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2021 (11) TMI 1098
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.... Societies Act XXI of 1860 by the Registrar of Firms and Societies, Punjab, Chandigarh vide No.916 dated 10.10.1994. That the assessee's application for grant of registration u/s 12A of the Act as a charitable entity for the purpose of availing exemption, as per the provisions of section 11 of the Act, was initially rejected by the Ld.CIT-II, Jalandhar w.e.f. 2004-05 vide order dated 23.12.2013, which order was cancelled by the ITAT vide its order dated 29.09.2015 holding that the Ld.CIT had no powers for cancelling the registration. In this backdrop the assessment proceedings for the impugned year were undertaken, during the course of which the AO noted from the financial statement of the assessee society that it had earned income only by way of interest on FDRs and the expenditure incurred were related to administration expenses only. He, therefore, noted that the assessee had carried out no charitable activity, as listed in its objects, and accordingly proposed withdrawing exemption u/s 11 of the Act. A show cause notice was issued to the assessee, in response to which detailed reply was filed by the assessee stating that it had indulged in its stated objects and was maintaining....
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....tion of the surplus generated during the year in the status of AOP amounting to Rs.5,02,35,799/- was upheld. As for the addition made by the AO on account of non-utilization of the accumulated surplus pertaining to the assessment year 201011, the Ld.CIT(A) deleted the same noting the fact that the assessee had been denied exemption on the same in the said year also which had been confirmed in appeal by the Ld.CIT(A) and, therefore, taxing the accumulated surplus in the impugned year would tantamount to double addition. 4. Aggrieved by the same the assessee has come up in appeal before us raising the following grounds: l. That the Worthy CIT (A) has erred in confirming the stand of Learned A.O. that the appellant society was not doing any Charitable activity during the relevant previous year and erred in making addition of Rs.5,02,35,799/- on this account ; 2. That the Worthy CIT (A) has erred in confirming the Order of A.O. in assessing the income of the appellant society in the status of AOP. 3. That the Worthy CIT (A) has failed to appreciate that the Assessment order of learned A.O. is vague with regard to para 5.1 of the order in which A.O. at one ....
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.... the non adjudication by the Ld.CIT(A) of the ground raised by the assessee regarding AO's finding of violation by the assessee of the conditions prescribed for charitable entities u/s 13(1)(d) r.w.s. 11(5) of the Act resulting in denial of exemption u/s 11 of the Act. The additional grounds as is evident are relevant only if the assessee is held to be entitled to grant of exemption u/s 11 of the Act. Therefore, it is pertinent to adjudicate the main grounds raised by the assessee first before dealing with the additional grounds. 7. We have heard both the parties and have also carefully perused the orders of the Ld.CIT(A) and the AO. We have noted from the same that primary reason for denial of exemption u/s 11 of the Act is the categorical finding of fact, affirmed by the Ld.CIT(A), that the assessee was not carrying out any charitable activity whatsoever and the basis for arriving at this finding are as under: 1) The income and expenditure account of the assessee does not reveal any income earned from the charitable activity, nor does it reveal any expenditure incurred for the same. That the annual income reflected in the said financial statement pertains to interest ....
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....research in such branches of medical education and research & to induct advanced medical knowledge and techniques into our medical education system and to set tip Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences and Jalandhar as the institute may think fit and for the advancement of learning and dissemination of knowledge and patient care in such branches; (iv) To gel affiliation to the Medical Council of India or any other affiliating agency for the award of degrees, diplomas and certificates; (v) To institute and award fellowships, scholarships, prizes and medals in accordance with the Rules and Bye - laws; (vi) To confer honorary awards or other distinctions; (vii) To fix demand and receive such fees and other charges an may he laid down in the Bye-laws made under the rules of the Society. (viii) To established, maintain and manage halls and hostels for the residence of students: (ix) To provide for the maintenance of mils of the National Cadet corps when established for the students of the Institute; (x) To create administrative, teaching/non-- teaching and ministerial and other posts under the society and make appointments the....
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....tute such committee or committees as it any deem fit for the disposal of any business of the institute or for tendering advice inc any matter pertaining to the Institute; (xxii) To delegate any or all of its powers to the Governing Body of the Institute or to any of the committee or committees constituted by it; 10. Referring to the same he stated that besides the activity of administration and management of Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences, Jalandhar, the other objects of the assessee society include establishing, promoting, managing and associating with other institutions in Punjab devoted to education, training, research and related infrastructure in various branches of health sciences and such related objects. He thereafter pointed out that the assessee had been indulging in all the above charitable activities. To support his contention he stated that though undeniably the assessee has leased out the Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences premises at Jalandhar to a third party but it still exercised all control over its running and management, having clearly stipulated in the agreement parameters within which the institute was to be run by the third party, thus en....
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....d in the concession agreement. A steering committee (Chief Secretary Punjab chairman) as prescribed in the concession agreement to regulate the activities of the concessionaire and Concessioning authority and assist for approval of many activities in the hospitals or required to the concessionaire has also been in existence. The Concessioning Authority also approves the constituents (members) of concessionaire being prescribed in the concession agreement Therefore there are many such obligations and as such responsibilities etc. in the concession agreement for Concessioning authority i.e. PIMS Society Jalandhar which are being regularly undertaken by the PIMS. The part covering the above said terms and conditions in the Concessionaire agreement is being attached for your ready reference." 2. The copy of Concession Agreement dated 28.OK.2009 has already been filed before your goodself. The main points/articles of Concession agreement where your indulgence is sought are as under ; As per the Concession Agreement the consortium. Consortium (I'SP) has formed a society named as PIMS Medical & Education Charitable Society (PMEC Society) On the direction the....
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.... of project facility with other powers and duties having two representatives of Concessioning Authority, two representatives of Confirming party and one representative of the Concessionaire (article 29) The above main ingredients of Concession agreement prove that the agreement executed in transparent manner and keeping in view the fact that the Charitable purpose and objects of the society remain intact. 3. The AO wrongly observed in para 5.1 (last para of page 10 of assessment order ) of her order (hat Assessee is a basically a lessor. It was further wrongly observed that the assessee has claimed exemption u/s 10(23C)(vi), has earned systematic profits. The AO has held that the assessee society is not entitled for registration granted under Section I2AA(3) as the assessee society is not existing and working for the objects for which it was created as per MOA. 11. The Ld.Counsel for the assessee further contended that besides the above it was also brought out to the authorities below the various other charitable activities which the assessee had been indulging in over a number of years. Our attention was drawn to the submissions made by the assessee as under: ....
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....verning Body. In this regard extract of agenda and proceedings of 35l Governing Body meeting dated 5.5.2015 and agenda 36th Governing Body dated 1.12.2017 (which shows the latest status and funds provided to the projects) filed before Learned AO is attached. (Pages 1-14) iv. It is also submitted that income during the year has not only been spent on the administrative expenses but also on the projects i.e. Rs 27,61,055/- {Upgradation of Govl. Dental College (GDC) Arnritsar/Patiala and Nursing College and National Level Physiotherapy ^Workshop at Govt. Medical College (GMC) Paliala). Further more than 3 crore advance to M/s HSCC (supervising agency) with the project of Nursing College & National Level Physiotherapy workshop at GMC Patiala was also adjusted. Hence the belief of AO that the society spent whole of the amount on Administrative Expenses during FY 2014-15 is wrong. Copy of ledger accounts filed before Learned AO are attached at Pages 15-18. v. In FY 2014-15 the amount on the project could not be spent due to the reason the Income Tax department had issued the bank attachment notice n/s 281. All the bank accounts and FDR accounts having balances of Rs. 29....
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....ottayam-686 632 in ITA No.213 of 2013 delivered on 23.07.2018." Ld.DR further pointed out that the ITAT in the case of the assessee itself pertaining to A.Y 2006-07 had after taking note of the fact that since inception in 1994 the assessee had been indulging only in construction activity and had decided to hand over functioning of its medical college and hospital to a private society to be run on PPP mode, held that the assessee was not indulging in any charitable activity and was therefore not entitled to exemption u/s 11 of the Act. Copy of the order passed by the ITAT in ITA No.504 & 515/Chd/2009 dated 3112-2013 was placed before us. 14. We have heard the contentions of both the parties and perused the documents placed before us. The denial of exemption to the assessee society in the present case is for the reason that it was found to be not carrying out any charitable activities. Undoubtedly, the objective with which the assessee society was setup in 1994 was to establish and carry on the administration and management of Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences, Jalandhar, which the assessee claims to be carrying out through a concessionaire. Admittedly, as per the Concessio....
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....ge and hospital thereafter. The contention of the Ld.Counsel for the assessee that the terms of the concession agreement ensure that the medical college and hospital is run on charitable lines, is of no assistance to the assessee for strengthening its case of carrying out charitable activity on account of the fact that the medical infrastructure has been virtually sold by the assessee to a private party .How it is run will not change the fact that the assessee has virtually nothing to do with it. Nothing concrete has also been brought to our notice from the concession agreement demonstrating the right of the assessee to exercise substantial control over the medical infrastructure leased. Various case laws relied upon by the Ld.Counsel for the assessee to buttress its contention that it can be said to be carrying out its charitable activity through leasing also, all are distinguishable on account of the material fact of the lease being for a period of 99 years which dramatically changes the character of the transaction from a simplicitor lease to virtual sale. 17. Besides We have noted that the ITAT, in its order in the case of the assessee relating to A.Y. 2006-07 in ITA Nos.504....
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....000. In October, 1999, a master plan of Rs. 80 crores was approved and process of selecting a contractor was started. The plan proposed 150 MBBS students intake each year and an attached hospital of 1000 beds, though in a phased manner. The Society was granted registration u/s 12AA on 1.11.2000. In October, 2001 it was decided that the main source of funding would be development of around 104 acres of land purchased by PIMS from PAU for Rs. 15 crores. PUDA would develop and sell the land. In 2001, L&T was selected as the main contractor for the main building and the construction was started. In 2005-06, it was decided by the Governing Body to take the Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode for operationalising and managing the Institute. This has been finally achieved in August, 2009. 23. Keeping in view the facts narrated by learned CIT(A), it is admitted that the assessee-society has not yet started imparting medical education and the expenditure incurred during the year by the society was not for any other purpose other than setting up of the medical institute. He finally held that the expenditure incurred by the assessee-trust is for charitable purpose and the assessee-....
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....ed of the hour. Keeping in view the admitted position by the assessee in reply dated 19.12,2008 reproduced above, we are of the view that the motive of the assessee in prolonging the construction work of building of medical institution, is to give the assessee trust to run the medical college and other facilities on private public participation which the assessee-trust has achieved later on. Therefore, the assessee-trust has not applied any part of its income of the year for charitable purpose. Thus, the assessee trust is not entitled for any exemption, as claimed. .................................................... 26. Keeping in view the facts and circumstances of the present case, we are of the view that the assessee has not given any explanation as to why it has not taken any step for about 8 years from 10.10.1994 to 2002 to achieve the objects of the assessee-trust and also has not given any explanation regarding any charitable activities done by the assessee during these period except to spending time in construction of building for medical institute. As per para no. 4.4 at page 20 of the impugned order as well as the reply dated 19.12.2008 filed in respons....
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....essee never intended to carry out its stated charitable activity of running the medical college and hospital, and further in view of our findings above that the assessee had virtually sold its facility by leasing it out for 99 years and having no substantial control over it, we have no hesitation in agreeing with the Ld.CIT(A) that vis a vis the medical facility being run in PPP mode the assessee cannot be said to be carrying out any charitable activity. 19. The other contention of the Ld.Counsel for the assessee that it had amended its objects in 2009 and included therein funding of various medical projects in Government Medical College and Hospitals in Punjab and to which effect it had contributed over the years substantial sum of money, the Ld. DR has pointed out the fallacy in this argument of the Ld.Counsel for the assessee by drawing our attention to the Memorandum of Understanding the assessee society had entered into with Baba Farid University, filed alongwith submissions of the assessee dated 9/7/2019, where the assessee has contended to have utilized its funds for medical upgradation in the hospital run by it. The Ld. DR has pointed out that it was not simplicitor fund....