On Wednesday, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare sought a report from the Punjab government regarding the law on babies born through IVF technology. The circumstance is in connection with the IVF treatment of murdered Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala's mother.
The ministry has asked the Punjab government to submit the report to the department.
The health ministry letter read, “Under Section 21(g) of the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021, the age limit prescribed for a woman going under ART services is between 21 and 50 years. Therefore, you are requested to look into the matter and submit a report to this department of the action taken in this case as per the ART (Regulation) Act, 2021”.
Section 21(g) (i) of the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021 stipulates the age limit prescribed for a woman undergoing Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) is between 21-50 years. Here the mother is 58 years old and the father 60 years old - legal issues do arise. Also, advanced maternal age, as well as advanced paternal age are risk factors for genetic diseases in the fetus.
Dr. Munish Raizada, MD, Neonatologist and CEO of Medbound Times
Whereas Moosewala's father, Balkaur Singh, is aged around 60, his mother, Charan Kaur, is 58 years old.
Balkaur Singh posted on Facebook in Punjabi that, with the blessings of lakhs and crores of people who love Shubhdeep, the Almighty has blessed us with Shubh's little brother.
In this post, Balkaur Singh also posted his picture holding the newborn in his arms, along with a welcome cake and Moosewala's photo in the background.
Moosewala, a singer-rapper was murdered in the Mansa district of Punjab on May 29, 2022. In 2022, Moosewala unsuccessfully contested the Punjab Assembly elections on a Congress ticket from Mansa.
Moosewala's father, Balkaur Singh, has reported harassment by the state government. In a video message, Balkaur Singh requested that, due to the blessings of Waheguru, they get our Shubhdeep (Sidhu Moosewala) back. However, the government has been harassing him since morning, asking him to furnish documents about the baby. They are questioning him to prove that this child is legal.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Komal Bhoi/MSM)
