RAKESH KUMAR JAIN SON OF SHRI VIJAY KUMAR JAIN vs. DEPUTY 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 being directly adjudicated by the Hon'ble Apex Court, 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, 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, nor give effect to any consequential orders, for as long as the interim protection granted by the Hon'ble Apex Court continues. The outcome of SLP No. 31711/2025 shall govern the outcome of the present petition. No specific amount in dispute was mentioned. The Court did not decide the merits of the case but granted a stay based on the Supreme Court's order.
What were the facts?
The petitioner, Rakesh Kumar Jain, filed a writ petition before the Rajasthan High Court, Jaipur Bench, challenging an order or action by the Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax, Circle (Intl Tax), Jaipur. The assessment year(s) are not explicitly stated. The procedural history indicates that a co-ordinate bench of the High Court in 'Pramod Jain vs. Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax' (D.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 18359/2025) had dealt with a similar issue. The Supreme Court, in the case of 'Siddharth Totuka Vs. Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax Central Circle' (SLP No. 31711/2025), had stayed proceedings before the Adjudicating Authority concerning Section 153C of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The present petitioner sought similar protection, and both parties agreed to dispose of the petition in line with the Supreme Court's order and the co-ordinate bench's decision.
What were the issues?
1. Whether the proceedings before the Adjudicating Authority, pertaining to Section 153C of the Income Tax Act, 1961, including any impugned order, should be stayed in light of the Supreme Court's order in Siddharth Totuka (SLP No. 31711/2025)? (Question of law) Assessee's Contention: The petitioner argued that the controversy is under consideration before the Hon'ble Apex Court in Siddharth Totuka, where proceedings concerning Section 153C have been stayed. Therefore, similar protection should be extended to the present petition, and the outcome should be governed by the SLP's outcome. Revenue's Contention: The respondent fairly submitted that the order passed by the Hon'ble Apex Court shall be duly followed and that the disposal of the present petition 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 03/02/2026
Issue notice to the respondent.
Mr. Shantanu Sharma, learned counsel, accepts notice on behalf of respondent.
The Co-ordinate Bench of this Court in the case of “Pramod Jain vs. Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax” (D.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 18359/2025) alongwith other connected cases decided on 27.01.2026, had directed as under:
“2. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the controversy involved in the present matters 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 on08.12.2025: “1.Issue notice. 2.Dasti service, in addition, is permitted. 3.Tag with SLP(C) No. 33392 of 2025. [2026:RJ-JP:4924-DB] (2 of 3) [CW-1452/2026] 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 petitioners 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 petitions as well. Learned counsel further fairly submits that the outcome of these petitions shall be governed by the outcome of the said SLP and, thus, subject to such outcome, the petitions may be disposed of while extending the aforesaid protection.
Learned counsel for the respondents fairly submits that the order passed by the Hon’ble Apex Court shall be duly followed. He further submits that in the event these petitions are disposed of, the 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 petitions 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 petitioners, 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 petitions.
The instant writ petitions are disposed of accordingly.”
[2026:RJ-JP:4924-DB] (3 of 3) [CW-1452/2026]
Considering the nature of controversy raised in the present petition which is identical to the aforesaid cases, both the learned counsel are ad idem that the present petition be also disposed of accordingly.
Keeping in view the above, the present writ petition is disposed of in terms of order dated 27.01.2026 passed in the case of Pramod Jain (supra). The observations/directions therein shall apply mutatis mutandis to the present case.
All pending applications also stand disposed of. (SANGEETA SHARMA),J (SANJEEV PRAKASH SHARMA),ACTING CJ RIYA/18
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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