216 Days undue Delay in Filing ITR by Co-Op Society: Madras HC dismisses Petition Claiming 80P Deduction

The Madras High Court dismissed a cooperative society’s petition for claiming deductions under Section 80P of the Income Tax Act due to a 216-day delay in filing its Income Tax Return (ITR). The court found no genuine hardship justifying the delay and ruled that the society was not entitled to the deduction. The society had argued that the delay was due to unavoidable circumstances, but the court held that the reasons provided were not sufficient to warrant an extension of the filing deadline. This ruling emphasizes the importance of timely filing of tax returns and the strict adherence to deadlines for claiming deductions.