Section 286 — Requirements for approval of a fund for welfare of employees and their dependents under Schedule VII [Table: Sl. No. 2] to Act

(1) Any fund established for such purposes as may be notified by the Board for the welfare of employees and their dependents (where such employees aremember of such fund) shall be formed under a trust and it shall be evidenced by a trust deed.
(2) The contributions to the fund are to be made by the employees by way of periodical subscription.
(3) The application for approval shall be made in Form No. 180 to the Principal Commissioner of Income-tax or Commissioner of Income-tax havingjurisdiction over the area or territory in which the accounts are kept and such application shall be accompanied by the documents mentioned therein.
(4) The Principal Commissioner of Income-tax or Commissioner of Income-tax, where he is satisfied that, —
(a) all the conditions laid down in Schedule VII [Table: Sl. No. 2] to the Act and this rule are fulfilled, he shall record such satisfaction in writing and grantapproval to the fund specifying the tax year or years not exceeding three tax years for which the approval shall be valid;(b) if any of the conditions laid down in Schedule VII [Table: Sl. No. 2] to the Act and this rule is not fulfilled, he shall reject the application for approval,after recording the reasons for such rejection in writing.(5) No order of rejection of an application shall be passed without giving a reasonable opportunity of being heard.