CLEAN SOLAR POWER (JODHPUR) PRIVATE LIMITED vs. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX CIRCLE 4 (2) NEW DELHI AND ORS
What did the High Court hold?
The High Court held that the writ petition, which was primarily filed against the rejection of the stay application by the Assessing Officer, had become infructuous because the appeal before the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) had since been decided. The Court stated that the petitioner had a statutory remedy of filing an appeal before the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) under Section 253 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, and saw no reason why the petitioner should not avail this remedy. The Court disposed of the writ petition with a direction that if the petitioner files an appeal along with a stay application before the ITAT within four weeks, the recovery of the demand against the petitioner shall remain stayed for four weeks from the date of the order. The Court also requested the ITAT to decide the petitioner's stay application expeditiously if filed within the stipulated period. The Court made it clear that the order was passed in peculiar facts and circumstances, referencing a previous observation that if a demand appears unsustainable on the face of it, the AO ought not to reject a stay application mechanically.
What were the facts?
The petitioner, Clean Solar Power (Jodhpur) Private Limited, filed a writ petition challenging the rejection of its stay application by the Assessing Officer (AO) on 03.10.2025. The petitioner's appeal was pending before the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) (CIT(A)). The respondents, Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax and others, submitted that the appeal before the CIT(A) had been decided on 17.02.2026, rendering the writ petition infructuous. The petitioner sought to amend the writ petition to challenge the CIT(A)'s order, alleging it was passed without reasons and without addressing their contentions. The High Court noted that the stay application was only for the period until the appeal was decided.
What were the issues?
1. Whether the writ petition, filed against the rejection of a stay application by the Assessing Officer, has become infructuous due to the subsequent decision of the appeal by the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)? (Question of law) 2. Whether the petitioner should be allowed to amend its writ petition to challenge the order of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)? (Question of mixed law and fact) Assessee's Contentions: The petitioner argued that the amendment application should be allowed and that both the AO's order and the CIT(A)'s order should be decided on merits by the High Court. They also contended that the CIT(A)'s order dated 17.02.2026 was a 70-page order passed without recording any reasons and without dealing with the petitioner's contentions and cited judgments. Revenue's Contentions: The revenue submitted that the appeal pending before the CIT(A) had been decided on 17.02.2026, making the writ petition infructuous.
Which sections of the Income-tax Act were involved?
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Cause title — parties, addresses and appearances
O R D E R %
2026 DINESH MEHTA, J. (ORAL)
Ms. Hemlata Rawat, learned Junior Standing Counsel for the respondents at the outset submitted that the appeal which was pending before the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) (hereinafter referred to as „Appellate Authority‟) has now been decided vide order dated 17.02.2026 and therefore the instant writ petition which was preferred against rejection of the stay application by the Assessing Officer has been rendered infructuous.
Mr. S. Ganesh, learned Senior Counsel for the petitioner, on the other hand, submitted that the petitioner has preferred an amendment application being CM APPL. 15396/2026 and has sought leave to challenge the order This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 17/03/2026 at 11:22:58
W.P.(C) 773/2026 dated 17.02.2026 passed by the Appellate Authority by contending that a 70 page order has been passed without recording any reasons and without dealing with the contentions of the petitioner-company so also the judgments that were cited by the petitioner-company.
He prayed that amendment application be allowed and the order of the Assessing Officer so also the Appellate Authority be decided on merits by the High Court.
Having heard learned counsel for the parties, we are not inclined to continue with the writ petition which was essentially preferred against order dated 03.10.2025, whereby stay application filed by the petitioner-company was rejected by the Assessing Officer. Because the stay application was only for the period up to decision of the appeal and the appeal itself has been decided by the Appellate Authority.
The petitioner has a remedy of filing an appeal before the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal under Section 253 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. We fail to accept any reason for which the petitioner should not avail the statutory remedy of appeal before the Tribunal.
We, therefore, dispose of the present writ petition and close the proceedings at this stage itself, however with a direction that in case, the petitioner prefers an appeal alongwith the stay application, the recovery of the demand against the petitioner-company shall remain stayed for four weeks from today.
It is made clear that we have passed this order in peculiar facts and circumstances of the case considering what we had noticed on the previous date of hearing i.e. 20.01.2026. The relevant part of the said order is reproduced herein: This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 17/03/2026 at 11:22:58
W.P.(C) 773/2026 “2. Learned Senior Counsel argued that the aforementioned office memorandum provides for automatic stay of the demand, in case an assessee deposits 20% amount of the disputed demand, whereas, in case the assessee claims that the demand itself to be unsustainable, stay application cannot be rejected simply by asking an assessee to deposit 20% amount, without looking into the merit of the contentions and grounds raised in the stay application.
Taking the Court through the impugned assessment order dated 20.03.2025, he argued that a simple look at the assessment order shows that it is in relation to alleged unexplained purchase of capital assets as per provisions contained in Section 69 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. He argued that the expenditure which are duly reflected in the books of accounts (which have been audited twice) cannot be said to be an unexplained.
Usually, we would not have indulged in the present writ petition when the matter relates to rejection of stay application but considering the submissions noted hereinabove, we are of the view that if the demand appears to be unsustainable on the face of it, the Assessing Officer ought not to have rejected the stay application mechanically, more so, in light of the Office Memorandum of CBDT, without dealing with the grounds taken in the stay application.”
We request the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal to decide petitioner’s stay application expeditiously, in case it has been filed within four weeks’ from today.
With these observations, the writ petition stands disposed of alongwith pending applications.
The next date of hearing (09.04.2026) stands cancelled.
DINESH MEHTA, J.
VINOD KUMAR, J. MARCH 13, 2026/sr
This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 17/03/2026 at 11:22:58
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