Punjab Govt notices Health Secretary over Moose Wala Mother's IVF controversy

The Punjab government has taken action in response to a dispute concerning the in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment received by the late singer Sidhu Moose Wala’s mother, Charan Kaur. A show-cause notice has been issued to Ajoy Sharma, the principal secretary of health, for initiating actions based on a request from the Centre without prior consultation with the chief minister and health minister.

Government inquiry and allegations

The notice comes after allegations of harassment surfaced from Balkaur Singh, Moose Wala’s father, regarding the birth of their second child. He claimed that the government was pressuring him to prove the legal status of his newborn son. This allegation prompted a political uproar, with opposition parties criticizing the Mann government.

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The Union health ministry had sought a report from the Punjab government regarding Charan Kaur's IVF treatment due to concerns over her age, citing the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021. However, the health minister clarified that the state government was not harassing the family and that the letter regarding the IVF treatment was received from the Centre. The health department visited an infertility center to gather information from clinical records.

Controversy surrounding Ajoy Sharma

Ajoy Sharma, the principal secretary of health, has faced previous controversies with the government. He was removed from his position in the health department in January 2023 and faced subsequent reassignments before returning as health secretary. Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa criticized Chief Minister Mann for blaming Sharma and called for accountability from the government. Conversely, AAP's Punjab chief spokesperson accused the central government of interference and questioned why the health secretary did not inform the CM and health minister about the Centre's letter.

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