Agra: Two senior doctors of SN Medical College punished for dereliction of duty

AGRA: UP government has taken action against two senior doctors of Agra’s

SN Medical College

, suspending the HoD of the Medicine Department, PK Maheshwari, who quarantined himself at a government designated five star hotel against the protocol, to skirt their duties at the time of coronavirus outbreak.


Confirming this, principal secretary, medical education, Rajneesh Dubey, said action had been taken against the doctors for

dereliction of duty

. He said, "Dr Maheshwari had quarantined himself for 14 days in a hotel, which is dedicated for doctors who are deputed in Covid ward, even when he was never posted there".

He told TOI that disciplinary proceeding have also been initiated against head of paediatric department Dr Rajeshwar Dayal, who refused to work as the acting principal in the absence of principal of the medical college, on the plea that he had some medical reservations and he gave charge to some other senior faculty in the college.

Dubey said, "Agra’s divisional commissioner, Anil Kumar, has been deputed as the inquiry officer, for the probe".

When contacted, Dr Dayal, said, "I have not received any intimation so far. Hence can not comment on it". Efforts to contact Dr Maheshwari proved futile.

Director of Medical College, Dr GK Aneja, said, "I had to go to Delhi for my retinal detachment surgery, which was conducted on March 7 but I resumed my duties two days later on March 9, as the condition in Agra was not good due to outbreak of Coronavirus". He refused to go in details but confirmed of receiving order.

According to sources, though Dr Maheshwari, had self quarantined from March 27 to April 10, after one of their resident doctors tested positive for

Covid-19

, he was coming to Medicine department for an hour during the so-called quarantine period. Officers claimed that he had allegedly done this to skirt from his responsibilities and he was also not authorised to stay in five star hotel, which was dedicated for doctors of Covid ward.

District Magistrate Agra, Prabhu N Singh told TOI that though it was not specified as to who all could avail the facility in the hotel, it was obviously meant only for doctors of Covid wards, who needed to quarantine themselves after completing seven days duty in the ward, as they can not directly go back home. He further said, "there were lot of complaints against Dr Maheshwari for not doing his job properly at the time when everyone is required to give in his best".

While, Dr Dayal, had refused to take the charge, on the plea that he was suffering from respiratory disease and was on steroids, he requested that the charge be given to another senior doctor in Dr Aneja’s absence.