New Delhi: A recent controversy has erupted surrounding Pooja Khedkar, an IAS officer trainee in Maharashtra. Khedkars actions have raised concerns about entitlement and adherence to protocol.Reports indicate that Khedkar requested privileges not allotted to trainees, including a designated car with VIP markings, housing, a personal office with staff, and a security guard. These demands exceeded the standard provisions for her position.What exactly happenedKhedkar reportedly occupied the office space of a senior official, additional collector Ajay More, during their absence and even removed furniture without authorization. Additionally, she requested personalized stationery and signage, further blurring the lines of appropriate conduct. She ordered the revenue assistant in charge to give a letterhead, visiting card, paperweight, nameplate, royal seal, and intercom in her name. She had secured an All India Rank (AIR) of 841 in UPSC, and she wholly changed the position of everything in the office, not even sparing chairs, sofas, and tables, without the prior consent of the additional collector.The luxurious lifestyle of a civil servantKhedkar breached conduct by another activity by using her private Audi car with a red-blue beacon light and VIP number plate, creating havoc in the administration. She had also installed a Maharashtra government board on her private car, which is not what is expected of a trainee civil servant, who is not given any kind of luxury when the learning is in process. Questions raisedAdding another layer of complexity, questions have been raised regarding Khedkars eligibility for her position. While she secured a competitive rank in the UPSC exam, an RTI activist alleges discrepancies in her application. Khedkar reportedly claimed to belong to the Other Backward Class (OBC) non-creamy layer category, but her fathers wealth reportedly contradicts this classification.Moreover, Khedkar reportedly identified as mentally ill and disabled on her application. However, her repeated absences from mandatory medical examinations cast doubt on the validity of these claims. These discrepancies raise concerns about the fairness of the selection process.The situation has highlighted the importance of upholding ethical standards within the civil service. Khedkars actions and the alleged discrepancies in her application warrant a thorough investigation to ensure transparency and accountability.
