During a hearing in the Delhi High Court on August 28th, ex-IAS trainee Puja Khedkar boldly declared that the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) lacks the power to disqualify her (from her designation as an IAS officer) and that any action against her can be taken only by the Centre’s Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).
Ms. Khedkar in a four-page reply, stated, “DoPT (Department of Personnel and Training) alone can take action under the All India Services Act, 1954 and the Probationer Rules as per Rule 19 of the CSE 2022 Rules.“
During the hearing, Ms. Khedkar submitted the reply that was filed by her in her petition seeking pre-arrest bail in the case registered against her for fraudulently availing attempts in the UPSC examination beyond the permissible limit by faking her identity. Here she made several bold claims, like refuting the allegations of fake documents and fraud levelled by UPSC against her. Ms. Khedkar argued that she neither changed her first name and surname from 2012 to 2022 nor manipulated or misrepresented her name to the commission.
The reply read, “There has been no change in the applicant’s first name and surname, from 2012 to 2022, as consistently reflected in all DAFs. The applicant has not manipulated or misrepresented her name to UPSC. All other details, including academic certificates, Aadhaar card, date of birth, and personal information, have remained consistent in the DAF.“
“Furthermore, UPSC has verified the applicant’s identity through biometric data (eyes and fingerprints) collected during the personality tests of 2019, 2021, and 2022 and all the documents were verified by the Commission during the personality test on 26.05. 2022,” read Ms. Khedkar’s submission before the court.
It is pertinent to mention that the UPSC had opposed the Delhi High Court’s consideration of providing ex-IAS Trainee Officer Puja Khedkar with an anticipatory bail in the ‘fake certificate’ conundrum. The UPSC argued that custodial interrogation was necessary to investigate the extent of the fraud, which potentially involves some others. The UPSC further that Ms. Khedkar’s shenanigans could be a part of “a bigger plan.”
The Commission further cautioned the HC saying that such a decision would embolden those with criminal intent to bypass the legal framework that affects the integrity of recruitment practices for the civil services. The UPSC stressed the need for strict judicial scrutiny of Ms. Khedkar’s fraudulent actions to ensure that the recruitment processes of the prestigious civil services are protected from manipulation.
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.
