Orissa High Court Rules DNA Testing Cannot Be Forced in Civil Disputes
Cuttack, Sept 5: In a landmark judgment, the Orissa High Court has ruled that no individual can be compelled to undergo DNA testing, especially in civil disputes such as property division.
The court emphasized that mandatory DNA testing infringes upon a person’s right to privacy and bodily autonomy.
The case stemmed from a long-standing family property dispute, where one party sought DNA testing to establish paternity.
The High Court, upholding the decision of the Kuchinda Civil Judge (Senior Division), dismissed the plea, stating that such directives are inappropriate in civil matters.
Justice Bibhuti Prasad Routray, who headed the bench, clarified that forcing DNA tests in such contexts violates constitutional protections.
The ruling reinforces the legal precedent that personal privacy cannot be compromised, even in the pursuit of evidence in civil litigation.
Legal experts believe this judgment will have far-reaching implications for similar disputes, setting a strong boundary between scientific evidence and individual rights.
