Goa Industrial Development Corporation v. CIT (2020)421 ITR 676 /187 DTR 175/ 313 CTR 589 / 271 Taxman 58 (Bom.)(HC)

S. 12AA : Procedure for registration–Trust or institution- Charitable purpose-Cancellation of registration is held to be not valid- Orders made by the CIT and ITAT are quashed and the registration held by the GIDC is ordered to be revived. [S. 2(15), 11, 12A]

The appellant is a Statutory Corporation established under the Goa, Daman and Diu Industrial Development Corporation Act, 1965 (GIDC Act) with the object of securing orderly establishment in industrial areas and industrial estates and industries so that it results in the rapid and orderly establishment, growth and development of industries in Goa.  The CIT, withdrew the registration granted to the appellant by observing that it is crystal clear that the activities of the appellant are interconnected and interwoven with commerce or business  based on the proviso to S. 2(15) of the Act.  Order of the Tribunal is affirmed by the Tribunal. On appeal High court held that   there are no categorical findings that the activities of GIDC are not genuine or are not in accordance with the objects of the trust or the institution. Merely because, by reference to the amended provisions in S.  2(15), it may be possible to contend that the activities of GIDC are covered under the proviso, that, by itself, does not render the activities of GIDC as non-genuine activities so as to entitle the CIT to exercise powers under S. 12AA(3) of the said Act.   Accordingly the orders made by the CIT and ITAT are quashed and the registration held by the GIDC is ordered to be revived. (ITA No 2 of 2013 dt. 4-2 2020)