ND Tiwari faces DNA test

The Delhi high court has asked Congress leader ND Tiwari to take a DNA test to dispute a claim made by a lawyer that the former Union minister was his father.

Tiwari’s lawyers said the order, which has raised a debate on privacy and dignity, would be contested at the Supreme Court.

Justice S Ravindra Bhat rejected Tiwari’s contention that he couldn’t be subjected to the paternity test saying, “The wider interest of a child of not being declared a bastard has to be kept in mind.”

The 85-year-old leader has been asked to appear before the joint registrar (HC) on February 8, 2011.

Every child has the right to know about his “biological root”, Justice Bhat said. If the interests of the child are best sub-served by establishing his paternity that consideration should be given, Delhi high court said.

The court took into consideration that Rohit’s foster-father BP Sharma had taken a DNA test and found that Rohit was not his biological son.