Education: The central government has relieved Pooja Khedkar from the Indian Administrative Service with immediate effect. The commission recently took a big and tough step and dismissed Pooja Khedkar, the successful candidate of the Civil Services Examination 2021. Serious allegations were leveled against Khedkar, in which it was claimed that she had passed the exam by using fake disability and OBC certificates.

The central government has removed former trainee IAS officer Pooja Khedkar from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) with immediate effect. She is accused of getting selected in the civil services examination by cheating and taking wrong advantage of OBC and disability quota. However, Pooja Khedkar has denied all these allegations. According to official sources, in the order issued on 6 September 2024, Khedkar has been relieved from service under the IAS (Trainee) Rules 1954. According to this rule, if a trainee officer fails in the examination or the government feels that he is unfit for service, he can be removed.

When was the candidature cancelled 

Earlier, on July 31, the UPSC had cancelled Khedkar's candidature and barred her from appearing in all future examinations. Khedkar was working as a trainee IAS officer in Maharashtra.

Procedure for removal and suspension of an IAS officer

There is a provision for removal of an officer from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) under Article 311(2). According to this rule, if an officer is found guilty of any crime, his rank can be reduced or he can be dismissed from the job. This rule states that a civil servant holds office at the will of the President and can be removed only by his order. UPSC has no role in this process.

The suspension process

However, the state government also has the right to suspend an IAS officer, but it can be implemented only under special circumstances. If an officer is suspended, then information about it has to be given to the Cadre Control Authority. It is necessary to take permission from the central government to continue the suspension for more than 30 days.