The
Delhi High Court has stayed the income tax reassessment proceedings against NGO
Oxfam India.
The
court issued a notice to the Income Tax (I-T) Department and sought its
response to a petition filed by the NGO, challenging the notices and order
issued against it.
According
to records, a survey was conducted on the NGO on September 7, 2022 which led to
the initiation of the reassessment proceedings for the year 2016-17 and a
notice was issued to Oxfam on March 29 this year.
"A
counter affidavit will be filed within the next six weeks. Rejoinder thereto,
if any, will be filed at least five days before the next date of hearing. List
the matter on November 22, 2023," a bench of justices Rajiv Shakdher and
Girish Kathpalia said.
"In the meanwhile, there
shall be a stay on the continuation of the reassessment proceeding, till
further directions of the court, it said.
A notice was issued to the NGO
on March 29 under the provisions of the IT Act which triggered the reassessment
proceedings against the petitioner on the grounds that the petitioner was
allegedly engaged in litigation activities that were violative of Section 8(1)
of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA).