Saturday, March 02, 2024

HC junks CIC order to give info on tax exemptions to temple trust

Times of India: New Delhi: Saturday, 2 March 2024.
Delhi high court has set aside a Central Information Commission (CIC) order directing the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to furnish information on tax exemptions given to Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which is looking after construction and management of Ayodhya's Ram temple. The information was sought by one Kailash Chandra Moondra under Right To Information (RTI) Act.
Justice Subramonium Prasad, however, said it was always open to applicant (Moondhra) to approach the appropriate authority under Income Tax Act to seek the information.
HC had earlier this week allowed CBDT's petition challenging CIC's Nov 30, 2022, directive. CBDT, in its plea, sought quashing of CIC order, asking it to provide information to the RTI applicant within 15 days.
Contesting the CIC order, CBDT submitted before HC that the information about an assessee cannot be given under RTI Act in view of section 138(1)(b) of Income Tax Act.