In a surprising turn of events, the government of Punjab reprimanded IAS Ajoy Sharma (1999 batch), the incumbent principal health secretary, with a showcause notice for allegedly “harassing” Mr. Balkaur Singh and his spouse Charan Kaur, parents of the deceased singer-turned-politician Sidhu Moosewala, over the birth of their second child.
Two years following the tragic demise of the late singer, his parents welcomed a second child (son) last week in a bid to raise awareness about the age limit for In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) conception. However, soon after the delivery of the baby, the government officials allegedly harassed the couple for conceiving at their age by seeking information about the child.
The contention arose after Charan Kaur, the mother, received IVF treatment at the age of 58 – the age range for IVF being 21 to 50 years old. Soon after the birth of their second child, the district administration demanded “documents about the child” from their parents. Mr. Balkaur Singh took to Instagram and said, “I request that the government and the Chief Minister to allow the treatment to end. I will show up whenever I am asked to. I assure you that I will present all legal documents.”
No sooner did the matter catch attention online than the government of Punjab issued a showcause notice to IAS Ajoy Sharma, in a letter that read, “You (Mr. Ajoy Sharma) proceeded to act in the matter without bringing this issue to the notice of your minister-in-charge and Hon’ble Chief Minister and without taking any orders from them. 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.”
