NEW DELHI: In a setback to advocate Ritwick Dutta of ‘Lawyers Initiative for Environment’ (LIFE), the Supreme Court on Monday dismissed his challenge to income tax assessment of funds received by LIFE from US-based ‘EarthJustice’, which were camouflaged to be shown as legal fees but used for opposing thermal power plant projects in India.
Appearing for Dutta, senior advocate C U Singh and advocate Sachit Jolly, endeavoured to show to a bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra that these were declared as income and made subject to income tax assessment and hence there was no suppression of information.They also said that it was an attempt to harass an environmentalist.
For the IT department, solicitor general Tushar Mehta and advocate Zoheb Hossain gave details of the evidence collected by the IT department in the case. The department said LIFE received Rs 22 crore from EarthJustice in the last five years as professional fee.
“Funds made available by EarthJustice are apparently being used for objects other than the approved objects of LIFE and for activities such as for litigation against coal power plants in India routed through Ritwick Dutta who is the managing trustee of LIFE in the garb of professional fees, for activities which cannot be considered to be professional services rendered by Dutta to EarthJustice,” it said.
Even though EarthJustice was not part to any litigation handled by Dutta, he received nearly Rs 5…
Appearing for Dutta, senior advocate C U Singh and advocate Sachit Jolly, endeavoured to show to a bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra that these were declared as income and made subject to income tax assessment and hence there was no suppression of information.They also said that it was an attempt to harass an environmentalist.
For the IT department, solicitor general Tushar Mehta and advocate Zoheb Hossain gave details of the evidence collected by the IT department in the case. The department said LIFE received Rs 22 crore from EarthJustice in the last five years as professional fee.
“Funds made available by EarthJustice are apparently being used for objects other than the approved objects of LIFE and for activities such as for litigation against coal power plants in India routed through Ritwick Dutta who is the managing trustee of LIFE in the garb of professional fees, for activities which cannot be considered to be professional services rendered by Dutta to EarthJustice,” it said.
Even though EarthJustice was not part to any litigation handled by Dutta, he received nearly Rs 5…
