ABOUT INCOME TAX APPELLATE TRIBUNAL 
BAR ASSOCIATION

1. The Income-Tax Appellate Tribunal Bar Association was formed on 18th November 1965. It is worth noting that Shri G. A. Gaitonde the President of the Income-tax Appellate Tribunal was honorary President of the Income-tax Appellate Tribunal Bar Association and Shri N. A. Palkhivala as Vice-President. Shri N. A. Palkhivala took over as President of the Association in the year 1967 and ever since he is the President of the Association.

2. The members of the Bar include Advocates, Chartered Accountants and Tax Practitioners who are entitled to appear before the Income-tax Appellate Tribunal. At present there are about 350 members, who are appearing before the Income-tax Appellate Tribunal.

3. The activities of the Income-tax Tribunal Bar Association is mainly to provide library facilities to members. The libraries of the ITAT Bar Association is one of the finest library which subscribes for more than 13 tax magazines and journals. The library is fully air-conditioned. For setting up the library late Shri Chunilal Karsandas has given donation of Rs.25,000/- and D. M. Harish Foundation has provided two air-conditioners to the library.

4. The Income-tax Appellate Tribunal Bar Association makes representation mainly in respect of issues relating to Income-tax Appellate Tribunal to various authorities. The Income-tax Appellate Tribunal has always acted for Judicial independence of Income-tax Appellate Tribunal when there was a threat of interference of executives in the administration of Justice. The Bar Association has filed public interest petition before the Bombay High Court. Recent judgement of the Supreme Court in contempt proceedings in outcome of the Public Interest Petition filed by our Association.

5. When there was a move to shift head quarters to Delhi, our Association made strong representation and convinced the Government that, shifting of head quarters to Delhi will not be in the interest of institution, accordingly the Government accepted the recommendation of the Association and hear quarter is retained in Mumbai.

6. Our Association made representation to Government from time to time to observe Diwali vacation and summer vacation Income-tax Appellate Tribunal and the request is under consideration.

7. When there was a move to constitute, 5 additional Benches of Income-tax Appellate at New Mumbai, our Association strongly opposed and convinced the government, that constituting additional Benches at New Mumbai is not in the interest of tax payers and government. We are happy to note that Government has accepted this suggestion and agreed to allot the space occupied by All India Radio to the Income-tax Appellate Tribunal for functioning of five additional Benches.

8. One of the unique features of our Association is friendly feelings unity and co-operation amongst the members and inculcate of brotherhood among members.

9. For the services rendered by the members of Income-tax Appellate Tribunal Bar Association for the independency on Income-tax Appellate Tribunal, requires to be written in golden words.