The Delhi High Court sought a response from former probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar regarding a plea from the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

The UPSC has sought the initiation of perjury proceedings against Khedkar, accusing her of providing false statements and affidavits in court.

Justice Jyoti Singh issued a notice to Puja Khedkar regarding the UPSC's application and granted her three weeks to file a response. The court has scheduled the next hearing for November 26.

The UPSC argued that the communication regarding the cancellation of Khedkar's candidature on July 31 was sent to her registered email address on the same day. This email address was the one provided in her online application for the Civil Service Program (CSP) 2022. However, the UPSC claimed that Khedkar falsely stated in court that she had not received the order and only learned of it through a press release issued by the UPSC.

Senior advocate Naresh Kaushik, representing the UPSC, asserted that the former officer had provided false information to her lawyers. He argued that she was fully aware that she was making a false statement under oath but deliberately affirmed its correctness.

“Making false averments on oath with the view to obtain favourable orders from the court, being a very serious offence, undermines the very foundation of the legal system,” said the application filed by advocate Vardhman Kaushik.

It was claimed that Khedkar's affidavit, dated July 28, 2024, was filed before the July 31 speaking order issued by the UPSC even existed. The UPSC requested the court to initiate appropriate proceedings and direct an inquiry against Khedkar for committing the offense of perjury.

Khedkar had previously approached the high court challenging the UPSC's press release, which announced the cancellation of her candidature. She asserted that she had never received the cancellation order directly and only learned of it through the press release.

The court had dismissed her petition after the UPSC assured that it would communicate its order regarding the cancellation of her candidature within two days. On July 31, the UPSC officially cancelled Khedkar's candidature and barred her from future exams.

She was accused of 'misrepresenting information' in her application for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, 2022. Additionally, Khedkar faced allegations of cheating and improperly benefiting from the OBC and disability quotas.

On August 1, a trial court denied her anticipatory bail, stating that the allegations were serious and "require a thorough investigation."