Puja Khedkar is accused of multiple offenses such as falsifying certificates to pass the civil services exam and misconduct.
Puja Khedkar, a probationary IAS officer, was removed from the District Training Programme by the Maharashtra government on Tuesday following allegations of her abusing power as a civil servant. Puja Khedkar was summoned back to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie, and her training has been suspended.
Puja Khedkar, who achieved an All India Rank (AIR) of 821 in the UPSC exam, caused a stir by driving her personal Audi car equipped with a red-blue beacon light and VIP number plate. Accusations against her include presenting counterfeit disability and Other Backward Class (OBC) documents to pass the civil services test, as well as facing various allegations of misconduct.
In the midst of the debates, the Maharashtra government moved Khedkar from Pune to Washim the previous week. At the same time, a committee was established by the Centre to review all the paperwork provided by Khedkar for her civil services candidacy.
As per The Indian Express report, Puja Khedkar’s conduct as a civil servant is regulated by two important rules – the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968, and the Indian Administrative Service (Probation) Rules, 1954. Let’s examine the regulations that apply to IAS officers and probationary officers.
Combining of services
The AIS (conduct) rules govern all IAS, IPS, and IFS officers from the beginning of their training. During their service, all members should remain committed to their responsibilities and avoid doing anything inappropriate.
As per the regulations, it is unacceptable for officers to leverage their position to get jobs for family members at private or non-governmental entities.
In 2014, the Centre introduced additional sub-rules, requiring officers to uphold ethics, honesty, political neutrality, accountability, transparency, sensitivity to marginalized groups, and respectful interactions with people, all of which Puja Khedkar is being scrutinized for. It is also stated that officers should base their decisions solely on the public interest, without taking into consideration any personal interests.
An officer is prohibited from putting themselves in a position where they owe a favor to someone who could potentially have an impact on their decisions. The rules also stated that civil servants should not misuse their authority for personal financial or material gain for themselves, their family, or their friends.
A 2015 rule change now mandates that any gifts exceeding ₹25,000 in value from close relatives or friends to officers must be reported to the government.
Guidelines for new officers on probation
As per regulations, probationary IAS officers are provided with a set salary and travel allowance for the duration of their training. Nonetheless, they do not qualify for the same privileges as IAS officers, such as a designated car with a VIP number plate, official housing, a dedicated office with support staff, and a personal constable.
The Center can reject a trainee if they are deemed unsuitable for recruitment or service, neglect their responsibilities, or exhibit behavior not conducive to the service. The Centre determines this following a brief investigation. In Puja Khedkar’s situation, the government has established a committee with only one member to review all the documents she has submitted.
Guidelines for falsified document submission
Puja Kedkar allegedly gave false disability and OBC certificates to pass the civil services exam. It was reported that she had also turned in a document certifying her mental illness. PTI reported that in April 2022, she was requested to appear at AIIMS, Delhi, for verification of her disability certificate, but she failed to do so, citing a Covid infection.
27 percent of civil service seats are specifically set aside for the OBC group, and an additional three percent of seats in various categories are allocated for individuals with disabilities. The regulations state that if a civil servant is discovered to have submitted false credentials, they should not be kept on as a candidate. Nevertheless, the civil servant has the option to contest their termination in court with either the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) or the National OBC Commission.
