In a significant move, the Maharashtra Government on Tuesday directed trainee Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Puja Khedkar to return to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie. This decision comes amid controversies surrounding her conduct during her district training programme.
According to a letter issued by Additional Chief Secretary Nitin Gadre, the LBS National Academy of Administration has decided to put Dr. Puja Khedkar’s district training programme on hold and has immediately recalled her for further necessary action.
Join us on WhatsApp, click here
The letter states, “You are hereby relieved from the district training program of the state government of Maharashtra… You are instructed to join the academy at the earliest but not later than 23rd July 2024 under any circumstance.”
Controversies and allegations
Puja Khedkar recently made headlines following reports about her alleged demands for a separate office and official car, as well as the unauthorized use of a beacon in her private car. Earlier this month, Pune District Collector Suhas Diwase also submitted a report to the state government detailing the “objectionable behavior” of Khedkar and her father.
Puja Khedkar, who completed her MBBS, had previously attempted the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exams several times and allegedly made the cut for the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) in 2019.
ALSO READ: Puja Khedkar is indeed suffering from depression, myopic degeneration leading to 51% disability: Hospital report
A video of a mock interview shows her explaining to the panelists that she could not join the IRS due to “technical issues in her OBC allocation.” She later secured a position as assistant director with the Sports Authority of India in November 2021.
In 2021, Puja Khedkar appeared for the Civil Services Examination, clearing the preliminary exam, main exam, and interview, securing the 821st rank. However, her journey took a legal turn when she engaged in a legal battle against the UPSC in the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT).
This followed her failure to present herself for a medical examination to confirm her disability claim, which was necessary for her to receive benefits under the Persons with Benchmark Disabilities category. She claimed to suffer from “blindness and mental illness.”
Medical reports and disability certification
In related developments, the Ahmednagar District Hospital in Maharashtra certified that Puja Khedkar was suffering from depression and myopic degeneration in both eyes. Dr. Sanjay Ghogare, Ahmednagar District Civil Surgeon, confirmed that a report certifying 51 percent disability was submitted to the District Collector S. Salimath and will be forwarded to the Nashik divisional commissioner.
The hospital report, dated April 25, 2018, by ophthalmic surgeon Dr S V Raskar, stated that Khedkar had “BE High Myopia with myopic degeneration with 40 percent permanent disability.” Additionally, a psychiatric assessment on January 18, 2021, by Dr. Yogesh Gadekar and clinical psychologist Minal Katkol, found her to be suffering from depression, resulting in an overall disability certification of 51 percent.
