Former IAS Trainee Puja Khedkar Challenges UPSC Decision in Delhi HC

Former trainee Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Puja Khedkar has moved the Delhi High Court to challenge the Union Public Service Commission’s (UPSC) decision to cancel her candidature. The High Court is expected to hear Khedkar’s plea on August 7, Wednesday.

Puja Khedkar is accused of fraudulently availing herself of reservations meant for Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities to clear the UPSC exam.

The UPSC, on July 31, issued a statement announcing the cancellation of Khedkar’s selection in the civil services and permanently debarred her from all future exams and selections.

“The UPSC has examined the available records carefully and found her guilty of acting in contravention of the provisions of the CSE-2022 Rules. Her provisional candidature for the CSE-2022 has been cancelled, and she has also been permanently debarred from all future examinations/selections of the UPSC,” the UPSC statement read.

Additionally, the Delhi Police have booked her based on a complaint filed by the UPSC. It is alleged that she “fraudulently availed attempts beyond the permissible limit under the Examination Rules by faking her identity, including changing her name, her father’s and mother’s names, her photograph/signature, email ID, mobile number, and address.”

Khedkar has been denied anticipatory bail by the trial court. The court has also directed the Delhi Police to expand its investigation to determine if any other individuals have inappropriately benefited from quotas under OBC and Persons with Disabilities (PwD) and to investigate whether any UPSC officials assisted Khedkar.

Khedkar contends that the allegations against her are false and claims she is being targeted for filing a complaint of sexual harassment against her superior officials. She further asserts that the media is conducting a witch-hunt against her.