DoPT Launches Inquiry Into Civil Services Officers Over Alleged Use of Fake Reservation Certificates
Pune, 29th May 2025: The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Government of India, has launched a formal inquiry into multiple civil services officers for allegedly securing appointments by submitting bogus reservation certificates. The action follows a complaint filed by RTI activist Vijay Kumbhar, who flagged irregularities in documents submitted by candidates appearing for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) between 2015 and 2023.
According to Kumbhar, at least 22 candidates were involved in the misuse of reservation benefits, with 15 of them currently serving in key government positions. These include 11 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers, 2 Indian Police Service (IPS) officers, one Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, and one Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer.
“The Department has taken my complaint seriously and initiated verification of the certificates submitted under reserved categories such as EWS, PwBD, OBC–NCL, SC, and ST,” Kumbhar said. “This is a critical step toward ensuring that genuine candidates are not deprived of their rightful opportunity due to fraud.”
Nationwide Probe Across States and Ministries
The DoPT, acting on inputs forwarded by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), has directed multiple state governments and central ministries to authenticate the reservation documents of these officers. The states under scrutiny include Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Odisha, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Kerala.
In addition, central ministries such as the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of External Affairs, and Department of Revenue have been asked to verify documents of officers serving under their jurisdiction.
“The preliminary assessment by DoPT has already confirmed the need for a deeper investigation. This isn’t a routine check—it’s based on credible leads and evidence,” Kumbhar added.
Structural Loopholes and Systemic Failures
Kumbhar criticized the lack of robust verification mechanisms, particularly for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category, where eligibility is often determined by loosely monitored income and asset criteria. “The system currently allows manipulation due to subjective standards and fragmented verification,” he said.
He cited the recent case of Puja Khedkar, a probationary IAS officer dismissed in 2024 for using forged documents, as a sign of systemic failure. “That case was not an exception. It’s part of a pattern, and this investigation proves that,” Kumbhar said.
Call for Reforms
Kumbhar has urged the government and UPSC to initiate real-time verification of certificates by integrating UPSC systems with state-level databases. He also called for mandatory audits of reservation claims after selection but before appointment, and strict penal action against candidates and officials involved in document fabrication.
“This is about justice and merit. It’s about restoring public faith in the civil services, which are meant to serve the nation, not benefit from loopholes,” he stated.
Kumbhar has appealed to both state and central agencies to complete the verification process swiftly and take action against those found guilty. “This issue is not just administrative—it’s deeply ethical and impacts governance at the highest levels,” he concluded.
