Re-inquiry order against Dr Kafeel withdrawn,UP to Allhabad HC

In Uttar Pradesh, the State government has informed the Allahabad High Court that the departmental re-inquiry ordered last year against suspended Gorakhpur's BRD Medical college paediatrician Dr Kafeel Khan, has been withdrawn. Dr Kafeel has filed a petition to the High Court challenging his suspension on August 22, 2017 in connection with the death of several children due to alleged shortage of oxygen at a government hospital in Gorakhpur. During hearing of the case Additional Advocate General Manish Goyal told the court on August 6,2021 that the government has withdrawn the order of 24 February 2020 impugned in this petition subject to liberty being reserved for the state to proceed in the matter afresh. The government is likely to decide on his suspension in three months. The court had heard the petition on July 29 and had sought a response from the government.

Hearing the petition Justice Yashwant Varma said now the court would have to consider the justification for continuing suspension of the petitioner which was pursuant to an order passed on 22 August 2017.In his writ petition Dr Kafeel has informed the court that by that order of the High Court initially proceedings were drawn against nine persons. Seven out of those who were suspended along with the petitioner, have since been reinstated pending conclusion of disciplinary proceedings. The Allahabad High Court has set Dr Kafeel from detention at Mathura jail in connection with his alleged provocative speach at Aligarh Muslim University in December 2019. In January 29,2020  Dr Khan was arrested from the Mumbai airport. In its order on September 1,2020 the Court has called his detention not sustainable in the eye of law.