Allahabad HC stays second suspension of Kafeel Khan

The Allahabad High Court has stayed the UP government's order of July 2019, by which Kafeel Ahmad Khan, a paediatrician, was suspended on charges that he had forcibly treated patients at the Bahraich district hospital and criticised the policies of the government.

This was the second time Khan was suspended by the state government.

He was already under suspension following the August 2017 tragedy at BRD Medical College at Gorakhpur, where 60 children had died due to alleged disruption in oxygen supply.

Hearing a writ petition filed by Khan, Justice Saral Srivastava has directed to conclude inquiry against the petitioner within a period of one month.

The court further directed that the petitioner shall cooperate in the enquiry and in case the petitioner does not cooperate, disciplinary authority may proceed to conclude the inquiry ex-parte.

While directing to list the case on November 11, 2021, the court said that when the matter is next listed, the respondents shall inform the court about the outcome of the enquiry.

Besides, the court gave the respondent state authorities four weeks' time to file a reply (counter-affidavit).

Khan, during his suspension in August 2017, had been attached to the office of Director General Medical Education (DGME) office of Lucknow.

During the period, he visited the Bahraich hospital claiming that he was called by the public to treat children affected by Japanese encephalitis.