The Supreme Court Appellate Division today (Feb 27) dismissed the High Court's verdict that said the government's two notifications of 15 percent income tax (tax) from private universities are illegal.

A bench led by Senior Judge Borhan Uddin of the Appellate Division passed the verdict today after settling 44 appeals filed by the state against the High Court verdict.

Attorney general AM Amin Uddin represented the state, while senior lawyer AF Hasan was present on behalf of the writ petitioner.

The Appellate Division on April 6, 2023, upheld a High Court order asking the National Board of Revenue (NBR) not to collect income tax from private universities in the country.

NBR issued a gazette notification on June 28, 2007, imposing the 15 per cent income tax on private universities, to be effective from July 1 of that year.

In another gazette notification, the NBR imposed the same 15 per cent income tax on private universities, medical, engineering colleges and ICT institutes.

After that, different universities filed 46 writs challenging the government's decision.

BDST: 1703 HRS, FEB 27, 2024
MSK/SMS