ABHIMANYU GOLCHA SON OF SHRI S.K. GOLCHA vs. ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court held that since the narrow compass of the issue concerning Section 153C of the Income Tax Act, 1961, was directly being adjudicated by the Hon'ble Apex Court, it was appropriate to dispose of the present writ petition by extending the same protection as granted by the Apex Court. The Court directed that the Adjudicating Authority shall not proceed with any proceedings under Section 153C of the Income Tax Act, 1961, against the petitioner, including any consequential orders or giving effect to impugned orders, for as long as the interim protection granted by the Hon'ble Apex Court continues. The outcome of SLP No. 31711/2025 (tagged with SLP(C) No. 33392/2025) shall govern the outcome of the present petition. The writ petition was disposed of accordingly.
What were the facts?
The petitioner, Abhimanyu Golcha, filed a writ petition challenging a notice dated 05.02.2025 under Section 153C of the Income Tax Act, 1961, an order dated 03.12.2025 disposing of objections, and a reassessment order dated 16.12.2025 for Assessment Year 2012-13. The petitioner sought to quash these orders and proceedings. The core of the dispute involved the application of Section 153C. The petitioner brought to the court's attention that a similar matter concerning Section 153C was pending before the Hon'ble Apex Court in Siddharth Totuka Vs. Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax Central Circle in SLP No. 31711/2025. The Apex Court had issued notice and stayed proceedings before the Adjudicating Authority concerning Section 153C.
What were the issues?
1. Whether the proceedings initiated under Section 153C of the Income Tax Act, 1961, including the impugned notice, objection disposal order, and reassessment order for AY 2012-13, are liable to be quashed and set aside? (Question of law and mixed fact and law, turning on Section 153C). Assessee's Contention: The petitioner argued that the controversy is directly under consideration before the Hon'ble Apex Court in Siddharth Totuka Vs. Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax Central Circle (SLP No. 31711/2025), where proceedings concerning Section 153C have been stayed. Therefore, similar protection should be extended to the present petition, and its outcome should be governed by the Apex Court's decision. Revenue's Contention: The respondent fairly submitted that the order passed by the Hon'ble Apex Court would be duly followed and that the present petition, if disposed of, should be made subject to the final outcome of the aforesaid SLP.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
AI-generated summary — verify with the full judgment below
Cause title — parties, addresses and appearances
Order 18/02/2026
This writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India has been filed seeking the following reliefs as under:
“1. quashing & setting aside the impugned notice dated 05.02.2025 (Annexure 2) issued under section 153C of the Act, the impugned
order
dated
2025 (Annexure 5) disposing the objections raised by the petitioner & the impugned reassessment order dated 16.12.2025 (Annexure 7) for A.Y. 2012-13 and all consequential orders / proceedings initiated in pursuance thereto as illegal and void;
[2026:RJ-JP:7608-DB] (2 of 3) [CW-2011/2026] 2. direct that the costs of this petition be awarded to the petitioner and pass such other or further orders as deemed just and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case.”
Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the controversy involved in the present matter is under consideration before the Hon’ble Apex Court in Siddharth Totuka Vs. Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax Central Circle in SLP No. 31711/2025, in which the following order was passed on 08.12.2025:
“1. Issue notice.
Dasti service, in addition, is permitted.
Tag with SLP(C) No. 33392 of 2025. 4. In the meantime, the proceedings before the Adjudicating Authority shall remain stayed insofar as Section 153C of the Income Tax Act, 1961 is concerned including the order impugned passed by the High Court.”
Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the proceedings before the Adjudicating Authority, insofar as they pertain to Section 153C of the Income Tax Act, 1961, including the impugned order under consideration before this Hon’ble Court in the present case, have been stayed by the Hon’ble Apex Court. It is, therefore, prayed that similar protection be extended in the present petition as well. Learned counsel further fairly submits that the outcome of this petition shall be governed by the outcome of the said SLP and, thus, subject to such outcome, the petition may be disposed of while extending the aforesaid protection.
Learned counsel for the respondent fairly submits that the order passed by the Hon’ble Apex Court shall be duly followed. He further submits that in the event this petition is disposed of, the
[2026:RJ-JP:7608-DB] (3 of 3) [CW-2011/2026] same may be made subject to the final outcome of the aforesaid SLP.
Having considered the submissions made at the Bar, this Court is of the clear opinion that once the narrow compass of the issue is being directly adjudicated by the Hon’ble Apex Court in pursuance of the litigation undergone by the parties pertaining to Section 153C of the Income Tax Act, 1961, it would be appropriate to dispose of the present writ petition by extending the same protection as granted by the Hon’ble Apex Court.
Accordingly, it is directed that the Adjudicating Authority shall not proceed with any proceedings under Section 153C of the Income Tax Act, 1961 against the petitioner, as also consequential order(s), if any, including giving effect to any impugned orders, for so long as the interim protection granted by the Hon’ble Apex Court continues to operate. The outcome of SLP No. 31711/2025 (tagged with SLP(C) No. 33392/2025) shall govern the outcome of the present petition.
The instant writ petition is disposed of accordingly.
Pending application(s), if any, shall also stand disposed of. (SANGEETA SHARMA),J (SANJEEV PRAKASH SHARMA),ACTING CJ KAVISH /17
More judgments on Section 153C
- Neepaben Sunnybhai Motwani, Rajkot vs Income Tax Officer, RajkotITA 875/RJT/2026[2021-22]Status: Disposed19 Oct 2026AY 2021-22
- Neepaben Sunnybhai Motwani, Rajkot vs The Income Tax Officer, RajkotITA 874/RJT/2026[2020-21]Status: Disposed19 Oct 2026AY 2020-21
- Venish Vinodray Lalani, Rajkot vs Income Tax Officer, MorbiITA 197/RJT/2026[2019-20]Status: Disposed19 Oct 2026AY 2019-20
- Ajay Singh, Kota vs DCIT, Central Circle, KotaITA 495/JPR/2026[2016-17]Status: Disposed13 Oct 2026AY 2016-17
- Dineshkumar Chhaganlal Manavadaria, Junagadh vs ITO Ward 1, JunagadhITA 837/RJT/2025[2020-21]Status: Disposed9 Oct 2026AY 2020-21
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