Gorakhpur Hospital Tragedy 2017 | Allahabad High Court Dismisses PIL Seeking Judicial Probe

The Allahabad High Court earlier this month dismissed a bunch of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) Pleas seeking a judicial probe into the death of 63 children which took place in BRD Medical College (in Gorakhpur district) in 2017.

The PIL plea was dismissed by the bench of Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice J. J. Munir after taking into account the statement made by the state's counsel that the matter was inquired into and a report was submitted and the guilty doctors and staff were punished, and further, proper corrective measures were taken in all the hospitals.

For the uninitiated, around 63 children died allegedly due to oxygen shortage in the year 2017 at BRD Medical College, Gorakhpur. However, the Uttar Pradesh Government denied the claim that the deaths took place due to a shortage of oxygen cylinders.

In November 2018, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare stated in the Lok Sabha that there was no indication that the death of 63 children was a result of negligence.

It may be noted that Paediatrician Dr. Kafeel Khan was suspended by the Uttar Pradesh Government after this tragedy pursuant to the disciplinary proceedings against him. He was finally dismissed from service in November 2021.

Khan was arrested soon after 63 children died at BRD Medical College allegedly due to a disruption in oxygen supply in August 2017. Two years later, he was again suspended for allegedly misbehaving with staff at Bahraich District Hospital. However, the Allahabad High Court had stayed both suspension orders.

Case title - Lokesh Kumar Khurana and others v. Union of India and others along with connected matters

Case Citation: 2022 LiveLaw (AB) 475

Click Here To Read/Download Order