Telangana HC says Income Below ₹50 Lakh Cannot Trigger Extended Reassessment Period

The Telangana High Court held that the extended reassessment period under Section 149(1)(b) is available only where the income alleged to have escaped assessment meets the statutory threshold of ₹50 lakh or more. The fifth and sixth provisos to Section 149, which exclude specified periods for computing limitation, cannot be used to convert a case that does not satisfy this threshold into one eligible for extended limitation. The Court also emphasised that the sanctioning authority must independently examine the quantum, limitation and assessee's response before granting approval under Section 151.