Brief the Counsels properly - CBEC Chairman to field officers
CBEC Chairman Najib Shah in a D.O. Letter to his Chief Commissioners has reminded them on the Board's earlier letters on the need for proper presentation and briefing to the Departmental Counsel to enable them make effective presentation before the Apex Court.
A briefing team was also constituted in the Department of Legal Affairs to co-ordinate with the field formations and the counsels.
The Chairman reminds that the field formations have not paid adequate attention for sending the requisite brief for these cases and for timely briefing of the Panel Counsels inspite of repeated directions from the Board in this regard. This has reflected in the poor performance of the Department which has shown in an overall success rate of about 30%.
The Chairman wants the Chief Commissioners to ensure that:
1. Counsels are briefed properly
2. the Department is adequately represented before the Apex Court by a well conversant officer not below the rank of Deputy/Assistant Commissioner in consultation with the Directorate of Legal Affairs.
3. The said officer should without fail, also attend the hearing of the case when the matter is argued before the Bench and give a report on the same day after conclusion of hearing..