https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Experts Call for Scrutiny of Authorities in Puja Khedkar Case

The controversy involving probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar has underscored significant flaws in the reservation and disability certification systems, prompting calls for rigorous investigations into both her alleged misrepresentations and the authorities' oversight failures.
Puja Khedkar
Indian Masterminds Stories

The case of Puja Khedkar has sparked widespread questions about the reservation system and government procedures. This probationary IAS officer became embroiled in controversy after disputes with officials at the Pune collector’s office, leading to her transfer to Washim. Allegations have surfaced that Khedkar misrepresented her OBC non-creamy layer status in the UPSC exams by falsely claiming her parents were separated. Additionally, there are doubts about the validity of her disability claims, prompting LBSNAA to review the disability certificates of other officers. In response, UPSC has lodged an FIR against her. This situation raises broader concerns about potential manipulation within the system and the role of authorities who may have failed to question these actions. 

At Indian Masterminds, we spoke with experts and former civil servants to understand who should be held accountable for this situation.

CRIMINAL ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN 

Ms. Khedkar has been accused of falsely using her caste certificate, which is issued by the District Administration and must be accepted by all authorities. For disability claims, candidates are required to obtain a certificate from the medical board. However, questions have arisen because she reportedly did not attend the medical check-up despite being called multiple times.

Former IAS officer Mr. Vijay Shankar Pandey commented, “All the authorities who approved these certificates are under scrutiny. If she did not present herself for the medical check-up, how did the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) issue her appointment letter? This suggests complacency on their part. The DoPT officers involved in her appointment should also be scrutinized and face criminal prosecution.”

Where former Director of LBSNAA said in a media interview, this recent incident should be seen as an aberration. It doesn’t happen every year. There are three aspects to this case – the first aspect is tricking or playing with the system as her father was a government officer, second is her problematic behaviour as a probationary officer, and third, which is most important, is the need of a systematic changes to assure such incidents do not happen in the future.

UPSC COULD HAVE TAKEN A STAND 

Reports indicate that Ms. Khedkar manipulated her age to gain additional attempts in the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE). Former IAS officer Mr. Sanjeev Gupta commented that if she falsified her age and her parents’ names, it reveals a significant failure in the UPSC’s candidate vetting process.

Additionally, Ms. Khedkar appealed to the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) for service allocation based on her disability, claiming visual and mental disabilities to meet the 40% disability criterion. Although CAT denied her claim, she later changed her disability to visual and hearing impairments in 2022, obtained the necessary certificates, and secured an appointment. This change did not raise any alarms, which Mr. Gupta finds troubling. He stated, “UPSC should have taken a stand and questioned her appointment. While UPSC might not be technically at fault, they cannot deny their involvement or negligence.”

Mr. Gupta also highlighted other cases of disability misuse that have emerged following Ms. Khedkar’s case. He emphasized that thorough investigations and actions are necessary for each case to maintain the integrity of the nation’s most important exam and services. He added that even if the alleged individuals are no longer in service, appropriate actions should still be taken.

THE QUESTION IS ON THE AUTHORITY 

Former Chief Secretary of Delhi, Ms. Shailaja Chandra, emphasizes that the scrutiny should be directed more towards the authorities rather than solely at Puja Khedkar and her family. She argues that the focus should be on the officials who either issued the certificates or overlooked the discrepancies in her documents.

Recalling an incident from her training days, Ms. Chandra shared, “When I was selected, there were 13 women, seven of whom were in the IAS. On my first day, the officer at LBSNAA began questioning me about my marks in each subject. It was a different time, but they intended to find faults in my documents. I believe many of my female colleagues experienced this scrutiny. So, it’s perplexing how this time, discrepancies in caste certificates, age, and disability claims were ignored.”

The controversy surrounding Puja Khedkar has not only highlighted potential abuses within the reservation and disability certification systems but also cast a spotlight on the authorities responsible for oversight. As experts and former civil servants call for rigorous investigations and accountability, it becomes clear that safeguarding the integrity of the UPSC and its examinations is crucial. Ensuring that all processes are transparent and fair is essential to maintaining the trust and hopes of millions of aspirants across the nation.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
UPSC Image IAS IPS IFS
UPSC CSE-2024 Results Out: Top 2 Places Bagged By Girls, Shakti Dubey AIR 1, Check Details Here
Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL)
Bhuwan Chandra Pathak to Continue as Director (Finance) at NPCIL - Know More About him
coal-India limited
Coal India Signs MoU with DVC to Set Up ₹16,500 Crore Ultra Supercritical Power Plant in Jharkhand
delhi-government-resized
Delhi Government Revises Office Timings as Pollution Levels Drop
indian-forest-service IFS Officers
Court Denies Anticipatory Bail to Former IFS Officer in SRLM Scam
psuwatch_import_wp-content_uploads_2022_02_RBI-recruitment-2019
Minors Above 10 Can Now Open and Operate Bank Accounts Independently: RBI
Inter caste marriage promotion scheme
Inter-Caste Marriage Promotion Scheme: Financial Aid of Rs 2.5 Lakh Granted to Two Couples
KVIC Khadi and Village Industries
Khadi and Village Industries Achieve Historic Growth, Sales Cross ₹1.70 Lakh Crore in 2024-25
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr Lokesh M IAS
E-Rickshaw Chaos, Waterlogging, Traffic Mess — Can Noida Fix Its Daily Chaos? | Exclusive with Dr Lokesh M, IAS
IRS Padmapani Bora UPSC
IRS Padmapani Bora’s 16-Year-Long Journey in Governance
WhatsApp Image 2025-04-13 at 1.46
This Collector Finds Happiness In Squeaks Of Children With Hearing Impairment Who Start Hearing After Surgery
UPSC Stories
images (14)
Utsav Anand, the UPSC Topper Who Chose Public Service Over a Plush Career
From IIT Bombay to the 2022 IAS batch (Haryana cadre), Utsav Anand’s journey is proof that sharp minds...
pushplata-yadav-ias
How IAS Pushp Lata’s Strategy and Spirit Took Her to AIR 80
From rural Haryana to IAS, Pushp Lata Yadav’s journey reflects focused planning, adaptation, and the...
IRS Padmapani Bora UPSC
IRS Padmapani Bora’s 16-Year-Long Journey in Governance
IRS officer Padmapani Bora's 16-year career transcends typical bureaucracy. Discover his surprising journey...
Social Media
GozJlgrXYAAHoKv
Murals for Cleanliness: Thoothukudi District Launches Art-Inspired Sanitation Drive in Panchayats
Local artists add colour and messages to village walls, promoting hygiene and community pride
Himanshu Nagpal IAS
Varanasi's Beggar Rehabilitation Initiative Recognised by UIDAI, CDO Himanshu Nagpal Shares the News
Mr. Himanshu Nagpal is a 2019-batch IAS officer
IAS Vaishali Chopra
Young IAS Vaishali Chopra Takes a Stand Against Caste Bias During Field Training in Uttar Pradesh
While the issue itself may seem small, the post is resonating widely online for its honest reflection...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
UPSC Image IAS IPS IFS
UPSC CSE-2024 Results Out: Top 2 Places Bagged By Girls, Shakti Dubey AIR 1, Check Details Here
Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL)
Bhuwan Chandra Pathak to Continue as Director (Finance) at NPCIL - Know More About him
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr Lokesh M IAS
IRS Padmapani Bora UPSC
WhatsApp Image 2025-04-13 at 1.46
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT