The Hindu : New Delhi News : RML doctors’ plea to step up probe

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Oct 12, 2007
ePaper

New Delhi

New Delhi

RML doctors’ plea to step up probe

Bindu Shajan Perappadan

Into ‘perverted sexual behaviour’ by suspended HoD

NEW DELHI: Doctors at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital here have appealed to the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry to step up the pace of the enquiry against the suspended former Head of Department of Orthopaedics at the hospital, Dr. A.K. Khare. They have also requested that they be allowed to appear before the Central Administrative Tribunal to put across their point of view in the case.

Stating that the two-year-long enquiry against Dr. Khare -- for alleged gross misconduct by taking advantage of his position to exploit, sexually harass and indulge in perverted sexual behaviour and activities with junior faculty members -- was “going nowhere”, the doctors said they are “worried that the accused might actually go scout-free and return to the Institute”. “After he was first charge sheeted in May 2006 for the incident that occurred in November 2005, the case was referred to CAT. Now despite coming forward as witnesses against Dr. Khare we are yet to be heard,” said a representative of the group of 17 witnesses.

“We were called as witnesses on September 19 to appear before CAT but were kept waiting for over four hours and not allowed to present our case. We were told that some papers were missing and that we will have to come back to present our case. We were called again on September 29 but after having waited for several hours we returned without appearing before the Tribunal,” said a physician from the hospital.

Two year ago, based on a complaint from the ‘victim’ about Dr. Khare, the Medical Superintendent of RML Hospital had constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Additional Medical Superintendent T.S. Sidhu to enquire into the allegation.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail