Thursday, June 19, 2014

ITAT finds objective of development and propagation of Islam as ‘charitable’; registration allowed


Facts:

a)The assessee-Waqf (Shia Dawoodi Bohra Jamaat Waqf) was created vide indenture dated 9-7-1920 and was duly constituted waqf under Waqf Act, 1995.

b)It applied for registration under section 12AA. The DIT(E) denied registration on ground that assessee was not brought into existence either as trust or society.

c)The Aggrieved-assessee filed the instant appeal.

The Tribunal held in favour of assessee as under:

1)The object of assessee-Waqf was as under:

a)To advance, promote, propagate and preach the religion of Islam amongst the Dawood Bohras,

b)To develop, expand, renovate and maintain masjids, madresa, jamatkhanas, etc.

2)Waqf was created by Customs and tenants of Dawoodi Bohra community well before the enactment of the Income Tax Act, 1961. As the Waqf was existing prior to Income-tax Act, 1961, the object beneficial to a section of the public was an object of "general public utility".

3)To serve as a charitable purpose, it was not necessary that the object must be to serve the whole mankind or all persons living in a country or province. Even if a section of the public is benefited, it cannot be said that it is not a trust for charitable purpose in the interest of public.

4)For granting registration it would be sufficient if the object was beneficial to a section of the public, who were Muslims. Thus, there was no merit in the order of the DIT(E) for denial of registration under section 12AA. - SHIA DAWOODI BOHRA JAMAAT WAQF V. DIT(E) [2014] 45 taxmann.com 340 (Kolkata - Trib.)