Expansion of Scope for Cancellation of registration of the Trust or Institution u/s 12AA
Section 12AA of the Act prescribes for manner of granting registration in case of trust or institution for the purpose of availing exemption in respect of its income under section 11 of the Act, subject to conditions contained under sections 11, 12, 12AA and 13. Section 12AA also provides for manner of cancellation of said registration. This section provides that cancellation of registration can be on two grounds:
(a) the Principal Commissioner or the Commissioner is satisfied that activities of the exempt entity are not genuine or are not being carried out in accordance with its objects; and
(b) it is noticed that the activities of the exempt entity are being carried out in a manner that either whole or any part of its income would cease to be exempt.
In order to ensure that the trust or institution do not deviate from their objects, it is proposed to amend section 12AA of the Income-tax Act, so as to provide that, –
(i) at the time of granting the registration to a trust or institution, the Principal Commissioner or the Commissioner shall, inter alia, also satisfy himself about the compliance of the trust or institution to requirements of any other law which is material for the purpose of achieving its objects;
(ii) where a trust or an institution has been granted registration under clause (b) of sub-section (1) or has obtained registration at any time under section 12A and subsequently it is noticed that the trust or institution has violated requirements of any other law which was material for the purpose of achieving its objects, and the order, direction or decree, by whatever name called, holding that such violation has occurred, has either not been disputed or has attained finality, the Principal Commissioner or Commissioner may, by an order in writing, cancel the registration of such trust or institution after affording a reasonable opportunity of being heard.