More Trouble For Pooja Khedkar As Nashik Divisional Commissionerate Cancels Her Non-Creamy Layer Certificate

The Nashik Divisional Commissionerate has decided to cancel the certificate of IAS trainee Pooja Khedkar, who faced objections for obtaining a ‘Non-Creamy Layer’ certificate despite having assets worth crores of rupees and expensive cars. Reliable sources have said that the Divisional Commissionerate has cancelled the certificate as there is truth in the objection. A report in this regard has been submitted to the state government.

AAP leader Vijay Kumbhar said that Pooja Khedkar has appealed against the cancellation of her Non-Creamy Layer certificate, even though there is no clear legal provision for such an appeal. He added that she has challenged the Nashik Divisional Commissioner’s decision, which was based on allegations of submitting false information.

The local administration had submitted a confidential report stating that dismissed IAS trainee Pooja Khedkar had obtained a non-creamy layer certificate through misrepresentation. In this regard, the Nashik Divisional Commissionerate had issued a show-cause notice to Pooja Khedkar, asking why her ‘Non-Creamy Layer’ certificate should not be cancelled. She was asked to present her side. Accordingly, it is known that Pooja’s father, Dilip Khedkar, had presented their side through a lawyer. Since this is a quasi-judicial process, the Revenue Commissionerate had maintained utmost secrecy in the matter. The hearing had been ongoing for the past few months.

OBC non-creamy layer norms

Candidates from the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category require a ‘non-creamy layer’ certificate to avail themselves of reservation benefits. For this, the condition is that the annual income of the candidate’s parents should not exceed eight lakh rupees. Pooja Khedkar had obtained a non-creamy layer certificate from the then Provincial Administrator’s office in Pathardi, in the Ahmednagar district. Pooja’s father, Dilip Khedkar, is a retired government officer and had recently contested the Lok Sabha elections. In the affidavit submitted at that time, he had declared assets worth ₹40 crore.

After Pooja’s non-creamy layer certificate came under scrutiny, it was revealed during the administration’s investigation that the Khedkar family had assets worth crores. It is said that the local administration submitted a confidential report confirming that the certificate was obtained through misrepresentation. The Divisional Commissionerate had given Khedkar ample opportunity to present his case regarding the certificate. Sources said that the decision to cancel the certificate was taken after that. It is also said that detailed reasons were mentioned behind the cancellation. Although it is clear that the certificate was obtained fraudulently by providing false information, the Commissionerate has not registered a separate case. The matter was not under investigation, and cases have already been registered in this regard, the administration said.