Friday, March 29, 2024

UP govt withdraws re-enquiry against Dr Kafeel Khan

Uttar Pradesh Government has decided to withdraw a departmental re-enquiry against Dr Kafeel Khan, according to their submission in Allahabad High Court.

Khan was a paediatrician at the Baba Raghav Das Medical College and Hospital, where 63 children died due to lack of oxygen in 2017. The Gorakhpur based doctor was suspended and jailed for nine months on charges of medical negligence, corruption and dereliction of duty. 

Over the years, Khan had turned into an outspoken critic of the Yogi let UP government. Khan was arrested in January last year for his speech at Aligarh Muslim University during the anti-CAA protest. He was released in September 2020 after the Allahabad High Court quashed his detention order.

Although Khan was cleared of all charges and praised for saving lives, the disciplinary authority initiated a re-inquiry against him in February 2020.

During the tragedy, Khan claims he had bought oxygen cylinders to save lives.

The Court had noticed the delay of 11 months in re-initiating enquiry when the earlier enquiry report was tabled on 15 April 2019.

UP government has also submitted that it will make every endeavour to conclude the disciplinary proceedings within a period of three months.

In the first enquiry report, officer Himanshu Kumar had stated that despite being on leave, Khan rushed to BRD medical college and tried to save lives. He and his team managed to arrange 500 cylinders in those 54 hours.

The bench has also directed Uttar Pradesh Government to explain why Kafeel Khan is suspended for the past 4 years even though the other seven co-accused including Dr Rajiv Misra — Ex principal, Dr Satish Kumar — Oxygen in charge, are reinstated except Dr Kafeel Khan.

The next hearing in the case will take place on August 10.

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