CBIC issues instructions for Performance Review of the Standing Counsels representing Department before High Courts [Read Instructions]

CBIC - Standing Counsels - High Courts - Taxscan

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) issued the instructions for performance Review of the Standing Counsels representing the Department before High Courts.

The Board in order to ensure the regular and timely monitoring of the performance of the Counsels and to ensure proper assistance to them by the Department issued the instructions in continuation of the Board’s earlier letter vide F. No. 278A/43/2007- Legal dated December 05, 2007, the CBIC vide Instruction F. No. 278A/36/2020-Legal dated September 30, 2020, stated instructions for immediate compliance.

Firstly, the jurisdictional Principal Chief Commissioners/Principal DGs/Chief Commissioners/DGs shall monitor the performance of the Standing Counsels on a monthly basis and submit a consolidated report.

Secondly, the jurisdictional Principal Chief Commissioners/Principal DGs/Chief Commissioners/DGs shall also submit a monthly report for the new cases filed in High Court during the month.

Lastly, both the reports must be submitted before 03rd of the succeeding month, in MS WORD format only, at osd-legal@gov.in.

The Board said that apart from the submission of two reports, various instructions must be adhered to by the field formations.

The instructions directed that the allocation/re-allocation of cases to the Counsels may be done based on the performance of the Council.

The instructions further directed that the Counsels should be timely briefed by well conversant sufficiently senior Officer/s of the Commissionerate/ Directorate. The Counsels should be provided the contact details of the senior officers concerned for any urgent assistance.

“The Principal Chief Commissioners/Principal DGs/Chief Commissioners/ DGs shall develop a mechanism for a regular open house interaction with the Standing Counsels. If a particular location has more than one Principal Chief Commissioners/ Chief Commissioners posted, the modalities of open house interaction may be decided amongst them. Such open house interactions should, preferably, be held quarterly,” the instructions said.

The Board instructed that apart from regular open house interaction, Principal Commissioners/ Principal ADGs/Commissioners/ADGs may ensure regular and timely interaction with Counsels, specifically on important issues.

“Counsels may also be sensitized to intimate the Department about the status of the pending matters on a timely basis. Unless there is a justification, any last-minute intimation by the Counsels including request for para-wise comments, delay in informing the status of the cases, etc. may also be taken into account, while assigning the cases to the Counsels,” the Board instructed.

The CBIC has issued various Instructions from time to time so as to ensure that the appeals and petitions filed before High Courts in the country are defended and pursued efficiently.

Any adverse order by the High Court may have All India ramifications, and considering the limited scope of SLP under Article 136 of the Constitution of India, it becomes imperative that all possible steps are taken by the field formations to defend the interests of revenue before respective High Courts effectively.

This necessarily entails monitoring of performance of the Standing Counsels, representing the Department before High Courts on a regular basis, and taking any corrective steps including assignment/reassignment of cases to the counsels accordingly.

“It is reiterated that the Appeals/Petitions filed before the High Court must be handled effectively and diligently, leaving no room for laxity. The success in the cases pending before Hon’ble High Court requires extensive deliberation and cooperation between the Commissionerates and the Counsels,” the CBIC instructed.

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