The Centre asked Rajasthan’s Chief Secretary to verify IAS Ravi Kumar Sihag’s EWS and income certificate used in UPSC 2021. Legal action may follow if documents are found false under service conduct rules and Indian Penal Code.
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NEW DELHI: The Central Government initiated a formal legal inquiry into the authenticity of documents submitted by IAS officer Ravi Kumar Sihag during his 2021 Civil Services appointment. The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions has officially directed Rajasthan’s Chief Secretary Sundhash Pant to submit a factual report on whether Sihag’s Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and income certificates were valid and lawful under the applicable rules.
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This development carries significant legal consequences under service conduct regulations, constitutional reservation laws, and possible provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) if any forgery or misrepresentation is established.
The investigation has been launched under the purview of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), which governs All India Services recruitment. The DoPT has asked the Rajasthan Government to verify the “Income and Asset (I&A) certificate” submitted by IAS Sihag, which he used to avail of the “EWS quota in the Civil Services Examination in 2021.”
According to Article 16(4) and Article 16(6) of the Indian Constitution, reservations for the EWS category are valid only if the candidate meets specific income and asset criteria under the 10% EWS quota introduced by the 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019.
Verification of such documents is essential to ensure fairness and legality in recruitment to constitutional posts like IAS.
IAS Ravi Kumar Sihag, a resident of Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, was born on 2 November 1995. He cleared the UPSC Civil Services Exam in his fourth attempt in 2021, securing 18th rank. He was a Hindi medium candidate and was the “topper of Hindi medium in UPSC exam 2021.”
In his earlier attempts:
- 2018 (1st attempt) – Rank 337, selected for Indian Defense Accounts Service (IDAS)
- 2019 (2nd attempt) – Rank 317, selected for Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS)
- 2020 (3rd attempt) – Did not clear Mains
- 2021 (4th attempt) – Rank 18, selected for IAS
If the certificates are found invalid or falsified, Sihag could face action under:
- Rule 3(1) of the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968 – for misrepresentation and lack of integrity;
- Section 420 IPC (Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property);
- Section 465 IPC (Forgery) and Section 471 IPC (Using forged document as genuine);
- Possible cancellation of appointment under UPSC regulations and DoPT guidelines.
The Centre’s broader inquiry also includes similar cases of alleged misuse of the EWS quota by other IAS, IPS, and IRS officers. If fraud is proven, such officers may face termination of service, criminal prosecution, or disqualification from future public service.
Sources within the Ministry say that the Central Government is reviewing these cases seriously to protect the integrity of constitutional appointments and the reservation system. Officials said the aim is to ensure “compliance with EWS eligibility norms as per law” and punish “any unlawful use of affirmative action benefits.”
The matter could also attract judicial scrutiny if any candidate files a petition before the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) or High Court alleging that ineligible candidates took the benefit of reservations unlawfully.
For now, IAS Ravi Kumar Sihag remains under legal scrutiny, and the outcome will depend on the Rajasthan Government’s verification report and further action by the DoPT and Union Ministry.
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