The Revelations and Raised Eyebrows
In a series of revelations surrounding trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar, questions have now been raised about a disability certificate issued to her by a Pune hospital. This is one of several disability certificates that have emerged over the last couple of weeks, after her selection into the civil service came under scrutiny.
Puja Khedkar had submitted two certificates issued by the Ahmednagar District Civil Hospital in 2018 and 2021 to the UPSC. She had also applied for a disability certificate from Aundh government hospital in Pune in 2022, but the application was rejected after medical tests.
The latest disability certificate, issued by Pune’s Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital on August 24, 2022, has raised several red flags. The certificate states that Puja Khedkar’s address is “Plot No 53, Dehu Alandi Road, Talawade, Pimpri Chinchwad” in Pune district, but this location is home to a factory named Thermoverta Engineering Company, not a residential address. Interestingly, Khedkar’s Audi car, which has been seized after she illegally used a red-blue beacon on it, is registered in the name of this company.
Furthermore, the certificate mentions that Khedkar produced a ration card as identification, even though the government has mandated the use of Aadhaar for obtaining disability certificates.
The Disability Discrepancy
The certificate states that Khedkar is “a case of Locomotor Disability” and that the “diagnosis in her case is Old ACL tear with left knee instability,” indicating an injury to the Anterior Cruciate Ligament, one of the ligaments that helps stabilize the knee joint. However, the extent of her disability is listed as 7 percent, much lower than the UPSC’s threshold of “not less than forty percent” for a “person with benchmark disability.”
This discrepancy raises questions about how Puja Khedkar managed to secure relaxations during her civil service selection, as she had sought relaxation under the “person with benchmark disability” category.
The Skipped Appointments and Submitted Report
Earlier, Khedkar had skipped multiple appointments in Delhi for a medical check-up to verify her disability certificate and then submitted a report from a private facility instead.
The Investigations and Allegations
The office of the Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Pune, has now asked the police to check the authenticity of the certificates submitted by Khedkar. The Centre has also started an investigation to verify her candidature.
The Beginnings of the Controversy
Khedkar’s troubles began last month when Pune collector Dr. Suhas Diwase wrote to Maharashtra Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik, flagging many demands made by the 2023-batch trainee IAS officer. Diwase stated that Khedkar had been demanding a separate cabin, a car, residential quarters, and a peon before she joined work at the collectorate, despite being on a two-year probation and not being entitled to these benefits. Khedkar was also accused of removing the nameplate of a senior official at the collector’s office when he was on leave.
Amid the row, Khedkar was transferred to Washim as a supernumerary assistant collector.
The Unraveling of the Allegations
The allegations of unreasonable demands proved to be a can of worms, as Khedkar’s selection for the civil service came under the scanner. Yesterday, authorities at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration put her training on hold and recalled her for “necessary action.”
Khedkar’s Fightback
Khedkar has alleged a media trial against her and said the “truth will come out” after she presents her case before the probe committee set up by the Centre. She has also filed a complaint of harassment against Pune district collector Suhas Diwase, who had written to the Chief Secretary flagging her alleged demands for perks. This complaint has been forwarded to Pune Police, but an FIR is yet to be registered.
Khedkar has stated that the Constitution is based on the fact that one is innocent until proven guilty, and that “proving me guilty by media trial is wrong on everybody’s part.”
The Unanswered Questions
The revelations surrounding Puja Khedkar’s disability certificates and the allegations of unreasonable demands have raised several questions that are yet to be answered:
- How did Khedkar manage to secure relaxations during her civil service selection, given that her disability certificate shows an extent of only 7 percent, much lower than the UPSC’s threshold?
- What is the authenticity of the disability certificates she submitted, and how did she obtain them?
- What was the nature of her demands for perks, and were they justified given her probationary status?
- What will the outcome of the investigations by the Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities and the Centre be, and how will they impact Khedkar’s future?
As the investigations and the battle for redemption continue, the case of Puja Khedkar has become a complex and intriguing one, raising questions about the integrity of the civil service selection process and the accountability of its participants.