is not eligible for exemption u/s.10(23C)(iiiad) of the LT Act, 1961. 3 ITA.No.1645/Hyd/2013 & C.O.No.23/Hyd/2014 Hyderabad Study Circle, Hyderabad. 7. Any other ground that may be urged at the time of hearing”. 3. Grounds No. 1 and 7 being general grounds need not require special adjudication. Grounds No. 2, 3 and 4 are on the common issue of allowance of exemption under section 10(23C) (iiiad) of the Act. 3.1. Briefly the facts relevant to this issue are assessee a society registered under the Societies Registration Act was established in the year 1976. The objects of the society as noted by the A.O. is to promote literacy, scientific and other educational activities to undertake research programmes and to arrange training of local boys and girls appearing at the competitive examination held by UPSC, APPSC etc., As noted by the A.O. the main object of the assessee society is to encourage young men and women especially from Andhra Pradesh to take-up Civil Services as a career. For the year under consideration, assessee filed its return of income on 22.10.2007 declaring NIL income after claiming exemption under section 10(23C)(iiiad). During the scrutiny assessment proceeding, the A.O. after verification of the books of accounts and other information available on record observed that during the relevant financial year the assessee conducting coaching for students appearing for Civil Services Main, 2006, Civil Services – Prelims 2007 and Civil Services Crash Course (Prelims) has received the following amounts : (i) Fees of Rs.9,62,785 from 271 students appearing for C.S. Main 2006. (ii) Fees of Rs.6,78,785 from 212 students appearing for C.S. Preliminary 2007. 4 ITA.No.1645/Hyd/2013 & C.O.No.23/Hyd/2014 Hyderabad Study Circle, Hyderabad. (iii) 3.2. Fees of Rs.86,500 from 72 students appearing for C.S.Crash Course 2007. The A.O. was of the view that coaching students and preparing them for particular competitive examination does not partake the nature of imparting education. Hence, the assessee is not a charitable institution under section 2(15) of the Act. Accordingly, he issued a show cause notice to the assessee to explain why the exemption claimed should not be disallowed. Though, the assessee objected to the inference drawn by the A.O. by stating that it is eligible for exemption but the A.O. rejecting the claim of the assessee held that as assessee is a Coaching Institute giving coaching to students for various competitive examination and is not meant for imparting a systematic education, it cannot be classified as charitable institution. In this context, A.O. relied upon the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Sole Trustee, Loka Shikshana Trust vs. CIT 101 ITR 234 and some other decisions of the Supreme Court as well as other High Courts. Accordingly, the A.O. held that the total fees collected of Rs.17,28,070 from the students appearing for competitive examination is required to be brought to tax and treated it as income of the assessee for the impugned assessment year. 4. Being aggrieved of the addition made by the A.O. assessee preferred appeal before the Ld. CIT(A). In course of hearing of appeal before the First Appellate Authority, it was submitted by the assessee that the word ‘Education’ had not been defined in the Act, hence, should not be restricted to mere conventional or academic education. It was submitted, ‘Education’ includes vocational Education and training also. Assessee submitted, even as per the ratio laid down by the 5 ITA.No.1645/Hyd/2013 & C.O.No.23/Hyd/2014 Hyderabad Study Circle, Hyderabad. Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Sole Trustee, Loka Shikshana Trust vs. CIT (supra), the word ‘Education’ cannot be given a restrictive meaning. In support of such contention, assessee relied on number of decisions. Further, it was submitted by the assessee that as assessee’s claim of exemption under section 10(23C)(iiiad) had been granted for earlier assessment years, the rule of consistency demanded that it has to be allowed for the assessment year under consideration also. It was also submitted by the assessee that as it is also registered under section 12A of the Act, alternately, it should be allowed exemption under section 11 as its activities would also qualify as towards general public utility. In support of such contention, assessee also relied on number of decisions. Ld. CIT(A) after considering the submissions of the assessee in the context of facts and materials on record as well as on examining the ratio laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Sole Trustee, Loka Shikshana Trust vs. CIT (supra) observed as under : “4.4. While advocating a restrictive usage of the word 'education', the court excluded the education said to be provided by the 'great school of life'. It affirmed that 'the process of training and developing the knowledge, skill, mind and character of students by normal schooling' would be included in the term 'education'. The observation of the court that education connotes the whole course of scholastic instructions which the person has received indicates that the Court did not intend to give a narrow and pedantic sense to the word. 4.5. This view is also expressed in the following decisions : (i) DIT (Exemp) vs. National Safety Council [2008] 305 ITR 257 (Bom.) 6 ITA.No.1645/Hyd/2013 & C.O.No.23/Hyd/2014 Hyderabad Study Circle, Hyderabad. (ii) CIT vs. AMM Arunachalam Educational Society [2000] 243 ITR 229 (Mad.) (iii) Addl. CIT vs. Aditanar Educational Institution [1979] 118 ITR 235 (Mad.) (iv) Governing Body of Rangaraya Medical College vs. ITO [1979] 117 ITR 284 (AP) 4.6 Following these decisions, the courses imparted by the appellant do, therefore, fall within the concept of education. Education is no more to be understood as mere imparting the '3 R's i.e. reading, writing and arithmetic. In the case of CIT Vs. Sri Lal Bahadur Shastri Educational Society [2001] 252 ITR 837 (Raj), the Gujarat High Court considered the educational institution, running a stone crushing unit under the scheme of Central Social Welfare Board intended to provide employment to poor women belonging to backward community, as a public charitable society engaged in imparting education. The engaging of students in manufacturing of furnace and stone crushing activities, which made them self reliant, was considered as an educational activity. In the case of Gujarat State Co-op Union Vs. CIT [1992] 195 ITR 279 (Guj), an institution conducting Diploma Certificate and Orientation Courses in Cooperation and Banking was found by the Court to be eligible for exemption as an educational institution. Similarly, in the case of CIT Vs. Sri Ram Educational Foundation [2001] 250 ITR 504 (Del), a vocational training centre was considered as an educational institution, by placing reliance on the decision in the case of Addl. CIT Vs. Surat Art Silk cloth Manufacturers Association [1980] 121 ITR 1 (SC). 4.7. There is no dispute that the appellant is engaged in providing training and skills focused at enabling its 'students' to obtain jobs through cometitive examinations. The appellant is also doing it in a systematic and structured manner. Award of formal degrees or certificates at the culmination of the Training Programme is not a mandatory requirement for qualifying as 'education'. 7 ITA.No.1645/Hyd/2013 & C.O.No.23/Hyd/2014 Hyderabad Study Circle, Hyderabad. 4.8. I, therefore, appellant fall in the which the appellant u/s 10(23C)(iiiad). issue.” 5. hold that the activities of the realm of 'education' as a result of is held to be eligible for exemption The appeal is allowed on this Being aggrieved, the department is in appeal before us. Ld. D.R. supporting the view of the A.O. submitted that as the assessee is only running a coaching centre, it cannot be considered to be imparting education so as to consider its activities to be towards charitable purpose as defined under section 2(15) of the Act. Therefore, assessee cannot be granted exemption under section 10(23C) (iiiad). 6. Learned A.R. on the other hand strongly supporting the finding of the Ld. CIT(A) on this issue submitted that as the activity carried on by the assessee cannot be anything else except imparting of education, assessee is eligible for exemption under section 10(23C)(iiiad). It was submitted that education cannot be given a restricted meaning to mean that only education imparted in schools and colleges or universities are to be treated as to fulfill the criteria of charitable purpose as defined under section 2(15). The learned A.R. submitted that as the activity of the assessee as per its objects, is also in the nature of imparting education through process of training for developing the knowledge, skill, mind and character of the students, it has to be considered as ‘education’ as envisaged under section 2(15) of the Act. In support of its contention, the learned A.R. relied upon the following decisions : 1. ICAI Accounting Research Foundation & another vs. Director General of Income Tax (Exemptions) and others (2010) 321 ITR 73 (Del.) 8 ITA.No.1645/Hyd/2013 & C.O.No.23/Hyd/2014 Hyderabad Study Circle, Hyderabad. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. Director of Income Tax (Exemptions) vs. National Safety Council (2008) 305 ITR 257 (Bom.) DIT vs. Indo-Soviet Medicare & Research Foundation (2005) 146 Taxman 384 (Del.) CIT vs. A.M.M. Arunachalam Educational Society (2000) 243 ITR 229 (Mad.) Gujarat State Cooperative Union vs. CIT (1992) 195 ITR 279 (Guj.) CIT vs. Academy of General Education, Manipal (1984) 150 ITR 135 (Kar.) Addl. CIT vs. Aditanar Educational Institution (1979) 118 ITR 235 (Mad.) ICAI vs. DGIT (E) (2012) 347 ITR 99 (Del.) Indo-American Society vs. ADIT (E) (2005) 278 ITR (A.T.) 49 (ITAT) (Mum.) CIT vs. Shri Ram Education Foundation (2001) 250 ITR 504 (Del.) Victoria Technical Institute vs. CIT (1991) 188 ITR 57 (SC) Addl. CIT vs. Surat Art Silk Cloth Manufacturers Association (1980) 121 ITR 1 (SC) ITO vs. SRM Foundation of India (1988) 30 TTJ 283 (ITAT) (Del.) Spectra Shares & Scrips P. Ltd., vs. CIT (2013) 354 ITR 35 (A.P.). CIT vs. Hindusthan Motors Ltd., (1991) 192 ITR 619 (Cal.) CIT vs. Dalmia Dadri Cement Ltd., (1970) 77 ITR 410 (P & H). DDIT (E)-I, Hyderabad vs. Kamineni Educational Society, Hyderabad ITAT, Hyderabad ‘B’ Bench ITA.No. 807 to 809/Hyd/2010 dated 03.09.2010. 6.1. is Learned A.R. submitted, for that matter, assessee also conducting MCA course. Learned A.R. further submitted that even otherwise also the objects of the assessee having been found to be of charitable nature, the assessee has been granted registration under section 12A of the Act from the date of its establishment which proves the fact that assessee is a charitable institution existing for charitable purpose as defined under section 2(15) of the Act. Therefore, till such registration continues and assessee carries on 9 ITA.No.1645/Hyd/2013 & C.O.No.23/Hyd/2014 Hyderabad Study Circle, Hyderabad. activities as per its objects, the A.O. cannot treat the assessee not to be a charitable institution. Further, the learned A.R. submitted that from the date of its inception, assessee has been granted exemption as a charitable institution in preceding assessment years and as per rule of consistency, the same view should have been followed in the present assessment year also. In support of such argument, learned A.R. relied on the following decisions : 7. (i) Spectra Shares & Scrips P. Ltd., vs. CIT (2013) 354 ITR 35 (A.P.) (ii) CIT vs. Hindustan Motors Ltd., (1991) 192 ITR 619 (Kol.) (iii) CIT vs. Dalmia Dadri Cement Ltd., (1970) 77 ITR 410 (P & H). We have considered the submissions of the parties and perused the material on record as well as orders of the revenue authorities. We have also applied our mind to the decisions placed before us. Undisputed facts are, assessee was established as a society as early as in December, 1976 and is registered under the Societies Act. It is also not in dispute that assessee has been granted registration under section 12A of the Act by the Commissioner of Income Tax vide order dated 23.09.1978 which pre-supposes that assessee’s objects being of charitable nature, assessee was granted registration as a charitable institution. Keeping in view the aforecited factual position, let us examine the facts of the case. The objects of the assessee society as per its bye laws are as under : “The aims and objectives of the society are as follows: a. To promote literary, scientific and other educational activities among local young men and women. 10 ITA.No.1645/Hyd/2013 & C.O.No.23/Hyd/2014 Hyderabad Study Circle, Hyderabad. b. To be a Centre for Research in Academic, Administrative, Educational and Management fields with a view to contributing to improvement in the systems, methods thereof. c. To promote, integration and dissemination of knowledge in various fields of human activity related to academic, education, management and administrative fields and other programmes. d. To undertake Research, Organisational and Developmental Programmes on contract with Government, Public or Private Agencies. e. To Organise and promote such other related activities as would help the achievement of its objectives; and f. To arrange for the training of local boys and girls appearing at the competitive examination held by the Union Public Service ·Commission, the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission, the Public Service Commissions of other States, National or Regional Bodies for appointment to the Banking Institutions and other Organisations. g. To make donations, contributions and give subscriptions to Charitable Institutions promoting educational or literacy activities. h. To establish, maintain, run, develop, improve, extend, grant donate, for and to aid in the establishment, maintenance, improvement and extension of Schools, colleges, polytechnics and other educational institutions, including Vocational training centers, research centers, foundations and adult education Centers and hostels for students. 8. The A.O. while examining the books of accounts and other information available on record has not found any material to suggest that assessee has undertaken activities contrary to its aims and objects. The only reason on which the A.O. has come to conclusion that it is not eligible for exemption under section 10(23C)(iiiad) is that since the assessee is engaged in coaching students for competitive 11 ITA.No.1645/Hyd/2013 & C.O.No.23/Hyd/2014 Hyderabad Study Circle, Hyderabad. examination, the said activity does not partake the nature of imparting education. Hence, is not within the meaning of charitable purpose under section 2(15) of the Act. The A.O. has also observed that assessee cannot be classified as charitable institution for that very reason. However, on examination of the definition ‘charitable purpose’, it is clear that education is one of the activity coming within the meaning of charitable purpose. Though it is a fact that the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Sole Trustee, Loka Shikshana Trust vs. CIT (supra) has observed that ‘education’ as used in section 2(15) of the Act cannot be construed to be in a very wide and extended sense but the said decision cannot be interpreted in a manner to mean that the expression education envisaged under section 2(15) has to be given a restricted meaning and would only mean the education as imparted in schools and colleges. Therefore, if education is considered to mean training and developing the skill, knowledge, mind and character of students, then the activity of the assessee can be termed to be coming within the expression ‘education’ as used in section 2(15) of the Act. Moreover, the provision contained under section 10(23C)(iiiad) used the words “Any University or other Educational Institution” solely for educational purpose and not for the purpose of profit. If we consider the activities of the assessee as enumerated in the aims and objects then it has to be considered as other educational institution existing solely for educational purpose and without profit motive. Therefore, considered in the aforecited perspective and keeping in view the ratio laid down in the decisions referred to by the learned A.R. and relied upon by the learned CIT(A), the assessee would be eligible for exemption under section 10(23C)(iiiad). Further, from the facts and materials placed on record, it is very much 12 ITA.No.1645/Hyd/2013 & C.O.No.23/Hyd/2014 Hyderabad Study Circle, Hyderabad. evident that from its inception assessee has been claiming exemption and the department has also accepted such claim of the assessee in successive assessment years. Perusal of the assessment orders passed under section 143(3) of the Act for the assessment years establishes this fact. 1997-98 and 1999-2000 clearly Moreover, even in the succeeding assessment year also i.e., assessment years 2010-2011 and 2011-2012, A.O. has allowed claim of exemption under section 10(23C)(iiiad) after examining the issue in detail. Therefore, when the department has over the years accepted assessee’s claim of exemption under section 10(23C)(iiiad), there is no reason why a different view should be taken in the impugned assessment year. Though, principles of res judicata does not apply to tax proceedings as each assessment year is a independent unit, but as held by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Radhasoami Satsang (193 ITR 321) where a fundamental aspect permeating through the different assessment years has been found as a fact one way or the other and parties have allowed that position to be sustained by not challenging the order it would not at all be appropriate to allow the position to change in a subsequent year. The Hon’ble jurisdictional High Court while following the aforecited principle laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in case of Spectra Shares and Scrips vs. CIT (supra) held as under : “In view of the above, we hold that the respondent cannot under section 263 interfere on an issue which has been accepted by the Revenue for a number of years particularly, when the A.O. in the assessment order for the A.Y. 2006-07 takes the same view by terming it erroneous” 8.1. Though the same view has been expressed in other decisions referred to by the learned A.R. it is not necessary to 13 ITA.No.1645/Hyd/2013 & C.O.No.23/Hyd/2014 Hyderabad Study Circle, Hyderabad. refer to all of them as the principle in this regard is a well known. At this juncture, it will be pertinent to mention here that in A.Y. 2004-05 also while completing the assessment under section 143(3), the A.O. had accepted assessee’s claim of exemption. Subsequently, on the basis of audit report, the A.O. reopened the assessment under section 147 and passed the assessment order holding that assessee is not eligible for exemption under section 10(23C)(iiiad). However, when the assessee carried an appeal to the Tribunal, the Tribunal vide order dated 13.05.2011 in ITA.No.1468/Hyd/2010 held reopening of assessment to be invalid as the A.O. in original assessment has examined the issue relating to claim of exemption and there was no change in circumstances or fresh material before the A.O. for reopening the assessment. It is interesting to note that not only the A.O. who reopened the assessment, is the same who has passed the assessment order for the impugned assessment year, but the assessment order passed for the impugned assessment year is almost a replica of the assessment order passed under section 143(3) read with section 147 for the assessment year 2004-05 a copy of which has been placed in assessee’s paper book. In these circumstances, it is not difficult to understand why the A.O. in the impugned assessment year has taken such a view. However, when department has accepted assessee’s claim of exemption not only in the preceding assessment years but also in subsequent assessment years, latest being assessment years 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 under similar facts and circumstances, a contrary view should not be taken. One more aspect which needs to be looked into is, there is no dispute that assessee is registered under section 12A of the Act and the registration granted also continues till date. That being the 14 ITA.No.1645/Hyd/2013 & C.O.No.23/Hyd/2014 Hyderabad Study Circle, Hyderabad. case, there is no justification on the part of the A.O. to observe that the assessee cannot be treated as a charitable institution. Therefore, keeping in view the fact that assessee is registered as a charitable institution under section 12A of the Act, it can alternatively also claim exemption under section 11 of the Act. The A.O. while completing the assessment has totally ignored this aspect and has failed to examine whether the assessee is eligible for exemption under section 11 of the Act. For the aforestated reasons, we cannot therefore, accept the conclusion drawn by the A.O. while disallowing the claim of exemption. In the aforesaid view of the matter, we hold that Ld. CIT(A) was correct in allowing assessee’s claim of of exemption under section 10(23C)(iiiad). Accordingly, we uphold the order of Ld. CIT(A). Grounds No. 2, 3, and 4 of the department are dismissed. 9. Ground No.5 is with regard to finding of the Ld. CIT(A) that only the net income is to be taxed. Having heard the parties though we agree in principle with the observations made by the Ld. CIT(A) but since it is purely of academic interest, there is no need to adjudicate this ground. Accordingly, ground No.5 of the department is dismissed. 10. Ground No.6 is with regard to CIT(A) deleting the addition made on account of disallowance of depreciation. While completing the assessment, the A.O. disallowed depreciation of Rs.3,63,962 by observing that depreciation is not allowable for a capital asset whose entire cost of acquisition is either written off in the first year itself or the cost of acquisition is treated as application of income. Ld. CIT(A) deleted the addition by observing as under : 15 ITA.No.1645/Hyd/2013 & C.O.No.23/Hyd/2014 Hyderabad Study Circle, Hyderabad. “7.0 The eighth ground of appeal relates to the appellant's claim of depreciation. The AR, while agreeing in principle that depreciation is not allowable on capital assets the entire cost of acquisition of which has either been written off or been treated as application of income, has submitted that the appellant had not done either but had merely debited the depreciation to the Income and Expenditure account. I have verified the appellant's claim and find it to be factually correct. There is, therefore, no reason to disallow the appellant's claim of depreciation and the appeal is allowed on this issue”. 11. We have heard the parties and perused the materials on record. As can be seen Ld. CIT(A) has deleted the addition having found that assessee has neither written off the cost of acquisition nor has treated it as application of income. As the learned D.R. has not brought any material to controvert the aforesaid finding of the Ld. CIT(A), we do not find any infirmity in the order of the Ld. CIT(A). Accordingly, the same is upheld. 12. In the result, appeal of the department is dismissed. C.O.No.23/Hyd/2014 13. The assessee has filed the cross objection on the ground that Ld. CIT(A) should also have decided assessee’s claim of exemption under section 11 of the Act. Though, in principle, we agree with the assessee that it is eligible to claim exemption either under section 10(23C)(iiiad) or under section 11 considering the fact that registration has been granted under section 12A of the Act, however, since we have upheld the order of the Ld. CIT(A) allowing assessee’s claim of exemption under section 10(23C)(iiiad), the ground raised in the cross objection are reduced to mere academic interest. 16 ITA.No.1645/Hyd/2013 & C.O.No.23/Hyd/2014 Hyderabad Study Circle, Hyderabad. Hence, there is no necessity to adjudicate them. Accordingly, cross objection of the assessee is dismissed as infructuous. 14. To sum-up, appeal of the department and cross objection of the assessee are dismissed. Order pronounced in the open Court on 30.01.2015. Sd/(B. RAMAKOTAIAH) ACOUNTANT MEMBER Sd/(SAKTIJIT DEY) JUDICIALMEMBER Hyderabad, Dated 30th January, 2015 VBP/Copy to : 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Asst. Director of Income Tax (Exemptions)-I, 3rd Floor, Aayakar Bhavan, Basheerbagh, Hyderabad – 04. Hyderabad Study Circle, 1-2-365/25/1, Domalguda, Hyderabad. CIT(A)-IV, Hyderabad Director of Income Tax (Exemptions), Hyderabad. D.R. ITAT “B” Bench, Hyderabad.
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