Centre sacks 111 lawyers hired by UPA government

By Vijay Kumar

THE Hindu today carried a story with the above headline. The news story reported, "In an ‘unprecedented' move, the NDA government has sacked as many as 111 lawyers appointed during the UPA regime to represent the Centre in indirect tax cases before various judicial bodies."

It is unfortunate that a respected paper like the Hindu should report like this. The CBEC selection process may be faulty, but there is absolutely nothing to do with the UPA or NDA Government. The NDA Government is in office for more than two years and during this period, the UPA appointed lawyers were very much in service. In fact, even though their tenure actually ended in October 2014, they continued till June 2016 for nearly two years into the NDA regime. The CBEC has called for applications and most probably, all these 111 ‘sacked lawyers' may be reappointed as they have huge experience in Indirect Tax matters.

The selection for these posts are made by Commissioners and Chief Commissioners and usually there is no political interference. It is sad that a purely law job is being politicalised without verifying the facts by a reputed newspaper.

For clarity see - DDT 2872 - Litigation Management in CBEC - Govt Appoints 251 Standing Counsels - Rescinds 111

To tax and to please is not given to men; but to tax and be fair is.