Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Manoj Soni, the chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), has resigned from his position, five years before his tenure was due to end. Soni cited “personal reasons” in his resignation letter, as reported by PTI.
Soni submitted his resignation approximately a fortnight ago, but it has yet to be accepted by the higher authorities, according to sources. His decision to step down is reportedly unrelated to the ongoing controversies and allegations surrounding the UPSC, including the recent case involving probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar.
Soni assumed the role of UPSC chairman on May 16, 2023, and his term was set to conclude on May 15, 2029. Despite taking up the position, sources revealed that Soni was initially reluctant and had expressed a desire to be relieved from his duties. His request was not granted at the time, but he has now chosen to resign to devote more time to “socio-religious activities.”
Prior to his appointment as UPSC chairman, Soni served three terms as Vice Chancellor of different universities. Notably, he became the youngest-ever Vice Chancellor in India when he took on the role at The Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU) of Baroda from April 2005 to April 2008.
Soni’s resignation coincides with a criminal case filed against trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar and her family members for allegedly faking her identity to secure more attempts for the UPSC examination. Khedkar was recently transferred out of Pune before completing her training due to accusations of misusing her power and privileges as a bureaucrat.
The controversy surrounding Khedkar has sparked a wider debate on social media, with users highlighting instances of serving IAS and IPS officers allegedly using fake certificates to claim benefits intended for Other Backward Class (non-creamy layer) and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS). Social media users have shared names, pictures, and other details of these officers, calling for police action against the misuse of such benefits.
