In a significant ruling, the Karnataka High Court has upheld a directive for a DNA test in a contentious paternity dispute. The case involves a woman who claims to be the wife of a teacher and had sought financial support for herself and a child.
The Origin of the Legal Battle
The dispute reached the courts after the woman filed a maintenance petition before a trial court in Vijayapura. In her plea, she requested the court to order the man, identified as a teacher, to provide funds for the essential needs of food, clothing, and shelter for both her and the child. The core of her claim rested on establishing the man's paternity and consequent financial responsibility.
Court's Directive and the Husband's Challenge
The trial court, considering the nature of the allegations, had initially ordered a DNA test to scientifically determine the child's paternity. However, the husband contested this order, disputing the paternity claim and challenging the legal basis for compelling him to undergo the test. His appeal brought the matter before the higher judiciary.
High Court's Decisive Ruling
The Karnataka High Court, after examining the arguments, upheld the trial court's order. The bench found merit in the lower court's decision to seek conclusive evidence through modern scientific means. The ruling emphasizes the court's authority to order such tests in matters where the question of paternity is directly in dispute and crucial for adjudicating claims like maintenance.
The judgment, delivered on 27 December 2025, reinforces the principle that in cases involving contested familial relationships, scientific evidence can be instrumental in delivering justice. The court's decision paves the way for the DNA test to proceed, the results of which will likely be pivotal in resolving the maintenance lawsuit.
This ruling is seen as a reaffirmation of legal precedents that allow courts to utilize DNA technology to cut through allegations and counter-allegations in paternity suits, ensuring that verdicts are based on factual clarity.
