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The Delhi High Court on Wednesday granted liberty to former probationer IAS Pooja Khedkar to approach the appropriate forum to challenge the cancellation of her candidature.
Meanwhile, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has informed the court that it will provide Pooja Khedkar with the order cancelling her candidature within two days. While disposing of Pooja Khedkar’s petition, a bench of Justice Jyoti Singh clarified that it has not expressed any inquiry or opinion on the merits of the case.
The court also said that filing of the petition will have no impact on the decision on the matter by the appropriate forum.
Advocate Indira Jaising, representing Khedkar, cited a press release issued by the UPSC regarding cancellation of his candidature and said that Khedkar was specifically requesting two actions, formal delivery of the cancellation order and quashing of the press release regarding the cancellation.
Naresh Kaushik from UPSC said that the press release was issued because Khedkar’s address was unknown. The press release was a formal notice of cancellation of his candidature.
Khedkar on Monday filed a petition in the Delhi High Court challenging the decision of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to cancel his candidature.
On July 31, UPSC informed through a press statement that it has decided to cancel the provisional candidature of Pooja Khedkar, who has been accused of cheating and forgery. UPSC found Pooja Khedkar to be violating the rules and she has been debarred from all future examinations and selections.
The UPSC said it has carefully considered the request of Pooja Manorama Dilip Khedkar and to meet the ends of justice, she is granted time till 3:30 pm on July 30, 2024 to submit her reply to the show cause notice.
Pooja Manorama Dilip Khedkar was also clearly told that this is the last opportunity for her and no further extension of time will be given. She was also told in clear terms that if no reply is received by the said date/time, UPSC will take further action without taking any further reference from her. UPSC said that despite the extension of time being given to her, she failed to submit her explanation within the stipulated time.
The UPSC has carefully examined the available records and found them guilty of acting in violation of the provisions of the CSE-2022 Rules. Their provisional candidature for CSE-2022 has been cancelled and they have also been permanently debarred from all future examinations/selections of UPSC, the press release said.
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