Priests, nuns in aided schools must pay income tax on salaries: Supreme Court
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has upheld a Madras High Court decision, ruling that salaries of priests and nuns working as teachers in government-aided schools are subject to income tax. Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, along with Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, dismissed an appeal challenging the taxation, stating that salary grants provided to schools cannot be exempt from Tax Deducted at Source (TDS).
The case initially saw a single judge in the Madras High Court rule that priests and nuns should be exempt from income tax, as per canon law, with the income directed to their diocese rather than personally retained. However, a division bench reversed this in 2019, leading to the current appeal in the Supreme Court.
During proceedings, Senior Advocate Arvind Datar argued that the funds bypassed the schools and went directly to dioceses, registered as charitable trusts under the Income Tax Act. However, the bench maintained that the government disburses funds to schools as salaries, making TDS mandatory.
Responding to arguments on the vows of poverty taken by priests and nuns, CJI Chandrachud stated that religious vows do not alter employment tax obligations, stressing that tax law applies uniformly. Despite references to past practices exempting priests from tax, the Supreme Court ruled that TDS deductions would apply, permitting priests and nuns to file for refunds if eligible.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
TV actor Nitin Chauhan commits suicide in Mumbai apartment
Mumbai, Nov 8: Actor Nitin Chauhan, known for his participation in MTV Splitsvilla and role in Crime Patrol, passed away at 35.
Nitin was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his apartment in the Yashodham area on Wednesday, an official said.
Chauhan had been suffering from depression for the last couple of years, as he was unable to find work in television and films, he said, adding that he was undergoing treatment for the condition.
Chauhan's wife had taken their daughter to a park. She found the flat locked from the inside, and she didn't get any response from him, the official said.
She eventually managed to enter the flat and found him hanging, he said.
The actor was rushed to a hospital in an ambulance, but doctors declared him dead, the official said, adding that a case of accidental death was registered.
