Puja Khedkar has challenged the UPSC (Union Public service Commission)’s decision of cancelling her IAS candidature in the Delhi High Court, asserting that only the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) holds the authority to take action against her under the All India Services Act of 1954 and the Probationer Rules.

“The DoPT alone can take action as per Rule 19 of the CSE 2022 Rules,” Khedkar argued, according to media.

On July 31, UPSC revoked the provisional candidature of then-probationary IAS Puja Khedkar, and barred her from participating in any future examinations conducted by the Commission. This drastic step was followed by allegations of Khedkar faking her identity to get the job.

Khedkar further contended that her identity and documents were thoroughly vetted during the exam process. “The UPSC verified my biometric data before my exam, and all documents were confirmed during the personality test in 2022,” she said.

The UPSC, however, maintains that Khedkar’s custodial interrogation is essential to fully uncover the extent of the fraud, suggesting that such deception could not have been perpetrated without accomplices. “Custodial interrogation is necessary to unravel the full magnitude of the fraud,” the Commission emphasised.

In the midst of these legal battles, Khedkar has been granted anticipatory bail, but the controversy continues to unfold as the case draws significant public and legal attention.

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UPSC strikes off Puja Khedkar's name from IAS, bars her permanently from all exams