The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) informed the Delhi High Court on Wednesday (August 7) that it will provide Puja Khedkar with a copy of the order canceling her Indian Administrative Service (IAS) candidature.
This statement was made by Senior Advocate Naresh Kaushik, representing the UPSC, before a single bench of Justice Jyoti Singh.
The High Court was hearing a plea filed by former trainee IAS officer Khedkar challenging the UPSC’s press release that announced her candidature’s cancellation. Senior Advocate Indira Jaising, appearing for Khedkar, informed the Court that the cancellation order was never communicated to her and that she only learned about it through the press release.
Justice Singh directed that Khedkar should provide her address to the UPSC and that the order should be supplied to her both physically and electronically. Additionally, the Court noted that for other reliefs, such as challenging the cancellation order, Khedkar would need to approach the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT).
Puja Khedkar is accused of fraudulently availing the reservation meant for Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities to clear the UPSC exam.
The UPSC, on July 31, issued a statement canceling Puja 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 canceled, and she has also been debarred permanently from all future Examinations/Selections of the UPSC,” the statement reads.
Notably, the Delhi Police has booked Khedkar based on a complaint filed by the UPSC. On August 1, Khedkar was denied anticipatory bail by the trial court in the case.
Additionally, Delhi’s Patiala House Court ordered the Police to widen its probe to investigate whether other individuals might have fraudulently availed benefits of quotas under OBC and Persons with Disabilities (PwD). The Delhi Police has also been instructed to determine if any UPSC officials assisted Khedkar.
