Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) chairperson Manoj Soni has resigned citing “personal reasons” nearly five years ahead of the scheduled end of his tenure in 2029. Soni’s resignation comes at a time when UPSC is in the dock regarding the controversy involving probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar, who is accused of using fraudulent disability and caste certificates during selection.
UPSC chairman Manoj Soni resigns citing "personal reasons" five years before term ends
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Manoj Soni joined the UPSC, a constitutional body, as a member in 2017. On May 16, 2023, he took over as chairperson of the commission, responsible for conducting the civil services exam (CSE) to select candidates for prestigious government services such as IAS, IPS, and IFS.
Sources indicate that Manoj Soni tendered his resignation to the President approximately a month ago. However, it remains uncertain whether his resignation will be approved or not. Prior to his appointment to the UPSC in 2017, Soni had held three terms as a vice-chancellor at two universities in Gujarat.
He served as the vice-chancellor of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University (BAOU), Gujarat, for two consecutive terms from 2009 to 2015. Additionally, from 2005 to 2008, he held the position of vice-chancellor at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. Soni attained the distinction of being the youngest VC in India during his tenure at MSU Baroda. Having specialised in international relations studies, Manoj Soni is a distinguished scholar of political science.
The UPSC filed a criminal case against Puja Khedkar for allegedly “misrepresenting and falsifying facts” during her civil services examination. The UPSC has also issued her a show cause notice for cancelling her selection and debarment from future examinations.
After Puja Khedkar’s case surfaced, social media was abuzz with several cases of candidates presently in service who allegedly forged documents to get benefits reserved for Scheduled Castes/Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD). The cases raise questions about the sanctity of UPSC’s exam and selection processes.
Subsequent to the UPSC’s complaint, Delhi Police has registered a case, charging Khedkar with forgery and cheating.
Delhi Police said in a statement, “UPSC has filed a complaint with Delhi Police against Puja Manorama Dilip Khedkar for misrepresenting and falsifying facts to obtain extra attempts in the UPSC examinations, beyond the prescribed limit. Consequently, a case has been registered under the relevant sections of the law.”
The UPSC is a constitutional body which gets its mandate from Article 315-323 Part XIV Chapter II of the Indian constitution. The Chairperson heads the commission which comprises a maximum of 10 other members. The commission under the leadership of Soni comprised of seven other members, including Dinesh Dasa, former Chairman of Gujarat Public Service Commission; BB Swain, former Gujarat cadre IAS officer; Sheel Vardhan Singh, former IPS officer; Sanjay Verma, former diplomat; and Preeti Sudan, former Union Health Secretary.
