Even in an elite case, the Union Public Service Commission—UPSC—recently canceled the provisional candidature of the IAS trainee Puja Khedkar for cheating and forgery charges. But now, cheddar has gone to the Delhi High Court to review UPSC’s decision to eliminate the lax man.
The matter was taken up before a bench comprising acting chief justice Manmohan and is now listed for hearing on Wednesday. The UPSC finally annulled Khedkar’s candidature on 31 July after it conducted an investigation concerning the breach of some of the rules surrounding CSE-2022.
As envisaged by the UPSC, the probe found Khedkar guilty of being involved in a practice against the provisions of the CSE-2022 Rules. She had her provisional candidature canceled and was barred for life from the UPSC examinations and selections.
The issue came into the limelight when an SCN was served on Khedkar on July 18, claiming she was guilty of fraudulently attempting more than permissible chances by impersonating her. While Khedkar was allowed until July 30th to file her response, she never did.
The UPSC’s statement also detailed that an analysis of the CSE data, examining a fifteen-year period involving more than 15000 recommended candidates from 2009 to 2023, did not show any other anomaly.
Khedkar’s case has become a focal point of attention concerning the misuse of authority and the production of a forged disability card during her tenure in Pune. After these allegations, her probation period was thereby placed on hold, and she was reposted to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration situated in Mussoorie.
It is now that the UPSC’s part has decided that Khedkar has filed a review petition in the Delhi High Court for the matter. The decision to the matter is still pending, and its understanding may significantly affect the general public’s view of the amended examination system in the civil services.
