Puja Khedkar, a probationary IAS officer in Maharashtra, has been transferred from her post in Pune to Washim following allegations of misusing her position. Khedkar, who secured a respectable All India Rank of 821 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination, was initially posted as an assistant collector in Pune.
The controversy surrounding Khedkar arose after she was discovered using privileges not granted to trainee officers. This included using a red-and-blue beacon light and a Maharashtra government board on her private Audi car. These symbols are typically reserved for high-ranking officials and government vehicles.
Khedkar’s actions extended beyond the use of unauthorized vehicle modifications. Reports indicate that she also occupied the antechamber of Additional Collector Ajay More during his absence. She allegedly removed office furniture without his consent and requested the revenue assistant to provide her with official stationery, a nameplate, and other facilities meant for established officers.
Following these revelations, Pune Collector Suhas Divase wrote to the state’s Chief Secretary, highlighting Khedkar’s transgressions. This ultimately led to her transfer from Pune to Washim district, where she will serve the remaining period of her probation as a supernumerary assistant collector.
Further reports suggest that Khedkar’s father, a retired administrative officer himself, may have exerted influence on the District Collector’s office in an attempt to get his daughter’s demands fulfilled.
This incident raises concerns about the conduct of aspiring civil servants and the importance of upholding ethical standards within the bureaucracy. Khedkar’s actions highlight the potential for misuse of power, even among those who are just beginning their careers in the Indian Administrative Service.
Transfer like this is a reminder that government workers are required to operate under set procedures without going beyond which might make them seem as having a right to or showing a lack of respect for their position, no matter how long they have been there. Whether Khedkar will face additional disciplinary measures apart from the one taken against him remains to be seen.
