Delhi High Court Grants Ex-IAS Officer Puja Khedkar Liberty to Challenge UPSC Decision

The Delhi High Court has allowed former IAS officer Puja Khedkar to challenge the cancellation of her candidature at the appropriate forum. The UPSC will provide Khedkar with the cancellation order within two days. The court has not expressed any opinion on the merits of the case.

The Delhi High Court granted Puja Khedkar, a former probationary IAS officer, the liberty to approach the appropriate forum to contest the cancellation of her candidature, on Wednesday.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) informed the court that it will provide Khedkar with the official cancellation order within the next two days. The bench of Justice Jyoti Singh disposed of Khedkar's plea and clarified that it had not examined or expressed any opinion on the merits of the case.

This move from the court will not affect the adjudication of the issue by the appropriate forum. Advocate Indira Jaising, representing Khedkar, requested the court for the formal delivery of the cancellation order and the quashing of the related press release issued by the UPSC. UPSC's representative, Naresh Kaushik, explained that the press release was necessary, given Khedkar's unknown whereabouts.

Khedkar had approached the Delhi High Court on Monday to challenge the UPSC's decision. The UPSC had issued a press statement on July 31, announcing the provisional cancellation of Khedkar's candidature due to accusations of cheating and forgery. Despite being granted an extension to respond to a Show Cause Notice, Khedkar failed to submit her explanation within the prescribed time. Consequently, the UPSC has cancelled her provisional candidature for the CSE-2022 and permanently debarred her from all future exams and selections.

(With inputs from agencies.)