Overview

• The Supreme Court ruled that individuals cannot demand DNA tests to prove paternity without meeting strict legal thresholds, citing privacy and dignity concerns.
• The court upheld the presumption of legitimacy for children born during a valid marriage under Section 112 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, unless non-access between spouses is proven.
• Forcefully undergoing a DNA test was deemed an invasion of privacy that could harm social standing, mental health, and professional life.
• The judgment highlighted the potential misuse of DNA testing against women, noting the societal stigma and mental distress it could cause in cases involving infidelity allegations.
• The ruling resolved a decades-long Kerala case, rejecting a DNA test request by a man seeking maintenance from his alleged biological father, affirming the need to balance privacy with the pursuit of truth.