Case: Commissioner of Income Tax, Ujjain Vs. M/s. Dawoodi Bohara Jamat

section 11, the eligibility for claiming exemption ought to be tested on the touchstone of the provisions of section 13. In the instant case, it being established that the respondent-trust is a public charitable and religious trust eligible for claiming exemption under Section 11, it becomes relevant to test it on the anvil of Section 13. 43. Thus, the second issue which arises for our consideration and decision is, whet her the respondent-trust is a charitable and religious trust only for the purposes of a particular community and therefore, not eligible for exemption under Section 11 of the Act in view of provisions of Section 13 (1)(b) of the Act. 44. In the instant case, the Tribunal has found on facts after analysing the objects of the trust that the respondent-trust is a public religious trust and its objects are solely religious in nature and being of the opinion that Section 13 (l)(b) is solely meant for charitable trust for particular community, negated the possibility of applicability of Section 13 (1)(b) of the Act at the outset. The High Court has also confirmed the aforesaid view in appeal and observed that Section 13 (1)(b) would only be applicable in case of income of the trust for charitable purpose established for benefit of a particular religious community. In our considered view, the said view may not be the correct interpretation of the provision. 45. From the phraseology in clause (b) of section 13 (1), it could be inferred that the Legislature intended to include only the trusts established for charitable purposes. That however does not mean that if a trust is a composite one, that is one for both religious and charitable purposes, then it would not be covered by clause (b). What is intended to be excluded from being eligible for exemption under Section 11 is a trust for charitable purpose which is established for the benefit of any particular religious community or caste. 46. Such trusts with composite objects would not be expelled out of the purview of Section 13 (1)(b) per se. The Section requires it to be established that such charitable purpose is not for the benefit of a particular religious community or caste. That is to say, it needs to be examined whether such religious-charitable activity carried on by the trust only benefits a certain particular religious community or class or serves across the communities and for society at large. (Sole Trustee, Loka Shikshana Trust v. CIT, (1975) 101 ITR 234 (SC)). The section of community sought to be benefited must be either sufficiently defined or identifiable by a common quality of a public or impersonal nature. (CIT v. Andhra Chamber of Commerce, 55 ITR 722) . 47. This Court in CIT v. Palghat Shadi Mahal Trust, (2002) 9 SCC 685 the muslim residents of Kerala constituted a trust "for the purpose of constructing and establishing at Palghat-a-Shadi Mahal and other institutions for the educational, social and economic advancement of the Muslims and for religious and charitable objects recognised by Muslim law ..." and later clarified that the proceeds would be utilized for the benefit for public at large and upon this basis, the trust made a claim for exemption from tax under Section 11. This Court held that the resolution clarifying the object would not validly amend the object of the trust-deed and since the object confined the benefit to only muslim community, it would be covered by the restriction under Section 13 (1)(b) of the Act even though it functioned for public benefit. Thus, therein the object sufficiently defined or expressly stated beneficiary class and restricted the activities of the trust to a specific community. 48. Further, in State of Kerala v. M.P. Shanti Verma Jain, (1998) 5 SCC 63 this Court has held that propagation of religion and restriction of benefits of activities of trust in its objects to the said community would render the trust as ineligible for claiming exemption under similar provisions of Kerala Agricultural Income Tax Act, 1950. The Court observed as follows: "...The Deed of Trust and the rules run into more than thirty pages out of which six pages of the Trust Deed narrate the philosophy of Jain Dharma. The objects of the Trust clearly show that the Trust is meant for propagation of Jain religion and rendering help to the followers of Jain religion. Even medical aid and similar facilities are to be rendered to persons devoted to Jain religion and to non-Jains if suffering from ailments but the medical aid could be given to them only if any member of the families managing the Trust, shows sympathy and is interested in their treatment. The Tribunal, in our opinion, was right in its conclusion that the dominant purpose of the Trust in the present case was propagation of Jain religion and to serve its followers and any part of agricultural income of the Trust spent in the State of Kerala also could not be treated as allowable item of the expenses." 49. In the present case, the objects of the respondent-trust are based on religion tenets under Quran according to religious faith of Islam. We have already noticed that the perusal of the objects and purposes of the respondent-trust would clearly demonstrate that the activities of the trust though boll charitable and religious are not exclusively meant for a particular religious community The objects, as explained in the preceding paragraphs, do not channel the benefits to any community if not the Dawoodi Bohn Community and thus, would not fall under the provisions of Section 13 (1)(b) of the Act.50. In that view of the matter, we are of the considered opinion that the respondent-trust is a charitable and religious trust which does not benefit any specific religious community and therefore, it cannot be held that Section 13 (1)(b) of the Act would be attracted to the respondent-trust and thereby, it would be eligible to claim exemption under Section 11 of the Act. 51. In the result, the

Decision (1 = appeal accepted, 0 = rejected): 0

Explanation:
0[ds]49. In the present case, the objects of the respondent-trust are based on religion tenets under Quran according to religious faith of Islam. We have already noticed that the perusal of the objects and purposes of the respondent-trust would clearly demonstrate that the activities of the trust though boll charitable and religious are not exclusively meant for a particular religious community The objects, as explained in the preceding paragraphs, do not channel the benefits to any community if not the Dawoodi Bohn Community and thus, would not fall under the provisions of Section 13 (1)(b) of the Act.50. In that view of the matter, we are of the considered opinion that the respondent-trust is a charitable and religious trust which does not benefit any specific religious community and therefore, it cannot be held that Section 13 (1)(b) of the Act would be attracted to the respondent-trust and thereby, it would be eligible to claim exemption under Section 11 of the Act.