In a significant verdict, the Supreme Court of India has emphasised that a child’s right to know about his biological father takes precedence over an adult’s right to privacy concerning DNA testing.

A bench comprising Justices Sanjay Karol and N K Singh adjudicated a paternity suit filed by a 26-year-old youth seeking confirmation of his biological father.

The respondent, a man alleged to be the father, opposed the DNA test, claiming he had no physical relationship with the mother and had been cleared in a related rape case.

The Supreme Court, however, focused on the legitimate interest of the youth in determining his paternity and upheld the rulings of the trial court and the Chhattisgarh High Court directing the man to undergo the DNA test.

The Court highlighted that earlier legal proceedings regarding the mother’s claims for maintenance had become moot as the child had attained majority.

This decision underscores the judiciary’s recognition of a child’s fundamental right to know their biological origins and establishes a precedent prioritising this right over individual privacy in paternity disputes.

The Court refrained from exploring the nature of the relationship between the man and the mother, as it was irrelevant to the current case, and directed that all civil procedures proceed to confirm paternity and associated property claims.