9911796707
|
Home
Issues involved: Interpretation of whether the repayment of a debt incurred by a trust for the construction of a building should be treated as application of income for charitable purposes under section 11 of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
Judgment Summary: The case involved a trust that had constructed a building using accumulated income and borrowings, leasing it out and earning rental income. The trust paid a sum towards the debt incurred for the building's construction from the rental income. The assessing authority initially did not accept this as application of income for charitable purposes. The appellate authority, following a previous Tribunal decision, considered the repayment of the loan as application of income for charitable purposes. The Department appealed to the Tribunal, which held that the investment in the building was to augment trust income for charitable purposes, thus the debt repayment should be treated as such. The High Court considered whether the income or accumulated income of the trust was applied for charitable purposes, especially when investments were made in a building to increase income for the trust. Citing precedents, the Court held that if funds were used to construct a building to enhance trust income, it should be deemed as application of funds for the trust's purpose. Referring to decisions from Kerala and Madras High Courts, the Court affirmed that the repayment of debt for building construction should be treated as application of income for charitable purposes. Thus, the Court ruled in favor of the trust and against the Revenue Department.
|
