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TMI Blog2020 (7) TMI 42X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ected to give relief to the assessee on this issue. Order being pronounced after ninety (90) days of hearing - COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown - HELD THAT:- Taking note of the extraordinary situation in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown, the period of lockdown days need to be excluded. See case of DCIT vs. JSW Limited [ 2020 (5) TMI 359 - ITAT MUMBAI ] - Shri Waseem Ahmed, Accountant Member And Ms. Madhumita Roy, Judicial Member For the Appellant : Shri P. M. Mehta, AR For the Respondent : Shri Dileep Kumar, Sr. DR ORDER PER Ms. MADHUMITA ROY - JM: The instant Cross Objection filed by the assessee is directed against the order dated 05.01.2017 passed by the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) 9, Ahmedabad arising out of the order dated 07.01.2016 passed by the ITO(E), Ward-2, Ahmedabad under section 143(3) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred as to the Act ) for Assessment Year 2013-14. 2. The assessee has challenged the finding of the Ld. CIT(A) in upholding the finding of the Ld. AO in applying the last limp of the provision to Sec. 2(15) of the assessee trust considering the activities of the assessee trust as activated falling under the advancement ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... or the child. At the beginning, interactions are limited latter social interactions increase, and the process of socialization starts. Education is a part of child development. Though it started with the birth and lasted till the time of death, but formal education of language and others are being imparted in the school and colleges. Hostel is an essential institution for the students to stay in big cities and hostel plays an important role in education and training of these students. They provide residential opportunities for the students to continue the process of education. It is a place where students stay for pursuing formal education away from their homes. The concept of hostel is not only limited to place of residence, rather it is a human practical laboratory for development of students. It is a center of education. Students learn as much as from their teachers as well as fellows during hostel stay. It enriches understanding of the curriculum through analytical discussion amongst the students living in the hostels, and may contribute to character building as well. Students in hostel not only learn the theoretical material, they also learn how to enhance their personal abili ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... the students fall within the ambit of expression education employed in the main provision of section 2(15) then generation of surplus would be immaterial because ultimately is to be ascertained whether surplus is being used for the purpose of fulfilling all the objects of the trust or not. If the surplus is being applied on the objects of the trust or being accumulated as provided in the scheme, then nothing is to be taxable. On due analysis of record, we are of the view that the AO has unnecessarily created an artificial distinction. The assessee is not admitting other persons in the building. It is providing facility only to the students, and there are lots of rules and regulations, bye-laws for admitting students, according to their merits in education. Thus, taking into account overall facts and circumstances, we are of the view that the assessee is entitled for benefit of sections 11 and 12 of the Income Tax Act. If the assessee is entitled for benefit of sections 11 and 12, then the amount spent from the corpus fund for construction of building is also to be looked into with that angle. We set aside both the orders of the Revenue authorities and restore this issue to the fil ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ) be a day beyond a further period of 30 days and due notice of the day so fixed shall be given on the notice board. 8. Quite clearly, ordinarily the order on an appeal should be pronounced by the bench within no more than 90 days from the date of concluding the hearing. It is, however, important to note that the expression ordinarily has been used in the said rule itself. This rule was inserted as a result of directions of Hon ble jurisdictional High Court in the case of Shivsagar Veg Restaurant Vs ACIT [(2009) 317 ITR 433 (Bom)] wherein Their Lordships had, inter alia, directed that We, therefore, direct the President of the Appellate Tribunal to frame and lay down the guidelines in the similar lines as are laid down by the Apex Court in the case of Anil Rai (supra) and to issue appropriate administrative directions to all the Benches of the Tribunal in that behalf. We hope and trust that suitable guidelines shall be framed and issued by the President of the Appellate Tribunal within shortest reasonable time and followed strictly by all the Benches of the Tribunal. In the meanwhile(emphasis, by underlining, supplied by us now), all the revisional and appellate authorities under t ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... 20 till 30th April 2020 shall continue further till 15th June 2020 . It has been an unprecedented situation not only in India but all over the world. Government of India has, vide notification dated 19th February 2020, taken the stand that, the corona virus should be considered a case of natural calamity and FMC (i.e. force majeure clause) may be invoked, wherever considered appropriate, following the due procedure . The term force majeure has been defined in Black s Law Dictionary, as an event or effect that can be neither anticipated nor controlled When such is the position, and it is officially so notified by the Government of India and the Covid-19 epidemic has been notified as a disaster under the National Disaster Management Act, 2005, and also in the light of the discussions above, the period during which lockdown was in force can be anything but an ordinary period. 10. In the light of the above discussions, we are of the considered view that rather than taking a pedantic view of the rule requiring pronouncement of orders within 90 days, disregarding the important fact that the entire country was in lockdown, we should compute the period of 90 days by excluding at least the ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X
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