CBR to appoint senior tax officials as law officers

The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has decided to appoint senior tax officials (Grade-18) as law officers through "internal job postings" for strengthening the Legal Wings of the regional collectorates as well as commissionerates.
It is learnt here on Thursday that the appointment of specialised law officers is a step to reorganise legal organisational structure in the field formation. Presently, legal matters pertaining to the cases pending are not properly handled at the tribunals, high courts and the Supreme Court.
The legal officers will be given assignments to give day-to-day advice on legal matters to the departmental representatives and maintain updated record of legal cases. The appointment of these officials through the process of "internal job postings" showed that they would be given specialised positions as legal officers for obtaining double salary.
When comments of a tax consultant was sought on the decision, he said that the decision would help in capacity building of the Legal Department where there was shortage of competent professionals. This would not only improve the functional system, but also facilitate the taxpayers under new reforms.
Recently, Member (Legal) Saeed Ahmed Zaidi informed the Board-in-Council about the difficulties being faced in compiling the data and determining the nature of cases pending, for a consolidated review of the pending cases and withdrawal of frivolous appeals filed by the department and early disposal of appeals having common issues and involving multiple number of cases.
In order to speed up the process, it was decided to appoint law officers in all the commissionerates/collectorates directly reporting and assisting Member (Legal) in compiling the data, determining the nature of cases, issues involved, etc. These officers should be preferably law graduates.
The CBR is making all-out efforts for review, withdrawal and collective fixation and disposal of appeals pending before the tribunals, high courts and the Supreme Court for minimising the pendency to the optimum by the end of this fiscal year.