Govt sacks Dr Kafeel even as probe gives him a clean chit

Despite High Court has stayed suspension orders against Dr Kafeel Khan, an accused in the death of several children due to lack of oxygen in Gorakhpur's BRD Medical College in 2017, the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has dismissed him from services.

The action was taken after the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) approved his dismissal. The order does not give any specific reasons for taking this decision but after UPPSC ordered the Medical Education Department on Wednesday night issue the order of his dismissal.

Principal Secretary, Medical Education, Alok Kumar said that Dr. Kafeel Khan has been sacked after being found guilty in the investigation. Incidentally, Dr Kafeel was exonerated along with others in the Gorakhpur Oxygen case but later he was implicated in other cases.

Dr. Kafeel, who is still under suspension, was attached to the office of the Director-General Medical Education (DGME).

Dr. Khan was suspended on August 22, 2017, along with 7 co-accused including Dr. Rajiv Misra Ex principal, and Dr. Satish Kumar Oxygen in-charge after the Oxygen tragedy in BRD Medical College in which 60 children died. Dr. Kafeel was absolved of Medical negligence and corruption charges by enquiry officer on April 15, 2019, but the Uttar Pradesh government ordered re-enquiry on February 24, 2020.

In his Enquiry Report submitted on April 15, 2019, the inquiry officer Himanshu Kumar had categorically stated:

1. That at the time of the BRD tragedy, Dr. Kafeel the junior most doctor and he had joined BRD Medical College, Gorakhpur on 08.08.16 as a lecturer under probation, and at the time of the incident as well he was on probation.

2. Despite being on leave on 10.08.17, he rushed to BRD medical college Gorakhpur on that fateful night and tried to save every innocent life. He and his team managed to arrange 500 cylinders in those 54 hours.

3. He called 26 people on that fateful night to all the officials of BRD medical college including District Magistrate Gorakhpur.

4. There is no evidence that suggests his involvement in corruption.

5. He was not responsible for payment/order/tender/maintenance of the oxygen supply.

6. He was not the head of the encephalitis ward.

7. There is no evidence that he was doing private practice after 08.08.16.

8. Charges of medical negligence were baseless and without any substance.

Dr Kafeel said that he will challenge this order in Court.

Despite such a categorical record, Dr Kafeel was initially suspended and on Wednesday dismissed from the government service.