There are many young people who aspire for government jobs, and for getting those jobs they appear for many competitive examinations so that they can government jobs. The most lucrative among these jobs are in these fields – The Indian Administrative Services (IAS), The Indian Police Services (IPS) and The Indian Foreign Services (IFS). The entrance exams are conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to get into these services. Many aspirants sometimes use unfair methods to clear them and come in the top ranks. As there are different kinds of reservations for these jobs , and the categories are quotas for OBC, SC/ST, Handicapped persons etc. Many aspirants go through this quota route, and here sometimes unfair means are also used.
Friends, for the last few days there is news in the media regarding one probationary IAS officer Ms Puja Khedkar. She secured a rank of 821 in the 2022 UPSC civil Services Examination, and was allotted the IAS under the OBC and Physically Handicapped (PH) quotas, and who has come under scrutiny over alleged misuse of power and privileges. She has been recalled to the Lal Bahadur Shastri national Academy of Administration in Mussoorie and her training put on hold. This is the first major action against her who had been transferred to Washim from Pune (where she was originally posted)amid allegations of manipulation of disability and OBC certificates for getting Civil Services. She has been recalled to training academy for further necessary action.
As per State government order, she has been instructed to join the academy at the earliest but not later than 23rd July 2024. This academy train services civil servants of the IAS cadre and also conducts the foundation course of Group-A central civil services.
The authenticity of various certificates submitted by her to UPSC, one of them indicating visual impairment, is being probed. She had earlier submitted two certificates, provided by Ahmednagar District civil Hospital in 2018, and 2021 to the UPSC under the Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) category. She was, however sent by UPSC for a medical check up at Delhi’s All India Institute Of Medical Science (AIIMS). She, however skipped as many as six appointments between April and August 2022, claimed several reports. It has now emerged that she applied for a disability certificate from Aundh government hospital in Pune in August 2022, but after her medical tests, her application was rejected.
She was transferred from Pune, where she was posted as an assistant collector, to Washim as a supernumerary assistant collector after she was first accused of demanding perks and facilities to which she was not entitled as a trainee official.
It was alleged, she was found using a red beacon and a “Government of Maharashtra” sticker on her private Audi car. She also used Pune additional Collector’s office while he was away. She reportedly removed office furniture, besides demanding letterheads and VIP number plate. She also raised demands for a separate house and car-perks that are unavailable for junior officers on probation for 24 months.
Last week, the Union government set up a one-member committee “to verify the candidature” of Ms Khedkar and submit a report in two weeks.
Questions were raised about her appointment in the civil services under the OBC non-creamy layer after a Pune RTI activist alleged that her father had assets worth Rs 40 Cr. A person with a family income over Rs 8 lakh per annum is from the creamy layer, and is not eligible for reservations benefits.
Ms Puja Khedkar has alleged “ a media trial” against her and that she had been the victim of misinformation campaign. She further said that she will testify in front of the expert committee and that she will “ accept the decision of the committee”. Whatever my submission is, I will give it front of the committee and the truth will come out.
Pune Police has been also searching for her parents in a criminal case. A FIR was registered against the couple and five others after a video showed her mother Manorma Khedkar, a village sarpanch, allegedly threatening some persons with a gun over a land dispute. Latest news is that, Manorma Khedkar has been detained from Mahad (Raigad district) and she is being brought to Pune where, after the completion of formalities, she will be placed under arrest.
So, this case of Puja Khedkar has come into open, there will be many more such cases where the aspirants have used dubious means to gain entry into civil services. In Puja’s case it is quite evident that she does not belong to OBC-non creamy layer category, and definitely she is not physically handicapped.
Let us wait and watch about the next development in this matter.
Waiting for your feedback on this blog
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
18th July 2024