Guidelines regarding revision of Schedule of fees payable to Standing Counsels for the Income-tax Department before various High Courts - Appointment of Counsels

Counsel fee revision updates appointment, qualification, payment and reimbursement rules for government standing counsels.

Revised fees and engagement terms set out category-specific rates, retainerships, allowances, reimbursement rules, documentation and staged payment procedures for Senior Standing Counsel, Standing Counsel and Junior Standing Counsel; define fee entitlement conditions including effective appearance, treatment of uncontested and connected cases, deductions for late submission, and payment apportionment on change of counsel; and prescribe qualification criteria, appointment, three-year terms, renewal by performance review, allocation of cases, reporting proformas and conflict-of-interest restrictions on private practice.