New Delhi/IBNS: India's Vice President and Rajya Sabha chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar has appointed at least eight of his personal staff to various house committees under the Upper House, which is a departure from traditional customs.

Various Congress leaders, off the record, have alleged that it has been done "to keep a close watch on various committees, which clearly shows his no confidence in the existing mechanism", said media reports.

The officers who keep the Rajya Sabha Secretary General informed of developments and deliberations of various committees are appointed by the secretariat and the chairperson of the Rajya Sabha.

The officials are generally appointed from a common pool set up for the purpose.

A notice from the Rajya Sabha Secretariat today showed that eight new officials have been attached to 20 standing committees coming under the ambit of the Rajya Sabha.  This is over and above the existing officers.

The new entrants are junior-level officers, who will be assisting the committees with their functioning. Most of these proceedings are kept confidential.

Reacting to this, the opposition has termed it a 'bizarre' step.

The chairperson, by appointing these officers from his personal staff, is trying to keep a close watch on various committees, the leaders from opposition parties said.