Ex-principal, two docs reinstated by govt
The Yogi Adityanath government has reinstated three doctors who were suspended following the alleged oxygen scarcity at BRD Medical College hospital in Gorakhpur that had led to the death of over 60 children, 23 of them in one night, in August 2017.
Another doctor, Dr Kafeel Khan, who was also suspended, was initially absolved of all charges in the departmental enquiry, but he is in jail after being booked under National Security Act for his alleged hate speech during a protest against the Citizenship (Amendmant) Act.
On March 4, Governor Anandiben Patel signed the government order reinstating former principal of BRD Medical College, Dr Rajiv Mishra, anesthetist Dr Satish Kumar and Dr Purnima Shukla, Dr Shukla has retired and all her retirement benefits have been cleared after the Governor signed the order.
Dr Khan, who was pediatrician at the BRD Medical College hospial at that time, was suspended along with these doctors, is still facing an enquiry in this case. At present he is lodged in Mathura jail after being booked under NSA.
Interestingly, in August 2019, Dr Khan was absolved of the charges of medical negligence, corruption and dereliction of duty on the day when the children died due to oxygen shortage.
Investigating officer Himanshu Kumar, Principal Secretary (Stamps & Registration Department), had submitted the report of his probe into the deaths to the Medical Education department on April 18, 2019. But neither the UP government take any action on it, nor did it make the report public. It came to light only in September.
Of the four charges levelled against him, Dr Khan was found guilty of indulging in private practice and being attached to a private nursing home in Gorakhpur till April 2017.
A few days after Dr Khan was absolved of the charges of negligence, the Yogi government had ordered a fresh probe into allegations of indiscipline, corruption and gross negligence while on duty against him.
An official told this reporter that Dr Khan’s suspension was not revoked because an enquiry was still pending against him.
“Moreover, he is facing NSA charges for hate speech. So, as per government rules, his suspension continues,” the official said.
The death of children at BRD Medical College hospital due to alleged shortage of oxygen in August 2017 had become a major issue for the Yogi government, which had been sworn in barely five months before the tragedy. Subesequently, the state government had suspended nine people, including four doctors.
Dr Rajiv Mishra and Dr Satish Kumar returned to work on Thursday after the government order, current principal of BRD Medical College, Dr Ganesh Kumar, said on Friday.
Dr Mishra has been posted as faculty in the pathology department and Dr Satish Kumar as faculty in the anaesthesia department.
Though they have joined the medical college, a departmental inquiry against them will continue, the principal said.
