Dr Kafeel Khan appeals Yogi to revoke suspension in view of pandemic

Suspended paediatrician Dr Kafeel Khan has appealed to the Uttar Pradesh government to resume his duties amid the second surge of coronavirus in the country. The doctor further said that the government would dismiss him as soon as the pandemic got over.

Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh): Despite being cleared of charges of medical negligence, corruption and dereliction in 2017 Gorakhpur children death case, suspended paediatrician Dr. Kafeel Khan has appealed to the Uttar Pradesh government to revoke his suspension and allow him to duties amid the second surge of coronavirus in the country.

Khan was suspended from Gorakhpur's BRD Medical College after more than 60 children admitted at the hospital had lost their lives due to oxygen shortage in 2017.

Letter written by Dr Kafeel Khan to the UP government

In a letter to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the suspended doctor said the health department has not responded to his repeated requests to reinstate him in service.

"As the country has been facing the second wave of the pandemic, I want to resume my services as a children specialist doctor," read the letter.

The letter further read, "Former principal Dr Rajeev Mishra and maintenance in-charge was reappointed on March 4, 2020, despite the ongoing investigations. The Allahabad High Court and the Supreme Court had already directed the government to reinitiate my duties within 90 days of the order. As of now, more than 1,300 days has passed, despite that government has not reinstated me in service," added the letter.

Khan, who was then posted with the pediatrics department, was suspended from service on August 22, 2017, after oxygen suppliers cut off supply due to non-payment of dues by the hospital.

He was later booked and arrested on charges of negligence in his duties resulting in a shortage of medical oxygen, culpable homicide, criminal breach of trust and not performing his duty in 2017. The doctor spent nine months in jail. He later secured bail from a court but continues to be suspended from the medical college.

An FIR was registered against Khan under charges of attempt to commit culpable homicide, criminal breach of trust and criminal conspiracy.

The additional charges of corruption and private practice have already been dropped during the investigation for lack of evidence. Khan had claimed that he was made a scapegoat in the BRD Medical College oxygen tragedy and demanded a CBI investigation.