Puja Khedkar Will be Given Order Copy Cancelling IAS Candidature: UPSC to Delhi HC

New Delhi: Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) informed Delhi High Court on Wednesday that it will communicate within two days its order cancelling former probationary Indian ministrative Service (IAS) officer Puja Khedkar's candidature to her.

Noting submissions of UPSC, Justice Jyoti Singh disposed of Khedkar's plea challenging Commission's press release stating that her candidature has been dismissed.

" petition is disposed of granting liberty to petitioner to approach appropriate forum in accordance with law. It is me clear that this court has neir entered into nor expressed any opinion on merits of case and filing of present petition will not come in way of appropriate forum in judicating issue on merits," court said.

court asked Khedkar to give her dress to UPSC, and said order be supplied to her physically and electronically.

It also said that for or reliefs like challenge to cancellation order, Khedkar will have to go to Central ministrative Tribunal (CAT).

During hearing, senior vocate Indira Jaising, appearing for Khedkar, said cancellation order was never communicated to her and she came to know about it only through press release.

On being asked by court as to why she has not approached CAT with her challenge, Khedkar's lawyer said since she was not served with official order by UPSC, plea was moved before high court impugning press release.

Senior vocate Naresh Kaushik, representing UPSC, said order will be communicated by Commission to Khedkar within two days on her email id as well as her last known dress.

On July 31, UPSC cancelled Khedkar's candidature and debarred her from future exams.

She was accused of 'misrepresenting information' in her application for UPSC Civil Services Examination, 2022. Khedkar was also accused of cheating and wrongly availing of OBC and disability quota benefits.

On August 1, a trial court here h denied her anticipatory bail, saying se are serious allegations that "require a thorough investigation".

(This story is not edited by Republic and is published from a syndicated feed)