The Union Public Service Commission cancelled the provisional candidature of Puja Khedkar, a provisionally recommended candidate of the Civil Services Examination-2022 and permanently debarred her from all future exams and selections.
New Delhi: In a first, the Centre on Wednesday allowed the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to perform Aadhaar-based authentication to verify candidates’ identity voluntarily, both at the time of registration and during several stages of examinations and recruitment.
Read More: ‘Enough Is Enough’: Prez Murmu Issues Stern Warning, Responds To Kolkata Rape-Murder Case
The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions said,” In pursuance of sub-clause (ii) of clause (b) of sub-section (4) of section 4 of the Aadhaar(Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016, (as amended) read with rule 5 of the Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance (Social Welfare, Innovation, Knowledge) Rules, 2020, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Personnel and Training, having been authorized by the Central Government, hereby notifies that the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is allowed to perform Aadhaar authentication, on voluntary basis, for verification of identity of candidates at the time of registration on ‘One Time Registration’ portal and various stages of examination/recruitment test, using Yes/No or/and e-KYC authentication facility.”
“Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) shall adhere to all provisions of the Act, the rules and regulations made thereunder, and directions issued by the ‘Unique Identification Authority of India’,” Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions further said.
Aadhaar is a 12-digit number issued by the UIDAI to all eligible citizens on the basis of biometric and demographic data.
Earlier in July, the Union Public Service Commission cancelled the provisional candidature of Puja Khedkar, a provisionally recommended candidate of the Civil Services Examination-2022 and permanently debarred her from all future exams and selections.
Khedkar, a probationary IAS officer who secured an All India Rank of 821 in the UPSC exams, has been accused of misusing her authority. She faces several allegations, including claims that she demanded a separate cabin and staff during her Pune posting, faced an unexpected transfer to Washim district, and used a private Audi car with a red-blue beacon light and VIP number plate. Moreover, she allegedly occupied the ante-chamber of Additional Collector Ajay More without permission, removed office furniture without consent, and requested unauthorised facilities.
Read More: Gujarat Floods: 26 Dead, Around 18,000 Evacuated, IMD Predicts More Showers
She was accused of bullying everyone around and of placing a red-blue beacon (indicating high-ranking official) atop a private Audi (a luxury sedan) car used by her that also had ‘Maharashtra Government’ written on it during her stint. She was declared qualified in the civil services examination 2022. Based on the results declared last year by the UPSC, Khedkar was allocated the IAS and her home state Maharashtra as a cadre.
The Union Public Service Commission conducts Civil Services Examinations( Preliminary, Main, and Interview/Personality Test) for recruitment to the Services and Posts such as Indian Administrative Service, Indian Foreign Service, Indian Police Service, Indian Audit and Accounts Service, Group ‘A’, Indian Civil Accounts Service, Group ‘A’, Indian Corporate Law Service, Group ‘A’, Indian Defence Accounts Service, Group ‘A’, Indian Defence Estates Service, Group ‘A’, Indian Information Service, Group ‘A’, Indian Postal Service, Group ‘A’, Indian P&T Accounts and Finance Service, Group ‘A’ and others.
The Delhi High Court in August issued notices to the Delhi Police and the UPSC concerning the anticipatory bail plea of suspended IAS officer Puja Khedkar. Khedkar approached the Delhi High Court to challenge a district court’s decision that denied her bail. The FIR alleges that she falsified her identity to secure additional attempts in the civil services examination.
