Mon Mar 24 18:44:41 UTC 2025: **Rajya Sabha Chairman Seeks Judicial Accountability Following Cash Discovery**
New Delhi, March 25, 2025 – Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar met with the Leader of the House, J.P. Nadda, and the Leader of the Opposition, Mallikarjun Kharge, on Monday to discuss judicial accountability in light of the alleged discovery of half-burnt currency notes at a Delhi High Court judge’s residence. While awaiting the outcome of an in-house inquiry initiated by the Chief Justice of India (CJI), Sanjiv Khanna, Dhankhar praised the CJI’s transparent handling of the situation, calling it unprecedented.
The meeting follows Dhankhar’s earlier comments in the Rajya Sabha regarding the controversy and his call to revisit the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act, which was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2015. Dhankhar intends to convene a meeting of floor leaders to discuss the NJAC and potential reforms to judicial appointments. Opposition leader Kharge supported this suggestion.
While the government has yet to comment on reviving the NJAC Bill, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra voiced concerns that the current controversy might be used to push for greater government control over judicial appointments, potentially replacing the current Collegium system. The incident has sparked debate about judicial accountability and the process of appointing judges in India.
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