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. In a June 18 order, the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) cancelled their appointment as its standing counsel, overturning its own June 9 order, where these advocates were included in an appointments list of 251 senior/junior standing counsel for the Board. According to the original order, the tenure of these 251 standing counsel, including the 111, was to expire on June 8, 2019. The Board, however, did not assign any reason for the removal of the 111 lawyers. The position of standing counsel of the CBEC is considered prestigious in legal circles as they are appointed by the President of India, after the CBEC - including its Chief Commissioner of Custom/Central Excise - examines their "expertise in handling indirect tax matters."