TaxTMI 
TaxTMI 
2024 (3) TMI 839
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....as the 'Act'). 2. No one has put on appearance on behalf of the assessee despite notice, however, since the issue is covered in favour of the assessee, therefore, we proceed to decide this appeal after hearing the ld. DR. 3. The brief facts of the case are that the assessee was already registered/approved u/s 80G of the Act as a charitable institution since 13.01.2012. However, an amendment was brought into the relevant provisions of Section 80G of the Act vide Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation and Amendment of Certain Provisions) Act, 2020 with effect from 01.04.2021 whereby, an institution, which has already been approved before the aforesaid amendment, was required to re-apply for grant of approval under Clause (i) of the First Provi....
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....iled on 10.02.2023 which was after the extended date of 30.09.2022. He, therefore, rejected the application of the assessee for final approval u/s 80G of the Act. 4. We have heard the ld. DR and gone through the record. Before proceeding further, it will be relevant to reproduce here the relevant provisions of section 80G(5) of the Act: "80G(5) This section applies to donations to any institution or fund referred to in sub-clause (iv) of clause (a) of sub-section (2), only if it is established in India for a charitable purpose and if it fulfils the following conditions, namely:- [(vi) in relation to donations made after the 31st day of March, 1992, the institution or fund is for the time being [approved by the Principal Commissioner or....
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....satisfy himself about- (A) the genuineness of activities of such institution or fund; and (B) the fulfilment of all the conditions laid down in clauses (i) to (v); (b) after satisfying himself about the genuineness of activities under item (A), and the fulfilment of all the conditions under item (B), of sub-clause (a),- (A) pass an order in writing granting it approval for a period of five years; or" Provided also that the approval granted under the second proviso shall apply to an institution or fund, where the application is made under- (a) clause (i) of the first proviso, from the assessment year from which approval was earlier granted to such institution or fund; (b) clause (iii) of the first proviso, from the first of the....
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....ld. CIT(Exemption) is supposed to make necessary enquiries and if found satisfied regarding the genuineness of the activities of such an institution would grant provisional approval for five years. In both the cases i.e. institutions which have been granted approval under Clause (i) or the institutions which have been granted approval under Clause (iv) to First Proviso to section 80G(5) of the Act have to apply for final registration under Clause (iii) of First Proviso to section 80G(5). Such institutions are required to apply for final registration at least six months prior to expiry of the period of provisional approval or within six months of commencement of its activities, whichever is earlier. In the case in hand, it appears that the a....
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....l registration was to be filed within six months from the commencement of its activities and therefore, the application of the assessee for final registration was time-barred, is concerned, we note that the issue has already been discussed and adjudicated by the Coordinate Bench of the Tribunal in the case of West Bengal Welfare Society vs. CIT(Exemption), Kolkata vide order dated 13.09.23 [one of us i.e. the Judicial Member herein, being the author of the said order], wherein, it has been held that the assessee, who has been granted provisional registration, is eligible to apply for final registration irrespective of the fact that the assessee had already commenced its activity even prior to the date of grant of provisional approval. The r....
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....application in the prescribed form for grant of final registration under Clause (iii) of 1st Proviso to section 80G(5) of the Act. In view of the above observations, the matter is restored the file of the CIT(E) for decision afresh in the light of the observations made above." 6. It is to be further noted here that the ld. CIT(Exemption) firstly misconstrued about the CBDT Circulars regarding the exemption of date for final applications for approval. The said Circular/time limits are applicable only for the institutions who stood already registered on the date of Amendment and have made application for renewal of the registration without any time break. However, the said last date which has been extended to 30.09.23 by CBDT Circular No.6....