New Delhi: Former trainee IAS officer, Puja Khedkar, has said in her reply to the Delhi High Court that the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has no power to disqualify her adding that after the appointment as a probationer officer, only the DoPT (Department of Personnel Training) can pass such an order.
In her rejoinder in the case wherein the UPSC and Delhi police opposed her pre-arrest bail, she said there was no change in her first name and surname from 2012-2022, which are reflected, she claimed, in Detailed Application Forms (DAFs).
"That there has been no change in the applicant’s first name and surname, from 2012 to 2022, as consistently reflected in all DAFs. The applicant has not manipulated or misrepresented her name to UPSC. All other details, including academic certificates, Aadhaar card, date of birth, and personal information, have remained consistent in the DAF," she said in her reply.
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"Furthermore, UPSC has verified the applicant’s identity through biometric data (eyes and fingerprints) collected during the personality tests of 2019, 2021, and 2022 and all the documents were verified by the Commission during the personality test on 26.05. 2022," she added.
The UPSC had filed a complaint to the Delhi police saying that Puja Khedkar faked her identity to give multiple attempts despite exhausting her civil services examination attempts. Khedkar landed in trouble over her alleged fake OBC and disability certificates that she used to claim reservation benefits in the examinations.
She also submitted affidavits and official gazettes to correct discrepancies in names and certificates, and complied with UPSC's request for PwBD, caste, and father’s name clarification therefore "it is wrong on the part of Commission to say that the Applicant misrepresented her name". "Moreover, it is pertinent to mention that the Respondent No2 in para 12 of their Order dated 31.7.2024 cancelling the candidature themselves have admitted that she has given the same certificates for proof of Date of Birth and Aadhar in all Detailed Application Form which goes on to prove that she has not cheated as has been alleged," she said in the reply.
On the issue of disability certificates, Puja said, "That the Applicant herein on being recommended to DOPT all necessary verification was undertaken and she was medically examined by the Medical Board constituted by AIMS as per DOPT which found her disability upto 47% and way beyond the requirement of 40% for PwBD category. "
"The Applicant herein says and submits that none of the documents produced are forged, fabricated or created and are issued by the authorities competent to issue the same and the Applicant has not misrepresented or cheated the Respondent No 2 as alleged in the FIR No 142/2024 dated 19.7.2024 made before the Crime branch Delhi," she added.