Dismissed trainee IAS officer Pooja KhedkarImage credit source: PTI
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has reacted to the disqualification of former IAS officer Pooja Khedkar on fraud charges. Pooja Khedkar filed a reply in the Delhi High Court. In response, Khedkar said the panel had no power to take action against him.
In his reply filed in the Delhi High Court, he argued that the UPSC had no power to disqualify his candidature when he was selected for the civil service and appointed as a probationer. Pooja Khedkar said that only the personnel and training department has the authority to take action against him.
Pooja Khedkar said that only DoPT (Department of Personnel and Training) can take action under Probationer Rules as per Rule 19 of All India Service Act, 1954 and CSE 2022 Rules.
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UPSC has taken action against Khedkar
UPSC has canceled the candidature of Pooja Khedkar and barred her from appearing in any examination conducted by her. The decision came after he was found guilty of concealing his identity and abusing his authority. The panel also registered an FIR against him.
Accused of concealing his identity, he said UPSC verified his biometric data before appearing for the exam. It further said that all documents were verified by the commission during its “personality test” in 2022. Pooja Khedkar has been granted anticipatory bail.
If bail is cancelled, Khedkar can be arrested
It said that the gravity of this fraud is unprecedented, as it has been perpetrated not only against a constitutional institution, whose traditions are unrestricted and unique, but also against the general public, including the citizens of this country, who have full faith. Credibility of UPSC and includes those persons who could not be appointed despite being eligible and qualified due to illegal means used by the applicant to get appointment.
However, the public prosecutor alleged in the court that because of this, honest candidates lost their chances. Now the bail application in Pooja Khedkar’s case will be heard. However, if the court denies bail, he can be arrested.
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