Now, get tax rebate on SGPC donations

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 17

After 37 years, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has been granted income tax exemption under Section 80G, enabling donors to claim rebate for donations in their returns.

Sec 80G applicable

Pilgrims who offer ‘daswand’ (10th part of their income) for services of the SGPC can avail tax rebate under the I-T Act

Relief after 37 years

• The SGPC had been struggling to get tax exemption under Section 80G since 1984
• Its plea for registration was rejected in 2009 as it was working for a ‘specific religion’
• It challenged the order and filed an appeal before the IT Appellate Tribunal, Amritsar
• The case was heard after 12 years and exemption was granted in favour of the SGPC

SGPC chief secretary Harjinder Singh Dhami, an advocate, said the SGPC had been struggling to get the recognition since 1984. “It was a long-pending demand, which has been fulfilled after several hiccups. Now, pilgrims who offer ‘daswand’ (10th part of their income) for the services of the SGPC can avail tax rebate under the Income Tax Act,” he said.

The SGPC had filed an application with the Commissioner of Income Tax, Amritsar, for registration under Section 80G, but it was rejected in 2009 with a perception that the committee was a religious body working for a particular religion (Sikhs).

The SGPC challenged the order and filed an appeal before the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Amritsar. After 12 years, the case was heard and Judicial Member Laliet Kumar and Accountant Member Dr ML Meena of Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Amritsar, granted exemption under Section 80G in favour of the SGPC.

The lawyers — senior advocate Prem Singh, Gunjeet Singh Syal and TS Aurora — convinced the jury that the SGPC was never created for the benefit of the Sikh religious community alone, but was in service of public at large as charitable activities were being provided without discrimination of religion, caste, creed, colour, sex and race.

The four doors of gurdwaras (including Darbar Sahib/Golden Temple) open out in four directions to welcome all without any discrimination of class or creed. Similarly, the services of ‘langar’ (cooked food from community kitchen), medical aid and rescue arrangements, free vaccination and oxygen supply during the times of crisis were offered without discrimination, he said.