Controversy seems to go everywhere with IAS trainee officer Puja Khedkar. After initially being transferred, now the training of the 32-year-old 2023 Maharashtra cadre officer has been put on hold and she has been immediately recalled to the IAS academy in Mussoorie. Khedkar, who seems to be controversy’s child, has been instructed to join the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie, latest by July 23.
Additional Chief Secretary Nitin Gadre, who heads the General Administration Department, issued a written order to Dr Khedkar informing her recall to LBSNAA. “As per a letter from Deputy Director and In-Charge Establishment, dated September 16, 2024, it is informed that LBSNAA, Mussoorie, has decided to keep your District Training Programme on hold and immediately recall you for further action. Therefore, you are hereby relieved from the District Training Programme of State Government of Maharashtra,” Dr Gadre stated in the brief one-page letter.
As the row surrounding Khedkar refuses to die down, we take a closer look at what happened so far and what are the rules for IAS officers.
Khedkar’s training paused
On Tuesday (July 16), the news came that the government had put Puja Khedkar’s IAS
training on hold and ordered her to return to the LBSNAA by July 23. Khedkar has also been relieved from the District Training Programme of the Maharashtra government.
LBSNAA’s decision to cut short Khedkar’s training comes close on the heels of a report submitted by the Maharashtra government to it about Khedkar’s conduct.
Reacting to the news, Former Pune Divisional Commissioner Dilip Band told the Indian Express, “I have never during my career or even after that heard such a thing as it happened in case of Puja Khedkar. The way everyday information is coming to light reveals that there is more to it than meets the eye. The UPSC needs to thoroughly investigate the matter and take a quick decision so that no one dares repeat such an act.”
Echoing similar shock, former Maharashtra Deputy Director (Audit) Digambar Nemadi in the same Express report said, “I have also in my tenure with the state government never come across anything like this… It is very unfortunate and something that should not have happened. Now options before the UPSC is to once again thoroughly verify her claims of disability certificate and non-creamy layer certificate.”
Another senior government official told The Print that Khedkar could be dismissed from the IAS if it is found that she has, indeed, submitted a false OBC non-creamy layer certificate along with reportedly forged disability certificates.
Rules for civil servants
But why has her training been paused? Has Puja Khedkar broken the rules governing the IAS cadre?
All IAS officers, along with those from the Indian Police Services and Indian Forest Service, are governed by the AIS (Conduct) Rules from the time they are allotted their service, and start their training.
As per AIS (Conduct) Rule 3 (1) states, “Every member of the Service shall at all times maintain absolute integrity and devotion to duty and shall do nothing which is unbecoming of a member of the Service.”
The rules further state that officers must not use their power to secure the employment of any family member in any private or non-governmental organisations.
Later, in 2014, a few sub-rules were added about officers conducting themselves with the highest ethical standards, integrity, honesty, political neutrality, accountability, transparency, sensitivity to people, especially weaker sections, and good behaviour towards people. Furthermore, officers should take decisions “solely in public interest… declare any private interests relating to his/her public duties… not place himself/herself under any financial or other obligations to any individual or organisation which may influence him/her… not misuse position as civil servant and not take decisions in order to derive financial or material benefits for self, family or friends…”.
The rules also prohibit civil servants from accepting gifts from “near relatives” or “personal friends”. And gifts worth above Rs 25,000 should be reported.
There are also separate rules for trainees during their probation period. Probationary IAS officers, such as Puja Khedkar, are entitled to a fix salary and allowance during their training period. However, they are not eligible for special powers enjoyed by IAS officers — such as an official car with a VIP number plate, official accommodation, an official room with adequate staff, and a constable.
As per Rule 12, probationers can be disqualified if the trainee has been found “ineligible” for recruitment or unfit to be a service member. They can also be disqualified if they neglect their studies or duties or their conduct isn’t worthy of the service. This is decided by the Centre after holding a summary enquiry.
The rules also provide for submission of fake certificates for availing of the OBC quota and the Physically Handicapped (PH) reservation. As per the law, if a candidate is found to have submitted fake certificates, he/she should not be retained. However, the civil servant can challenge his/her dismissal in court before the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) and the National OBC Commission. As per an Indian Express report, this is applicable to all even if the person is not a probationer and has been confirmed.
The many controversies of Puja Khedkar
Khedkar, a trained doctor who hails from Maharashtra’s Pune has been in the limelight since last week. She first hit national headlines last week when she was transferred from Pune to Washim following complaints of alleged misuse of power.
While in Pune, she allegedly made repeated calls to the office of the Collector, demanding a separate office, residential quarters, an official car, and staff. In his report to the General Administration Department, the Pune Collector said the trainee officer was told that she was not entitled to such facilities during probation, and accommodation would be provided to her as per norms.
On joining, she then removed the nameplate of Pune Additional Collector Ajay More from his office, and even rearranged furniture there, as per a report in The Hindu. She also used her private luxury car with a red-blue beacon light, a VIP number plate, and a ‘Government of Maharashtra’ sticker during her probation.
As per the rules, these perks are not available to probationary officers who are still in their 24-month probationary period. Following these allegations, Khedkar was transferred from Pune to Washim as a supernumerary assistant collector. This move was seen as a temporary measure pending further investigation.
As these allegations made news, concerns were also raised about her disability and Other Backward Class (OBC) certificates. If this wasn’t bad enough, her parents also became the subject of scrutiny, as they went missing. The police have been unable to trace the
parents in a land dispute case registered against them after a video of her mother threatening a farmer with a pistol in Pune district went viral.
She also has found herself in deeper trouble as discrepancies were found over her name. She used two different
names — Khedkar Puja Deeliprao and Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar during civil services exams.
When asked to respond to the various allegations against her, Khedkar on Monday said that the truth will prevail after she makes a submission before the central committee. “My job here as a probationer is to work and learn and that is what I am doing. I cannot make any comments on that,” she said.
“The experts of the government (committee) will decide. Neither I nor you (media) or the public can decide,” Khedkar added.
“Whenever the decision of the committee comes, it will be public and open to scrutiny. But right now I don’t have any right to tell you about the investigation going on,” she said.
Asked if she is being targeted, Khedkar said, “Everybody knows what is going on.” The Indian Constitution is based on the fact that you are innocent till proven guilty, she said. “So proving me guilty by media trial is wrong on everybody’s part,” she added.
With inputs from agencies
Link to article –
