Amidst a recent development the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has announced that it is set to complete its summary inquiry report on ex-trainee IAS officer Mr. Puja Khedkar by August 20th. This inquiry stems from a central government- assigned single-member committee’s report, submitted on July 24th, regarding verification of Ms. Khedkar’s candidature daims and other details.
It is pertinent to mention that the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) had on July 31st had cancelled Khedkar’s provisional candidature of the Civil Services Examination (CSE)-2022 and debarred her from all its future examinations and selections.
The contentious issue arose after Ms. Khedkar did not respond to the UPSC’s show cause notice issued on July 18th for “fraudulently availing attempts beyond the permissible limits provided for in the Civil Services Examination Rules by faking her identity.” The DoPT thus stated that the timeline for summary inquiry is August 20th and “further course of action will be decided” only after the report is readied.
To ensure that the message gets delivered to Ms. Khedkary, these communications,signed by Joint Secretary Mr. Rajat Kumar, were sent via email and physically to her addresses in Pune and Ahmednagar. Officials from Pune’s Yashwantrao Chavan Academy Of Development Administration (YASHADA) said the letter was put up on the gates of Khedkar’s houses in Pune and Ahmednagar within the timeframe. A Department of Personnel and Training source said Khedkar has requested additional time to respond.
Ms. Puja Khedkar, a 2022 batch ex-IAS officer under training, became a subject of intense discourse over the internet and national television after allegations arose that she had lied about her mental and visual condition, through “fraudulently” obtained certificates from the District Civil Hospital in Ahmednagar, to secure an officer’s post despite an unremarkable score in the ultra-competitive qualifying exam. Khedkar was “diagnosed” with Locomotor Disability and a 7% permanent disability concerning her left lower limb. She also obtained a second certificate, which covered both low vision and mental illness (depression).
The conundrum was fueled when it was learned that Khedkar, while going through the selection process for an IAS post, had refused to undergo a mandatory medical test to confirm her disabilities six times in a row! It is pertinent to mention that she secured an All India Rank of 821 under the Physical Disability (PWD-5) category in the 2022 UPSC exams.
The entire fiasco unfurled after she made demands for a separate cabin and staff during her Pune posting. She demanded a red-blue beacon light, a VIP number plate, along with a ‘Maharashtra government’ board affixed to her private Audi car and other shenanigans while being posted as the Super Numerary Assistant Collector in Pune.
