During the hearing, Senior Advocate Indira Jaising, appearing for Khedkar, stated that it is rather strange that the UPSC has not yet provided Khedkar with the formal order cancelling her candidature. Jaising argued that Khedkar only has the press release and, therefore, cannot approach the tribunal against it.
NEW DELHI: Today (7th Aug): The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has informed the Delhi High Court that it will communicate the formal order cancelling Puja Khedkar’s candidature permanently within two days. Khedkar, a former IAS trainee, had moved the court challenging the cancellation of her candidature by the UPSC.
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Senior Advocate Naresh Kaushik, representing the UPSC, made the statement before Justice Jyoti Singh.
During the hearing, Senior Advocate Indira Jaising, appearing for Khedkar, stated that it is rather strange that the UPSC has not yet provided Khedkar with the formal order cancelling her candidature. Jaising argued that Khedkar only has the press release and, therefore, cannot approach the tribunal against it.
Jaising requested the court to order the UPSC to provide the formal order so that Khedkar can challenge the cancellation before the appropriate tribunal. The high court has granted Khedkar the liberty to approach the appropriate forum to challenge the cancellation of her candidature.
Earlier, former IAS trainee Puja Khedkar has filed a plea the Delhi High Court to challenge the Union Public Service Commission’s (UPSC) decision to annul her candidature.
On July 31, the UPSC revoked Khedkar’s provisional candidature due to allegations of cheating and forgery. Khedkar received a Show Cause Notice (SCN) on July 18, accusing her of fraudulently exceeding the attempt limit for the Civil Services Examination-2022 (CSE-2022) by falsifying her identity.
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Khedkar was instructed to respond to the Show Cause Notice by July 25, but she requested an extension until August 4 to gather the necessary documents. The commission granted an extension only until July 30, a deadline she missed.
The UPSC stated that it reviewed 15 years of CSE data, covering over 15,000 recommended candidates from 2009 to 2023, and found no other irregularities.
Khedkar’s controversy began after her transfer from Pune to Washim, following allegations of power abuse. Social media scrutiny revealed that she allegedly used a fake disability certificate.
In Pune, she allegedly misused her position by demanding unauthorized perks and exploiting the OBC and non-creamy layer quota in the UPSC exams.
As a result of these allegations, Khedkar’s probation period was suspended, and she was recalled to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand.
An FIR has been registered against Khedkar under various sections of the IPC, including 420 (cheating), 464 (making a document in the name of a fictitious person), 465 (forgery), and 471 (using a forged document as genuine). She is also charged under sections 89 and 91 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, and section 66D of the Information Technology Act, following a complaint by the UPSC.
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