Relief to Ram Janmabhoomi: Delhi HC stays CIC order asking CBDT to give Info on Trust; Tax of Rs.1800 Cr waived-off

Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has received significant tax relief from the Income Tax Department. The department has waived the 1800 crore tax imposed on the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. This was revealed during a recent meeting of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.

Trust General Secretary Champat Rai informed the trustees during the meeting that the fund dedication campaign would begin during the fiscal year 2020-21. (April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021). The temple construction fund dedication campaign ran from January 15 to February 27, 2021.

In 2021, the trust filed its income tax return. The amount deposited under this campaign was taxed by the Income Tax Department. According to departmental information, the trust stated that it is not possible to transfer the accounts of such a large campaign online. The trust answered all of the department’s questions, and the department issued an order to refund the amount deducted as TDS.

The Nidhi Samarpan Abhiyan was implemented across the country. In which more than 5500 crores were raised from devotees for the construction of the temple. Several months have passed since the campaign’s conclusion, but the trust has yet to receive audit reports from many districts across the country.

Also, Delhi High Court has stayed a CIIC order directing the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to provide information relating to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which is in charge of the construction and management of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The court granted the interim relief while noting that the CIC had failed to provide notice to the trust whose information was sought, as required by the RTI Act.