NEW DELHI: Puja Khedkar, a probationary IAS officer, has been relieved from the District Training Programme of the Maharashtra government following allegations of misuse of power. Khedkar, who has now been recalled to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie, faces suspension of her training.
Khedkar, who secured an All-India Rank (AIR) of 821 in the UPSC exam, sparked controversy by using her private Audi car with a red-blue beacon light and a VIP number plate. She is also accused of submitting fake disability and Other Backward Class (OBC) certificates to clear the civil services exam, along with other allegations of misconduct.
Considering these controversies, the Maharashtra government recently transferred Khedkar from Pune to Washim. Concurrently, the Centre has formed a committee to examine all documents submitted by Khedkar for her civil services candidacy.
According to a report by The Indian Express, Khedkar’s actions are governed by two key sets of rules: the All-India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968, and the Indian Administrative Service (Probation) Rules, 1954. Here is an overview of the rules governing IAS officers and probationary officers:
Integration of Services
All Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers are governed by the AIS (Conduct) Rules from the time of their training. These rules mandate that all service members maintain fidelity to duty and refrain from ” unbecoming behavior.” Officers are also prohibited from using their office to secure employment for any family member in private or non-governmental organizations.
In 2014, additional sub-rules were introduced, emphasizing that officers must maintain ethics, integrity, honesty, political neutrality, accountability, transparency, and sensitivity toward people, especially weaker sections. Officers are required to make decisions solely in the public interest, without regard for private interests—standards which Khedkar has been accused of violating.
Rules for Probationary Officers
Probationary IAS officers receive a fixed salary and travel allowance during their training period but are not entitled to the special powers enjoyed by full-fledged IAS officers. These include privileges such as an official car with a VIP number plate, official accommodation, an office with adequate staff, and a constable.
Rules for Submission of Fake Certificates
Civil services rules reserve 27% of seats for the OBC category and 3% of seats across general, OBC, ST, and SC categories for the differently abled. If a candidate is found to have submitted fake certificates, they should be dismissed from service. However, the affected civil servants can challenge their dismissal in court before the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) and the National OBC Commission.
