ADIT (E)-II Vs. NAVI MUMBAI MERCHANTS GYMKHANA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE present appeal has been filed by the Revenue against the order of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) [(hereinafter referred to as CIT(A)] dated 15.10.12 relevant to assessment year 2009 -10. The Revenue has taken the following grounds of appeal:

(2.) THE brief facts are that the assessee trust, claiming itself to be a charitable trust, filed its return of income declaring the total income at nil. The Assessing Officer (hereinafter referred to as the AO) noticed that though the assessee trust was granted registration under section 12A of the Income Tax Act (hereinafter referred to as the Act), however, from the records it revealed that the assessee was imparting the facilities of playing cards and was also having permit room bar & restaurant for catering and soft drinks and was also having income from hiring of marriage hall/ground. The AO noticed that the above activities of the assessee trust were not charitable activities. He therefore called for an explanation from the assessee as to how the assessee was qualified for exemption under section 11 of the Act. The assessee's explanation before the AO was that the object of the assessee trust was to encourage, develop, extend and promote sports and recreational activities as well as social and friendly association, generally among the residents of Navi Mumbai. It was further submitted before the AO that the assessee trust was not involved in any activities in the nature of trade, commerce or business or any services in relation to any trade, commerce or business. The AO, however, was not satisfied with the explanation given by the assessee trust in this regard. He observed that as per income and expenditure accounts, activities of the assessee trust were different from the objects of the trust. The benefits of the trust were not available for all the persons of the society but to the limited persons i.e. members of the club house only. The club had been providing facilities of playing cards and was also having permit room bar & restaurant for catering and soft drinks and was also having income from hiring of marriage hall/ground which was totally systematic profit earning business of the assessee trust. During the financial year 2008 -09 the assessee had received royalty income of Rs.28,70,211/ - and income from other activities of Rs.47,85,514/ -. The entry in the club was not open to general public. High premium was being accepted from the persons for becoming the member of the club. The assessee had not carried out any activities which could be said to be of charitable in nature. The membership of the club, though open to public, was restricted in many ways and it was not easy to get membership of the club even for the persons who count in the society. He further observed that from the examination of the assessee's actual activities, it revealed that the predominant object of the assessee was to provide service to its members which do not constitute any charitable activity. He therefore held that the assessee was not entitled to exemption under section 11 of the Act. He held that the assessee trust was in fact not a charitable trust rather was a mutual organisation. He accordingly taxed the assessee's receipts from non members and other sources, such as dividend, interest etc. as income of the assessee during the year. He also noticed that the assessee had received royalty income from restaurant, decorators, halls, swimming pool, club house, collection of room rent, playing cards etc. and treated the said income of Rs.77,51,361/ - as business income of the assessee and taxed it accordingly. Aggrieved against the order of the AO, the assessee filed appeal before the ld. CIT(A).

(3.) WE have heard the ld. representatives of both the parties and also have gone through the records. So far the question of eligibility of the assessee trust under section 11 of the Act is concerned, we may observe that the assessee trust has been involved in providing sports and recreational facilities to its members only. The AO has given a categorical finding that though the membership of the club is open to public but it has been restricted in many ways and it is not easy to get membership of the club even for the persons who count in the society. Even the membership is offered on payment of very high premium. High class premium services, such as facility of liquor bar, playing cards, restaurant, marriage hall, catering services etc. have been provided to the members, which cannot be said to constitute any charitable activity. Services can be availed for consideration only by members who constitute high class, influential and rich persons that too on payment of high premium for getting membership of the club. Though the assessee club is also offering the facility of sports to its members that itself, cannot partake the character of charitable activity. It is not the case of the assessee trust that such sports activities areprovided or have resulted into any benefit to the public at large or any section of the society. The sports activities accompanied by facilities like liquor bar, playing cards, restaurant, marriage hall, catering services etc. limited to a certain group of persons i.e. members of the club cannot be said to be a charitable activity from which any benefit is derived by the public or section of the public rather the benefits are limited to high and rich distinguishable group of persons i.e. members of the club only. There is no element of charity involved in such an activity rather the activities of the club are meant for leisure and pleasure of the members of the club and the membership has been restricted to certain individuals not to any section of the society.