In a significant development, the Punjab government has issued a show cause notice to Ajoy Sharma, the principal secretary of health, for his failure to address the issue of IVF treatment undergone by the late singer Sidhu Moosewala’s mother with the chief minister and health minister.
Describing the oversight as a ‘serious lapse’, the state government has summoned Sharma to explain within two weeks why disciplinary proceedings should not be initiated against him under the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969.
The notice was prompted by accusations from Balkaur Singh, Sidhu Moosewala’s father, who claimed that the Punjab government had been harassing him following the birth of his second son.According to the notice, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, had requested a report from Sharma regarding the IVF treatment of Charan Kaur, Sidhu Moosewala’s mother. Despite the significance of the issue and the provisions outlined in the Rules of Business, 1992, Sharma allegedly failed to inform his ministerial superiors or seek their directives before taking action.
“This is a serious lapse on your part. Hence, you are asked to show cause within two weeks as to why proceedings under the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969 should not be initiated against you,” the notice emphasized.
The controversy arose after Balkaur Singh and Charan Kaur welcomed a baby boy on March 17, nearly two years after Sidhu Moosewala’s demise in Punjab’s Mansa district. The couple had opted for In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), despite Singh being around 60 years old and Kaur being 58.
The Union Health Ministry’s intervention came on March 14, when SK Ranjan, Director of the Department of Health Research, urged the Punjab Health Secretary to investigate the matter in accordance with the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021.
Responding to the allegations, Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh refuted claims of harassment, stating that it was the central government that initiated inquiries into the IVF treatment, distancing the AAP-led Punjab administration from any undue involvement. This development underscores the complexities surrounding the intersection of personal medical decisions and administrative oversight, sparking debates over the role of government intervention in private matters.